dent/smart repairs

[mike50001]

Can anyone recommend someone that can do smart repairs dent repairs near chesterfield?

someone nicely put a dent in my car that needs sorting. gone through the paint too.

dont want super expensive, but id like my car to still look 6 month old not a wreck already.

any recommendations would be good.

[7even]

Cant recommend an individual but it may be worth your while checking out the "smartmap"

[mike50001]

cheers, one on there near derby, worth getting a quote.

[grand cherokee]

just don't expect a 'smart' repair to 'last'

they are a quick fix solution - if you want the job done correctly go to a body shop - you will pay more but at least the job will be done correctly

funnily enough 'smart' repairers are so smart they can spray in damp conditions/high temps/dusty atmospheres etc? - all on your drive!

yet the poor old body shop needs a special 'booth' to do the work? - tells you the quality of smart repairs imo

Edited by grand cherokee on Tuesday 14th June 11:08

[Squiggs]

grand cherokee said:

just don't expect a 'smart' repair to 'last'

they are a quick fix solution - if you want the job done correctly go to a body shop - you will pay more but at least the job will be done correctly

funnily enough 'smart' repairers are so smart they can spray in damp conditions/high temps/dusty atmospheres etc? - all on your drive!

yet the poor old body shop needs a special 'booth' to do the work? - tells you the quality of smart repairs imo

Edited by grand cherokee on Tuesday 14th June 11:08

Never read such rubbish. I think you need to visit a bodyshop that also undertakes mobile SMART repairs (yes such businesses do exist!) and have a chat.

Many SMART repairers (in particular ChipsAway) give a lifetime guarantee for as long as you own the vehicle.

If the job can be done by a SMART method in hours why pay out the extra to leave your car at a bodyshop for days.

Yes it can be difficult doing SMART repairs outside, it's a different skill set to working inside but excellent work can be achieved with the right diligence.

Booths are used to contain and then vent overspray and harmful vapours that most bodyshop systems use.
And if you think a booth provides perfect conditions and eliminates all contamination think again!

Just to add, I work mobile and I do some work for what is arguably one of the top 5 detailing companies in the country. I do my work for them at their address, inside or outside and manage to meet their exacting standards every time.

Edited by Squiggs on Tuesday 14th June 13:15

[Vette]

grand cherokee said:

just don't expect a 'smart' repair to 'last'

they are a quick fix solution - if you want the job done correctly go to a body shop - you will pay more but at least the job will be done correctly

funnily enough 'smart' repairers are so smart they can spray in damp conditions/high temps/dusty atmospheres etc? - all on your drive!

yet the poor old body shop needs a special 'booth' to do the work? - tells you the quality of smart repairs imo

Edited by grand cherokee on Tuesday 14th June 11:08

Hi mike50001

I agree with Squiggs. Clearly, grand cherokee has an issue with SMART repairers. I perform SMART repairs, both outside and in my workshop with a booth and get contamination in the booth just like outdoors. All bodyshops spent time de-nibbing contamination out of fresh lacquer.

Exactly the same processes are used in SMART repair as in a bodyshop - I know, because I work from both! The difference with SMART is that we are skilled in keeping the repair small. Traditional bodyshops can do this if they want, but their systems are more attuned to large area repairs. We keep time and cost down by keeping the repair small.

SMART repairers who are shown on the smartmap are experienced, committed and skilled people who will give you bodyshop results but in a fraction of the time, at your convenience and usually for a lower cost.

Grand cherokee, I hope you will reconsider your viewpoint in the light of this info.

Cheers
David
CarDoc Cornwall

[Anatol]

I own a bodyshop. I also run a fleet of SMART repair vans. I have no bias towards either technology as a result. We achieve equivalent finishes with both methods, and offer the same lifetime warranty for both.

Anyone who tells you that they know how for certain how someone they have not met, using techniques and materials they have no training in, will fare on repairs to bits of damage they have not seen, is not making a very persuasive argument.

[grand cherokee]

Squiggs said:

Never read such rubbish. I think you need to visit a bodyshop that also undertakes mobile SMART repairs (yes such businesses do exist!) and have a chat.

Many SMART repairers (in particular ChipsAway) give a lifetime guarantee for as long as you own the vehicle.

If the job can be done by a SMART method in hours why pay out the extra to leave your car at a bodyshop for days.

Yes it can be difficult doing SMART repairs outside, it's a different skill set to working inside but excellent work can be achieved with the right diligence.

Booths are used to contain and then vent overspray and harmful vapours that most bodyshop systems use.
And if you think a booth provides perfect conditions and eliminates all contamination think again!

Just to add, I work mobile and I do some work for what is arguably one of the top 5 detailing companies in the country. I do my work for them at their address, inside or outside and manage to meet their exacting standards every time.

Edited by Squiggs on Tuesday 14th June 13:15

thats your opinion - must be a smart guy?

and your first post?

i've had work done by chips away - when autoglass scratched my car - when my regular bodyshop saw the car on an unrelated matter he said 'when did you have a smart repair done?' - it was that obvious to him - and he does smart repairs but when asked one simple question - would he do it on his own car? - the answer was a very clear NO!!

as for lifetime guarantees - forget it - anyway, why does it have to be only for the person who had the work done? - if its so good it should be transferable? - but having said that most folk use chips away to cover defects before they sell a car!

chips away is a franchise - so obviously quality will vary immensely?

i apologise to those who do a 'proper job'

Edited by grand cherokee on Wednesday 15th June 10:47

[grand cherokee]

Vette said:

Hi mike50001

I agree with Squiggs. Clearly, grand cherokee has an issue with SMART repairers. I perform SMART repairs, both outside and in my workshop with a booth and get contamination in the booth just like outdoors. All bodyshops spent time de-nibbing contamination out of fresh lacquer.

Exactly the same processes are used in SMART repair as in a bodyshop - I know, because I work from both! The difference with SMART is that we are skilled in keeping the repair small. Traditional bodyshops can do this if they want, but their systems are more attuned to large area repairs. We keep time and cost down by keeping the repair small.

SMART repairers who are shown on the smartmap are experienced, committed and skilled people who will give you bodyshop results but in a fraction of the time, at your convenience and usually for a lower cost.

Grand cherokee, I hope you will reconsider your viewpoint in the light of this info.

Cheers
David
CarDoc Cornwall

as a smart guy i could hardly expect anything other than a defence of the system that provides your income?

however, in fairness to you if you were more 'local' i'd give you a chance - but as i said as franchises then quality standards will vary - so sadly the 'worst' tarnish the image of the good guys

i had the local chips away guy to look at some work - he wanted to do workshop respray to the sills (side steps boards) because it was 'awkward' and his 'ir lamps' (?) would not work in that application?

Edited by grand cherokee on Wednesday 15th June 10:56

[Squiggs]

grand cherokee said:

thats your opinion - must be a smart guy?

and your first post?

i've had work done by chips away - when autoglass scratched my car - when my regular bodyshop saw the car on an unrelated matter he said 'when did you have a smart repair done?' - it was that obvious to him - and he does smart repairs but when asked one simple question - would he do it on his own car? - the answer was a very clear NO!!

as for lifetime guarantees - forget it - anyway, why does it have to be only for the person who had the work done? - if its so good it should be transferable? - but having said that most folk use chips away to cover defects before they sell a car!

chips away is a franchise - so obviously quality will vary immensely?

i apologise to those who do a 'proper job'

Edited by grand cherokee on Wednesday 15th June 10:47

Obviously every repairer is only as good as the individual, whether they be independent or franchised, Smart or bodyshop.

Why forget life time guarantees?
And I don't know of many guarantees that are transferable.

Again without any statistics you say most CA repairs are to cover defects before a car is sold.
I can safely say that my customers with new cars (some only a week old) that I've worked on were not getting the work done just to sell them on.
That's not to mention the brand new cars damaged at the dealers, where the dealer then takes on responsibility under their normal paint/bodywork guarantees without any comeback. And the detailing company I work for aren't selling the cars on.

It seems a shame that you had a 'not satisfactory' repair .... maybe it wasn't suitable for Smart, maybe you got a bad repairer - but one thing is for sure you shouldn't make such sweeping statements, nor tar us all with the same brush.

[mike50001]

blimey what have i stired up.

any repair is as good as the guy doing it, thats why id prefer on recommendation than just pick one from the phonebook.

seeing as we have afew in the business on here, anyone like ot put in a ball park figure for a repair on this panel.



theres a small scratch an a bumper scuff but thats the worst one.

[Anatol]

grand cherokee said:

when my regular bodyshop saw the car on an unrelated matter he said 'when did you have a smart repair done?' - it was that obvious to him

We spot repairs carried out by bodyshops and SMART repairers alike, every day, on cars we are quoting. Often the car owner is unaware of the repair, or believed that it had been carried out to an 'invisible' standard.

That in no way makes them bad repairs. A refinish professional will be able to detect a repair, even one of professional quality, as will anyone who knows exactly where to look, or what to look for, or has access to the appropriate technology.

If your repairer wouldn't use his SMART repair training on his own car, that may say more about the training he's received and his skill level than the technology itself. Personally I would have serious doubts about a professional who was happy to carry out repairs for customers that he wouldn't consider acceptable himself.

[Squiggs]

mike50001 said:

blimey what have i stired up.

any repair is as good as the guy doing it, thats why id prefer on recommendation than just pick one from the phonebook.

seeing as we have afew in the business on here, anyone like ot put in a ball park figure for a repair on this panel.



theres a small scratch an a bumper scuff but thats the worst one.

Sorry I can't give you a guide here as I can't really envisage the scale/size of the damage cos I don't recognise the car from that lone photo.
But it could be a case that the light needs removing to avoid any damage whilst sanding (and/or filling - depending on how deep the scratch is)... which in turn may involve the removal of some interior trim.
If this was the case, personally speaking I don't generally remove lights/interior trims - mainly because as a 'man with only a van' I don't have enough room to carry every required tool to carry out every type of job (I only just have enough room to fit in all the gear required to carry out a decent paint repair lol)

[mike50001]

sorry should have said that really, its a 407 sw

had a quick look an it looks like access to the rear of the panel would be from behind the light, appears to only be one maybe 2 twist locks hold the light in.

the dent id guess only pushed in 2mm or so.

[retrorider]

Being an ex-SMART repair technician i would just like to point out that interior repairs are also included within this field, and with fantastic results,so its sometimes short sighted to right off technology solely just commenting on the paint side of the business...

[Squiggs]

retrorider said:

Being an ex-SMART repair technician i would just like to point out that interior repairs are also included within this field, and with fantastic results,so its sometimes short sighted to right off technology solely just commenting on the paint side of the business...

Good call.

[Squiggs]

mike50001 said:

sorry should have said that really, its a 407 sw

had a quick look an it looks like access to the rear of the panel would be from behind the light, appears to only be one maybe 2 twist locks hold the light in.

the dent id guess only pushed in 2mm or so.

As a ball park figure I would think somewhere between £100 - £120, it may vary slighty regionally, and on the amount of work around v's repairers in your area.

[mike50001]

Squiggs said:

As a ball park figure I would think somewhere between £100 - £120, it may vary slighty regionally, and on the amount of work around v's repairers in your area.

cheers gives me a start point to go from, doesnt seem many in the trade here, the nearest of the map is 20ish mile away

[Squiggs]

mike50001 said:

cheers gives me a start point to go from, doesnt seem many in the trade here, the nearest of the map is 20ish mile away

Give him a call, most of us are used to a bit of travelling

[grand cherokee]

Anatol said:

...

If your repairer wouldn't use his SMART repair training on his own car, that may say more about the training he's received and his skill level than the technology itself. Personally I would have serious doubts about a professional who was happy to carry out repairs for customers that he wouldn't consider acceptable himself.

anyone can call themselves a 'smart' repairer - products are easily available online

smart has become a generic term for scratch repair - like the word 'hoover' to mean a carpet suction cleaning device!

as to 'my' bodyshop - well porsche etc are more than happy with his work - as am i for the RR and my father/friends for other cars

as for main dealers using the service - of course they do to reduce costs!

i've used both chipex and dr colorchip and can produce results comparable to any smart work i've personally seen - ok i can use a dual action polisher and cutting/finishing compounds