09/08/2026
I see a lot of posts on paint/respray costs with massively varying prices... bottom line is you get what you pay for, so work out what you want and how much you are prepared to pay... initial results may look similar, but review again in 12 months...
Current project is a full bare metal respray on a T4, going pearlescent and getting plastics body colour too.
Process for wing mirrors alone...
Clean and degrease
Mask areas not to be painted
Clean surface with scotch pad
Degrease
Tax wipe to remove dust
Apply adhesion Promoter
Apply etch primer (not strictly speaking necessary but I do)
Lightly scotch pad surface
Degrease and tac wipe
Apply 5 layers high build primer
Guide coat
Wet flat with 600 grit
Degrease and tack wipe
Apply more primer if surface is not 100% flat
Guide coat
Wet flat with 800 grit
Degrease and tac wipe
Apply base coat
Apply 5 coats clear lacquer
Wet flat with 1200 grit + soap
Wet flat with 3000 grit + soap
Polish with cutting compound then t-cut (equivalent)
Ceramic coat
Finished...
Watch for more pics, currently adhesion coat plus etch primer applied...
Rough time for 2 wing mirrors 7 hours
Material costs approx £110
Yes it can be done in about 2 to 3 hours with rattle cans from halfords, and if that's what you're after, then happy days, and nothing wrong with that..
In short you get what you pay for, but the above is why a respray can vary from £2k to £20k plus
Cheers
