Member Since: 30 Jun 2008
Location: Penarth, near Cardiff
Posts: 74
Paint job
Our workhorse 2012 D4 Lux (ha!) is back from another summer boating in Ireland, where it’s been simply brilliant. It now returns to the school run and dog walking. I’ve emptied the sand, salt & french fries….but the outside is more challenging. I’ve long shrugged at the scratches, dents and dings of its hard living…lifting Peli cases to the roof and a narrow drive gateway etc means pretty much every panel is compromised….but high speed encounter with a swan (RIP) has taken out the bonnet and wing-mirror. I’ve looked at new vehicles but keep coming back to the D4 as ticking all boxes for family of 5 (plus dogs).
I’ve been quoted £6.5k for full exterior respray and wheel refurbishment from a quality body shop.. Am I mad to go this route? I’m fortunate to have cash for a nearly new Defender, Disco 5, RR, Merc, Volvo etc but none quite tick all the boxes of the D4. My logic is this is a lot cheaper choice & gives us another 3 years presentable motoring (until the electric hybrid vehicles settle to sensible choices & prices). It’s our only car and so has to look presentable.
Mechanics are all sound and it’s done 93k miles. What would others do?
Last edited by paulb33 on 6th Sep 2021 11:53 am. Edited 6 times in total
6th Sep 2021 11:10 am
paulb33
Member Since: 30 Jun 2008
Location: Penarth, near Cardiff
Posts: 74
all those pictures of the car and none of the swan ???
FTFY
Click image to enlarge
The paint etc. sounds like a lot of money .... but as you say, D4 ticks ALL the boxes and it's less than a D5 would depreciate in a year.
6th Sep 2021 11:38 am
paulb33
Member Since: 30 Jun 2008
Location: Penarth, near Cardiff
Posts: 74
The D5 is tempting but not quite as roomy for 3 teens in the back. At least that’s my impression. And the interior is too bling for the hard knocks we’ll give it. Seriously tempted by the new defender (with jump seat!) but that’s £80k+ With half decent spec 😳
When you put it in D5 depreciation terms, £6.5k for cans of Santorini paint seems reasonable value. Our trade in will benefit from this spend too, I’m assuming.
Last edited by paulb33 on 6th Sep 2021 1:02 pm. Edited 2 times in total
6th Sep 2021 11:49 am
paulb33
Member Since: 30 Jun 2008
Location: Penarth, near Cardiff
Posts: 74
FTFY
6th Sep 2021 11:50 am
eightfoot
Member Since: 12 Apr 2015
Location: sunny essex
Posts: 762
paulb33 wrote:
The D5 is tempting but not quite as roomy for 3 teens in the back. At least that’s my impression. And the interior is too bling for the hard knocks we’ll give it.
When you put it in D5 depreciation terms, £6.5k for cans of Santorini paint seems reasonable value. Our trade in will benefit from this spend too, I’m assuming.
how ed will you be if you scratch it after spending 61/2 on a paint job i would not bother save the money as you wont get it back value wise if you sell later
look on the bay for used bonnet/mirror cover if it bothers you also it will be winter soon and its going to be dirty for the following 6 months but as they say pay yer money take your choice please excuse any grammer/punctuation mistakes,i'm thick,thankyou
current vehicles 2005 d3 2013 d4
6th Sep 2021 1:04 pm
KevinD3
Member Since: 05 Aug 2020
Location: Sutton Coldfield
Posts: 1205
I’d look around the breakers and replace what you think you need, bonnet for example under £200
Could even buy same car with a blown engine and strip it for what you want for a lot less the the cost of the re spray. If you love it keep it 2008 HSE Stornoway Grey
My Wife thinks the D3 is a hobby, The D3 thinks the wife is 💕
6th Sep 2021 1:10 pm
MJA
Member Since: 08 Jul 2021
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 85
Some of those scratches could potentially be machine polished out and a dent man sent round to straighten panels? I would go that route on a car that will be used and loved in family life.
That said £6.5k is a good price for a full paint job. I paid £5.3k no vat to have my VW Corrado painted - windows out, couple of areas welded. This is the going price for a decent place using quality materials.Land Rover(s) : '10 Discovery 4
Other daily: '13 Seat Exeo ST 170
Toys: '95 VW Corrado VR6 | '96 VW Golf GTI 16v | '91 VW Golf GTI 16v
£6.5k is a good price for a full paint job. This is the going price for a decent place using quality materials.
I clearly have no idea about current pricing!
I certainly wouldn't respray in your circumstances.
NJSS
6th Sep 2021 2:00 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15213
A set of grey plastic wheel arch trims to replace the scratched painted ones would be a good cheap option for you.
Should be loads about with everyone changing out their old D3 arches to painted ones.
Also, much better for your use as you won’t have to worry about scratching in future.
Got them on mine.🏴
6th Sep 2021 2:13 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13879
I'wouldn't bother. It'll only get battered again. Lots of salvage yards will have bonnets and wing mirrors new aren't too expensive.
Save the money and spend it on something more interesting or exciting. New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
6th Sep 2021 2:59 pm
galwaygreen
Member Since: 30 Oct 2011
Location: plymouth
Posts: 6525
sort the bonnet with insurance and touch up the rest...you will only scrath it again
7th Sep 2021 12:01 am
paulb33
Member Since: 30 Jun 2008
Location: Penarth, near Cardiff
Posts: 74
Doing the math with eBay salvage…..I’d be mad
7th Sep 2021 2:51 pm
sarumlight
Member Since: 07 Nov 2008
Location: Off the Plain
Posts: 1590
I reckon so. If you go for the respray it’ll look great but then you’ll have that “first scratch” feeling again when you load a box or misjudge the driveway. Get the damaged bits and wheel arches replaced, give the rest a good polish and spend the money on something fun. Although it is a D4 so maybe put it in the engine fund
7th Sep 2021 6:16 pm
paulb33
Member Since: 30 Jun 2008
Location: Penarth, near Cardiff
Posts: 74
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ed will you be if you scratch it after spending 61/2 on a paint job i would not bother save the money as you wont get it back value wise if you sell later
