Question regarding paint my defender.

Hi everyone.

I have a Defender 90 Tdi I have a question regarding the bodywork, as its red it has faded but can be polished up to a better standered. I am in 2 minds as to whether to hand paint it a dark red with a brush as the drivers door needs replacing anyways and there is the odd patch of surface rust here and there.

It has a nice set of grizley claw tires on it, jacked up 2 inchs winch and winch bumper, snorkel and some checkerplating here and there.

My question is that if I was to brush paint it would it devalue it as it would make it easier to repair from any offroad damage, also I believe it would give it a more rough (but fresh) look due to what its got done already???

Sorry for going on a bit but hopefully you understand what I mean.

Many Thanks.

depends on your view and age of it-personally an old one hand painted is ok

Its a G reg, as im planning on selling it in a couple of months. Wanted to know if it would devalue it?

Thanks.

not in my book if paint is crap do a search on here and your find hand painting threads

I would say devalue yes. especially with a brush! a roller maybe better, I think a good polish of the original paintwork would sell better. But I prefer original vehicles.

tits for tats.

G

Tried searching but only found where people tell you how to paint really.

It does need the drivers door replacing as it corroded outside and the inside skin in rusty so chances of finding a red 1 with similar wear and tear as bodywork will be bit hard, and like i said some rust here and there on her. Polish would work for most of it other than the bits stated.

Thanks.

Not being funny but all the "bits" you are planning to fit on it WILL NOT add more value than the cost of them all to buy, i'd save yourserlf the hassle and just sell as is.

steve-o said:

Not being funny but all the "bits" you are planning to fit on it WILL NOT add more value than the cost of them all to buy, i'd save yourserlf the hassle and just sell as is.

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The bits mentioned I fitted a long time ago but she has been standing for a while so wanted to freshen it up so I can sell it on.

and like i said some rust here and there on her

Click to expand...

If its a case of rusty body work, fixin that up will be the best way to increase its value provided you can do the work yourself to keep costs cheap.

A solid chassis and good engined defender will always be worth something, a tarted rust bucket- not much at all

Im not trying to put you off painting it.. i did it to mine nd it looks alot better for it, but in hindsight i should have sorted the real problems which i am now forced to deal with due to mot!

If you do decide to paint it, this thread might be helpful:
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f7/paint-job-28140.html

The vehicle painting pointers link within it is great, and what I have been referring to (a lot!)

Is the paintwork original? The 'rust' you mention is more likely blisters on the alloy panels or rusty hinges? A few pics would help. I would T cut it first and then look at matching the original paint. If you rub down the bubbles to the alloy you will need an etch primer.
I hand painted in original colour a 90 last year (see profile) and it looked okay. Dead easy to touch up, no worries about little scrapes and scratches.
I sold it on no problem and handed over the pot of paint with it.
I bought a 110 a few months ago, ex BT in Telecom grey. Paint is quite good except of the rear door and the front panels so I wasn't going for a full paint job. This time I spent £16 on cans, a spray etch primer and spray Telecom grey finish. I bought a tin of mat plasticoat paint for the grill and headlight surounds from Wilkinsons for £4.99.
I did the front yesterday after giving it a careful rub down. The match is very good and the finish is better than a hand painted job..... you wont get the showroom finish but for the price, bargain. If I was doing a full paint job again I would use cans.... just as easy to touch up as well.
Pics of the respray of the front.... the spraying of the grill and light surounds made a huge difference. Doing the back door when it stops raining!

we need photos. i'd say tidied up original paint is the way to go. a bad respray or brush job will look so so much worse!

having said that i'm spraying mine nato green when i get the time as it looks proper scruffy. so if it looks worse than mine, go for it!

NOTHING could be worse than that

mechanically spot on mind now that near everything has been replaced!

nato green will hide all sorts of sins!! other side looks worse!, but has a blue door at least, just the wrong blue!!
check out my roof!!

The ripple effect is quite fetching Steve.... just make sure you clean the gutters as they can be seen from bedroom windows. Cow **** green (Nato) is most certainly the way forward New stickers...ebay, perfect!