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D3 - Body and Exterior Bumpers, bonnets, glass, trims - Everything outside |
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#1
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DIY dent removal
Anyone had the misfortune, sorry, patience to give it a go? I tried for the first time with a hot glue gun based kit. I knew it would be tricky, the body being aluminium and the dent (that’s been annoying me since I bought the car) being near the crease.
Anyway, 2 hours of my life kissed goodbye to and I’ve improved the dent, but it’s still there. Does anyone have any tips? I haven’t used my pull hammer, having read it doesn’t work so well with aluminium. Here’s some before, during and after shots.
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2010 A8 SE Executive 4.2 FSI D4 2007 Mini Cooper S R56 2008 D3, gone, but not forgotten after 9 years and 90k. |
#2
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One day I noticed slight imperfection on the book lid when in IKEA and imagined someone must have put something there while they opened their boot I was very angry. Then a year later, I changed the rear lights and saw the same place on the inside of the boot lid was extremely scratched in circles so that must have been someone removing a dent and I just never noticed the slight imperfection on the outside before.
I have only removed small dings by repeatedly going round and round in a spiral from the outside in and it just gets smaller and smaller. The tool was like a pointed wax crayon but made of hard nylon. |
#3
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I had a go at removing one or two small dents myself once with a similar tool. I don't think it's possible with aluminium because, unlike steel, it tends to stretch. So you can't just 'pop it back'.
You need to find a dent removal specialist, in particular one who is skilled and confident in removing dents from aluminium. When I phoned around I found that most either wouldn't touch aluminium or would "have a go". Eventually I found one guy who specialised in aluminium dent removal. He worked behind the panels and managed to completely remove a couple small dents I had. I think he only charged something like £50-£100 per dent.
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Mark ------------------------------------------------------ 2002 FE S8 Ebony Black Pearl ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ Cars Owned: The Tesla Era: 2020 Model S Performance Ludicrous+ (present) (Black, with all black premium interior and carbon fibre décor, 21" sonic carbon twin turbine wheels and FSD capability) The Audi Era: '97 A8 4.2 (Ming Blue) --> '96 A8 4.2 QS (Dark Green) --> '02 FE S8 (present) The Citroen Era: '84 BX 1.6 RS --> '89 BX 1.9 DTR Turbo --> '94 XM 2.0L Turbo --> '96 XM 2.0L Turbo Exclusive --> '00 Xantia Activa 2.0L Turbo The Banger Era: '76 1.2L Lada VAZ-2101 (Ruski Fiat 124) --> '80 1.7L Morris Ital HL, finished in Ermine White and Rust |
#4
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I agree with Mark's comments - Aluminium is harder to treat for dents than steel, and needs a specialist, so I wouldn't try DIY on my aluminium-bodied cars.
(PS to Mark - could you (re-) text me the number of your dents guy, i've lost his details!)
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Autos Autos everywhere... (1) 2015 Tesla Model S: (was 85D, now 90D ). Silent and deadly, and very fast... But not as fast as Ian's M3P- (2) 2002 D2 S8 Final Edition: Bulletproof and faultless: Brilliant Black with Extended (Red!) Leather. Three-times winner of Best D2 1st prize (3) 1997 Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo: Scots (! ) Green. Fragile, but beautiful. (4) 2010 Fiat Panda 100HP. White Pandamonium (Final Edition!!). Pure old-fashioned 6-speed go-karting. |
#5
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Thanks all. Pretty much what I thought. Was worth a go, may have a go with the kit on the wife’s Honda. That would likely keep me busy for life.
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2010 A8 SE Executive 4.2 FSI D4 2007 Mini Cooper S R56 2008 D3, gone, but not forgotten after 9 years and 90k. |
#6
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Quote:
http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=10361 He's called Brian. I must say though that, while he does do a brilliant job, he wasn't the most reliable (in my brief experience). Be prepared that he may turn up very late or not at all. After he removed the worst dents from my car, I did try to get him back to remove a few tiny dents but gave up in the end because he's so difficult to pin down. I might try again some time.
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Mark ------------------------------------------------------ 2002 FE S8 Ebony Black Pearl ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ Cars Owned: The Tesla Era: 2020 Model S Performance Ludicrous+ (present) (Black, with all black premium interior and carbon fibre décor, 21" sonic carbon twin turbine wheels and FSD capability) The Audi Era: '97 A8 4.2 (Ming Blue) --> '96 A8 4.2 QS (Dark Green) --> '02 FE S8 (present) The Citroen Era: '84 BX 1.6 RS --> '89 BX 1.9 DTR Turbo --> '94 XM 2.0L Turbo --> '96 XM 2.0L Turbo Exclusive --> '00 Xantia Activa 2.0L Turbo The Banger Era: '76 1.2L Lada VAZ-2101 (Ruski Fiat 124) --> '80 1.7L Morris Ital HL, finished in Ermine White and Rust |
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