2011 E93

TriscuiT · 02-13-2014, 08:25 AM

Driving home the other night and heard a loud bang. Thought something hit the windshield but didn't see any cracks. In daylight I can see three dents in my roof. Wondering what I need to know about body work on these hard tops. I am afraid that a body shop will not be gentle with it and will introduce either rattles, squeaks or leaks.

Thanks.

critical05 · 02-13-2014, 08:36 AM

Go to a reputable body shop and see if they can remove it with Paintless Dent Removal. Make sure they disassemble the interior panels if they need to instead of drilling holes.

A lot depends on the shape and size of the dent, most can remove from the outside using glue and their tools.

TriscuiT · 02-13-2014, 09:30 AM

Thanks for the suggestion. I should have mentioned that my dealership had their PDR guy look at it and he said that he couldn't do anything to fix them.

fun2drive · 02-13-2014, 09:48 AM

Try another dealer. This isn't something to trust to a body shop. Your top is too easy to screw up to allow anyone but the dealer to help here. What I suggest is to have the dealer's body shop look this over and see what they suggest. Bottom line is if the top is screwed up who do you blame?
If the dealer did it the dealer fixes it...

RaceTruk · 02-13-2014, 10:30 AM

if they are in the middle the only was to fix them would be full disassemble.
personally id rather drill pull and repair if that means avoiding taking apart the top.
with the labor involved your looking at it being cheaper to drill and repaint unfortunately.

Dark_Knight_335 · 02-13-2014, 10:32 AM

Most dealers wouldn't dare perform PDR on certain parts of the hardtop (especially the sails). DEALER ONLY! DO NOT USE A BODYSHOP for our E93 hardtops!

TriscuiT · 02-13-2014, 10:50 AM

I was at BMW of Alexandria, VA. They don't have a body shop. I'll scope other local dealers.

Anyone recommend a Metro-DC BMW dealership's body shop?

gds52 · 02-13-2014, 10:59 AM

Do some research and find a good body shop. I'm pretty sure the roof part can be taken out in one piece to get it fixed, at least I hope so.

teas2ker · 03-01-2014, 11:25 AM

I just got a dingy on my hardtop, as well. I think we may be SOL.
I'm going to give BMW of Fairfax a call, I think they have their own bodyshop.

TriscuiT · 03-01-2014, 11:40 AM

I went to the BMW of Fairfax body shop yesterday. For the three dents on my roof the estimate was just shy of $900 for the repair. The did not intend to remove the panel from the car but would repair it in-place. Because it wasn't the result of a vehicle accident it will go under my insurance as a Comprehensive claim. I don't have a deductible for that so this is a no brainer. Insurance will pay for it. I accept that I may get an uptick in my rates, but it would have to exceed $900 overall (increase plus length of time before it dropped off for "accident free").

I will have the roof repaired in a couple of weeks.

02-13-2014, 08:25 AM	#1
TriscuiT New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Convertible Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: NoVa USA iTrader: (0)	2011 E93 - Dents on roof Driving home the other night and heard a loud bang. Thought something hit the windshield but didn't see any cracks. In daylight I can see three dents in my roof. Wondering what I need to know about body work on these hard tops. I am afraid that a body shop will not be gentle with it and will introduce either rattles, squeaks or leaks. Thanks.
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02-13-2014, 08:36 AM	#2
critical05 First Lieutenant 36 Rep 311 Posts Drives: g80 m3, 6 speed Join Date: May 2012 Location: IA iTrader: (0)	Go to a reputable body shop and see if they can remove it with Paintless Dent Removal. Make sure they disassemble the interior panels if they need to instead of drilling holes. A lot depends on the shape and size of the dent, most can remove from the outside using glue and their tools.
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02-13-2014, 09:30 AM	#3
TriscuiT New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Convertible Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: NoVa USA iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the suggestion. I should have mentioned that my dealership had their PDR guy look at it and he said that he couldn't do anything to fix them.
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02-13-2014, 09:48 AM	#4
fun2drive BMWCCA 149159 38 Rep 847 Posts Drives: 13 128i Vert/ 14 JGC Diesel Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Florida Panhandle iTrader: (1)	Try another dealer. This isn't something to trust to a body shop. Your top is too easy to screw up to allow anyone but the dealer to help here. What I suggest is to have the dealer's body shop look this over and see what they suggest. Bottom line is if the top is screwed up who do you blame? If the dealer did it the dealer fixes it...
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02-13-2014, 10:30 AM	#5
RaceTruk Major 70 Rep 1,024 Posts Drives: F13 M6 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: New York iTrader: (2)	if they are in the middle the only was to fix them would be full disassemble. personally id rather drill pull and repair if that means avoiding taking apart the top. with the labor involved your looking at it being cheaper to drill and repaint unfortunately.
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02-13-2014, 10:32 AM	#6
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside 1139 Rep 12,740 Posts Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (28)	Most dealers wouldn't dare perform PDR on certain parts of the hardtop (especially the sails). DEALER ONLY! DO NOT USE A BODYSHOP for our E93 hardtops!
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02-13-2014, 10:50 AM	#7
TriscuiT New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Convertible Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: NoVa USA iTrader: (0)	I was at BMW of Alexandria, VA. They don't have a body shop. I'll scope other local dealers. Anyone recommend a Metro-DC BMW dealership's body shop?
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02-13-2014, 10:59 AM	#8
gds52 Colonel 880 Rep 2,724 Posts Drives: BMW Z4M Coupe, BMW 328i E93 Co Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Do some research and find a good body shop. I'm pretty sure the roof part can be taken out in one piece to get it fixed, at least I hope so.
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03-01-2014, 11:25 AM	#9
teas2ker Registered 1 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2012 328 e93 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Springfield, VA iTrader: (0)	I just got a dingy on my hardtop, as well. I think we may be SOL. I'm going to give BMW of Fairfax a call, I think they have their own bodyshop. __________________ 2012 e93 328 : BSM
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03-01-2014, 11:40 AM	#10
TriscuiT New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Convertible Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: NoVa USA iTrader: (0)	I went to the BMW of Fairfax body shop yesterday. For the three dents on my roof the estimate was just shy of $900 for the repair. The did not intend to remove the panel from the car but would repair it in-place. Because it wasn't the result of a vehicle accident it will go under my insurance as a Comprehensive claim. I don't have a deductible for that so this is a no brainer. Insurance will pay for it. I accept that I may get an uptick in my rates, but it would have to exceed $900 overall (increase plus length of time before it dropped off for "accident free"). I will have the roof repaired in a couple of weeks.
	Appreciate 0 Quote