[Mojodiva]

My husband was the one who really, really liked the Solid Gold. I think its fine and Im happy with Elvis. But I have been considering repainting Elvis later on down the road...I really like that Electric Blue and Hyper Blue....of course I'd be keeping the roof black. Thought of doing black flames on the sides and/or bonnet....

Has anyone else repainted their MINI after purchase? Or considered doing it?

Am I looking at about $500-$1000 to do this if I go ahead?

Or do you think I'm nuts?

[stryder]

I think you're nuts

I think you'd get a mediocre paint job for $1000, for one. And for two, especially if you paint the car a 'stock' color you're just throwing money away. Any repainted car will lose value, unless you spend so much money on the paint its amazing (like some of the flip colors that change depending on view), in which case the car still won't be worth its purchase price + the painting costs, it'll just be worth more then you purchased it for.

If you want another stock color, just sell poor elvis to a good loving home, and buy another one in the color you want. Or just get some stick on vinyl decals made up, and you can add flames or anything else you want for effect, and not destroy the value of the car by touching the perfectly good paint.

The only MINIS I've seen painted are Apple (dcfkan's car), which has a green roof so just the roof was resprayed, and the countless cars from auto shows, where they were trying to impress people with the paint jobs, but really are just selling some other product, like audio or wheels or something. In theory there are the UK Flip colors available for '05 that will be a dealer respray, but those will cost GBP3500, which is well over $5K, just for paint.

[Mojodiva]

Wow!
Thanks for the info...I really wasn't sure how it worked and had no idea it would hurt the resale value. And the cost..ok that's nuts!
Yes, I think when Elvis is paid off, I will either trade him in on a new one or give him to my teenager (who starts driving our van next year LOL) and just buy a new MINI.

I am so attached to him that the thought of trading him makes my heartache. However, hubby says we may end up in japan for 6 years and I can't see having Elvis sit in storage with nothing to do. I would definately much rather give him to a good loving home.

I will keep this place in mind if I have to sell.

Thanks so much stryder- exactly what I needed to know.

[KenL]

Defintitely sell the one you have and buy another in the colour you like. It will be worth it in the long run.

[gazah]

for a semi-temporary change you could consider a vinyl 'wrap'... i would think a solid colour would be pretty cheap, or go for an interesting design!

this MINI was BRG...



this one was solid black...



& BRG --> DS 'in progress'...



images courtesy of MINI2er alexpalex who should be able to give you a little/lot more info!

[AmRov]

I've talked to a body shop owner recently, and he commented that he charges $2500-3000 to repaint an entire car. I don't think there would be a discount for a MINI, b/c most of the charge is labor for prep.

Repainting a car can affect resale value -- sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, depending on the job. I would think a straight color change would negatively affect resale. And you can definitely tell if a car has been repainted.

I agree with the foregoing advice -- enjoy "Elvis" (cool name) as long as you can, and when you need a new color, go for a new MINI.

[Mojodiva]

Thanks so much for enlightening me, everyone!

This is my first new car and honestly, I am still learning about resale values, care of it and what options I do have.

Thanks so much for the links to the Vinyl wraps, gazah! That is definately something I could look into for a change, just like you said.

I saw a lovely velvet red last night (online) and I just sighed. What a pretty color!


AMRove- thanks for complimenting Elvis's name. I took one look at the Solid Gold and immediately thought of Elvis in his Gold Lame suit, swivelling and rocking with his black hair bebopping...it suits the car, it really does! And my MA was thrilled to death- I didn't know he was an Elvis fanatic. LOL

I am sooo rady to take the road trip with my kids next week. The kids ahve even requested we make an Elvis CD to take along, so I've been putting that together. Definately will be listening to it when we hit Tennesee.

Again, thanks for all the info and opinions, this site is always wonderful!