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Right rear quarter panel damage.

Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 2:13 pm
by Sconse
Some fuckwit hit my car last night and dented my rear quarter panel pretty badly last night. Can anyone recommend a good panel beater around Sydney or know where and how much I can get a drivers side rear quarter panel from? Preferably in montego blue. I should also mention it's an NA. Bah I'm so angry, I've had the car for a week :(

I'll add a photo later, I'm out at the moment and the photo's too big :(

Re: Right rear quarter panel damage.

Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 2:21 pm
by hks_kansei
Wrecking yard would be the best bet for a panel.

The rear quarters aren't bolt on like the fronts, they're welded on, so there's a lot more work in swapping one.

It's probably a lot more cost effective for the shop to beat the dents out and smooth off the minor ripples left.

Re: Right rear quarter panel damage.

Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 2:36 pm
by Mr Morlock
You go to a panel beater and get a quote- chances of finding a panel of the right colour is remote.They should be able to source an affordable panel. You did not mention insurance.

Re: Right rear quarter panel damage.

Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 3:18 pm
by Sconse
Thanks for the responses. I didn't mention insurance because as I'm still 24, with my age excess the excess would be 1075 and I figured it'd be cheaper just to fix it without insurance. That's disappointing to hear that they're welded on :( having a huge dent ruins an otherwise really nice looking car :(

Re: Right rear quarter panel damage.

Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 3:51 pm
by Okibi
Don't think it'll end up being cheaper than your excess, there's a lot of work involved. Talk to Mick at Hume Smash repairs he's the MX-5 guru.

http://www.humesmashrepairs.com.au/

Re: Right rear quarter panel damage.

Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 4:15 pm
by Sconse
Thanks Okibi, I'll give them a call

Re: Right rear quarter panel damage.

Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 4:29 pm
by MrRevhead
Depending on how bad the damage is (unable to judge because no pics) and if there has been no paint removed from the panel, consider paintless dent removal.

I have had personal experience with http://www.thedentman.com.au/. Top notch, professional work and very well priced.

There's many factors involved depending on the severity, access etc so it will probably be best to send them a photo for a quote.

Re: Right rear quarter panel damage.

Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 4:46 pm
by Sconse
The dent.

Re: Right rear quarter panel damage.

Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 5:02 pm
by MrRevhead
Definitely enquire with the paintless dent removal place I linked above. If they can pop it out for a couple of hundred, you can spend some money on fixing up the paint that is removed (unless that is paint from the car that hit you?) and you may well come in under what you said excess was.

Re: Right rear quarter panel damage.

Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 5:31 pm
by Okibi
Yup, you might be lucky because they can get to the underside pretty easily!

Re: Right rear quarter panel damage.

Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 5:43 pm
by Sconse
Thanks guys, I've sent a few places an email. As for it being easy to get to the underside... Does the wheel arch come out, because I couldn't see any easy way to get to the back side of the dent :(

As for the pain, some of if came off when I polished it up but most of it, especially the lower half, was damaged paint :(

Re: Right rear quarter panel damage.

Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 5:59 pm
by MrRevhead
Call Jack or Brett (from the Dent Man) and MMS them a pic if you haven't heard from them by e-mail as they don't check the e-mail too regularly.

The underside of the panel should be accessible from the boot IIRC. As stated before, it is not a removable panel. As for wheel arch, if you're referring to the lining above the wheel, it should be removable as well.

Re: Right rear quarter panel damage.

Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 6:49 pm
by Sconse
I sent them a msg I'll see what they say. It seems like it would be quite difficult to get to the sent through the boot... There's a whole bunch of metal brackets in the way. We will see :(

Re: Right rear quarter panel damage.

Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 7:00 pm
by MrRevhead
They can also pull the dent from the outside if needed using an adhesive and hammer pull.

That was the case with a dent on the A pillar (which had an air bag behind it, therefore inaccessible) that Jack fixed on my mum's IX35.

Re: Right rear quarter panel damage.

Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 7:55 pm
by Sconse
Awesome, sounds promising, I'll give them a call tomorrow