Dent/Chip repair advice

Westyfield2 · 27 Jul 2009 at 15:19

Returned to the family-wagon after being parked at the Heathrow T5 long-stay carpark for 3 weeks and commented that “the spaces here are pretty narrow”. The next morning (now it’s light and I’m awake!) I noticed a dent in the rear-passenger door..... looks just like someone’s opened their door into it. Also have noticed a scuff/scrape where someone’s opened there door into the front drivers door. Talk about unlucky!

Rear-Passenger:

Initially I was thinking about one of those Paintless-Dent-Repairs PDR (Dingmaster etc) but upon closer inspection...

It's actually chipped the paint aswell as dented the panel.

Front-Driver:

Would that machine polish out?

So.... what's the best way of repairing it?
As far as I know the options are:

Paintless-Dent Removal (Dingmaster etc) to remove the dent - which of all the PDR companies is best?
SMART to then repair the paint (ChipsAway etc) - which of all the SMART companies is best?
Local independent panel-beaters / bodyshop
BMW body shop eg Spraymaster @ Dick Lovett (a very quick email assessment for the rear door was £250 labour, £35 parts, £90 paints, for remove L.R out window mldg, repair L/R door & repair painting <50% and machine polish - this I guess is more likely to guarantee a perfect finish but is £££ )

Ideas and suggestions on which method to go and then which company to use appreciated! I know Dent Devils don't do this area :/

PiKe · 27 Jul 2009 at 15:25

There's plenty of PDR people around but as you said, it's going to leave you with a chip, I don't know if you'd get a perfect finish from anyone but a bodyshop really

Next time, don't park in the airport carpark, take a taxi down!

Batf1nk · 27 Jul 2009 at 15:37

Doesnt chipsaway do panel work (dents etc) too?

Wouldnt need to different companies/bills then.

edit

chipsaway said:
Our operators are capable of repairing everyday wear and tear to your car bodywork including: car scratch repair, bumper scuffs, stone chips, minor dents, alloy wheel repairs, and paintwork damage.

PiKe · 27 Jul 2009 at 15:39

Chipsaway don't do PDR, they fill it and paint it.

Clarkey · 27 Jul 2009 at 15:51

Drivers door will buff out i'm sure of it. As for the dent it won't make any difference to the finish if its straightened or filled to a high standard. Arguably it's better to have the metal straightened. The end result of either options shouldn't be different, depends more on the skill level of the guy/shop than the method. I doubt there would be a lot in it price wise either tbh.

Westyfield2 · 27 Jul 2009 at 19:07

Thanks for the input

I've got a bit of the drivers side door polished out, but not completely.

For the dent & chip, I reckon it's a proper bodyshop really, no point in a half-arsed man-in-a-van effort...... there's a good bodyshop here in Bath (that the local BMW use / is part of their group) and there's the Spraymaster bodyshop @ Dick Lovett in Swindon too.

The rough email estimate from one of them was £430

(inc) and will take the car to the other this week.

@PiKe: The comfort of all 4 of us and 5 suitcases is nice in the 5 touring..... but yea not sure if it's £430 nice! Taxi next time maybe...

thepharcyde · 27 Jul 2009 at 22:25

PiKe said:
Next time, don't park in the airport carpark, take a taxi down!

Bath to Heathrow? :confused:

OP, Some people are just arses, hope you get it sorted at a minimal expense.