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Cascade
Newbie
Posts: 15
Registered: 5-7-2010
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Auto paint job in TJ - can you save MAJOR money and is it worth it?
Hi everyone, I just found this board and I have a question about body shops in Tijuana. I have an old Mustang V8 that needs a complete, high quality
paint job. The type of job where the painter would strip off all the trim before they paint it. That type of work would cost right around $3000 in the
U.S. From what I read (and experienced Baja vets know this) back in the 60's Americans used to flock to TJ to get a paint job. From what I gather, and
for whatever reason, that is no longer the case (I checked the Tijuana Craigslist and there was not one ad listed for a TJ auto body shop!). Has
anyone here had their car painted in Tijuana and if so how was your experience? Am I seeking something that's impossible to attain, a $3000 paint job
for one third the cost?
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: thriving in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cascade
Hi everyone, I just found this board and I have a question about body shops in Tijuana. I have an old Mustang V8 that needs a complete, high quality
paint job. The type of job where the painter would strip off all the trim before they paint it. That type of work would cost right around $3000 in the
U.S. From what I read (and experienced Baja vets know this) back in the 60's Americans used to flock to TJ to get a paint job. From what I gather, and
for whatever reason, that is no longer the case (I checked the Tijuana Craigslist and there was not one ad listed for a TJ auto body shop!). Has
anyone here had their car painted in Tijuana and if so how was your experience? Am I seeking something that's impossible to attain, a $3000 paint job
for one third the cost? |
Which third of the car do you want to have painted
Bob Durrell
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bonanzapilot
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 8-5-2009
Member Is Offline
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I have to chime in here... and tell you about my experiences in painting a nice Toyota 4-Runner. I was living in Mulege, so ordered and picked up the
factory color from a USA paint shop...took it to the guy on Ice House road for a blend in on a small repair on the rear...What a mess! the color,
Toyota silver, was about 5 shades off, looked more like primer than finish.
Back in the USA, rechecked the paint book, confirmed the correct color, now two gallons, back to Mexico... and this time the dealer in La Paz. The
quote was $1500 US. I was waiting the week out at a hotel, and with nothing better to do than check on the progress, went to the dealer's shop....No
4-Runner! With help from my friend, Saul Arnout Salgado, was given an address where the car was supposed to be. Turned out to be a shade tree in a bad
part of town, where the car was being "prepped" by a sub-contractor, whose work was equalivalent to a 10 year old's. Took the car, over a big
argument, back to the dealer. Following a small amount of additional prep work, the car was painted the following day. End result... a really crappy
job, silver is hard to apply and look like factory, it seems. I should have driven it back to the USA and had Earl Schieb do it! Do not paint your car
in Mexico ! There may be some good work done there, but I have never seen it.
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El Comadante Loco
Nomad
Posts: 274
Registered: 6-12-2004
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Had a large dent taken out of the bed of my 95 Nissan PU and had the bed repainted in Mexicali by a shop that has done good quality work for me in the
past and have had no problems with the workman ship or the quality of pain. Cost $250.. Yes I am cheap!!!
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pangamadness
Nomad
Posts: 378
Registered: 9-22-2003
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Mood: Under H20
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I took my 3/4 ton ford truck to TJ about 5 or more years ago and I paid $1500 for Upholstery, lots of body work, and paint. I was happy, would have
been 3 to 4 K in the states.
I droped the truck off and walked back to the boarder ten took the trolly home. It took a while so I went down by trolly to check up once in a awhile.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Welcome to BajaNomad, Cascade.
Sounds like you have a car to be proud of which makes me think you may want to haul it to TJ on a trailer for a paint job.
Just to let you know, they won't let you through the border unless the car is on it's own wheels. [I know, for those who are sayin'....but this isn't
a race car]
Anyway, keep it in mind.
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Cascade
Newbie
Posts: 15
Registered: 5-7-2010
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| Quote: | Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Which third of the car do you want to have painted |
It's a convertible that needs a FULL paint job, from end to end.
[Edited on 5-7-2010 by Cascade]
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k-rico
Super Nomad
Posts: 2079
Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
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I live in Playas de Tijuana and had my F-150 painted at a very busy collision shop on Paseo Playas de Tijuana. No body work was required but the
original paint was all oxidized and there was surface rust. $800 and I'm happy with the work. No runs, orange peel and 4 years later it looks great.
There is also a specialty shop on the same street that does high end custom work - fancy low riders, classic car restorations, etc. Probably
expensive.
map link
U2U me if you want more info.
[Edited on 5-7-2010 by k-rico]
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Cascade
Newbie
Posts: 15
Registered: 5-7-2010
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Welcome to BajaNomad, Cascade.
Sounds like you have a car to be proud of which makes me think you may want to haul it to TJ on a trailer for a paint job.
Just to let you know, they won't let you through the border unless the car is on it's own wheels. [I know, for those who are sayin'....but this isn't
a race car]
Anyway, keep it in mind. |
Well no, if I go through with this, I was thinking of driving it in to Tijuana as opposed to towing it.
Thanks for the welcome 
[Edited on 5-7-2010 by Cascade]
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13052
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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welcome to nomadlandia Cascade...this sounds like a job for Ferna...he's a great nomad who lives in TJ...maybe somebody here can hook you up with him
as I havent seen him post in awhile...hope he is OK! If you contact him, he will help you find the right place and you'll make a new friend in the
deal!
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Alan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1628
Registered: 4-6-2005
Location: Yucaipa, CA/La Paz
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Welcome to BajaNomad, Cascade.
Sounds like you have a car to be proud of which makes me think you may want to haul it to TJ on a trailer for a paint job.
Just to let you know, they won't let you through the border unless the car is on it's own wheels. [I know, for those who are sayin'....but this isn't
a race car]
Anyway, keep it in mind. |
This caught me by surprise. I am about to tow my jeep to La Paz behind my truck.
It will be flat towed (wheels on ground) with just a tow bar and not on a trailer. Are there going to be issues? I used to tow my sandrail down on a
trailer for many years and never had an issue. I suppose I could just unhook and drive it across with another driver but obviously would rather not.
In Memory of E-57
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Alan
This caught me by surprise. I am about to tow my jeep to La Paz behind my truck. It will be flat towed (wheels on ground) with just a tow bar and
not on a trailer. Are there going to be issues? I used to tow my sandrail down on a trailer for many years and never had an issue. I suppose I
could just unhook and drive it across with another driver but obviously would rather not. |
I don't think you'll have a problem with that. Motorhomes do it all the time. The problem in the past was with passenger cars being trailered in.
For some reason they didn't like that. They probably figured the car would never leave the country.
Who knows???? Maybe this has changed like everything else.
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BJSoccer16
Junior Nomad
Posts: 29
Registered: 3-21-2009
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| Quote: | Originally posted by k-rico
I live in Playas de Tijuana and had my F-150 painted at a very busy collision shop on Paseo Playas de Tijuana. No body work was required but the
original paint was all oxidized and there was surface rust. $800 and I'm happy with the work. No runs, orange peel and 4 years later it looks great.
There is also a specialty shop on the same street that does high end custom work - fancy low riders, classic car restorations, etc. Probably
expensive.
map link
U2U me if you want more info.
[Edited on 5-7-2010 by k-rico] |
I second this recommendation. It is right next to a fish taco stand. Cars go in there mangled and come out looking new (including the paint job).
If you don't choose this place; pick one where you can see the work they do as I have seen many poorly painted cars on the road
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Cascade
Newbie
Posts: 15
Registered: 5-7-2010
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| Quote: | Originally posted by pangamadness
I took my 3/4 ton ford truck to TJ about 5 or more years ago and I paid $1500 for Upholstery, lots of body work, and paint. I was happy, would have
been 3 to 4 K in the states.
I droped the truck off and walked back to the boarder ten took the trolly home. It took a while so I went down by trolly to check up once in a awhile.
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So the body shop kept your Ford overnight for several nights, sounds like. While the body shop worked on it, you, and your car, slept apart from each
other in different countries. Did you sleep good at night? At that point did you feel like you were playing Russian Roulette? Were you worried that
your truck might not have been there when you went back? I mean, Americans in our position wonder about the possibility of the body shop hooking up
with an auto thief and convieniantly 'arranging' to have the customers car stolen. That's a serious concern, especially if you have a car that's known
for having a following of hard-core enthusiasts the way old Mustangs and Camaros do.
BTW, since it's been 5 years since you had the work done, did the new paint ever chip and fade say like a year or two later down the road? (I had one
American body shop this morning in San Diego tell me that's what would happen if you have your car painted in Tijuana, he said that the car will look
great when they're done with it but the paint won't last longer than a year).
[Edited on 5-7-2010 by Cascade]
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Just my 2 cents, but having that classic painted SOB is just like building a house SOB.
I would pick a shop with good local & Nomad recommendations and find a place where I could visit it everyday to check the work being done.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
Just my 2 cents, but having that classic painted SOB is just like building a house SOB.
I would pick a shop with good local & Nomad recommendations and find a place where I could visit it everyday to check the work being done.
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You could put a web-cam in the paint shop so you could share in the excitment while they removed all those panels and stuffed packages in the
compartments before welding the panels back on....and painting them. 
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Cascade
Newbie
Posts: 15
Registered: 5-7-2010
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by k-rico
I live in Playas de Tijuana and had my F-150 painted at a very busy collision shop on Paseo Playas de Tijuana. No body work was required but the
original paint was all oxidized and there was surface rust. $800 and I'm happy with the work. No runs, orange peel and 4 years later it looks great.
There is also a specialty shop on the same street that does high end custom work - fancy low riders, classic car restorations, etc. Probably
expensive.
map link
U2U me if you want more info.
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Do you have an address for these two shops, and a cross street? Are these two shops located near the beach / old bull ring? I might go check 'em out
so I'll need an address or something to tell the taxi driver where I need to go.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cascade
I have an old Mustang V8 that needs a complete, high quality paint job. The type of job where the painter would strip off all the trim before they
paint it. That type of work would cost right around $3000 in the U.S.
Am I seeking something that's impossible to attain, a $3000 paint job for one third the cost? |
has anyone ever heard of getting something for nothing? too good to be true?
yeah, leave your car down there and come back for it in a week. when it's not there, wha 'chu gonna do? call a cop?   
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cascade
old bull ring? |
I thought they tore the OLD bullring down. The one at Playas is the new ring.
Might be good to know when you want a cab driver to take you there.
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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the 3000 you would pay in the states probably includes a fair chunk towards the facility/paint booth/quality paint/security/'malpractice'
insurance/living wages for employees/health insurance, benefits, etc. (or not, but am assuming your quote is for a reliable place). if you aren't
pleased with the results, or your car disappears or is damaged, you have options, legal and otherwise, in a country and language you can understand.
all bets are off for guarantees and recovery in Mexico. if you want to try it, get the best Nomad recommendations you can. something tells me you
aren't going to sleep well at night until the 'baby' is well painted and safely back in your possession. question is, how much is that worth to you?
only you can tell.
I'd paint a car down here, but I'm not likely to drive anything in Mexico that I worried about. pre-dented and pre-scratched and two tone is fine
with me....
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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