Opinions of PDR

[wikkid]

Paintless Dent Removal: I have a '91 318i sedan, daily driver type car, with a few minor dings that are annoying.

I am evaluating if it would be worth it to get a PDR place to pull them, or if I just live with the imperfections. Looking for input from others who have used a PDR place.

I can take more pix later, but here is the front edge of the hood (an annoying dent in the nice front edge). There's also a small indent in the front left side near this dent, just next to the driver's side headlight; and a couple of small dings on the side body panels.



As I said, no big dents, but it will really show once I compound and polish the car. Am I making a big deal out of it? Should I just live with it, knowing that the paint is old original abused paint anyway, so once I get it shined up, that's about as good as it's worth going? What do you all think? Maybe it's no big deal to get these out with pdr.....?

[Vivek]

I've never used PDR, but I HATE all dents so I'd say yes, you should fix them even if your paint isn't the greatest.

[85e325]

If you find a good PDR guy you'll never know that those dents were ever there. Its deffinitly worth the investment. The dent above the headlight is gonna be a tricky one to work out. Iirc, theres not a whole lot of room to work in that front section of the hood. With out seeing it up close its hard to see how deep it is and if the front seam is bent as well.

[firemanory]

Yeah, that dent on the hood will most likely not be cured by PDR. I bought a groupon PDR and had the guy come to my house a couple months ago. He did a round, non creased dent on my drivers side front fender, almost the very tip close to the headlights. Wasnt huge, maybe silver dollar size, but came out great. Can really only see it if you are at eye level with the right kind of light and reflection, otherwise, its gone. He also did a dent on the trunk lid, which also came out great. We tried to do a dent on the roof, but there was a reinforcement rib underneath the spot so he couldnt push it out from inside the sunroof tray. They basically have this small rigid metal pole that they use leverage to push the metal out a little bit at a time. It can leave tiny little pits (hard to describe) or pimples where they manipulate the metal to get it pushed out again. My car in white, but I also had him do my silver wagon and it is a little more noticeable. Again, no one will know but you, but it isnt like new.

Not cheap, but if you want perfection, nothing is close to the value per dollar.

For your hood, I would just buy a new one and get it painted to match. That dent will never get close to original without lots of welding, bondo or both. If you are handy and what to try it out, go to a body shop supply house and have them match the paint and put it in cans and do it yourself. Will turn out great for a fraction of the cost.

Good luck...

[wikkid]

I guess diamondschwartz metallic has been matched by paint supply houses a time or two.... LOL

[StereoInstaller1]

Personally, I have seen PDR guys do some serious magic....but that dent on the hood would be tough even for a Master PDR tech. It is right on a curve, and such a small space "inside" to get to. I would agree that fresh hood and paint is the way to fly.

Good luck on it!

Luke

[n3nyongmini]

I have had amazing success with PDF for dents. You wont regret it.

On the other hand, I've got a bad one on my hood: PO left something on the engine and closed the hood. Anybody have a nasty pimple like this removed? Paint chip is one thing, but this is a volcano.