Hi all

 

6 month lurker here, and 2 month owner of a nice 2014 racing blue 1.4tsi Ocatavia - now with a dent and a scratch in the passenger door.

 

I was hoping someone might be able to give me some advice about the best course of action. The scratches are deep, but are not quite down to the metal, and I guess the total area of the damage is slightly less than 2x2cm (as you can see from the photos). Is there any way to get the dent out without filling and respraying the whole door? If I did have to go to this drastic measure, how likely is it that the door will match the rest of the car?

 

Do I need to get the paintwork done professionally, or can anyone suggest a kit that they have had success with? I found Scratch Wizard but they don't do Skoda (they're in the US) and P&P looks expensive.

 

This gives an idea of the size of the damage (it's located towards the bottom left of the picture):

 

 

And a close up:

 

 

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated!

 

Jim

You could try this for starters - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKODA-FABIA-OCTAVIA-VRS-TOUCH-UP-PAINT-PAINT-CODE-9463-RACE-BLUE-/141377629110?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item20eac36bb6

 

I have used turtle wax repair kit with touch up paint which has worked well. - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Turtle-Wax-Car-Scratch-Repair-Kit-For-Paintwork-FG6772-/270889127505?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item3f12400e51

 

You may want to take it to a body shop if you are bothered by the dent as this would need filling in..

 

Steve

A dent man could probably remove the dent but your still left needing a paint repair. Looks deep from the photos. If you want it immaculate then a respray will be required but I've had fairly good success with genuine touch up pens of basecoat then clear. Followed by wetsanding then machine polishing. Not for the faint hearted though ;-)

Thanks for the replies, genuinely very helpful, and probably what I will go for (apart from the wetsanding and machine polishing bit!). I imagine I go for a genuine touch up pen, combined with the turtle wax repair kit for the clear and  levelling.

 

I've seen some youtube videos of people removing dents by using a variety of long poles with shaped ends to "massage" the dents out eg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw8U7zVULP8, but they all appear to be American. Are they used at all in the UK, has anyone got any experience? 

I'd try and track down a reputable local independent smart repairer myself; you'd be amazed at the capabilities of some of these guys and a good one will be able to make good of that repair so to the untrained eye you'd never known it had happened.

I recommend an indy only because from experience they normally come from a long standing painting/bodyshop background and really know what they are doing..makes for a better repair and often at lower cost than a franchised service.

The alternative of course is just to leave it; sadly it probably wont be the last time it happens particularly if you use the car alot and regularly have to park it in bayed car parks.

@pipsyp, I went to a very helpful local this morning who actually suggested I get a touch up pen and take the car back to him to apply it for free. If that wasn't good enough, he said he'd fill the dent and respray the door. However, as I have no experience of this, I thought I'd post here and get the advice of the experts.

 

I'm inclined to leave it, but wouldn't mind making it less obvious. In 10 years of owning a beat up Saab, we never got pranged like this, then in 2 months of having a brand new car...

The trick with touch up pens is not to build the base coat up too high otherwise with the clear you will have a visible raised repair which often looks worse than no repair. If he's a body shop guy then I'm guessing he should know how to use touch up pens properly :-)

Ouch… did you get the bugger that did it or was this due to a momentary lapse in concentration?

 

The race blue is a stunning colour, but it's downfall is that it highlights even the slightest mark very noticeably!

@Nookiebear - I have absolutely no idea how it happened. It certainly wasn't us, and it seems an odd shape and scratch pattern for a door being opened on it. I just try not to think about it, or look at it!

 

If I remember, I will post the results of whatever I get around to doing.

Where are you in the UK?

 

I recommended another member to a bodyshop in Chesterfield, Curbishley Automotive, who did a professional body shop repair for less than a smart repairer quoted.

 

www.curbishleyautomotive.com

@andyvee - Bristol (I've updated my profile). Chesterfield is probably a bit far!

and it seems an odd shape and scratch pattern for a door being opened on it.

Looks almost textbook to me.

 

Starts at the bottom where they open the door onto yours,

Slides up as they start to get out of the car and the weight lifts.

Goes left (causing the dent) as they lean on the door as they get up.

Slides right as they heave the door across yours to close it - after realising they've mashed your door.

Looks sad and lonely as they walk away not caring.

 

Not that this has happened to my door or anything...