Any idea if this dent can be removable without damaging the paint or 3m?

 

Have you tried the heat/cold air blast method? I'm no body guy, seems like it is worth a try.

 

that's kinda big for any of the easy stuff IMO (I've done some auto body repair work) and it is not just simple sheet metal there, as behind the arch things get 'complicated' with fold/bends and the such

You could call a PDR guy and have then take a look and give an estimate - not of cost but success probability

But MY best guess is you have a few hundred dollars worth of body work there - again BECAUSE of the things happening under the plastic arch.

I'd go so far as to say the estimate for this repair just may bring tears ..... you may want to bring your insurance into this one . . . the area is kinda ugly due to proximity to other stuff like the headlight

If in the end I'm wrong I'm happy for you ..... but to me (having had bumps like this) this simple looking bump leans to the ugly side . . .

 

My guess...its gonna get $$$.
That's a full blown bent over piece of metal....
Any repair that big is gonna destroy the paint and 3m...
Someone might be able to bend it back so it looks 80% there....but not gonna look right without being "worked"....brought down to metal, bent, stretched, trimed, filled, , primed and painted ..
Honestly, your insurance might replace the hood....less labour....curved parts are hard to make look right...
Not a pro...but that is not just a " ding"...its a full blown dent...

 

I wouldn't do a thing till I checked a PDR man. They can do incredible things. I had some work done on my Miata several times that turned out beautiful.

 

+1 on checking on PDR first. They only have to get the exposed part cosmetically perfect, not under the trim. From the pic it looks fixable, but it also depends on access and bracing on the backside of the hood.

 

If it can't be fixed or if it'll be expensive, a Carbon fiber hood is in the $750 - $800 range, just sayin

 

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

PDR can do wonderful things ... I've had fantastic results a couple of times ..

when the pimple was in the middle of a panel. When the ding is close to an edge there is a higher probability that the area has a brace underneath . . .

I have this exact problem right now .... a ding less than a nickle in diameter, but two different PDR guys say .... there is a brace underneath so nothing I can do.

The great thing about PDR is their ability to push out simple dents in flat panels without removing other stuff to get there! A dent on the bonnet does not really require PDR because you open the bonnet and see the dent from the back side - push the metal back into position and you are done .....

If the dent is in a quarter panel of a MINI you might need to pull interior trim to see the dent .... OR a PDR guy uses special tools to press the dent out without disassembling the car (but drilling a hole or two in some cases)

WHY do I bother to write this? The dent in question is NOT in a hard to access area .... open the bonnet and it is right there .... no special PDR tools needed to press from a distance ..... but this is an area with braces and folded metal .... more work is required.

I REALLY don't think PDR will do anything for you .... but ASK .... nothing to lose.

Then when you go to a regular body shop ... hold on to your shorts!

 

PDR focuses on repairs without damaging existing paint, a body shop repairs and repaints. If it's not scratched if cracked I would try to stay with the factory paint if possible.

 

Metal is stretched FAR beyond what PDR could reverse. Even with all the acces from behind. Sorry man it's a body shop visit. Go get a free estimate. Can't hurt.
Can you take a step back and take another pic? I'm guessing 650. Let me know how off i am Good luck. Sent from my iPad using NAMotoring

 

I'll just repeat post #5. Sure the metal is stretched but metal has an incredible memory and a good pdr man knows how to work and finesse the metal.

 

find a door ding guy, they can really do magic as long as the paint is not cracked.