First post, and it's about my first MINI's issue. Smile. Used 2015 F56 S, and the last owner apparently used the parking lot monuments as target practice. The right splitter can be replaced, but wondering if anyone has had to repaint their valance. If so, does it require taking the whole bumper off. Any ideas would help. Thanks. Loving my first MINI.

 

To do the job right the pieces to be painted should be removed yes, without question. If you can do the removal/reinstall work yourself you'll save money. Most body shops will give you a better price to match paint and do the painting only.

 

Target practice, yikes. If you do the removal and install as said above it should help save money. Otherwise, you can swing by local body/paint shops and get some quotes.

 

Body shop quote: $1076. Probably buy the part and repaint for less. Smile. Anyway, I'll work it out. Also while I was at it, had him quote a painted stripe front and back. That was only $1700. Smile. I'm guessing the tape works just fine.

 

get more than one quote ... this sounds a little high from what you describe but pictures would help

Buy and paint 'yourself'? Have you ever shot auto paint? Have the needed equipment? Understand the base/clear system used on modern cars?

Paint alone can cost several hundred dollars depending on your color.

I do some painting on the side and helped teach body repair and painting at a VOTC HS for a while (in exchange for free access to their paint booth!). This is a lil different than shooting rattle cans at the lawn furniture . . .

You CAN do this with the RIGHT rattle cans. You might want to read some of the 'how to pages here: http://www.automotivetouchup.com/

 

Check out www.mightystripes.com for the stripes. We got ours from them. Good quality too. If you need the new valance just shoot me a PM with the last 7 digits of your vin and I can help get you the right part. Good luck!

 

That's insane! Especially, with all the water based paints being used these days. Where do you live? (if California, never mind...that explains it!). I had the rear wing painted on one of my cars a few years back by a body shop I really trust, and they charged me $250 (including prep - which was not easy on a composite material wing)! That's a metallic paint with clear coat to boot! Maybe the price of paint has gone up? Sounds like a ripoff to me, seriously.

 

Thanks for all the input. Dealer to take care of paint issue. Smile. Stripes are another thing. I'll check a few other shops before going with tape. Just not a fan of tape, but at $1700 it's looking really good.