Some nice person has left a small dent in the wing of my tin-top after my wife parked and went shopping. It's right on the crease line, so a bit obvious.

Taking the car to a 'proper' repair shop is going to be a total PITA as I don't have another car to use for a few days, and a loan car usually works out expensive in the end (they call it free, but I'm sure the cost gets wound into the repair bill). So I was wondering about those mobile companies who specialise in minor repairs... are they any good? I know that one of my neighbours had some work done ages ago and he seemed pleased with the result, but I have no experience of them.

Are there any major franchises or companies? People who can give decent warranty for their work?

Cheers.

Depends if its chipped the paint ?

If it has, some can do a local repair and use an air brush to match the paint

It it hasn't any reputable PDR operator should be able to help

I've got a local chap who is really good,
Swage lines aren't a problem
If they can get behind it they will use the rods, If they can't they can use Glue-pull if they have the gear


Ask around your area I guess for a good one ?

[Edited on 11/2/17 by perksy]

I went around a couple of bigger garages in my area and asked who they used to sort sales cars out and found a local guy (West Runton, North Norfolk) who is good and reasonable prices. Perhaps the same may work for you in your area?

I'd be tempted to try Chips away. I've seen a couple of repairs done, and they look quite decent. The only negativity I've seen is people complaining about the price. Their advert of it 'being a fraction of the price of a normal repair' is a little misleading, you can still be looking at the low hundreds even for a basic repair. But that may be the general public perception of what a fraction is rather than Chips away being expensive. It still take several hours, and they'll still want to charge a decent hourly rate.

And don't forget it's a franchise, so there is always the potential of your local 'specialist' being a gorilla with a tin of T-cut.

Thanks for all the comments - a few ideas to think about there.

Regarding Chips Away prices - I don't think people realise just how much the bodywork repair shops charge for even minor jobs.

quote:

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Originally posted by David Jenkins


Regarding Chips Away prices - I don't think people realise just how much the bodywork repair shops charge for even minor jobs.

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Pointless dent repairs can be really good, but... All depends on the man wielding the teasing rods.

I know of a couple of brilliant ones, however not near you as one is in Tunbridge Wells and the other Newbury.

Car dealers use them to correct cars for resale, find out which the high end garages use, a top PDR man does not need to advertise as they just do the dealership rounds.

[Edited on 12/2/17 by mark chandler]

Sigh... I've visited a few car body shops around Ipswich, and they've all said the same - "that can't be fixed with PDR - the dent is right on the crease".

Now looking at a bill for around £350, which is middle-of-the-range as far as the quotes have gone. I had a few cheaper quotes, but they were at distinctly dubious establishments. The highest was £460, which I suspect was 'extracting the urine'. At least the place I'm going to has a good reputation, and they lend out cars for free - other places charge a fair amount per day.

Sorry thats boll*x

As long as they can get behind the panel and its not double skinned it can be improved or removed

We had one on the wifes Mazda and it was right on the swage line of the door, which is fairly sharp on the mazda

The chap I use came to the house and 4 hours later it had disappeared, cost £80 and he did a couple of other small ones whilst he was here

He showed me a photo of a VW Golf door that he had done where a plastic wheelie bin had blown into it, Right mess
He spent 8 hours on it and you could hardly tell afterwards...

Obviously if its chipped the paint thats another story...