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Dent Fixing?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by AlphaTeam, Jul 27, 2006.

  1. AlphaTeam

    AlphaTeam Member

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    I got a minor ding in my car the other day. It is a narrow line about 6-7 inches long. It is very shallow, but noticable (well to anal retentive me it is.)

    I took it to the body shop and for $380 they can pull it out, repaint, refinish and all that. He says it will be completely unnoticeable.
    for $120 the auto body guy knows someone who will go from behind and push it out. He does it slowly and he says that it is "almost to completly" unoticeable.

    Insurance will not pay for it. (That is another story, so don't ask)

    Has anyone heard of this?
    And if so what is your experence with the push out part.
     
  2. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    because of the metal used on the door panels (i forget which it is), pushing the dent out is harder than usual. DH did that with our first ding (it was a bad one) and it took a while but looks pretty good, you have to look hard to see it.
     
  3. tacomel

    tacomel New Member

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    Never on the Prius, but my previous car (Honda Civic) had several door dings. As long as the paint is not affected, "paintless dent repair" -- your $120 option -- works fine. To me the doors looked in mint condition after this repair.

    When (not if, when, unfortunately, in this world) my Prius is similarly afflicted, I'd do it again.

    Paintless dent repair places are abundant. You're not locked in to your body shop's reference. Whoever you choose should be able to guarantee that it'll be restored to 100% of original, or 90%, or whatever, prior to doing the job.
     
  4. mike_m

    mike_m New Member

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  5. AlphaTeam

    AlphaTeam Member

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    This is just above the rear whell on the drivers side.
    No paint is missing or anything. Just a minor ding. So I guess I'll try the paintless kind.

    I always park far away from everyone else too. I snuck in behind 2 trucks that were pulling campers. I was still a good ways away....or so I thought I was. Must not have seen me. THat will teach me.
     
  6. edselpdx

    edselpdx Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mike_m @ Jul 27 2006, 12:09 PM) [snapback]293338[/snapback]</div>
    I am suspicious of anyone who charges more in "shipping" than for the item. Same folks, current item: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...MOBOX%3ANEWLIST

    The ebay feedback looks pretty good, but why $10 shipping on a $9 item?
     
  7. brandon

    brandon Member

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    A few months back I had a body shop push a door ding out of the passenger door using the paintless dent repair process. It was in the approximate center of the door, so it was fairly easy to access through the window. Cost about $80, and I can't see where the dent ever existed.

    One thing: have them examine the dent first. If the metal is creased, paintless dent repair may not be an effective option. Some dents are better candidates than others, but when it is feasible to use paintless dent repair, it works great!
     
  8. mike_m

    mike_m New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(edselpdx @ Jul 27 2006, 10:55 PM) [snapback]293618[/snapback]</div>

    Just for the record, this is not my auction. It's really simple: It works out the same price for the buyer, but the seller gets to keep more of his money. The more an item sells for, the more a seller pays in Ebay and Paypal fees. However, they are not charged any commission on shipping charges. So, they sell for less to avoid Eaby fees, and you pay the higher shipping. Make sense? It's really crafty. ;)
     
  9. archermoo

    archermoo New Member

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    Not to mention that it makes the price look lower, which is especially important when other people are selling a similar product. People selling stuff on the internet have been doing this kind of stuff about as long as stuff has been sold on the internet.
     
  10. mssmith95

    mssmith95 Michael

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    I too have used a dent guy (normally around 100-150 per dent, but if you have more then one they will usually give you a package price).

    They did a good job, however, like some others have mentioned, not all of the dents are fixable this way. They have to have open access to the back of the area with the dent, and it can not be double steel, have any welds, rivets, brackets, etc. If it does, then you have to fix it from on top.
     
  11. Ichabod

    Ichabod Artist In Residence

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    You can BUY stuff?? on the INTERNETT???

    I thought that was just for playing Zork or something...

    I hope I don't have to test my luck with any method of dent-removal any time soon!
     
  12. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ichabod @ Jul 27 2006, 09:21 PM) [snapback]293644[/snapback]</div>
    The Internet Is For Porn. There's a hit Broadway song about it... Do a search on iTunes if you don't believe me.
     
  13. AlphaTeam

    AlphaTeam Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ Jul 28 2006, 04:04 AM) [snapback]293711[/snapback]</div>
    There's porn on the internets!!!
    That is an outrage.
     
  14. Ichabod

    Ichabod Artist In Residence

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    I did know that the internet is for porn. And I've seen Avenue Q too!
     
  15. rufaro

    rufaro WeePoo, Gen II

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    Ad links from the bottom of this page just now:

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    Online Information for Paintless Dent Removal
    www.Shopica.com
    Paintless Dent Repairs
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    Autobody Dent Pullers.
    Glue, Weld, and Suction types. 30,000 Tools for Pro Auto Service.
    www.toolsource.com

    So...what do we need personal info from fellow PCers for anyway? :rolleyes:
     
  16. hwalker911

    hwalker911 New Member

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    I used a company called Dent Wizard a few years back to repair a door on my Chevy truck, they did a great jub for about $100 bucks. You might try looking them up on line.

    Happy Motoring!
     
  17. c4

    c4 Active Member

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    Another vote for the "Ding King" kit.. You may end up repeating the glue and pull sequence many times, but it does work on any dent where there is no creasing..
     
  18. Ichabod

    Ichabod Artist In Residence

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    AARRGGHH!!! A frickin' dent showed up in my driver's side fender. It's small, maybe the size of a quarter, but there's also a scuff in the clearcoat. Looks like someone's door hit it, but it's in a spot that door moldings wouldn't have protected from, and I wonder how someone's door got that far forward.

    SO, I think I'll give the Ding King a shot unless anyone thinks that would be a huge mistake.

    Also, any advice on fixing the blemish in the clearcoat would be appreciated.
     
  19. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ichabod @ Sep 7 2006, 09:58 PM) [snapback]316137[/snapback]</div>

    Start with ScratchX. Removing scratches by hand.

    If that doesn't work, you'd need a dual action polisher and something more aggressive, like #80. There's plenty of info at Meguiars.com.

    Or you can always find a detailer and see if they can polish it out.
     
  20. johnfried

    johnfried New Member

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    How did it come out. I have a nice sized dent in the same spot...Thinking about buying Ding King....or having it pushed out....help!