Any idea how much it’ll cost to fix this?

[TeddyRuxpin]

Hi all,

My car is a 59 so it wasn't perfect when I got it, but this happened the other day, a ‘hit and run’ as they say…

I’m used to working on cars and into detailing but (luckily) this is the first bodywork damage I’ve ever had, and don’t know any body shops in Cardiff or West-ish London or nearby. So I’m pretty clueless how much these things cost and how good the results can be. The car has some other imperfections, too, which I could potentially get looked at, depending on the cost.

I’ll post pictures of the damage after claying (was hoping all the white marks were just paint transfer), and then after a hand polish.

Cheers!

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

After a wash and claying

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Here are some pics after hand polishing. Didn’t get the DA out because I can see that it’s taken off the clear coat. So, it looks like there’s the dent and the rest is damage to the clear coat. Don’t think anything has gone to bare metal.

Obviously I could try a DIY glue/pulling kit for the dent and then taking it for someone to respray clear coat (or sanding and DIYing if the cost is unreasonable)? There are actually a few spots on the car where there’s no clear coat, I have no idea how easy it is to apply yourself.

Has anyone used the DIY glue kits or is it best to leave it to the pros?

Anyway, I don't know much about bodywork - this is the level of the damage, has anybody had a similar scrape and if so, what did it cost to fix?

Now I’m off to fit my new dash cam…

Ed

 

[Bigdrew]

Probably better taking it to get resprayed

 

[Smiley]

The dent has creased the metal too much for it to pull out with a DIY glue kit; all you will do is make a mess of the paint. A body shop will be able to get some of the dent out and then fill and paint. It is going to be several hundred pounds because the whole of the lower door(s) will need doing - and light metallics are harder to match / blend so the small dent leads to a large area of new paint. If the exisiting paint is original and all matches well - and the car is over 10 years old why not just leave it? It's not doing an harm like that; looks a lot better after you polished the scratches out.

 

[MrGreedy]

Hey there,

Given that I had a bumper off, plastic fill/weld and respray for around £300, and it is a great job, I'd suggest leaving it with a well trusted body shop.

Doors on the car plus some masking? A bit of dent pulling and a respray? A bit of filling and some sanding?

Dare I say it might be a similar cost for a great finish?

Keeping finger's crossed for you buddy

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Hi all, will respond properly soon, but just a few quick points:

1) I've seen similar/deeper dents being pulled with those kits on videos on youtube?

2) If it's just the clear coat that has come off, why can't it just be sanded and then sprayed with clear coat, rather than a full respray? Again, I've seen videos of clear coat being reapplied (after sanding) in spots where it's peeled off, so why are these scratches in the clear coat different?

3) Great body shop suggestions welcome!

Thanks, and excuse my ignorance!

 

[ray_hennig]

My car is a 59

Looks a lot newer than that!!!

R

 

[Martin 1]

Hi, that looks like a perfect example of what the dent repair guys can sort out. They're amazingly skilled and don't cost a lot, and, they come to you. Good luck. PS, whose in favour of bringing back hanging ?

 

[st13phil]

Sharp-edged dents are always more difficult because the metal is stretched locally, and that's in a location where the double-skin of the door is very close meaning access from behind is probably impossible. Nevertheless, it's worth asking a paintless dent removal guy to take a look at it and confirm either way.

Regarding the paint / clearcoat, the new paint could be lost at the chrome trim line and upper swage line but will need a blend into the front door or will stick out like a sore thumb. Either way, best left to a professional and if it's going to have paint then they may as well deal with the dent too.

 

[woodysl]

My wife is great at denting panels, she has a season ticket for my local bodyshop. He charges roughly £200 per panel to repair and repaint

 

[astamir]

where are you located please?

 

[Deleted member 159894]

£445.78

 

[neilrr]

Buy a couple of doors in the right colour from a scrapyard & 2 or 3 hours labour later you're as good as new.

 

[DetailerDan]

Buy a couple of doors in the right colour from a scrapyard & 2 or 3 hours labour later you're as good as new.

You would be really lucky to get a perfect edge to edge match though especially with silver and the age of the car