There are many reasons why you might want to give your car a paint job and complete makeover. Perhaps the paint is peeling and old or you’re tired of the color of your car, or maybe you want your BMW to stand out from all the others by giving it a unique chrome paint job. The reality of this, however, is that a new paint job is so pricey it may make more sense to buy a second car in a different color instead. If you do want to respray your own car, it is possible to do so but very easy to get wrong. You’ll have to buy all the right materials and do the necessary preparation work if you don’t want your car to look like it’s been mauled by a backyard mechanic.

How much are we talking?

Even if you’re spraying it yourself, it’s unlikely that your respray job will cost less than R20 000 (approx. ?1500). If you would like a really top class or metallic paint job for an expensive car you’ll have to fork out as much as R60 000 (?4500). One man claimed that he repainted his Corvair with paint rollers instead of spray guns and the final cost of the paint job was an insignificant R500 (?35), yet he did complain that bugs and leaves got stuck in the paint roller so it’s not a solution for the perfectionist. Spray painting your car at home will get rid of scratches and peeling paint work but it will by no means look as good as if you get it done in the shop.? Your best bet is to get a professional to do it, but make sure of their credentials beforehand.

Ask the right questions

The best way to make sure your job is done properly is to know something about paintwork yourself.? The difference between a DIY spray job and a professional job is the tools. You’ll not be able to afford the top quality spray guns and materials that car paint shops use. If you’re not sure about the quality of a paint shop you want to take your car to, ask them to take your through how it’s done. The last thing you want is to get your car back with all the scratches still showing through. Interrogate the owner’s knowledge before entrusting your car to him or her.? Get a good idea of what the final effect should be, so that if that’s not the result you get, you can quote the owner when you complain.

Fix it with a retouch

If you car only has a few nicks and scratches, it doesn’t need a full paint job as a simple touch up will do the trick. As anyone who’s been in a minor accident knows, retouching is expensive but it’s also necessary to maintain the car’s resale value and prevent rust. You can buy a tube of paint from your local dealer and do it yourself but chances are it won’t stand up to closer inspection. Get a least three quotes from paint shops before getting it professionally done, as sometimes a quote can vary by as much as R1000 (?75) at different paint shops.

For any car paint job, it’s essential that the car is clean and free of wax beforehand and thoroughly waxed afterwards to show off the shiny new paintwork.