Door Ding

[mydogsowner]

My new Vibe looks like someone took a shot at it with a BB Gun. There is a perfectly round ding, with the paint chipped off the center. It was hit just once, right below the door handle.The estimate to repair it is $262 for the dent removal and for the door to be repainted. It's $448 if the rear door needs to be blended.Is there a cheap, but good way I can fix this myself without having the Pontiac Dealer do this work?]

[mydogsowner]

Maybe I should elaborate on this.I would like to go to a paintless dent remover and have the ding repaired, and then have the area painted.The dealer is telling me the only way to correctly do this is to repaint the entire door, and perhaps blend the rear door too for a good color match.The dent is less than a quarter size and the actual paint chip is smaller than a dime. It seems excessive (and ridiculous) to me to pay what they are asking.I do however want to protect and prevent rust to the area. The dealer did dab it with some paint just for now as it was already starting to show some rust.Does anyone know of a good way to repaint the area?

[djkeev]

Sorry,Outside of the financial $$$$ hit when you take title from the dealer, this (minor body damage) is the single worst thing about buying a NEW car. If the paint is already gone, you are beyond the paintless dent removal process. While they can remove the dent effectively you will need paint.It is totally up to you and your desire for perfection about what you choose. To ward off rust, a simple application of primer and top coat will do the trick but you will always see it. You can have a pro spot paint the area with an airbrush or similar spray and it will be good but you'll still see it.Have them paint the entire door, the spot you will not see but the entire door you will see a slight color difference in varying light conditions.They can blend in and fog in to the adjoining panels so the color difference is less noticeable but that gets expensive. You'll also be able to see it in the proper light conditions.Me? I'd get the dent out and do a very careful touch up with a spray and paint touch up stick building up the the same surface level as the existing paint (which on a Vibe isn't all that much) then wet sand it with wet or dry paper after the paint has dried for a few days, compound the area, wax it and it will be 80% gone. Sadly I'll always know it is there and be pissed off about it, at least until the minor dents become more common with the passage of time. Luckily my first "ding" was done by my wife on the top of the back bumper on my 07 while removing something from the rear. I don't see it very often so the irritation level is low. I could get the rubber cover for it but why bother? Since then other minor scratches and dents have appeared despite my best efforts to park smart, it happens, you can't avoid it.Good LuckDave

[mydogsowner]

Quote, originally posted by djkeev »Sorry,Me? I'd get the dent out and do a very careful touch up with a spray and paint touch up stick building up the the same surface level as the existing paint (which on a Vibe isn't all that much) then wet sand it with wet or dry paper after the paint has dried for a few days, compound the area, wax it and it will be 80% gone. Can you elaborate on this process? I already know the paint code for the touch up paint. I have never tried doing something like this. Is it easily done? I am already upset about it. This happened at a QuikTrip parking area. I am talking with QuikTrip now to see if it's covered by their insurance. They want me to send them the estimate for the repair.This car was bought new in March to replace a new Vibe 2009 model that was bought in August. That car was totaled by a drunk driver while parked. This replacement car is exactly the same except for the color.It gets tiring and expensive to be the victim of random acts of violence and circumstance!

[mydogsowner]

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