I've a friend who will be buying a new Lexus LX570, and it wants it repainted in a color of his choice since the color he wants isn't offered anymore. Anybody in the Sacramento or Bay Area worth considering that does top-quality work like this? I'm asking for a colleague of mine.
Thanks, gang.
1BG

 

Anything can be done but... Is he trading a factory paint for a body shop paint? Sure restorers do that but everything is off the car and those cars are show cars only. To each his own.

 

Obviously, the factory job is out the window, bro. Its not a matter of expense for him. So he's anticipating to pay to do it right and wants a reputable firm that can deliver. Thx.

BTW- I'm also suggesting he hit up Lexus to do a one-off for him (at a premium, no less) but that remains to be seen. Between production schedules, and how willing the suits in Japan might be, could be an improbability.

 

I would never do it. I think that a factory paint is better than after-market, and the car will be compromised with a lot of take down and refit. If insists on a repaint he should contact a reputable vintage car restorer.

Yes, he should try to get a factory one-off for a price. What color is that that is so special?

 

Adidas- I don't recall the color, but it was a particular color they dropped a year or two ago. I myself wouldn't do it, either. I agree completely that he won't get as good a job as a factory finish. He may get close, but I don't think it will be the same... not with today's electro-painting processes used by Japan and Germany... I don't know if we are using that process here in the USA.

That said, there are some showcar finishes that are absolutely stellar.

 

Talked to my colleague tonight- the color desired was some sort of Azurite Mica (Dark Metallic Blue) that they dropped in 2010 if I recall. He understands he's looking at big bucks for this job- just how much will be determined by the painter. We've got a tip on one painter in Fremont (FCC) another in Milpitas- each does work for Porsche and M-B, respectively. I told my friend he's probably looking at 20-35k for this job done right... and this isn't even factoring-in the issues with dismantling the vehicle and potential issues arising from that. We'll see how this progresses and which way he decides to go.

 

Please post photos and your critical eval when the job is done, will you?

 

Beyond questioning the sanity ---

1) Why not just do a wrap ?

2) Does it even matter to get it perfect ? He's basically going to throw out most of the car's value .

 

a paint job, even an all over, shouldn't cost near $35,000.

How thorough of a paint job is he looking for? Does he want the vehicle stripped down to a bare shell, no suspension/undercoating/carpet? Paint the undersides of the floor? Or does he want to do engine bay, sills, few inches under the carpet, and the exterior? Is the vehicle to be stripped to bare metal so it has a more factory appearance and it's not paint over primer over paint?

Granted, I'm not going to question the financial decisions of people wealthier than myself, but I can't imagine the thought process that would lead someone to want to do this.

 

You'd think a guy with all that money would just have "his people" figure all this out for him. Or better yet, have the salesman at the Lexus dealership take care of. I've got to believe someone at the dealership knows the name of a reputable company in the area that can grant this customers wish. Folks with that much disposable income never have any trouble finding folks to take it from them.

 

I agree that factory paint is always better than a body shop as frame-off painting is always better... BUT, would you say the same for flat/matte paint?

I was thinking of having my gloss black P-Car redone in matte black.... I've also seen a Murcielago in a flat/matte corn flower blue, I may consider this as well...

Matte paint on exotics seem to be catching on... I think that people with the high dollar cars are tired of waxing swirl marks out of the paint???? Matte is easier to keep looking clean.

 

Essayons- the 35k I quoted was from a rennlister member (not a paint guy himself) who gave me that figure for a SF shop rate probably off the cuff, and I relayed it to the guy to see what kind of response I would get- to shock him out of this perhaps. I would imagine he'd want engine bay, sills, etc and the exterior job, not a complete strip down to bare shell (although you never know).

Now for everybody here- this was an honest question from a guy looking for options to explore and to see how viable it might be for him. He knows I'm into cars (that's why he's having me do some checking for him), but both of us are transplants from other areas of the country so we really don't know what's available or have connections established in this area of the state. Nor do we have a clue what rates are out here. FWIW, I've hever had that comprehensive of paint work done, period, so I have no personal point of reference.

If it was me looking for a particular color, unless I could get the company to do a one-off for me in the color of my choice at the factory, I wouldn't bother. I'd either stick with the stock color choices, or go to another company if they had something I liked or with one that had a PTS option.

 

that makes sense then. I've had the super-inflated-to-scare-away-customer tactic backfire on me before.

The only time I've seen a car actually completely disassembled and stripped for a repaint was a painter that was doing his own car on the side as a show car. Came out beautifully and looked amazing, until it got stolen and had everything removed from it (seats and carpets included).

Good luck to your friend, a custom job is always a great thing when it comes out well.

 

For a Ferrari 3x8 series you can figure 8k to 10k in the US.

This would not include the interior area or engine area, but would include
windshield and all glass removed and all removable body parts painted
as stand alone items.

A large SUV will likely be (alot) more...

 

Try Barsotti's in San Rafael. High quality, trustworthy, and reasonable in my experience. They do Sonnen Porsche's work and more.