Paintshop Question

[bmurphy]

Looks like someone has come off their pushbike and hit my car - either way i have a dent and some deep scratches on the rear drivers side wing......

I'm getting some quotes this weekend, one from the local Porsche recommended coachworks. Do you think the Porsche recommended place is the best way to go? I'd hate to get a bad job done, but their indicative price is very high,

thanks for your help,

 

[thboxster]

Where abouts are you located?

 

[jleo]

I'd say go on recommendation.

I had bodywork done by the Porsche approved bodyshop that was not fabulous, even if you do get the lifetime guarantee etc etc. Had another run of the mill car done by another local bodyshop (recommended by the Vauxhall dealer) and they did a really nice job. So ask around and see what you find!

 

[JCB..]

ORIGINAL: jc

I'd say go on recommendation.

I had bodywork done by the Porsche approved bodyshop that was not fabulous, even if you do get the lifetime guarantee etc etc. Had another run of the mill car done by another local bodyshop (recommended by the Vauxhall dealer) and they did a really nice job. So ask around and see what you find!

I'll second that - exactly my experience.

 

[Rodney Naghar]

I'll 'third' that too....had a terrible experience with a Porsche Approved bodyshop and got Chipsaway to do the rest of the work....it's the individual that counts not the company......

 

[THX911]

ORIGINAL: Rodney Naghar

I'll 'third' that too....had a terrible experience with a Porsche Approved bodyshop and got Chipsaway to do the rest of the work....it's the individual that counts not the company......

...and you get what you pay for even with the same individual; hopefully they will ask what type of repair you want i.e. do you want to repair it to keep the car or do you want to repair it to sell the car and the price difference is in the paint layers, blending and finishing products they will used. Happy to recommend the ChipsAway guys based in West London who was demoing at Porsche Festival last year and he came to give advice and quotes at the London region BBQ earlier this month.

 

[bmurphy]

ORIGINAL: jc

I'd say go on recommendation.

I had bodywork done by the Porsche approved bodyshop that was not fabulous, even if you do get the lifetime guarantee etc etc. Had another run of the mill car done by another local bodyshop (recommended by the Vauxhall dealer) and they did a really nice job. So ask around and see what you find!

I live in Kent, but work in London

 

[jleo]

I live in Kent, but work in London
[/quote]

I'm around the same area. For the damage you describe I wouldn't bother with the Porsche bodyshop, they are pricing it to re-spray the whole panel I reckon. Try Ace Dents on 02088598382 although they normally only do work for the trade but you may be lucky (as recommended by Daro911 on the forum[]). Did a really good job for me. They wont touch it if the paint is broken? Afterwards for the sratches try the chips away guy 07951 268662, I didn't need him in the end but he seemed decent. He wont push the dent(s) out as they fill them which you don't want. Paintshop recommendation is called Frost & something (sorry can't remember the rest but I'm sure you could google it) in Sidcup. Good luck!

 

[bmurphy]

thanks for your help,

the Porsche approved coachworks have mentioned they will need to blend into the other panels, hence the high price

 

[JCB..]

He wont push the dent(s) out as they fill them which you don't want. !

It's not always possible to repair a dent by "paintless" methods.

 

[jleo]

really? That must be why my front end re-build was so expensive[]

Point I was making though, was that the chipsaway guy said they don't push dents out but fill them instead. But when you can get a dentman who's handy with a metal rod and can slide it through the air in-take and make the dent disappear surely thats better than a lump of filler? My humble opinion of course..

 

[bmurphy]

ORIGINAL: jc

really? That must be why my front end re-build was so expensive[]

Point I was making though, was that the chipsaway guy said they don't push dents out but fill them instead. But when you can get a dentman who's handy with a metal rod and can slide it through the air in-take and make the dent disappear surely thats better than a lump of filler? My humble opinion of course..

If i went with this route, how would they blend the scratches?

 

[jleo]

I think to satisfy yourself about that you'll need to talk to the Chipsaway guy because that is all in the paints / technique they use. I have no personal experience of this but have seen 2 neighbours cars done by Chipsaway, one black beetle with a nasty key scratch and another a silver MGF, both were very good repairs. Others on the forum can probably tell you more

 

[THX911]

ORIGINAL: jc

I think to satisfy yourself about that you'll need to talk to the Chipsaway guy because that is all in the paints / technique they use. I have no personal experience of this but have seen 2 neighbours cars done by Chipsaway, one black beetle with a nasty key scratch and another a silver MGF, both were very good repairs. Others on the forum can probably tell you more

I have seen the ChipsAway guy work too and they use a special product for blending the edges (between the new paint and old paint) which they have to buy from ChipsAway HQ and each bottle cost something like £80 and is the most expensive consumable bit out of everything they need to purchase in order to work on a car; a good ChipsAway guys will not touch a large flat panel like the hood as there is no place to stop blending and would recommend a re-spray of the entire panel; scratches in curves and small panels are the best for their process as they blend in well...

 

[Guest]

I've got a seal grey 986S

I recently had major bodywork redone after a Lorry drove into me by (Porsche Approved) Chandler Stewart who are in Kent. They have done a good job but are mightily expensive.

A few months previously I had a close encounter with a pillar in a multi story car park (scratched through to metal, damaged area about the size of hand) and I got Chips Away (East London) to do the work and I was astounded at how good a job they did and how reasonable they were.

 

[JCB..]

ORIGINAL: jc

really? That must be why my front end re-build was so expensive[]

Point I was making though, was that the chipsaway guy said they don't push dents out but fill them instead. But when you can get a dentman who's handy with a metal rod and can slide it through the air in-take and make the dent disappear surely thats better than a lump of filler? My humble opinion of course..

I'm sure a dentless repair is the better as long as the paint bond to the metal has not been compromised.

However there is nothing wrong with a filled repair that has been carried out properly.

 

[Rodney Naghar]

I've used Chipsaway several times on different cars, always a very good job.
Call Manny on 07739-988-848 (N.London)

 

[Guest]

Had really good results from J&H Body Repairs, Europa Trading Estate, Fraser Road, Erith, Kent. DA8 1QL. 01322 432671

I have no connection other than pleased customer. My CR-V had a door stoved in whilst parked at Le mans this year. Repair is simply invisible. It is normal to blend into adjacent panels to avoid visible changes at the edges of panels. I have had two other repairs done there, both due to damage in Waitrose car parks. All have been superb repairs. J&H hourly labour rate is also very competitive.

There used to be a super body shop on Princes Road, Dartford who repaired Porsches and little else. He has gone from his these premises and I have no idea where he is now but I am sure he is around somewhere. At one time he was trying to become Porsche approved. He was very active in Kent Region so they may know him. He did a restoration repair on our 911SC about 10 years ago and the result was brilliant.