Question regarding repaint options

Hello!
I have a 2015 Tacoma with Magnetic Gray Metallic paint.

I've gathered that this paint will eventually fade all over the place and that's ok.

Currently, the only area that is fading is the roof.

I have been to 3 different collision/auto body/paint places in town, all are reputable.

Here are the three quotes (rounding), 2,800, 2,400, and 1,400.

The two most expensive quotes want to remove the front and rear windows to paint under the seals.

All three want to drop the headliner to remove the antenna on the roof.

The most inexpensive quote does not want to remove either the front or rear window, they want to quote "gently peel the seals back if they can to prep the paint and tape off in order to get the paint as far under the seals as possible without removing them."

I want to make a decision soon as I don't want to think on this forever but I do not have knowledge on paint and what will be a good job.
I have spoken with numerous people I know and their opinions are split. some would go with the one that will remove the windows as they think that appears to be the most thorough thing to do.
Others, don't see any reason to remove the seals because they view the seals as protecting the paint that is currently there and don't understand why that extra work needs to be performed.

A side note if this applies; It is incredibly hot and the sun is very intense where I live and the winters rarely go under 35F.

All shops have offer a lifetime warranty on their paint.

What is your opinion on this? Have you had to have your roof painted? What did you go with and has it held up?

Thank you for reading and sharing your experience!
-Steven

 

Just my opinion, but the paint isn't failing because of rust and corrosion. It's getting baked out by the sun.
For that reason, I agree with NOT removing the windows. I'd be reluctant to break that factory seal anyway.
I'd go with the inexpensive one since you can't see the roof anyway.
Actually, I'd do it myself with a cheap gun from HF. Watch a couple of YT videos.

 

Personally I fall in the club of removing the front/rear windows but that’s me.

 

Hey Winkel and Gotoman1969, thank you for the replies.

Winkel, you wouldn't be concerned with the paint under the seals potentially going bad like the exposed paint is? Mainly concerned with rusting if it gets bad right?

Gotoman1969, what are your thoughts on going that route? What would be the deciding factor(s) for you?

 

My deciding factor is I dont like tape lines. It always leaves an edge for paint to peel. Plus for them to really pull the seals back far enough the seals may never sit flat again. Imo pulling the windows and taping the opening allows for them to paint into the window channel. The when the windows are sealed back in the minimal tape edge is sealed under the window sealing.

 

I would do this too, in fact I just did it to my own black sand pearl roof that faded all the way to bare metal and rust due to the po's negligence. A piece of string pushed under the window seal made it so the paint did get behind it. The paint under the seals was in great shape since it never saw uv exposure.

 

Painting under the seals is very common and there are accepted techniques for doing it. If it's done correctly With the cord like was mentioned you'll never be able to tell unless you fold the seal way back. It's usually cost prohibitive to remove the windows in an older vehicle as evident by the quotes you're getting.