Dent/chip question

[Caballus]

Picked up a small dent, which also chipped the paint down to the metal. Need to get it repaired before PPF. Shop is telling me they will have to paint the whole panel, which sounds weird to me. Less concerned about the price than paint matching, etc. Anyone have a similar experience? Sorry for the less than perfect photo.

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[Sfckelley]

I had something similar on the front passenger fender, did the same thing, whole panel painted.

 

[pilotgore]

Picked up a small dent, which also chipped the paint down to the metal. Need to get it repaired before PPF. Shop is telling me they will have to paint the whole panel, which sounds weird to me. Less concerned about the price than paint matching, etc. Anyone have a similar experience? Sorry for the less than perfect photo.

I’d be tempted to have a paintless dent removal guy look at it. Given its location, it’s a great candidate for PDR as its easily accessible. Also, if the PDR guy touches up the chip and wet sands it flat, you’ll never be able to tell once it’s under PPF.

Depending on how long you plan to own the car, my concern would be that if you got the panel repainted, put PPF on top, and had to remove PPF at the end of its life cycle in 10-15 years, some of the paint might come with it. Factory paint will almost always have better adhesion than aftermarket work.

Just my .02

 

[key01]

The fender is double walled to the best of my knowledge. I don’t think that is an easy PDR/ touch-up repair.

 

[MNShelby]

Picked up a chip on my passenger door about 2 weeks after I bought it. I was given the same option of filling and touch up or repaint the entire door, but risk it not looking the same. I opted for filling and touch up because I didn't want to take the chance of any mismatch with the Kona Blue. I can still see it with the ppf, but only if I know where to look. Sorry about that.

 

[Caballus]

I had something similar on the front passenger fender, did the same thing, whole panel painted.

Did you have any problems matching?

 

[Caballus]

I’d be tempted to have a paintless dent removal guy look at it. Given its location, it’s a great candidate for PDR as its easily accessible. Also, if the PDR guy touches up the chip and wet sands it flat, you’ll never be able to tell once it’s under PPF.

Depending on how long you plan to own the car, my concern would be that if you got the panel repainted, put PPF on top, and had to remove PPF at the end of its life cycle in 10-15 years, some of the paint might come with it. Factory paint will almost always have better adhesion than aftermarket work.

Just my .02

Good point. I believe it can be pulled out with PDR relatively easily. That was my thought from the beginning. Unfortunately, I haven't talked to the shop directly myself yet. Discussion occurred via the dealer I use (great dealer).

Not really concerned about the paint coming off with PPF. The PPF shop won't touch it for min 6 weeks after paint is applied--even touch-up paint. It will be well cured by that time.

 

[Sfckelley]

Did you have any problems matching?

No problems

 

[460Fred]

Any “good” body shop won’t have trouble matching the paint, it’s not a difficult color.
To do it correctly, yes the whole panel has to be done. They will blend the paint then clear the whole panel. You need a starting and stopping place and the end of the panel is it.
Years ago and before I knew better, we had to have some bodywork done on my wife’s car.
We chose the wrong shop.
My only advise would be to find a shop that’s been there a while. The one I chose was gone in two years which was about how long the paint repair lasted.

 

[johnny1]

Any “good” body shop won’t have trouble matching the paint, it’s not a difficult color.
To do it correctly, yes the whole panel has to be done. They will blend the paint then clear the whole panel. You need a starting and stopping place and the end of the panel is it.
Years ago and before I knew better, we had to have some bodywork done on my wife’s car.
We chose the wrong shop.
My only advise would be to find a shop that’s been there a while. The one I chose was gone in two years which was about how long the paint repair lasted.

I live in a small town with a reputable body shop. When I had my 16 blue the whole rear fascia was repainted due to damage when delivered on one corner and new stripes put on. I just knew it would never be a perfect paint match. But it was, you could never tell either in the shade or direst sunlight that car rear fascia was ever repainted and new stripes put on it.

 

[FDHog]

Can't put PPF over repaint for a few months. Read up on it.
I would get the dent removed and go the touch up route.
Plus if you go to a body shop it might show up on carfax.

 

[UXXR]

I’d be tempted to have a paintless dent removal guy look at it. Given its location, it’s a great candidate for PDR as its easily accessible. Also, if the PDR guy touches up the chip and wet sands it flat, you’ll never be able to tell once it’s under PPF.

Depending on how long you plan to own the car, my concern would be that if you got the panel repainted, put PPF on top, and had to remove PPF at the end of its life cycle in 10-15 years, some of the paint might come with it. Factory paint will almost always have better adhesion than aftermarket work.

Just my .02

^^ this.
Don't get the whole panel repainted because of a small dent

 

[oldbmwfan]

Yeah, PDR can pull as well as push, and I have had far worse dings removed from both Fords and European cars with PDR. Some had creases that were able to be massaged out, including a horizontal creased ding right across the wheel arch/ flare on my wife's TT. Really amazing what a GOOD PDR guy can do. Call up your local high-end dealership (Porsche, etc.) and ask for a recommendation - lots of cars acquire dings in shipping and the dealers will have someone they use to pull them out. A good detailer may have a relationship with a PDR person also. It's a little bit of an art, so you want the individual to be recommended, not just the business.

 

[Caballus]

Thanks for all the input. The experience and opinions have been extremely helpful.

Can't put PPF over repaint for a few months. Read up on it.
I would get the dent removed and go the touch up route. Plus if you go to a body shop it might show up on carfax.

Good point on the PDF, but that unfortunately won't have any bearing on whole panel vs touch up. I'm using the same PPF company that did my 2016 GT350, which I also had fully covered. They will not put PPF over paint that is less than 6 weeks old, even if it's only a single spot of touch-up paint. Doing so would void the 10 year warranty that comes with their work. Having dealt with them, I trust them implicitly. Also, fortunately, carfax is not a thing here. However, if I ever sell the car, whether here or back in the States, I plan to tell the buyer all repairs and maintenance that were done: "Car had a rock chip and I got it fixed."

Yeah, PDR can pull as well as push, and I have had far worse dings removed from both Fords and European cars with PDR. Some had creases that were able to be massaged out, including a horizontal creased ding right across the wheel arch/ flare on my wife's TT. Really amazing what a GOOD PDR guy can do. Call up your local high-end dealership (Porsche, etc.) and ask for a recommendation - lots of cars acquire dings in shipping and the dealers will have someone they use to pull them out. A good detailer may have a relationship with a PDR person also. It's a little bit of an art, so you want the individual to be recommended, not just the business.

Talked to the Ford dealer and paint shop on the phone today and will make a final decision Friday after talking to them face to face. The body shop actually refuses to do it as touch up, because he is not confident that it will match. Part of the reason is because the dent goes to bare metal, so paint is required regardless to how it is removed. He elaborated further and I trust his judgement. Seems odd, but it's common here. At home (U.S.), shops will warn the customer, but do the work. Here, "craftsmen" will refuse to do the work and let the money walk out the door rather than risking their reputation and professional pride. Like it sometimes, hate it at other times, but when in Rome...

 

[matthewr87]

Pull the dent, install PPF, and use a Sharpie on the PPF to make the paint chip less obvious? I am only half-joking. It is hard to see how large the paint chip is from your picture, but if it is small then that is what I would try.

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