Anyone used a mobile paint repair service?

Blade_Hunter · Postby **Blade_Hunter** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 11:23 am

I found a few and they all look fairly okay. Anyone got any experience with any of these?

http://www.touchupguys.com.au/
http://www.propaintauto.com.au/
http://www.sydneymobilepaintrepair.com.au/
http://www.scratchnmatch.com.au

Was thinking of giving the first one a shot, the website looks a little less wanky than the others ie it doesn't have Ferrari's and other super cars all over it. Would love to hear if anyone has used any of these services and has good / bad things to say about them.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:55 pm

I would say that in general, these people are pretty competent. Obviously the skills of individuals will vary and you could get unlucky, but I would think that would be the exception rather than the rule.
I used one (Touchup guys) years ago to try to do something with the spots behind the number plate where the fitting of long barrel screws (by idiot Dealers) results in them inevitably being pushed into the nosecone, thereby damaging the paint.
They are NOT magicians - and there is only so much you can do with bad chips/damage.
I thought the result was about what I expected and reasonable for the money.

Blade_Hunter · Postby **Blade_Hunter** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 1:13 pm

Thanks Rocky, it's only to make the car more presentable for sale so hopefully it looks better than it does now

MattR · Postby **MattR** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 4:51 pm

I've used the Touch Up Guys and the franchisee that did my car was good. The job was as expected to clean up a few scuffs and chips to prepare a car for sale.

If it was too keep, I would look at getting a proper respray done, but I'm fortunate that I know a good painter.

Blade_Hunter · Postby **Blade_Hunter** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 5:00 pm

Thanks MattR, mine is a sale prep too so this looks like a good option.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 6:16 pm

I'd use any professional rather than doing it yourself if you want it to look good, especially if you haven't done much paintwork yourself, otherwise it'll look like the effect when you dab liquid paper over a typo. Obvious touch-ups like these will deter some buyers.

I bought some MAZDA model-specific touch-up paint for my car and did a test in the engine bay. The colour was very different so no way will I use it on any exterior/visible surfaces (I later found out that there are two Mazda Titanium colours, one for the 2002 Titanium edition and a different one for the 2004 SE Ti).

Professionals will have a better eye for colour matching than the average Joe and can mix the correct colour themselves.

Blade_Hunter · Postby **Blade_Hunter** » Fri Sep 20, 2013 8:53 am

Thanks Lokiel, doing it myself was never an option, I am a bit of a Gumby when it comes to these things so my options were either mobile touch up guys or a spray booth, spray booth is a bit of overkill for a couple of inches.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Fri Sep 20, 2013 12:30 pm

It's all about 'bang for bucks' with these sort of services, isn't it.
It's worth it for a reasonable number of $$$ to make a vehicle look a bit more presentable, but crazy to spend a lot of money for a small improvement that the potential buyer will not value all that much.
Stone chips are still there and noticeable even after the 'touch-up' treatment.
A mate of mine was lucky enough to get his nosecone resprayed (lovely job) for $120.
Now THAT was value for money.