My 2004 Rx-8's front bumper paint has taken a huge hit due to the sun here in Sacramento. I called up local body shops that quoted me north of $500 to $600 to repaint it.

I then called a random mobile auto body guy on Craigslist and got quoted for $260 to match the Brilliant Black color, and he said he could do it in an hour. What makes me nervous is that the other body shops told me it would be a one day job. And I thought sanding and priming took an hour by itself. How can this Craigslist guy do all that AND paint it in an hour? Is this a near-scam job?

 

I wouldn't go for it if it was my car.

Granted, Brilliant Black would be the easiest color to match, but still.... nope, not me.

 

Do you think it would a better idea to just buy a new stock front bumper online for around $200 - $300 and just replace my old bumper? With no complications?

 

I think new bumpers don't come painted.

Your next best bet is finding a junked 8 with the same paint and a good front bumper.

Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market

 

Most mobile guys job is to do work quick for dealers. The car doesn't have to look new just good enough. If you look close there will be imperfections but standing a few feet away it will look fine. They might not even sand anything, just scuff the paint and start spraying. I've seen a few craigslist cars where if you look you can see paint chips in the old paint that were just painted over, most of the time right after the person tells you it has a high quality repaint lol.

 

I got a craigslist mobile paint guy to touch up my Mazda 6 years ago. Idiots ruined the car. No clearcoat, overspray everywhere. I had to sell it, I hated it so much. Dealer made me an offer at sunset, and he was too short to see the roof! Anyway don’t trust Craigslist mobile, get a real body shop. FYI I just got a hood sanded and repainted and it cost me 500, so 260 seems too good to be true. 5 or 6 seems right, considering you have to mask off headlights and stuff.

 

I was quoted $600 from a good shop almost 6 years ago, and that was if I took the bumper off and brought it in.
If you can get a good reputable shop to do it for $500, I'd take it.

 

Ask him how many sharpies it will take.