Fender ding: DIY or professional? Looking for opinions - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

wineyarders · 02-01-2009, 09:38 AM

Greetings All,

I have a decent ding in the left fender and I'm debating whether to spend the $500 to get it professionally done or to just do it myself. Unfortunately I can't post pics, but it looks like a good size rock bounced off it. There's a minor dent and all of the paint was chipped off. The damage covers about the size of a half dollar coin. If I repair, I'll need to try and pop the dent, fill, and paint. I don't need it to look new, but it's an '07 so I don't want it to look horrible either. I would need to brush on touch up paint and I'm not sure brushing as opposed to spraying will work. Any thoughts on whether the end result will be decent would be appreciated, thanks,

Ryan

glenn14 · 02-01-2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wineyarders

Greetings All,

I have a decent ding in the left fender and I'm debating whether to spend the $500 to get it professionally done or to just do it myself. Unfortunately I can't post pics, but it looks like a good size rock bounced off it. There's a minor dent and all of the paint was chipped off. The damage covers about the size of a half dollar coin. If I repair, I'll need to try and pop the dent, fill, and paint. I don't need it to look new, but it's an '07 so I don't want it to look horrible either. I would need to brush on touch up paint and I'm not sure brushing as opposed to spraying will work. Any thoughts on whether the end result will be decent would be appreciated, thanks,

Ryan

Unless you are sure of your skills, you would need to pop out the dent, use filler then sand prime, paint and clearcoat. With spray paint not brush, then buff once everything hardens. Otherwise I would have a body shop fix it.
But I am anal when it comes to these things. Just mhho.

Glenn

Netforcer · 02-01-2009, 04:52 PM

paintless dent repair... shouldn't cost more than $60... then use touch-up paint... and get it done soon before it starts rusting

wineyarders · 02-01-2009, 06:27 PM

Thanks for the replies. I figured out how this forum recommends to post pics, here is a link to a photo of the damage

.

Unfortunately, it's been a couple weeks so it's already started to rust.

Glenn, regarding spray vs brush, is the brush just too coarse? I want to stay away from the aerosol paints since I don't think they'll match factory color. I don't own a sprayer.

Thanks again,

Ryan

1956kiteboarder · 02-01-2009, 06:29 PM

Wow what a bummer! That sucks. Since its such a new car I would have it professionally painted, they would have to due the whole fender, if they fade it in it will be more noticeable.

catric69 · 02-01-2009, 06:42 PM

I have to say that does not look like a rock hit it. It looks like something gashed it instead. Did you hit someone with the front of your car? Or vice versa?

***darksparkz*** · 02-01-2009, 06:43 PM

That's a pretty big area for touch up paint in my opinion, I've tried touch up paint, and failed, lol.

But when I use spray cans, they do work quite well and match nicely.

But if you want the perfect finish, then do it professionally of course.

glenn14 · 02-01-2009, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wineyarders

Thanks for the replies. I figured out how this forum recommends to post pics, here is a link to a photo of the damage

.

Unfortunately, it's been a couple weeks so it's already started to rust.

Glenn, regarding spray vs brush, is the brush just too coarse? I want to stay away from the aerosol paints since I don't think they'll match factory color. I don't own a sprayer.

Thanks again,

Ryan

That is a pretty big gash and rust spot much to big for a brush. I would have a shop do it for you. That area has to be taken down to bare metel, filled primed, sanded painted then clearcoated, and as somebody stated above, the whole fender may need to be painted so the color is even......

Glenn

wineyarders · 02-02-2009, 06:42 PM

Sparkz,

When you used the spray, did you just focus on the damaged area or did you need to blend into the surrounding area? I've heard the matching spray often doesn't match the factory paint that well. I don't need it to look new, but I don't want it to stand out when you walk by (or someone else walks by). And I don't mind fading a tiny bit but have no interest in getting into this if the paint is going to need a lot of blending. Thanks for the advice,

Ryan

Netforcer · 02-02-2009, 06:56 PM

wowser... i don't even want to think about the sound that would have made... you def need to get it professionally done

GeorgiaHybrid · 02-02-2009, 07:44 PM

If you have never blended a new repair into existing paint, do yourself a favor and get a pro to do the work. You will never be happy with the result otherwise and you will save yourself a lot of pain and suffering.

Rapid Roy · 02-03-2009, 04:19 AM

I say go for it if you have the time and paitence. Do lots of research on line first so you know what to do. You can buy factory matching paint in aerosol cans on line. Start by searching this forum for touch up paint. There have been lots of good threads about doing your own body work.

wineyarders · 02-04-2009, 08:01 PM

Rapid Boy, I've been trying to do research on how much I should expect to need to blend to get decent results. I know the shop said they would need to blend the whole panel and part of the hood to get it right. I don't need it perfect, but I don't want it stand out. I've tried searching the forum and the net with little success. Since this is new to me I'm having a tough time finding those resources. Any direction would greatly be appreciated, thanks,

Ryan

1956kiteboarder · 02-04-2009, 08:12 PM

Go to more body shops, spraying part of the hood , tells me they do not know there craft. You paint the whole fender and the entire hood or just the fender.

I would paint the whole fender and leave the hood alone, the sun will take care of the fade in.

the fade in job on the hood will become ugly in a few months.

I know from experience.

glenn14 · 02-04-2009, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1956kiteboarder

Go to more body shops, spraying part of the hood , tells me they do not know there craft. You paint the whole fender and the entire hood or just the fender.

I would paint the whole fender and leave the hood alone, the sun will take care of the fade in.

the fade in job on the hood will become ugly in a few months.

I know from experience.

^^^ I agree 100% with what kiteboarder said......

Glenn