Advice Needed Please - Minor Dent Removal

[zephead]

Afternoon All,

I wasn't quite sure where to post this question (car care & detailing?) but I figured there'd be enough MK2 owners with the relevant knwoledge.

I was hoping that somebody may be able to give me some advice with regard to minor dent removal. I picked up my Leon K1 last week and I’ve noticed today that some careless (why are there so many about?????) has obviously let his/her door clunk against one of my rear doors. It has left a very shallow 1” vertical dent on the skin and to be honest, you could point it out to somebody and they’d probably say “is that it?”. However, I know it’s there and when the car is clean and the sun is shining, it’s one of those imperfections that really starts to bug you. I’m always careful (some would say pedantic) about where I park but my cars always seem to act as a magnet for the careless brigade; it annoys the hell out of me!

Anyway, I’ve read about various methods of dent removal and checked out the websites of people like Chips Away, Dent Busters, etc but I’d be grateful if anybody could recommend a suitable method/service provider that they may have used. Or should I really just be going to a specialist bodywork repair centre?

Thanks in advance!

Keith.

 

[nc30rider]

I am a spray painter by trade.
Whatever you do DON'T get a paintless dent repair or 'Chips away' type repair done.
I've seen some pretty poor stuff done by them. Fine for sales cars etc, but not your pride and joy
If the car means that much to you, get a good highly recommended body-shop to paint it for you.
Costs more but if the people doing the job are good, it will be as good as new and you will not be able to tell it has been done.

 

[zephead]

Thanks very much for the advice nc30Rider.

(I also forgot to mention that there is no paint damage, just a faint dent)

 

[jezyg]

If there is no actual paint damage depending on the location paintless dent removal may be the best and cheapest option.

Sadly an umbrella fell down from the rafters in the garage onto the roof of my 3 month old 118d. It was quite nasty and being the roof very thin metal and notorious for being hard to remove. Anyhow the dent guy did an A1 job and I am very fussy he said he could still see it very faintly but I could not see it at all.

 

[NeilW]

I wouldn't bother personally. It's bad enough having a minor dent which probably only you notice. Imagine how annoying it would be to fork out £50-£100 to have it fixed only for some numpty to do it again next time you park up.

I'd just live with it, try to park away from all the knob jockeys where possible, and accept that this is an unfortunate aspect of car ownership.

And remember - one day you will be sat in your car when someone clouts it, and then you can unleash hell.

I bought a Bora from a VW dealer a few years back which had a fairly bad crease on the driver's door. As part of the deal I got them to sort it. They used a local dent removal firm who charged £60 per panel. Did a perfect job and the damage was a lot worse than what you're describing.

 

[Stealthdave]

Someone kindly opened the door on my passenger side and left a dent. Looked like it had been shot at...

Anyhows, got it repaired for £20 by a reputable company and it's perfect......took them about 5 mins

 

[DanGB]

Which company was that Dave? thats a bargin!

 

[Stealthdave]

was fleets ahead (East midlands area)....to be fair to them they did quote me that and I didn't take it for another year but honoured the price....

Had a couple of other bits done, major dent removal when someone reversed into the missus mini and then more recently a new bonnet when she left the handbrake off, doh.........each time the work has been spot on...

 

[cheungy]

i had a dent on my car after having springs fitted only noticed when i washed it but yea took it to a dent master and fixed it for 20.00 all he did was use some rods pushed it back out it wasn't 100% perfect but didn't want to pay all out for a fill and spray job which would of costed alot more

 

[2zeroalpha]

I used chips away for paint damage once and wouldn't recommend them. I have heard from others that their workmanship is very variable. I wouldn't use them to pull your dent unless you know someone who can vouch for your local agent.

 

[cheungy]

do you have a pic of the dent? @keith
---

 

[adz_cupp]

I’m in a similar situation and have two slight dents in both rear doors with no paint damage. It also drives me mad it’s all I see when I look at the car Has anyone had any dents removed by a company that they would recommend in the Northwest??

 

[smitty13]

I used to be in the trade and have used The Dentman hundreds of times they are fantastic - They are based in St Helens but will travel.

http://www.thedentman.co.uk/service.htm

Cheers

 

[zephead]

Thanks guys I am in the North West a lot (my folks live in Lytham St Annes) so I will check them out. The East Mids company sound good too as I often travel to the Nottingham area with work.

Thanks to all for your kind advice. Dave...I will post a pic.

Keith.

 

[cheungy]

Its horrible when you get anew car or a mint body shell, you become paranoid (or aleast I do) and park far away from trolleys or places that you only trust but heh hope your car gets fixed from your avatar it looks really nice

 

[Stealthdave]

Fleets ahead are approx 10 miles from Nottingham in Ilkeston, although I would imagine they'd come visit in notts.

Website here:
http://www.fleetsahead.co.uk/

Thanks guys I am in the North West a lot (my folks live in Lytham St Annes) so I will check them out. The East Mids company sound good too as I often travel to the Nottingham area with work.

Thanks to all for your kind advice. Dave...I will post a pic.

Keith.

 

[jbs]

I live in nottingham and have used Dent-Fixa twice on my Leon and once on my wife's Yaris. All dents were removed very quickly and to my complete satisfaction and they came to my home address.

 

[RickyD1975]

I would highly recomend a dent removal company to do the work. I've had three cars looked after by the same guy over the last 8 years. His work has been second to none and in most cases only charges £30.

 

[3pointturn]

Sorry to bump an old thread but i've been searching through the forums for paintless dent removals in the edinburgh area and wondered if there were any good reviews?

I've a couple of minor creases on the door panels (no paint damage) but noticeable.

 

[Top Dog]

1hour after i bought my K1 the misses only opened her door on my passenger door, causing a tiny dink. Got it fixed for £40 from a guy around birmingham. You cant even see a little sign of it now and £20 is a bargain every were i checked they quoted me £50 and it only took 5minz max for the guy to push it out!