Chips Away and the like - key damage

[cramman]

I've recently bought a VX220 and some t**t keyed it, only lightly tho, when the previous owner had it.

The damage is light, through to the white gelcoat/undercoat and I was wondering is it worth trying one of these companies or just get it done properly.
Or, the DIY kits, are they worth it or am I just wasing my time?

The car is metalic red.

[Blown2CV]

chips away will look st, DIY will look stter. Depends whether you are arsed, but if you are talking about repair then I imagine you at least care a bit!

[dylan0451]

it's not no.16 is it?!

[cramman]

Ok then, take it to someone who knows what they're doing then. Cheers.

And no, not number 16. Wonder what happened to that in the end.

[inman999]

Some poor sod will have paid over the odds for it.

[skyslimit]

I saw a key damage repair done by a chips away type franchise some years ago. NOTE, it wasn't chips away, but one of those smart repair types that have sprung up all over.

It was on that dark metallic blue they painted Mercs with for a while in the late 90's, and it was an utter state, a really shocking repair. It looked like it had been filled in with crayon and then laquered over. Completely ruined the look of the car, it would have ben better with an honest to God battle scar.

So on that basis, either get the car side painted right, or just dont, live with it.

[TheCarpetCleaner]

skyslimit said:

I saw a key damage repair done by a chips away type franchise some years ago. NOTE, it wasn't chips away, but one of those smart repair types that have sprung up all over.

It was on that dark metallic blue they painted Mercs with for a while in the late 90's, and it was an utter state, a really shocking repair. It looked like it had been filled in with crayon and then laquered over. Completely ruined the look of the car, it would have ben better with an honest to God battle scar.

So on that basis, either get the car side painted right, or just dont, live with it.

On the other side here, I have had chipsaway out twice do so some "car park tt" repair work on my car, repairs were amazing and I simply could not see where it had been repaired, it was that good.

I guess it depends on the local operator and their skill level.

[edo]

Chipsaway is a franchise - some are great, some arent.

For a long scratch, I'd go for a proper bodyshop.

[Anatol]

Some ChipsAway branches are a "proper" bodyshop

Tol

[scirocco265]

As far as I know, the Chipsaway guys are smart repairers rather than proper bodyshop dent/paint boys. If it's been keyed so you can feel it when you run your finger over it, you're likely to need a 'proper' repair. If it's only a light scratch, a good smart repairer should do it with no hassle.

[Blown2CV]

Mobile repairs are smart repairs. If you want it to look like it has never been damaged then get it done properly. If you want it to look obvious not only that it has been repaired, but repaired cheaply then get a smart repair done. I genuinely think that the aesthetic appeal of the damage is better than the results of a smart repair after a few months of 'bedding-in'. They are that st.

[Anatol]

scirocco265 said:

As far as I know, the Chipsaway guys are smart repairers rather than proper bodyshop dent/paint boys.

This varies by branch.

Several branches have fixed sites with full spraybooth facilities and former bodyshop techs doing the painting and dent work.

Some of the van operators have decades of experience in bodyshops.

OP, best to do some research on the particular branch you're thinking of using. Any blanket advice is utterly worthless, ignore it. Recommendations about particular individuals are the only thing to go on. Might be worth asking in Bodywork & Detailing, or your local regional forum.

HTH

Tol

[TheCarpetCleaner]

Blown2CV said:

Mobile repairs are smart repairs. If you want it to look like it has never been damaged then get it done properly. If you want it to look obvious not only that it has been repaired, but repaired cheaply then get a smart repair done. I genuinely think that the aesthetic appeal of the damage is better than the results of a smart repair after a few months of 'bedding-in'. They are that st.

Wrong. The repairs YOU have seen are that st.

The repairs I have seen, and indeed the many repairs they have done that are good which is why they are still in business, are very, very good. Even months later.

Don't blame the whole franchise because you picked a bad one.

I do not work for chipsaway or have any affiliation with them, they have just done good work for me and work colleagues, time and time again with lasting good results.

A guy that works with me is an ex professional bodyshop sprayer, even he said the deep scratch and dent repair to the side of my last car was excellent, and that a bodyshop could not do any better.

[LDN]

I had 'Revive!' out last week for a bumper scuff a few inches wide. Absolutely flawless repair; I understand that big side panels are something else altogether but many of these guys are V good.

[Blown2CV]

TheCarpetCleaner said:

Blown2CV said:

Mobile repairs are smart repairs. If you want it to look like it has never been damaged then get it done properly. If you want it to look obvious not only that it has been repaired, but repaired cheaply then get a smart repair done. I genuinely think that the aesthetic appeal of the damage is better than the results of a smart repair after a few months of 'bedding-in'. They are that st.

Wrong. The repairs YOU have seen are that st.

The repairs I have seen, and indeed the many repairs they have done that are good which is why they are still in business, are very, very good. Even months later.

Don't blame the whole franchise because you picked a bad one.

I do not work for chipsaway or have any affiliation with them, they have just done good work for me and work colleagues, time and time again with lasting good results.

A guy that works with me is an ex professional bodyshop sprayer, even he said the deep scratch and dent repair to the side of my last car was excellent, and that a bodyshop could not do any better.

So why are smart repairs about a third or less cost than proper repairs, and why has smart not taken over then? Why do authorised bodyshops not do smart repairs?

[Anatol]

Blown2CV said:

So why are smart repairs about a third or less cost than proper repairs, and why has smart not taken over then? Why do authorised bodyshops not do smart repairs?

1. They are more efficient with time (and hence labour costs) and materials than conventional (not 'proper') repairs. A business specialising in SMART repair is also much lower-overhead than a conventional bodyshop (no recovery truck, strip-and-fit bays, cutting/welding/jig gear, access to licenses for manufacturer repair methods for structural/MET repairs), allowing savings to be passed on. SMART also generally cuts insurers out of the repair loop, meaning no need for Audatex (etc) licenses, no cashflow issues because they want 90 days, etc, allowing lower prices to be charged.

2. For small and medium area damage (which is what the S and M in the acronym stand for), SMART repairs *have* taken over. SMART repair is the fastest-growing sector of the automotive trade. Latest industry analysis has about one third of traditional bodyshops going out of business between 2009-2012.

3. They do! Large numbers of bodyshops (mine included) offer SMART repairs, though they may be described as 'express repairs' or 'localised repairs', or an 'express paint line'. Bodyshop industry stalwarts (such as Bodyshop magazine, September 2009 issue) have been urging all traditional bodyshops (who don't already) to offer a SMART repair service in addition to traditional repairs for quite a while. Many franchised dealers offer SMART in their in-house bodyshops (and hence as warranty-approved) and SMART techniques now have OEM approval from some manufacturers directly.

Tol

Edited by Anatol on Wednesday 28th April 07:46

[TheCarpetCleaner]

Anatol said:

Blown2CV said:

So why are smart repairs about a third or less cost than proper repairs, and why has smart not taken over then? Why do authorised bodyshops not do smart repairs?

1. They are more efficient with time (and hence labour costs) and materials than conventional (not 'proper') repairs. A business specialising in SMART repair is also much lower-overhead than a conventional bodyshop (no recovery truck, strip-and-fit bays, cutting/welding/jig gear, access to licenses for manufacturer repair methods for structural/MET repairs), allowing savings to be passed on. SMART also generally cuts insurers out of the repair loop, meaning no need for Audatex (etc) licenses, no cashflow issues because they want 90 days, etc, allowing lower prices to be charged.

2. For small and medium area damage (which is what the S and M in the acronym stand for), SMART repairs *have* taken over. SMART repair is the fastest-growing sector of the automotive trade. Latest industry analysis has about one third of traditional bodyshops going out of business between 2009-2012.

3. They do! Large numbers of bodyshops (mine included) offer SMART repairs, though they may be described as 'express repairs' or 'localised repairs', or an 'express paint line'. Bodyshop industry stalwarts (such as Bodyshop magazine, September 2009 issue) have been urging all traditional bodyshops (who don't already) to offer a SMART repair service in addition to traditional repairs for quite a while. Many franchised dealers offer SMART in their in-house bodyshops (and hence as warranty-approved) and SMART techniques now have OEM approval from some manufacturers directly.

Tol

Edited by Anatol on Wednesday 28th April 07:46

There is a proper bodyshop near me that I dropped a friend off after she had a rear end punt a while back. They had to do major work to the back but did a smart repair on the rear wheel arch as it made more sense. No problems.

[cheadle hulme]

OK, rather than me start a new thread, any views on whether this is a suitable cadidate for a smart repair?

I don't need it perfect, as there are other small cosmetic things wrong with it, just need it fixing and making unobtrusive.

And yes, I am ste at parking.

[TheCarpetCleaner]

cheadle hulme said:

OK, rather than me start a new thread, any views on whether this is a suitable cadidate for a smart repair?

I don't need it perfect, as there are other small cosmetic things wrong with it, just need it fixing and making unobtrusive.

And yes, I am ste at parking.

Contact and send that photo to your local SMART repairer, most will even come out and give you a free quote

[snuffle]

Looks like a perfectly viable repair for a smart style repairer to do.

Edited by snuffle on Wednesday 28th April 19:47