9

I have a 2012 VW Jetta. The other day I was pulling into my garage and hit the side of the car. There are several dents and paint scratches. What would be the cheapest and easiest way to get this damage fixed? Sorry if this question isn't fit for this stack exchange, first time posting here.

Here is a photo of the damage: enter image description here

Thank you!

rshea0
  • 201
  • 1
  • 5

4 Answers4

6

There are a few ways to resolve this dent issue as the others have indicated.

Another Possible Method

glue these plastic ding tabs to the dents. You can find them by googling "plastic ding tab"

You will use a hot glue gun and hot glue them to your various dents.

enter image description here

Use a dent puller slide hammer. The tip should screw into the plastic ding pullers.

enter image description here

Pull the weight of the slide hammer to where the ding tabs are attached to the dent and give it a good pull. When the sliding weight hits the stop at the end of the hammer the transferred energy will pull onto the glued tab and pull the dent out.

You may need to repeat the operation a few times to get the result you are looking for.

Community
  • 1
DucatiKiller
  • 32,976
  • 22
  • 150
  • 267
3

The sheet metal on your door isn't terribly strong (which is why is is fairly easy to dent). Here's how I would approach the problem if I were looking for a "good enough" solution:

  1. Remove the door's inner panel. This will involve undoing a variety of car-specific screws (e.g., in the door handle), disconnecting some electrical hardware for the power windows, etc.
  2. Move the plastic vapor barrier (looks like a thick plastic bag) and any easily moved sound proofing.
  3. With a something strong but unlikely to pierce the metal, try pressing the debts out from the outside. I would suggest something like a soup spoon. Press with the center of the back of the bowl so you can push out a little bit at a time.
  4. After each little press, check your work on the outside. Don't get aggressive and stop before you think it's perfect (it's not going to be).
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 about ten million times.
  6. At this point, the dents will be better but the marks will remain. Now it's time for several coats of cleaner wax. This has a little bit of polish that will remove some of the extra paint and will soften the scratch edges.
  7. Repeat step 6 until "good enough".
  8. Reassemble the door and watch for rust (you may have gone through the paint). In that case, return with touch up paint later.

The result will be an imperfect door. However, you'll learn a lot about how your car is put together (at least in that one spot) and you won't have spent much other than the cost of a bottle of wax.

Ppoggio
  • 1,497
  • 2
  • 12
  • 29
Bob Cross
  • 24,537
  • 11
  • 85
  • 166
2

Fiberglass and Bondo. You will need lots of sand paper and strong arms if you don't have access to a compressor and air sanders.

Jonathan Musso
  • 4,740
  • 11
  • 30
  • 52
1

You may be able to utilize a can of compressed computer air, and a blow dryer to get the dents out. Modern sheetmetal is real thin and wants to go back into position. Fixing the paint would be trickier you may be able to sand it down and color match it using preval sprayers.

com84
  • 11
  • 1