Thoughts on Paint Free Dent Removal?

What are your thoughts on Paint Free Dent Removal?

I backed into a friend's car last week and damaged the side of my bed. Its badly dented and looks scratched but it's probably just white marks from his plastic rear light rubbing it. His bumper probably scratched the paint but I can't tell. I didn't want to wash anything so the paintless dent repair guy can figure it out. Is it worth trying even if there are scratches? I don't want to pay $3k to fix an entire bed and I don't want to go through insurance since he doesn't want to file a claim since you can't see damage on his... but I also don't want to pay $850 for this if I am going to need to repaint it anyway. Anyone use them when scratches are involved?


Luckily my Tacoma wasn't damaged and neither was his, but my tundra took the hit:

 

Can paintless dent repair be used when metal is creased like that?

 

Good ones are magicians, but they aren't miracle workers. Your's probably needs a miracle in terms of PDR.

Just work around it with your fingernail. If you get 'caught', it's scratched.

Washing won't do anything to alter any assessment.

Quotes should be free, and a good PDR guy will say no can do if it can't be done right.

Not sure where you are getting numbers like that? While it won't be 'cheap', it shouldn't be anywhere near that kind of money.

 

Metal is stretched.
A good PDR guy can do his best to hide it but it won’t be perfect. The paint will be damaged from stretching as well.

You making a claim on your insurance has nothing to do with him. He can not file a claim against you, you are at fault so your claim is seperate.

$3k is a very realistic bid.

I damaged my Tacoma in the same way and it was over $2500.
The panel either needs to be entirely replaced or sanded and bondo sculpt and repainted. Its all labor you’re paying for.
The whole bedside has to be redone. Also silver is the worst color in the world to have for body work. The panels around will have to be feathered in.
Silver work typically costs more in labor.

 

Thanks for the replies! I don't think it can be done with that crease but thanks! Standing by for 2nd quote right now so we shall see. They probably need to see it in person. The top and bottom marks look like I can scrape it off, but the bottom crease looks like it may have gotten down to the metal in some parts.

I'll post results or findings when I get them. I really appreciate the info as Ive only done major body repair never this. My 2nd gen got hit by a semi truck and cost $14,100 in damage. I remember each peice seeming insanely overpriced but it's not like there was an alternative. Hoping this can be done without insurance and on the cheap, I'm fine with scratches but would like to go without a brand new bed side.

 

Update: Second PDR guy called and said I have a nice truck and should go to a body shop. He said he could fix 75%, being the dents, but the paint damage will still be there and said it would be an eye sore. Clearwater Bill was spot on and the PDR guy was honest saying I shouldn't pay for PDR since it won't make it look good.

Time to go to the body shop I feel like out of all the parking lots I see full of truck beds, they should be like $100 from all the brand new trucks being converted to flat beds, but nope.. places want $3-5k for them. Insane.

 

Haven’t had good luck with these guys

 

it isn't the "right" fix, but you could do PDR, touch up the scratch, detail out the scuffs, & put a graphic on the 1/4.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/fre...lgo_pvid=bbb560ea-f8e9-4747-81a6-f23e40f38485
Yes, this particular graphic is over the top & would make the truck hard to sell, but it's under $100 for something this big, smaller is less$.

 

$30
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2PC...lgo_pvid=d3d45576-3ce0-4ace-9a1a-2a7cf0d1753a

 

So what ever happened? Im on the same boat with my '17 Taco. a PDR guy said he can fix it about 95% being that the dent is on the crease. its a small dent maybe 1"x 3" on the body line right above the wheel on the side of my bed. Luckily it didn't mess up the clear/paint. has minor scratches that should be easily removed by someone else after the PDR guy pops the dent out. I got quoted $175.00