If you’re like most BMW and MINI owners, you take excellent care of your vehicle. You go out of your way to maintain it, including regularly washing and waxing so it always looks great. This makes it even more heartbreaking when you’re in a fender bender or it’s dented by a shopping cart, hail, or some other accident.
The good news is – as long as the paint on your vehicle isn’t chipped or cracked, you may be able to fix the problem using a technique known as paintless dent repair. This process is both faster and less expensive than traditional bodywork, so you can quickly restore your vehicle back to its previous glory and get back on the road. Here’s a quick look at how paintless dent repair works, so you decide for yourself whether it’s right for you.
What is Paintless Dent Repair?
Paintless dent repair (PDR) is a repair method that pushes indented metal back into place while also preserving the factory paint. It’s typically done through a three-step process:
Assess the Damage
Our experienced repair technicians will examine your vehicle to determine how severe of a dent we’re dealing with. We’ll look at things like the size of the dent, the condition of the paint, and whether the dent can be accessed.
Gain Entry to the Dent
In most cases, we’ll need to access the back side of the dent to complete the process. This often requires us to remove body panels or tail lights. In some cases, we may also need to remove interior body panels.
Work out the Dent
Once we’ve gained access, we’ll carefully massage out the dent, using special precision tools and our years of expertise. We start at the outer edge of the dent, slowly working it out. As we work, the dent gets progressively smaller until it virtually disappears.
Once we’re done, your vehicle will look as good as it did before the damage occurred, all without having to use body filler, overspray, or make any changes to your vehicle’s factory paint.
Advantages of PDR
There are many reasons to use paintless dent repair. Cost savings is one of the most significant. Since it’s a much simpler process than traditional bodywork, it’s a far more cost-effective option. PDR can usually be done within a few hours, and same-day appointments are often available.
Since your vehicle isn’t being repainted, you won’t have to worry about the accuracy of color matching. In addition, cars that still have their original factory paint typically have a greater resale value than those that have undergone more significant bodywork.
Is PDR Right for You?
If you’re wondering whether your vehicle might qualify for paintless dent repair, you’ll be glad to know that 80% to 90% of dents can be removed using PDR. However, if your vehicle has a dent that’s creased or the paint is damaged, it may not be a good candidate for this service. In addition, you may not be able to use PDR if:
- The dent has torn metal or sharp edges
- The dent is too close to the edge of the panel
- You’ve previously had bodywork done on the same area
Your best bet is to have a bodywork professional who specializes in paintless dent work take a look at your vehicle. This is the easiest way to find out whether PDR is the right option for you.
Contact The Haus to Learn More
The experts at The Haus have years of experience performing paintless dent repair on BMWs, MINI Coopers, and other high-end vehicles. To learn more and find out whether your vehicle is a candidate for this service, give us a call or use our online form to book a VIP appointment.