Dent... What should I do?

[M.J.S]

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice... In the 13 years I've owned cars I've been fortunate enough to never need the help of insurance or a body shop for repairs.

Now I am.
My 206 was parked outside the front of my house, with a parking space in front of it. As the Toyota tried to forward park in the space it cut across the front of my car denting the wing, and scratching the paintwork off from below the bumper.

I was outside painting the house when this happened so I saw it all happen.

My question is, do you think that the wing is repairable? Or will it need replacing? Will the Chip-Away/Dent Wizard guys be the right people to approach to get this fixed.

The driver of the other car has indicated that he would like to see a few quotes and to stay outside of his insurance if possible. Is this a good idea?

[thinfourth2]

I think normal procedre around here is to jump up and down wailing and screaming like some has killed you entire family with a spoon

[edo]

def not repairable - especially as wings are cheap as chips to replace.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-BRAND-NEW-PEUGEO...

[ejenner]

Nobody ever listens but it is better to stay away from the insurance companies if you can. Even when you have been involved in a claim which wasn't your fault the insurance companies are recording these events as a non-fault claim on your record and it counts against you.

Any dent can be pulled out but not every pannel will go flat afterwards. It will need painting in any case.

I think the pannel can be saved in this case. It's mostly about edges. If the dent goes over an edge then it makes it difficult to get the pannel flat and the edge straight.

It's better not to change the pannel as that would cost more and encourage rust. Work done in bodyshops is very rarely as good as factory work and the factory pannels rust anyway so better just to get it mostly straightend, a bit of filler and then repainted.

[MarsellusWallace]

That won't repair to any great standard by a chips away,dent wizard style operation.
Looks like a trip to the bodyshop with this one.

[M.J.S]

Thanks Guys,

I figured it might be a body shop type repair.

Can anyone recommend a good body shop in Swindon?

[M.J.S]

ejenner said:

I think the pannel can be saved in this case. It's mostly about edges. If the dent goes over an edge then it makes it difficult to get the pannel flat and the edge straight.

It's better not to change the pannel as that would cost more and encourage rust. Work done in bodyshops is very rarely as good as factory work and the factory pannels rust anyway so better just to get it mostly straightend, a bit of filler and then repainted.

The dent goes over 2 edges... it might be beyond it.

[ejenner]

If it is just those two at the bottom next to the black rubbing strip and where it joins the lower bumper then it should be ok.

[M.J.S]

ejenner said:

If it is just those two at the bottom next to the black rubbing strip and where it joins the lower bumper then it should be ok.

Thanks, I'll get it investigated for both a repair and a replacement.

So anyone recommend a good body-shop/dent fixer in Swindon?

Thanks,

[thinfourth2]

Is it a bolt on wing?

[M.J.S]

thinfourth2 said:

Is it a bolt on wing?

No idea...
Its not a very PistonHeads car, so thats my excuse as to why I've not investigated if it is bolt on or not!

[B160 AVE]

It`s a bolt on wing and a 15 minute job to swap over. Look for a second hand one in the right colour and just swap it. Should cost you £20-40 and is really easy.
I`ve had to do it twice on girlfriends 206 and had never done it before, it really is very simple

[S1mon.]

have sent you email with body shops

[M.J.S]

S1mon. said:

have sent you email with body shops

Thanks!

[andye30m3]

M.J.S said:

The driver of the other car has indicated that he would like to see a few quotes and to stay outside of his insurance if possible. Is this a good idea?

Both times I've had someone hit my car and we've tried to avoid involving the insurance companies I've got shafted.

Both minor accidents but would have required a single panel to be painted (rear bumper in both cases) people assume this sort of thing can be done for £50 but it can't, I'd get a couple of quotes today, if you've not got cash in your hand by mid week involve the insurance. I doubt they'll entertain a claim in after a few weeks of being fobbed off.

[marshalla]

ejenner said:

Nobody ever listens but it is better to stay away from the insurance companies if you can. Even when you have been involved in a claim which wasn't your fault the insurance companies are recording these events as a non-fault claim on your record and it counts against you.

You still need to declare it, even if you don't go through the insurance company, so what's the benefit to the "not at fault" party of avoiding them ?

[Fastra]

thinfourth2 said:

Is it a bolt on wing?

No idea on the age of your car but a straight swap is an option - if it is bolt on.

A quick search on ebay shows this for £20:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-206-O-S-FRONT-WI...

And there's always places like www.breakersyard.com - just fill in all the relevant info and yards across the UK get back to with any matches.