Respray

[stevebow]

I'm looking into getting my elan resprayed the front end is full of chips and a few cracks i've been quoted 500+vat for the front and 1000+vat for the whole cars as there are a couple of scrapes on the rear wings. Just wondering how these prices compare to other peoples experiances i'm in norwich and the place is called c & s body care, if anyone has used them or can remend an alternative.

[bobbrown]

I might be inclined to as a few questions as the body is glass reinforced plastic and is not as straight forward to paint as a steel or aluminium bodied car.
The price is low but is a bit colour dependant and I am always suspicious of low prices but then again I do not believe in paying over the odds.
I am getting some panels sprayed by Stock Coachwork nr. Chelmsford ( http://www.stockscoachworks.co.uk/ ) and will know if they are any good when I get them back next week.
FYI: They look like they know what they are doing as they had a selection of Lotus cars from an early Elan in for a total re-spray (back to gel coat) to some Esprit's, lifting lacquer, red that had gone pink etc.

Bob

[baldyash]

I 've just used Stock Coachworks & they did a nice job on my door etc--Decraze( just 3 x 6" lines) & spray & blend to rear wing & hood cover £300+VAT

[max and andy]

CJ posted this firm www.option1sportscars.co.uk. They give quite good description of the techniques they use with photo's. Is this the normal way of dealing with plastics? A&M

[rip]

I know a couple of Elaners who have had their Elans resprayed in the past 2-3 years. Both paid about £1500 & are well pleased with the result.
I would rather pay extra (within reason) to get a good result rather than get a cheap job which looks no better than ok.

[bobbrown]

There is also the subject of distance, if I was getting the whole car re-sprayed I would want to be able to monitor progress and if the car was miles away this would present real problems. So Option1 is no option for me due to distance, on the other hand Stock coachworks is only 30 miles away.

Bob

[CJ101KT]

Sorry to hi-jack the post but seems appropriote as I'm interested in having some work done at Option1

Looks like I will be making a trip up to Option1 on Monday after a stupid woman in Tescos car park reversed into the front of my Elan leaving a nice contact mark on the bumper and fibre glass cracks on the clamshell directly above the bumper. Any advice on what I can claim for?? I am looking at having the bumper totally resprayed at one point anyway but of course the main issue will be to get the clamshell repaired and painted. Insurance company have been good so far though and hopefully will approve a quote I get from Option1 for the repairs. Also hope to get away without paying for my excess of £900!

[clemo]

i would put a bit more emphasis on the clam shell than the paint job at the moment
get it checked out fully by a lotus approved workshop.
if you don't it could come back and bite you on the bum...
is it cracked?
check under the light pods for hairline cracks...
will it need repacing or repairing ...
new gel coat
slam panel vin sticker is £100 if you ned to whip it of for a fuller respray...

have you got legal protection on your insurance?
if so they should chase her for the excess but sometimes you need to notify them within 24 hours of claim....

good luck

[whippit]

Be carefull with option 1 i had my fingers burnt so have a few others,

as for your fiberglass, the bumper is made up of a impact plastic skin covering a fiberglass beam,
its likely that a slight wack would of cracked the beam, which you cannot see without takeing it off,
its a bit of a pain to get the bumper off, but might be worth looking befor, or just let the body shop investigate,
the clams quite strong in the middle as its sat on a crash structure and a metal cross member, eather side by the light pods its weak, as its not supported,
the crash sructure might have been pushed back as well ,
my wife had a little bump last year, and it looked ok , when i stripped it down what a bloody mess
clemos advice i would follow lotus approved body shop,
good luck

[Specky]

I must admit I was not inspired by Option 1 either,

Long story short...I requested a ball part figure for a full respray of my Project car... They were aware I've fully stripped the car down to it's component parts... (As per my thread) and that I would rebuild the car post the spray job.

A verbal quote of £6000, needless to say I switched off there....

My search continues... But I'm in no rush...

TTFN

[CJ101KT]

Thanks for the comments guys.

I have legal protection on my insurance and have already gone about getting this on the books today. We have been told that Tesco have the whole incident on a camera and after seeing the Police to fill out a T1 form, I can now use them as independent witnesses to the accident. This should mean that I will not have to claim using my excess or have to dig into my pocket at all!

The bump was very minor as my handbrake was loosely on and my car seemed to bounce off very easily. The damage to the clam in nearly in the centre, just above the number plate. There are about 4 light crack marks that stretch for a few inches, so my thought is that it is just fibre glass damage? The bumper just has a contact mark which I think would polish out but would be asking to claim for a spray over?

I was going to use Option1 as they did a very good talk at a local meeting a few weeks ago and I expect they are pricey but it won't affect me as long as I don't have to pay for it and that my insurance approves the quote sent to them. I'm situated in Gloucestershire so if anyone has any other recommendations that it would be welcomed.

Has anyone had experience with Webbs Auto Specialist in Bristol? http://www.webbsautos.co.uk/lotus.asp

[dapinky]

Has anyone had experience with Webbs Auto Specialist in Bristol? http://www.webbsautos.co.uk/lotus.asp

Chris,

Webbs are very local to me (when I'm at work!) and Jason Webb is a smashing guy to deal with (mention my name if you speak to him ) and *may* be quite ameniable to doing the whole bumper at the same time as the clam etc.

I have used them for a couple of things (mechanical) but not bodywork - you've seen my car - i don't spend much time on what the paint looks like!

I have seen their paintwork, and can't fault it. The bodyshop is in a different place to the main workshops (5 minute walk) down on an industrial unit, and the guys there know what they're doing with fibreglass repairs (2 used to work at the TVR factory).

Again, they are not at the 'budget' end of the respray market, but if it's an insurance job, well worth considering.

[Specky]

Ooooooh another place to check out....

TTFN

[CJ101KT]

On the other hand I was going to get the bumper replaced and painted at the same time (at my expense) but Lotus don't produce the original plastic front bumper anymore do they?? but Option1 apparently have a fibre glass one available?

[giles.holland]

this is an old thread but i thought i might as well add to it for reference.

I just had a verbal quote over the phone with http://www.millgapgarage.com/

He seemed very good and has experience in spraying Fibre Glass.

His quotes were;

- £3,000 if you have the garage to do EVERYTHING
and
- £2,000 if you strip it down, doors off etc, plus rub it down roughly, they will finish it off. You will have to put the parts back together.