Author Topic: Dent in door - paintless dent removal???  (Read 5173 times)

gschober

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Dent in door - paintless dent removal???
« on: May 04, 2009, 16:16:37 »
Hi,

I have a minor dent in my door - golf ball size in diameter, no scratch and not very deep; I called one of those paintless dent removal folks to see whether they can fix it for me.
The guy I talked to was not necessarily scared by the fact that the doors are aluminum but he said if they are double layered there won't be anything he can do.

Are the doors double layered and does anyone have experience with this kind of fix? Recommendations?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks
Guenther

Jonny B

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Re: Dent in door - paintless dent removal???
« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2009, 18:47:52 »
One piece of experience.

A good friend of mine had a 230 SL that he took to a paintless dent removal place. They did a reasonable job on his, but there were a fair number of parking lot dings. I do not believe there is a double layer. I have seen what they can do on a single impression, the key is that the paint has not been fractured, and it was pretty good. If it is only one dent, the cost should be reasonable (not exactly what that term means....)

Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

Bob G ✝︎

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Re: Dent in door - paintless dent removal???
« Reply #2 on: May 05, 2009, 08:17:57 »
Oh ya PDR as it is referred to know was started in Europe at the Porsche factory it is an art form if you know the tricks . My friend is a master black belt in this art he does not drill hoes to access the dents through the door jambs or under the wheel arches. I took some lessons from him and was amazed to here and experience that working with aluminum is much tufter that regular steel . I have watched him pull rabbits out of a hat that lesser experienced people wold be pooring a
sweet over.

their are some of these guys so good they traveled the country were hail damage can bring havoc to to a newcar dealer, this group of highly refined experts are at the begone call to studios using models to sit on the roofs of exotic cars thatyou don't want to breath on let along set foot on.

If you live in the Orange county area and need the services of a top notch metal mover with out the side  ill effects PM me and I will give you the name of my friend Dan.

Bob Geco

gschober

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Re: Dent in door - paintless dent removal???
« Reply #3 on: May 05, 2009, 10:49:13 »
Well, now since it looks like it CAN be done, does anyone know a good guy in the Chicago area?

Thanks,
Guenther

Klaus

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Re: Dent in door - paintless dent removal???
« Reply #4 on: May 05, 2009, 14:56:01 »
Already more than 10 years ago I had a PDR specialist look at my car and he refused to work on it because "the paint is too old and has lost all its elasticity and will crack in the process'.

graphic66

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Re: Dent in door - paintless dent removal???
« Reply #5 on: May 05, 2009, 22:37:12 »
I did mine myself. An old employee of mine started doing it. He showed how in a quick lesson. He told me to envision the dent as an orange with all the dimples. You push the dent out by pushing on it in a million places a tiny bit at a time. I took some bad dents out of my doors. Slow, slow, slow, that is the secret. I used the end of a plastic screwdriver handle and a small hammer. You need to take the door panels off. The doors are single layer. The aluminum is very soft and easier than steel. Get real good light and watch your progress closely. You don't want to go to far. I was amazed at the outcome. It is time consuming and very rewarding. I am very sure a pro can do better, but if you are patient and skilled you can get some impressive results. My door looked like it took a hit from a golfball sized object. You can still see it, but it is eleventy billion times better. I worked on the door dings also, they just disappear as you tap. The pro used long steel rods with spoon shaped ends to coax the dents out by reaching in through the side of doors wherever they can find entry. Take your doorsapart and give it a try. Make sure to tighten all the attachments while your in there. Like the mirror and door handles. Clean the doors out real good too.

KevinC

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Re: Dent in door - paintless dent removal???
« Reply #6 on: May 14, 2009, 01:03:57 »
I don't have a refferal but would suggest you ask around and get someone that's experienced. I called one guy after I bought my car and he shyed away due to the aluminum panlels. A few months later, a trim shop recommended an individual who came to my house and removed 17 dings!