fetalsono

I have a relatively small dent without a scratch and considering one of those dent repair kits. I am a little concerned about the glue you are supposed to apply and then later wipe off with alcohol. Does it ruin the paint?

Any experience.

Peter

tfischer

I doubt that anyone with an SC430 would try such a gimick. I have heard that they just don't always work as well as implied in the ads (boy, that's a first). More importantly, it does not cost much to have a ding removed by a specialist, and then you know it's going to come out OK.

I had a small ding in my hood (from an unknown source), and the dealer indicated that he had the paintless dent guy on the grounds once a week. I think it cost me about $50.00, at the most, took about 45 minutes, and I cannot see where the dent was even when I look carefully.

And I don't have another junk tool hanging around the garage.

argentx

We had strong winds here last week, and a stupid shopping cart in Walmart's parking lot wacked my sc 430 so hard it put a CREASE in the fender. I took it to Dent Wizard and they said it was not something they could do, the fender would have to be replaced.

Needless to say I was pissed, but what could I do? The car is in the shop as we speak, so of course we had a beautifully sunny weekend while I drove a piece of junk enterprise rental.

So the long of the short of it is if you have a SMALL ding, try Dent Wizard. Don't try those home kits. The panels on the SC 430 seem to be thin, so be prepared to have body work done.

Richard

LexusSC430

Ive used the dent wizard too, on a previous car. As for those kits, one of the mags bought it and tried it. Apparently it does work....so long as the dent is on a flat surface away from any sort of beam nd etc. They tried it on the bumber or something and it failed. I doubt the gluewould do anymore damage then waxing your car the wrong way. Still my advice is, for $100 go to the dent wizard. It just sucks when the dent is on an area not fixable and something ends up costing $700.

dseag2

Argentx- I can't believe Dent Wizard couldn't repair a dent from a shopping cart! I've been using them for years for every possible type of dent. They even took a huge dent out of the rear quarter panel of my SC430 aluminum roof! Took them a couple of hours, but they got it and you can't tell anything was there. I guess consistency must vary with location. In So. Florida, I've never had a dent or crease they couldn't fix. Sorry about your hassle.

tfischer

My guess is that the shopping cart probably cracked the paint.

(Were the kids playing "Shopping Cart Hockey" again?)

My understanding is that paintless dent removers will only work when the paint is not cracked. When that happens, it's off to the body shop for you.

V. Miller

When you get a dent the sheet metal is stretched. Pulling it out isn't going to make the sheet metal compress back. So where does that extra yardage go, back in or bulged out. If the dent is shallow and in a flat area, then a dent puller might suffice
vm

ceboyd

but I've used "dentBusters" here in Chicagoland for several cars and I'm always amazed at their work. I also know there is a guy that goes from dealer to dealer to take dings out (including hail damage, door dings, small dents from shopping carts, etc)... just that if you have the paint cracked or missing, it will still be missing after the dent is removed.... That is why it is called paintless dent repair!

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a profesional to do the paintless dent repair.. but I wouldn't want to try it myself with a cheapie kit!

argentx

Got my car back, looks good as new. I'm just out $500 for the priviedge.

Richard