[tony176000]

While I know this is an older topic, my question is specifically about PDR when you have a slight compromise in the paint.

Sadly, (I literally teared up, I know, I know, but it is so upsetting), I have a pea-sized (maybe even a little smaller) ding in the body line on the passenger side just about under the rear-view mirror. It is just an eye-sore, and it catches my eye whenever I see the car from that side. Here's the kicker---the paint is ever so slightly broken. Is PDR feasible with this situation?

Stop reading now if you are not interested in my venting:
My effing dad (Im 30 and parents came to town to visit my fam, no flames...) opens his door in a hurricane-force wind storm and OF COURSE his "POS Pontiac G6" SLAMS into my door. Flipped the mirror all the way back, and leaves this lovely ding in the door right on the fracking shoulder line. It just ruins the whole door for me. We were parking, and he was getting out. I was talking to him through my passenger side window. I rolled up my window, drove off without a word, aborted the rest of the day's shopping, went home, literally threw a fit. I feel terrible about it now, and I feel like a materialistic child. But I go to such pains to park in Egypt to avoid this very thing, and my dingdong father does this to me....I know, I know, typing this out now makes me feel even more immature. Anyway, here I am. Still fuming. Why in the shoulder line??? Why, God, Why?? 30-year old tantrum is also making it all seem worse. Like who died? Who was hurt? This is how I respond to the slightest bump in life?? I know the others on this forum can somehow relate. At least I hope. Also, the PDR advice would be greatly appreciated!

[fdriller9]

If the paint is broken, I would think it would get worse by trying to pop the dent out.

I feel you though.....there are minor dings and scratches all over my car especially my front bumper.

But that will be getting resprayed soon.

[reprod]

It will definitely compromise the paint. No doubt about that at all.

A good body shop will be able to let you know what kind of procedures can be done.

[tony176000]

So, the early advice seems to suggest that PDR is out, as it will worsen the paint situation? FML FML FML FML

I'm so upset about this. Life goes on, I guess.

[wrickem]

I had a ding from someone in a parking lot in the same area of my old white E92. The paint was scraped a little bit. I took it to a body shop and what they would have to do for a ding the size of a dime wasn't worth the trouble. I didn't want my whole door repainted.

I went the PDR route and it was so much better after he worked it out it out . Yeah, I had to use a touch up stick, but at least there wasn't the "ding" catching my eye each time I walked up to my car. I even had to look for it when I was waxing the car, that's how inconspicuous it was without the "pushed in" effect from the ding.

[m42stanle]

Originally Posted by wrickem

I went the PDR route and it was so much better after he worked it out it out . Yeah, I had to use a touch up stick, but at least there wasn't the "ding" catching my eye each time I walked up to my car. I even had to look for it when I was waxing the car, that's how inconspicuous it was without the "pushed in" effect from the ding.

+1 - you may want to get an opinion from an experienced PDR guy as I had a very small (< dime-sized) door ding in my right rear quarter panel with slight paint scrape that was driving me crazy to look at. (of course no one else noticed)

After the PDR there was still a very slight imperfection in the paint but not having the line of the car broken by the slight ding makes a big difference. I then touched up the paint imperfection and at this point I can't find the original spot unless the car is freshly washed and/or under fluorescent light.

Not as good as new, but I can certainly live with it vs. painting and blending an entire body panel.

[tony176000]

Originally Posted by m42stanle

+1 - you may want to get an opinion from an experienced PDR guy as I had a very small (< dime-sized) door ding in my right rear quarter panel with slight paint scrape that was driving me crazy to look at. (of course no one else noticed)After the PDR there was still a very slight imperfection in the paint but not having the line of the car broken by the slight ding makes a big difference. I then touched up the paint imperfection and at this point I can't find the original spot unless the car is freshly washed and/or under fluorescent light.

Not as good as new, but I can certainly live with it vs. painting and blending an entire body panel.

LOL!! +3 Same boat here. I mean, obviously I have been waiting for replies on this, this issue is driving me NUTS I literally blew up (in private, thankfully) about it. I was like "Why do people have to piss in my Cheerios, I love this car, and now I can't even approach it from the passenget side. Those shoulder lines are one of my favorite parts of the car, and now the joy is gone." My wife was like "Oh, its not bad. I don't even notice. I think the shoulder line or whatever you call it is a good spot to hide the ding." Me: "WTH? STFU?"

[John 070]

A couple things. I can relate, my 1998 Nissan got a nasty ding on it in 1999, and I flipped. I actually dismantled the entire rear door trying to pop the ding out myself. It's not that easy, and it was on the curve of a door, equivalent to an edge. I called a pro and he could not do it, and broke the paint trying. To this day, in 2011, it's still an eyesore, but I guess I got over it maybe 2 years ago.

So, OP, give it about 10 years and you'll be ok. LOL Trying to get a chuckle out of you. I hate it too, I got 2 dings on the 335 and PDR fixed both. But they cannot fix a dent which is on a line, just can't do it.

I think you just have to let it go, and either your dad is an moron, or he just slipped-up because it was windy. Either way he's your dad. He's not going to be around forever, so unless he's your stepdad, just forgive and forget.

[ceb]

Take it to a PDR guy and ask them.

Why are you mad at your dad? He didn't do it on purpose; the wind pulled the door out of his hand and he certainly feels bad too. You really need to get some professional help if you overreacted that way because of an accidental door ding.

[1QuikWS6]

OF COURSE his "POS Pontiac G6

First off, I take offense to the G6 comment

My wife has an 09' G6 GT Hardtop Vert - it's been a perfect car in every way cost $32k new, and has never been in for service due to a problem.

Too bad I can't say the same for my $40k+ German engineered BMW...

As for the ding, as stated, easiest route is to have PDR fix the ding, then use touch up for paint damage. This will definitely reduce the visibility - and I'm sure you must have small paint nicks other places on the car (esp in front) that are noticeable to you right now to compare.

Trying to blend a small area on a panel almost never comes out looking good - and you will probably notice that more than the small touched up area.

Is the paint simply scraped/nicked, or is the surface actually 'cracked' where it looks as if a small area of paint could simply be peeled off?

[John 070]

Originally Posted by 1QuikWS6

First off, I take offense to the G6 comment

My wife has an 09' G6 GT Hardtop Vert - it's been a perfect car in every way cost $32k new, and has never been in for service due to a problem.

Too bad I can't say the same for my $40k+ German engineered BMW...

As for the ding, as stated, easiest route is to have PDR fix the ding, then use touch up for paint damage. This will definitely reduce the visibility - and I'm sure you must have small paint nicks other places on the car (esp in front) that are noticeable to you right now to compare.

Trying to blend a small area on a panel almost never comes out looking good - and you will probably notice that more than the small touched up area.

Is the paint simply scraped/nicked, or is the surface actually 'cracked' where it looks as if a small area of paint could simply be peeled off?

I think he implied that PDR wasn't an option because it's along the line under the mirror. There are things that PDR can, and cannot do. I heard a softball sized dent in the middle of a panel is fixable, yet a tiny ding along an edge or line is not. But it's worth a try, the worst they can do is say they can't fix it, right? I had one in the lower front corner of the driver door, and usually that cannot be done, yet they did (I'm not sure if they drilled because I don't see that anywhere).

[1QuikWS6]

The PDR guy I use stated that typically, it is difficult to do a ding if it occurs directly over a sharp crease in a body line.

He also states that after looking at it, if he thinks he can get the ding out, even on a crease, he will give it a try. If he can't get it out entirely there's no charge.

Only other option is to have it filled, shaped, and panel painted. I've seen too many spot blend jobs from even very competent shops that never exactly match. And if OP is like me, and sounds as if he is - he will always see the color mismatch and it will bother him to the end of time...

Touching up a small chip in the paint is much easier to go unnoticed if paint is not perfect, over a larger area that does not match. Guess it also depends on color of car & age/condition of original paint as to how difficult it is to get a good match.

Guess I would make a decision as to which way I wanted to go, get pricing, and ask hit up Dad to see if he is willing to pay

[tony176000]

Originally Posted by John 070

A couple things. I can relate, my 1998 Nissan got a nasty ding on it in 1999, and I flipped. I actually dismantled the entire rear door trying to pop the ding out myself. It's not that easy, and it was on the curve of a door, equivalent to an edge. I called a pro and he could not do it, and broke the paint trying. To this day, in 2011, it's still an eyesore, but I guess I got over it maybe 2 years ago.

So, OP, give it about 10 years and you'll be ok. LOL Trying to get a chuckle out of you. I hate it too, I got 2 dings on the 335 and PDR fixed both. But they cannot fix a dent which is on a line, just can't do it.

I think you just have to let it go, and either your dad is an moron, or he just slipped-up because it was windy. Either way he's your dad. He's not going to be around forever, so unless he's your stepdad, just forgive and forget.

Yes, thanks, you did make me laugh. I totally threw my "fit" in private. I told my dad it was no big deal. It really was a freak accident and he looked really guilty. It all went over really well actually. I think your advice to let it go is wise. Its already fading in my mind and no one else really seems to find it. Thanks!

[tony176000]

Originally Posted by 1QuikWS6

First off, I take offense to the G6 comment

My wife has an 09' G6 GT Hardtop Vert - it's been a perfect car in every way cost $32k new, and has never been in for service due to a problem.

Too bad I can't say the same for my $40k+ German engineered BMW...
As for the ding, as stated, easiest route is to have PDR fix the ding, then use touch up for paint damage. This will definitely reduce the visibility - and I'm sure you must have small paint nicks other places on the car (esp in front) that are noticeable to you right now to compare.

Trying to blend a small area on a panel almost never comes out looking good - and you will probably notice that more than the small touched up area.

Is the paint simply scraped/nicked, or is the surface actually 'cracked' where it looks as if a small area of paint could simply be peeled off?

His too. Perfectly reliable car. And will drag pretty close to the 328... At about 30 mph he's done, but its darn close.