Hi all, my 2008 X Type has a bad case of stone chipping to the front of the bonnet, I'm just weighing things up respray or maybe searching for a replacement bonnet the same colour, dose none know if the bonnet has changed over he lat few years and how far can I go back with my search, wold be greatfull for any help, and if any one has had a bonnet respray what. Cost was .

Hi Burl,

 

I bought my S-Type this time last year.  Generally the bodywork was in very good condition but there were some huge stone chips on the bonnet, when I say stone chips, they were quarries.  There were three of them within a 10cm circle, the biggest was 20mm across and 15mm wide and they were down to the metal.  The previous owner had them painted - it was a good match but you could see the different layers of paint/laquer.

 

While not outrageous, especially from a distance, the sun in your eyes, squinting, maybe covered in snow ;).  I knew I couldn't live with it, thankfully I received a nice bonus from work so got in touch with a company to sort it out.  Hoping they were going to address only the quarries illustrated my naivety, the gentleman in question explained the limited success of such and approach and suggested the only way to attain complete success was to respray the whole bonnet.

 

A few days later my car was returned - outstanding job and £350 lighter .  As I intend to keep this car for at least five years, it is money well spent to retain my sanity .

 

Best regards,

Dave

Have a few bits and pieces to do before bonnet, have a jagman local how dismantles and restores, so will be dropping in to see him drop my shopping list off, untill I get it sorted I will keep applying the wax

Wax mmmmmmm      :rolleyes:    

 

Wax is good :D  :D  :D  B)  

My brother in law is a body repair specialist and he says a complete bonnet respray would cost about £150.

 

Better than replacing the bonnet surely!

 

Regards

 

Paul

True however all my quotes have been around the £300 mark

If stone chips are a big issue for you I'd recommend getting a protective cover put over the front end once you've had it re-sprayed. 3M do them: http://writeonmotoring.com/features/how-to-protect-your-bmws-bodywork-from-stone-chips. Alternatively you could get a vinyl wrap over the whole thing that would set you back about £1500/ £2000 :P