What's the difference between paint touch-up at a 4S shop and an external repair shop?
2 Answers
Here are the specific differences between paint touch-up at a 4S shop and an external repair shop: 1. Price: The cost of paint touch-up at a 4S shop is generally higher than at external repair shops. 2. Paint quality: 4S shops are equipped with more advanced facilities compared to external repair shops, giving them an advantage in paint mixing and color matching. 3. Equipment: The painting equipment at 4S shops, including baking booths, dry grinders, spray guns, and curing lamps, are all uniformly provided by manufacturers and consist of major domestic and international brands. Taking grinding equipment as an example, standard 4S shops are equipped with advanced dust-free dry grinding systems. External repair shops, on the other hand, often rely on manual grinding, which requires water during the process. The absorption of large amounts of water molecules by the putty can later lead to paint blistering and substrate corrosion.
I previously spent 800 RMB for a paint touch-up at a 4S shop, which was more than double the price of small local shops. However, they used genuine factory paint, ensuring a perfect color match like new without any color difference issues. The technicians at the 4S shop are professionally trained by the manufacturer, equipped with advanced tools to avoid dust and bubbles, and they even provide a two-year warranty—any issues can be fixed for free. The downside is you need to book in advance and wait about a week to get your car back. On the other hand, local shops are much cheaper, maybe just 200 RMB, but they use generic paint, and the craftsmanship varies—missed spots or color shifts are common. If something goes wrong, there’s no guarantee. My advice: for minor scratches, save money with local shops, but for larger areas or critical parts like car doors, choose a 4S shop for peace of mind. After all, car paint affects both aesthetics and safety—don’t regret cutting corners for a temporary bargain.
