WORTHLESS POST WITHOUT PICS. I so want to see pics.

 

I love you.


I pray to god no one ever damages one of my vehicles.

 

you guys are to funny lots of law and order fans. i cant relate yet, havent had a ding but i must say it looks painfull. when it happens to me ill consider it a crime scene.

 

Thanks Michael & Pinky,

Sorry, no pics. It was like 5 in the morning and I wasn't thinking. I was just so mad. I could go on and on about those jerks. It was just getting to the point where we had to be so careful backing out everyday, listening to the ATV's all the time and calling the cops didn't seem to phase them. I just kept thinking about all the years I use to party and have people over but we respected the neighbors and their property. These guys thought they owned the block since there are alot of empty lots. At least twice a week they had 4-6 in the driveway, 2 across the street from me and 2 next to my friends lot. And sometimes even parked on our grass and my friends. I told my wife if they are ever on our property, I will be taking our baseball bat and just start hammering the windshield. LOL.

 

In another thread... Viola and I have started the Pure Dark Silver Sisterhood... the color of your vehicle is right and I think you have just the sort of qualities that we're looking for for new members, that being a penchant for evil genius type behavior.

If you're interested, please see the "I have a dumb question" thread and we'll get you signed up.

 

I got first ding almost exactly same spot as your mini. Plus I got little paint damage, so I asked dealership and he said $150 per panel. I think I am going to skip this time and think about it later.

 

I was actually wondering whether someone could make a relatively inexpensive "protection sheet" that could be draped over the top of the car when you park and leave nice light, yet springy foam flaps on both sides of the car?

It'd be smaller and easier to deploy than a full-on car cover, and optimized primarily for drivers hitting doors on the sides of the car. You could then roll it up and stick in the boot when you leave.

Seems like a good "As Seen On TV" type product?

Obviously, you'd want to make it relatively inexpensive so you aren't tempting people to steal it.

 

http://www.doordefender.com/howtoo.html

http://www.autoanything.com/garage-a...A1346A0A0.aspx

http://www.eurobumperguard.com/

Links above to just a few available options

 

So sorry for our ding. I can only imagine how your heart must have sunk when you saw it. Hopefully you'll be able to get it repaired inexpensively and so that you won't see any traces of the injury.

 

Outstanding! I really like the Door Defender best because it looks like it actually handles rather hard bangs with the foam design, and I like how it removes easily with magnets.

Thanks for the links!

 

I just found a ding in the exact same spot. Need to find a good PDR place in Milwaukee now. First major battle scar in two years! I drive my wife nuts when I park cuz I try to park only away from cars, next to a curb or near expensive sports cars, or passenger sides of minivans... NEVER near SUVs, cheep cars or family trucksters. *sigh* I guess a lot of dings com from kids or parents with kids. (no rip on families... just happens) Anyone know a good PDR place in Wisconsin?

 

Think you can cut that wire that connects the two halves of the door defender? Would that be long enough to protect the mini?

 

Odd that Door Defender uses an auto with protection strips already included in design to display their product. Perhaps the point would be that they are Still Needed.

That foam tubing is sold in many sizes to cover water and a/c piping as well as for pool toys. Would think that you could use that product to construct your own 'bump protection', using strap or cord in Bonnet and Boot edges as well as door jambs to hold.

 

Before I'd trust who the dealer uses, I'd inquire by calling some bodyshops.

Most dealerships have someone "in-house". I'm telling from being in the bodyshop business for 25 years, most of those guys suck. They don't usually have the best guys there because they hire someone cheap to keep all the profit.

Like I said, usually they suck. We do one of the high line dealer's cars in town at one of my bodyshops and it seems everytime their guy does a PDR, we have to fix it. It's like they push too hard in too many multiple spots and if you look closely, it makes the paint look like it has tiny goosebumps.

Like Krut said, looks easy enough, no paint broken, you shouldn't have a problem but I'd call around and find someone reputable.

Good luck,

Mark

 

Re: PDR, I just had found a door ding in my car... after having just had another ding removed in the bonnet a few weeks ago. The door ding doesn't appear to have cut into the paint or scratched the surface at all. Sadly enough, I think I may have dinged my own door with the door on my husband's car in the garage... and the door defender looks like it might be the product for me!

Should you have the dings fixed as you find them, or is it best to wait until you have a few and go in and get them all popped out at once?

 

@Robophobia: I just love vigilante justice. The cops never seem to care about anything unless there's a dead body on the sidewalk. These little punks need to be taught a lesson.

 

Generally, a PDR guy will charge "X" dollars for a ding, each successive ding after that usually gets a discount for that panel.

For me, I'm too ****, if I had a ding, it would be gone the same day so for me to tell you to "get them all popped out at once" would be a lie.

HTH's,

Mark

 

I just got a small ding on my hatch right under the cooper sign. I am heartbroken I don't know who did it or it happened but I will try to get it repaired with the PDR method. Does anyone know of a good place in the Boston area?

 

Do you have a pic? We can give you an opinion on PDR working if we saw a pic. E.g., small deep holes most likely can't be fixed, but a longer crevice can.

Also, access matters. I think that area can be accessed. Depends on where you are talking about.

 

I will post a photo tomorrow. It's very small and not deep at all. I think it could be fixed pretty easily. Thanks for the quick response!

 

I really feel your pain. I've had Kazzie for only 8 weeks and her hood has THREE dings on the front. *!#!#%#$! Why can't they ban people from driving dump trucks without a cover? They're damaging other people's cars when the stuff falls over the highway. Ridiculous. I'm so depressed that I wonder if I'll ever feel good about washing my car again.

Does anyone know how much it costs to get a hood repainted and clear coated? Could you please post a ballpark figure? In the future, I might consider repainting Kazzie's hood. I plan to keep this car for a long time. The dings are so plainly visible that just looking at them is depressing.

 

Apparently, I made a typo in my response. I have three CHIPS in my hood! I'm feeling so blue that I accidentally typed dings instead of chips. I've touched them up to control the damage but no amount of skill will conceal them because the touchup paint looks like four huge blobs. They're so visible and hideous. No wonder I feel so awful.

 

Robophobia, in the UK, some people call a souped up car like that a chavmobile! If you want to insult them to their faces and see the clueless response, shout out loud: "Get out of here you bloody chavs!" 99.9% chance they probably won't have a clue what you're talking about!

 

For chips or scratches in your paint, you need this for a perfect, invisible repair:

http://www.langka.com/

The above kit is used with your MINI Factory Touch-Up paint to complete a repair that will be as if it never happened.

 

Thanks Pilotart. I'll take a look at that.