Rear quarter panel dented - repairable?

[CoolHands]

Can this be pulled out? I saw a youtube video where they replaced the whole panel and it had less damage than this. But on first viewing I imagined they could pull it out with those rivet things? I have no experience though. A 2009 Mini Cooper S.

Looks quite bad on the photo now though!

[Bluevanman]

Yes a competent bodyshop with a gyspot or miracle puller type device could repair that no problem

[CoolHands]

Cool! Approx cost? Anyone got a ballpark

[Bluevanman]

CoolHands said:

Cool! Approx cost? Anyone got a ballpark

Will vary wildly depending on your location.Best to visit a few places

[alabbasi]

Yes, I don't see anything that should prevent that from being worked out

[Robertb]

I went to a body shop demo yesterday funnily enough where they use a miracle dent puller to fix something quite similar. Definitely within scope as it needs painting anyway. They said it’s far cheaper than a new panel.

Not sure where you’re located but if you’re anywhere near south of Reading give Nico at Smash Paintwork a call.

[CoolHands]

Thanks but NW London near Wembley. Insurance is automatic write off just by doing their online thing so no hope there - no assessor even used these days! We’re considering not claiming and just paying to get it fixed ourselves but haven’t been able to take it anywhere yet and I’ve absolutely no idea what it might cost as a private job.

Edit I tried smash (cheers) he gave quick response somewhere upwards of £1.3k

But don’t want it written off and just given £3.5k cos it will be a pain to find anything else decent.

(Was hit and run - van driver . Didn’t get the reg)

Edited by CoolHands on Sunday 14th April 21:29

Edited by CoolHands on Sunday 14th April 21:29

[Robertb]

That's not too bad if it covers the door, rear wing and paint.

Really annoying you can't just claim- seems very short-sighted of the insurance co, would surely cost them less.

Can you buy the salvage, if you want to stick with your car?

[CoolHands]

You can buy it back but it’s a st system - if you claim they give the write off to copart. You then have to buy it from them. I read some previous threads around the internet saying it was a st process (unresponsive and uncooperative) plus they want an arm and a leg ie it’s not worth it generally because of the aggravation and ripoff price (looks like they sting you for 2/3rds the book price of undamaged car).

I suspect the book price is only about £3.5k so let’s assume I manage to battle them up to £4k as it was a decent one. Minus £500 excess (!) means I receive £3.5. If copart screw me for £2k then I only have £1.5k left for repairs.

The estimate said the repair could possibly go as high as £2k. So after all that what’s the point, I might as well spend up to £2k just getting it done privately without claiming and all the run-around.