Fender Dent. Inconvenient location
 

Tried searching, but can't seem to find anything on this.



Had my car parked at school today and apparently a piece of thick plywood fell onto my car. Security called me to the front desk and told me about it.

The good news is: They know I park there every day, and they know that the "debris" that fell on my car was owned by the school, so the school is actually going to cover the cost of the repair on the liability.

http://i.imgur.com/FB7hwOg.jpg
Has anyone had damage here? I can get my hand in behind the metal to feel the dent, but it seems like there is a metal bracket behind the fender at the very top that might make it difficult for PDR to completely get the dent out. The area toward the hood has some slight denting that is less apparent in the photo and is tough to make show.

Anyone have some experience with these? Think PDR could pull it out?

If the school is paying for it, just take it to a reputable body shop and stop trying to fix it yourself lol.

Haha definitely not trying to pull it out on my own. I just know that when things are behind the actual sheet metal it can make it tough to fix.

Thanks though. I need to go and get some estimates when I have free time.

More than likely a shop will just order a new OEM fender and install it. It'll be cheaper labor wise...

Well...I noticed you're in SoCal and if you're around the LA Area and need a good body shop LMK, he does a great job. Color matched my last car pearl white spot on.

He also vaccums and details the entire car before returning it to you. :) :thumbup:

UGH ..... nasty dent ..... :(

I would venture to say that a good PDR person could work that back out.

If so, that would save you a lot of down time compared to a fender replacement.

humfrz

I agree with @humfrz that a pdr man could do the repair.

I would much prefer to have no new paint work and my original fenders if I could help it. I used to deal will several PDR guys. I'm fairly certain some can walk on water and do amazing work. Others, not so much. Hopefully someone local can give a good recommendation (ask the local used car lot guys, they will know who is good and who isn't).

Even if they can't pdr the dent out, not even close to replacing the fender

I keep forgetting to update that. I'm in Philly now!

That doesnt look like a candidate for PDR, fortunately you are covered for the more expensive alternative. Dont be a naive dunce, get confirmation in writing ASAP.

I had a shovel handle hit the top of the left front fender on my Miata that was very similar. A pdr man worked the metal till it was impossible to tell. If a pdr man can't repair it the fender will not be replaced but bumped out by a body man and painted to match. I would much rather try pdr first.

Just make sure you don't go to a DPR place by mistake...

I'd have new fender installed / painted paid for or not. The less fillers etc the better period.

Have my PDR guy coming Tuesday. I'm really not interested in doing paint on a new fender if I don't have to.

If he can't get it, he won't charge me, then I'll see about body shop work.

i cant tell from the pictures well but if the paint wasnt badly streched or cracked there is a good chance that they can take it out.

Just make sure to get a detailer to do some paint correction to the area that the PDR guy works on (if you go that route). PDR creates a lot of marring in the paint. Not super noticeable, but you might as well get it looking brand new if someone else is footing the bill.

X2. You'd have to suck as a body man to not be able to perfectly work that dent out.

If you do in fact conventionally repair that fender, you're going to need to blend the hood.