After new paint job.

Mudd · Mudd's Garage

I met a supervisor from the local Macco that works on the side for a guy prepping cars. Then the owner of the business has a corporate deal with Macco for special pricing to paint cars because of the amount of cars he brings them. It sounded like a good deal to me because the prep, which turned out to include fixing a few dents and sanding the entire car, which had peeling clearcoat and cracking paint on the fenders. The old paint was in bad condition. The whole job will cost me $500. I know I will get beat up for using Macco but this seems to be a decent alturnative to paying $1500 for the same level of attention. This is a driver, not going to show it. My question is this, since this will be a single stage paint job how much polishing and or buffing can I do to the car once the paint cures. Can I use my DA to polish the car or should I stick to hand working the finish.

AVDCAV · AVDCAV's Garage

Solid color or not ?

Mudd · Mudd's Garage

Solid color.

Mudd · Mudd's Garage

Any recommendations ?

wachuko · wachuko's Garage

Are you removing all the glass and removing all the trim before taking the car for the paint job? I hope you are, if not, the end product will look very bad...

timmy2 · timmy2's Garage

The final product you will get at Maaco for $500 will be completely dependant on how much prep and finish work you do.
I took a daily driver car there removing everything I could keeping it driveable to get there.
I spent 2 days removing overspray, have dust and hairs in the paint that i haven't tried to buff out yet.
You get what you pay for. I used to work in a bodyshop prepping cars for paint while going to school.
Maaco is Ok for a "beater".
I wouldn't take my Porsche there.

yel911 · yel911's Garage

I know of a couple guys that do that regularly. They do all the work, remove trim etc, then have Macco paint it. One guy had Macco do his BMW in black, came out sweet, for $1000.

Fixer · 11-12-2012, 02:55 PM

They are using garbage paint. I wouldn't do it. My Son's friend's Dad used them and within a couple of years (2) there are large cracks in the paint. They're were weird spots from the first day bringing it home.

I paint though, so i may be more picky.

Just finished my '83 928S 5 speed, back dated and lighter by 130 lbs.