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I intended on doing some DIY body work but @civicdrivr pushed me in the right direction and recommended it to be done by a professional.
I have some good friends.
Before:
Note the spray paint, "bubbles" of raised metal which implies it was pried out. Eek.
Took my buffer to remove the spray paint to see what I was dealing with - Paint was sanded down, all the way to the metal
Found a guy through my PDR connection - he said as long as we align on expectations, I think you'll be pretty happy with the result.
He said I can make it look 60-70%.
From a body line / paint matching prospective, I think he nailed it. Paint has some orange peel but, nothing that a little wet sanding / buffing can't take care of.
Thrilled with the result and it beats taking it to a body shop and spending at least $2k.
I'm going to let the paint cure for 1 month before I do anything with it - it'll get a full correction with mostly Wolfgang products.
I intended on doing some DIY body work but @civicdrivr pushed me in the right direction and recommended it to be done by a professional.
I have some good friends.
Before:
Note the spray paint, "bubbles" of raised metal which implies it was pried out. Eek.
Took my buffer to remove the spray paint to see what I was dealing with - Paint was sanded down, all the way to the metal
Found a guy through my PDR connection - he said as long as we align on expectations, I think you'll be pretty happy with the result.
He said I can make it look 60-70%.
From a body line / paint matching prospective, I think he nailed it. Paint has some orange peel but, nothing that a little wet sanding / buffing can't take care of.
Thrilled with the result and it beats taking it to a body shop and spending at least $2k.
I'm going to let the paint cure for 1 month before I do anything with it - it'll get a full correction with mostly Wolfgang products.
I'll post updates as I get done with it.
Thanks for reading!
I am at work, so i can't see any of the pictures you posted but i am sure they look good...
But wait for 1 month? Dude you are in So cal... all you need is 1 hour outside.
So how much did it cost you at the end? I am usually kinda iffy about friend's friend doing bodywork on my car.. been there and done that and turned out to be shit
I am at work, so i can't see any of the pictures you posted but i am sure they look good...
But wait for 1 month? Dude you are in So cal... all you need is 1 hour outside.
So how much did it cost you at the end? I am usually kinda iffy about friend's friend doing bodywork on my car.. been there and done that and turned out to be shit
Total cost was $350 (I tipped him $50).
1 month may be a bit overkill but, for the paint to fully harden he said a month ... plus, he did like 3 coats of clear lol.
Although, have you driven a Model 3 Performance? It's ... pretty shocking.
Yah and i have also driven Model X P100D that i helped my boss to get. I think it is even faster.... ... both are parked next to me right at this moment outside our office building...
Yes they are fast. and nothing else... I think if i needed to race someone for $$.. sure. But for everything else - Interior, exterior, refinement, fit and finish.. SOUND, and impracticability with charging and range and just the overall quality which are more important to me as a DD than just 0-60.
The lack of center gauge or some sort of HUD in the 3 is also a deal breaker for me.. and i am trying to make my car louder here... there is no way i want to drive in dead silence (Not completely silent, there is that annoying high pitch electrical sound)
As i said in another thread, the Mustang Mach E is a much better buy IMO than Tesla...
Last edited by oonowindoo; Apr 9, 2021 at 03:43 PM.
Yah and i have also driven Model X P100D that i helped my boss to get. I think it is even faster.... ... both are parked next to me right at this moment outside our office building...
Yes they are fast. and nothing else... I think if i needed to race someone for $$.. sure. But for everything else - Interior, exterior, refinement, fit and finish.. SOUND, and impracticability with charging and range and just the overall quality which are more important to me as a DD than just 0-60.
The lack of center gauge or some sort of HUD in the 3 is also a deal breaker for me.. and i am trying to make my car louder here... there is no way i want to drive in dead silence (Not completely silent, there is that annoying high pitch electrical sound)
As i said in another thread, the Mustang Mach E is a much better buy IMO than Tesla...
As much as I hate the Tesla fanbois, you can't discredit the bang for the buck of a Model 3. For a car that can wreck a M3 comp from a dig for less than the price of a M340i is a pretty huge accomplishment.
I've been looking hard at these two for my next ride and I'm honestly seriously considering the Model 3 vs the M3. I want the F80 because the new one is fugly and even a used low mileage 2018 F80 Comp is ~$7k more than a brand new Model 3 and you don't get most of the tech either.
In the research I've done a brand new Model 3 runs about $56k (Model 3 Performance in blue, black interior) without the not full self driving because I'm not paying $10k for something that doesn't work. A new M3 the way I'd configure it is about $75k and doesn't even come with most of the tech as an option. $20k buys a lot in build quality. Also, a used 2018 F80 M3 Comp 6MT with ~25k on the clock is $62k at my local dealership also without any of the tech. Both are quite a lot slower too.
Disclaimer, I've never driven a Model 3 but am going to try for next weekend. It doesn't have the panache of the M3 or the engine note but you certainly can't argue with the bang for the buck.
Don't get me wrong, they're hilarious to drive, but I just can't see spending what they want on a car with horrible panel gaps, paint quality, and road noise. I'll take the slightly slower car if that means I'll enjoy it more.
And I'm surprised you're considering a Tesla, given how cold it gets there. The range will definitely be effected in the winter.
Don't get me wrong, they're hilarious to drive, but I just can't see spending what they want on a car with horrible panel gaps, paint quality, and road noise. I'll take the slightly slower car if that means I'll enjoy it more.
And I'm surprised you're considering a Tesla, given how cold it gets there. The range will definitely be effected in the winter.
I want to go take a look for myself, like I said, I've never driven one.
I wouldn't get it if it was my only car but my commute to work is like 1.5 miles each way. If I need to go a long(er) distance that I'm worried about I can always Jeep it or take the Subie.
Electric will be forced on us in the future.
I'll keep my ICE as long as I can.
Then I'll Madmax and move into a hidden batcave were I can get
high on the carbon monoxide in private a la eternal sleep.
Electric will be forced on us in the future.
I'll keep my ICE as long as I can.
Then I'll Madmax and move into a hidden batcave were I can get
high on the carbon monoxide in private a la eternal sleep.
Cliffs: Fuck You Electric.
I have a gas guzzler that chugs fuel faster than a drunk at an open bar. I'm doing ok lol.
As much as I hate the Tesla fanbois, you can't discredit the bang for the buck of a Model 3. For a car that can wreck a M3 comp from a dig for less than the price of a M340i is a pretty huge accomplishment.
I've been looking hard at these two for my next ride and I'm honestly seriously considering the Model 3 vs the M3. I want the F80 because the new one is fugly and even a used low mileage 2018 F80 Comp is ~$7k more than a brand new Model 3 and you don't get most of the tech either.
Yah...as i said, they are fast... too fast for an average driver IMO.
But the only bang for the buck of a model 3 is the straight line acceleration and even that has its limits... i mean you can't do that when you are planning to drive far and you can't do that when you have low range cuz you still want to get home.
For everything else from quality, interior, looks and whatnot, model 3 is pretty shitty.... that is why i keep saying i would prefer Mach E is i was in a market for E-Car.... and then there is also that $7500 tax credit...
I want to go take a look for myself, like I said, I've never driven one.
I wouldn't get it if it was my only car but my commute to work is like 1.5 miles each way. If I need to go a long(er) distance that I'm worried about I can always Jeep it or take the Subie.
Yah you will be surprised by how fast it accelerates, especially the dual motor ones, once you get used to to speed that is when you will notice everything else.
I remember when i first drove the P100D, i was like WTF is this... i could barely hold on to the steering wheel
"too fast"? What does that mean?