CarlitoE430

Does it ever make sense to take advantage of the rust repairs to paint the whole body? I'm not looking at changing the color but I wondered about a newly painted car. Or is the resale value better if the car has the original paint?

I'm helping my brother with the 2002 Gold E430 I passed to him and we're taking it into a body shop to evaluate both options.

Strigoi

A good quality paint job will cost more than the car is worth.

ygmn

Depends on your wallet and needs.
Are you trying to sell or extend life and make pretty?
Is paint easy to match? metallic?

Going to body shop is first good step... going to second is better yet to get 2 opinions.

1bad540

100%. depends on how much rust... new paint will prb look best. pretty sure that year is past its... does anyone care thats its og paint.?

khomer2

As 1bad540 said, Depending on the degree of rust, where it's situated and if it's patchwork painting, how well your paint match will blend into the existing paint and where it has to be blended in.
For example, rust damage in the A or C-pillar areas (upper body): blending is difficult and virtually all shops will recommend to re-paint the entire top-side.

CarlitoE430

Thanks for all the responses. As always, they help me with perspective and approach. I took the car to a body shop and it looks like there's only one spot where some of the metal will have to be replaced, size about 1.5 square inches. The other two or three spots is only at the paint/superficial level and that could be treated so it stops the gangrene.

Thanks again

CarlitoE430

Let me ask a different question. Years ago, I heard that replacing the factory paint dropped the value of a car. Is that the case with the W210?

Though speaking about numbers only, a car in the price range of 3K to 4K cannot drastically go down on value because of its paint....

Tall Giraffe

I dont think there will be much expectation of $ value for your car. At this point in the model / year life if you were to sell the car, i would think the next owner would appreciate resolution than value. Document why you had paint work done, find a decent painter and enjoy.

1bad540

It drops the value of a newer car bc most of the time its done to repair an accident. On an older vehicle thats driven its expected and prefered that someone kept up with the car. If your still in the mkt my buddy still has that car i can get you his number if still int.

kajtek1

Frankly WHO GIVES if that is factory, or repaint on $2-3000 car?
I like my cars to look good, where body work is out of my DIY scope, so when the paint shows age, I just sell them.
But I am religious about keeping cars from UV exposure, so they really shine even at 15 years of age.
Did I say I never had rust problem in CA and NV ?