repair to crunched car door - replace or beat out and spray

[Min]

Hi folks
Mini Cooper Clubman
2009

I drove out of parking space all of 1.5 metres but had turned the wheel too soon and crunched the nearside door against a metal post.

It's a white car so almost impossible to show the damage in a pic.
The dent is in several places, above and below what I 've been informed is the safety bar.

In the pic - line in red is proud, apparently where the safety bar is. Bits in blue are areas of dent. Bit in black is scrape = other ones lower down are obvious, and several layers of paint gone on lowest one.

Two body shops offered to beat and respray the panel. A third said the door needed to be replaced because the (horizontal) safety bar may be damaged, and that any repair might not hold over time as the skin of the door is so thin. He also said he'd cheeck the sill cos that may have been damaged (unlikely he sadi, but should be checked).

What do you folks think?

Thanks
Mary

 

[Burnerman]

Whatever repair is undertaken it will be immediately obvious if the collision bar is damaged. All that needs are the dents pushed out and then filled and sprayed. If the door skin is stretched then it will need reskinning .
A new BMW door would cost a fortune and it doesn't need one from what I can see.
I very much doubt if the sill is affected.
If this will be done on the insurance, the body shop wouldn't care less what it costs.
John

 

[JohnD]

What sort of price have you been offered?

If it was me I'd start by rubbing the inside of the door panel, hard, with a soft cloth. The metal is very thin and may pop out. Or get "Dents Away" to do it with a bit more skill.

Failing that, call a scrapyard and find out the price of an undented used door. About £125 perhaps.

I don't know what a 10-year old mini is worth. Maybe less than my no-claims.

 

[Burnerman]

A body shop will have its own smart repair facility and they could do most of this. Not too sure about the bottom one though!
John

 

[EddieM]

probably cheaper to get a 2nd hand door, new one isn't worth it on a 9 yo car. Personally I wouldn't got to a scrap yard their prices are often very steep. It's pretty easy to swap a door over.

 

[Burnerman]

I've never had a body panel from a breakers that didn't need attention anyway
John

 

[HERTS P&D]

What bugger graffiti-ed the door?

Andy

 

[Min]

Thanks folks. Based on what you've said I'm going to go back to the one with an excellent reputation who said he'd repair and paint, and see what he says about the collision bar.

The quote for fitting a new door was £1500, cost for repair is equivalent to my insurance excess, for so either way I'm going to have to pay that.

Why do these things always seem to happen just after you've lost your job??

Graffiti - lol Andy.

Many thanks folks

 

[JohnD]

The quote for fitting a new door was £1500

so get a used one.

 

[EddieM]

Thanks folks. Based on what you've said I'm going to go back to the one with an excellent reputation who said he'd repair and paint, and see what he says about the collision bar.

The quote for fitting a new door was £1500, cost for repair is equivalent to my insurance excess, for so either way I'm going to have to pay that.

Why do these things always seem to happen just after you've lost your job??

Graffiti - lol Andy.

Many thanks folks

£1500 for fitting a new door! Good grief, find a decent door for £100 approx and either fit yourself or see if you know someone with a toolkit.

 

[Burnerman]

The way I see it Mary, you have a few options to consider.
1) Leave it as it is
2) If you can find a replacement door in white and undamaged then go for it (you won't) - also the internal trim and locks will need swapping, more expense
3) Have it repaired on your insurance but even if you have guarded no claims you'll still be classed as an 'at risk' driver
4) Go to a body shop, or Chips Away guy, impress on them that this is for CASH......they'll probably engage their smart repairer anyway. Insurance claims for body shops is a bottomless pit for money, and they know it!
Unfortunately, today's two part paints mean that the back street car repairer / sprayer have all but gone.
Its (4) for me all the way - unless its really expensive and someone else did the damage
Lets know how you get on.
John

 

[EddieM]

The way I see it Mary, you have a few options to consider.
1) Leave it as it is
2) If you can find a replacement door in white and undamaged then go for it (you won't) - also the internal trim and locks will need swapping, more expense
3) Have it repaired on your insurance but even if you have guarded no claims you'll still be classed as an 'at risk' driver
4) Go to a body shop, or Chips Away guy, impress on them that this is for CASH......they'll probably engage their smart repairer anyway. Insurance claims for body shops is a bottomless pit for money, and they know it!
Unfortunately, today's two part paints mean that the back street car repairer / sprayer have all but gone.
Its (3) for me all the way - unless its really expensive and someone else did the damage
Lets know how you get on.
John

2) for me I am afraid. As a) self inflicted and b) been quoted £1500.

 

[Burnerman]

For sure Eddie I know exactly what you mean...but Ive had a few breakers panels in my time and none have been perfect.
Mary's original door doesn't look too bad, and the dents can largely be reduced by balloons or leverage behind them.
John

 

[EddieM]

For sure Eddie I know exactly what you mean...but Ive had a few breakers panels in my time and none have been perfect.
Mary's original door doesn't look too bad, and the dents can largely be reduced by balloons or leverage behind them.
John

Well, it's certainly true it all hinges on sourcing a good second-hand door. But I would definitely be cutting my losses on a close to 10 yo car.

 

[Burnerman]

Yep, me too.....its worth some money spent on it but its not worth a great deal anyway.
How many times have we head heard that!
John