Roof damage - tree branch

[Johnny Leon]

A large (4" diameter) branch snapped off a tree and landed on my roof whilst parked and has put lots of dents in the roof. Bad luck, but given my wife and I were stood behind the car at the time very lucky too.

Branch looks to have landed diagonally across the roof with rear roof corner taking the main hit. No paint damage but looks like being a b****r for dents to be removed, especially the main one given its on a curve, as is a smaller one above the drivers door on the other side. There's a number of smaller dents that might pop out but also a slight crease across about 10" of the roof. Difficult to catch on camera but ...

http://s285.photobucket.com/user/Johnny-Leon/media/Roof%20damage/P1040336_zps9gfx1wlo.jpg.html

http://s285.photobucket.com/user/Johnny-Leon/media/Roof%20damage/P1040338_zpsskx7occx.jpg.html

Car's only 18 months old. My total accidental damage excess is only £50 and I've got protected no-claims so looks like this'll be the way to go to get it repaired, accepting that my premium will still go up. Might get a dent removal place to have a look first to see what they think they could do and for how much.

Anyone recommend a place in Preston/Blackpool area ?

 

[SRGTD]

Wow! Glad you and your wife are safe and uninjured. Easier to repair a car than a person.

The dents look quite smooth indentations. I'd have thought that if there aren't any strengthening supports between the roof panel and headlining preventing access to the damaged areas, it should be possible for a good paintless dent repairer to remove those. Sorry, can't recommend anyone as I'm not from Preston/Blackpool area.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

 

[Johnny Leon]

Thanks SRGTD - makes me feel sick when I think of what could have been. We'd just returned from a 4 hour walk, popped the boot to change our footwear and a minute later the branch fell from about 20ft up and broke apart on the roof with the pieces landing around us.

Regarding repair I think these two smaller dents above the passenger door might be the most difficult for a PDR

http://s285.photobucket.com/user/Johnny-Leon/media/Roof damage/P1040343_zpsseaswfem.jpg.html

 

[slamka33]

I had the same accident with my previous car.
But as it was already quite old one, I refused to repair it. It did not break the paining, so no problem with corrosion.

There is a possibility to repair such damages with paintless dent repair methodology.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT93P71alHs
Check your local garages if there is somebody with this know-how.
Sure, two dents on doors are I think unrepairable with PDR...

But if you had insurance (I am pretty sure you have), just go to the dealer and let them repair it for you via insurance.

 

[niggle]

I suspect that the the roof skin is stretched too much for panel beating/PDR and a new roof skin will need to be bonded on. With the roof skin off the PDR guy might be able to get into the C pillar and pop the dents out there.

 

[Seastormer]

If Dent Devil's are in your area, they are one of the best

 

[Omen]

I think it can be repaired. Have a look at Matt's VLOG of his Porsche roof which was repaired after some idiot jumped on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnTqfwMy6Uc

Hopefully this will give you some reassurance. Unfortunately the company he used appears to be 3 hours drive from you.

 

[Johnny Leon]

Thanks for the replies.

Now noticed the branch also damaged edge of bootlid as this was open at the time, but at least it stopped the branch landing on us.

Initial views I've had are that PDR alone won't do it. A couple of the dents are in places that can't be got to internally and the crease has stretched the metal. Bodyshops aren't confident in repairing roof 100% given the panel flexes easily. Hate the thought but appears I'm going to have to have roof panel replaced, hence an insurance job.

 

[lil3520]

Sorry to hear that.
So glad you were not hurt.

Andy

 

[Johnny Leon]

An update :-
As well as the roof I also found the tailgate lip had been bent over as it was open at the time and obviously took a big hit from the branch too.

I paid 3 bodyshops a visit and sent photos to a PDR specialist and all said the roof panel would need replacing and roof rails filling and respraying. Quotes were £4k+ and 3 weeks work. I'd found another PDR specialist http://www.tdngroup.co.uk/ and a local specialist http://www.tdngroup.co.uk/tdn-certified-technician/mark-monks . Mark came to look at the car and said he was confident of getting 90% of the roof/rail damage out but may be left with slight dent/crease.

Given the tailgate needed a bodyshop's attention anyway it was going to be an insurance job either way, however I hated the thought of the roof panel being ripped out and whether the car would ever be the same again. TBH I was happier to take chance of being left with a minor dent.

Took car into Cragg & Roberts in Preston who work with Mark and got it back after 4 days work. New tailgate and Mark PDR’ed all the dents and incredibly has managed to tease them all out. I’ve been looking at it for ages and honestly can’t spot there’s ever been any damage. Impressive stuff so would highly recommend giving him a call if you need any PDR work (or if you’re not round Preston look up the tdn group) or Cragg & Roberts if you need a bodyshop.

 

[SRGTD]

Glad you got it sorted Johnny and that the PDR option worked.