So, I drove over a parking lot plant box recently. I didn't know it was there because the trees were cut down. The passenger side of my Mini impacted the concrete curb, shearing the jack pad right off and tearing the plastic side skirt. I thought those were the only parts damaged, but when I remove the side skirt to replace it with a used one I bought off ebay, I saw that the body is actually dented.







Is this bad? I don't know anything about chassis or bodywork.

 

It's not "bad" per say. I've run over a cement cinder block before, the one's that go in front of parking spaces. (Not my most proud moment). I damaged the under body a bit, similarly to this. I think that's a boxed in area, but maybe a body shop could pull it for you. Honestly, I'd just throw on the side skirt and call it a day.

 

I have personally used a device that welds a stud to the metal that has been pushed in, leaving a pin that a slide-hammer attaches to. Attach the gripping device to the pin, use a slide-hammer, give a couple pulls, and the dent is pulled out. Have used this on pushed-in steel oil pans to the point where the pickup was unable to get oil and generate pressure, and fixed the whole deal. Probably a body-shop item. I do not remember the name. I will post up tomorrow from work.

 

That's exactly what I did!

I just wasn't sure if the impact resulted in a bent frame.

 

Ouch , now i know why you need jack pads. I hammer slide puller might take most of that out , body shops have them.

 

yeah imo i wouldn't worry too much about it either. Just clean it up and make sure no metal is exposed. If there is then clean and touch it up with paint then you should be good to go.