California bodywork and paintshops that won't bankrupt me

[beepusmeepus]

Does anyone know of any CA shops that do decent bodywork and paint without costing an arm and a leg? Located in the Bay Area but willing to drive wherever for a decent price.

Before you say it's going to be expensive no matter what, I know, I'm just throwing a hail mary here.

Thank you for your time!

Cheers.

 

[Kyre]

Not sure your idea of an arm and a leg is but a friend got his full sized van (not a Delica) prepped and painted for around $4k at Wu’s auto center in South San Francisco. He shopped around and said everywhere else was at least $8k. I saw the paint and it looks good! Not show quality but for that price I wouldnt complain.

https://g.co/kgs/M3wUPL
Wu's Auto Center
(650) 952-6036

 

[bikerjosh]

It would seem since the pandemic or maybe slightly before the cost of get a car painted has steeply increased. Not sure if it was supply chain related or just increased demand (so many folks were repairing projects it seems during pandemic) or that industry realizing they were too cheap. Did all the prep work on a toyota van 4 years ago and had it painted. Went back to the same paint shop (changed ownership since I last used them ) and the same request ended up being 4x more. Seriously thinking about giving painting myself a try.

 

[Xplormor Offroad]

It would seem since the pandemic or maybe slightly before the cost of get a car painted has steeply increased. Not sure if it was supply chain related or just increased demand (so many folks were repairing projects it seems during pandemic) or that industry realizing they were too cheap. Did all the prep work on a toyota van 4 years ago and had it painted. Went back to the same paint shop (changed ownership since I last used them ) and the same request ended up being 4x more. Seriously thinking about giving painting myself a try.

I received a quote for from our local Maco in NC $800 single stage gloss black on my 96 bmw 7 series.

You can paint in sections to make it more manageable. I have been buying my paint from paintforcars and have a gallon of black acrylic urethane with the hardener reducer etc. I may end up shooting mine my self. If you have a good day hot day with no bugs you can shoot outdoors . A mobile auto body shop guy in Arizona my buddy used came out and did all the body work and painting on a 1/4 panel right in the guys driveway and it came out great. You have to get the reducer right so you get it to flow out but still kick off fast to ensure no bugs or airborne shit gets to it. even then some buffing can remove small stuff. wet sand would be another option but ideally nice not to need that.