96 Camry Dings and Cruddy Paint

[flamerid]

My camry needs some work. It has about 5 small dings throughout the car and I remember an automobile repair center wanted to charge my friend nearly 160 just to take out a small ding. I know there's ways of taking them out easily with the right tools/method but I just don't know how. I've heard of the dry ice/hot car method but I don't have any dry ice and i don't think 100 degree burning sunlight is hot enough for a cool rag or piece of ice. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I was wondering if there were any other ways to remove those dings. I also have some minor, but noticeable creases on my roof. I really don't feel like paying more than my car's worth to take out dings. Haha.

I don't mind grinding on it because the car really was beaten up by the sunlight. It doesn't have a clearcoat, paint job's all messed up, idiot who owned it before me spray painted the roof green, yeah so it needs a paint job pretty badly. Any recommendations for prep work or cheap places?

Thanks! I really appreciate it.

[secrecyguy]

$160 is very reasonable to take out dings.

To paint the entire car will be at least $2,000 or more if you want a the best paint job. Anything less than that, will be crappy.

My best advice, live with it and save up the money. When you have the money, take it in to take out the dings and paint the entire car.

[Pb]

$160 for 1 ding, or all the dings?

[flamerid]

For one ding.

Well the car itself is only worth 3700.

If I were to pay to take out all the small little dings (which takes a professional less than a minute to take out) then that would be;

5 x 160 = 800

Not to mention the creases on the roof would probably cost more.

3 x 200 = 600

Paint job.

2000

When you add up the known rip offs a professional charges, it starts becoming a burden when it reaches the same price the car is worth. Not to mention I HATE dealers/auto-body shops. I don't trust them and all they do is try to con you. I loathe them with a passion. I hope you can understand what I'm saying.

I'm just looking for a cheap way to minimize small dings and a way to get a cheap paint job.

[thoughthard]

Paintless Dent Removal was cheap for me, but that was in a small town in Nebraska.

I think the last time it was $70 for over 16 dents removed. I went in for a shopping cart ding above my passenger rear wheel. He said he would not charge me if he could not work it out. Since it was between two body lines, and the metal was double layer, he could not get it out using either of his techniques. He was also afraid of more paint damage, since the paint was damaged. Since, I was there I told him he could work out some of the other dents. He usually charges by the panel, but since it was off-season, he just charged me for an overall job.

He even offered me a job doing PDR, if I bought the tools, and practiced before the big hail season hits. I would be on his mobile crew that goes whereever there is a huge hail storm. He said the money is insane.