Car Park Damage!

[johnnyj]

While parking in Southampton while shopping last week I came back to find a present from some t**t who obviously shouldn't be allowed in a car!!! Someone had put a scratch all the way down my rear driver's side door!! I'll post some pics tomorrow.

Fortunately, on closer inspection there is just a slight dent at one end of the scratch and it just looks like paint has been transferred.

I took it to a paint shop called Coventry & Clark in Basingstoke and they think they can sort the dent in and remove the paint using a polishing machine and some kind of cutting solution. They were only going to charge me 30-40 quid to do that. When I asked how much to do the whole car to remove some minor scratches and swirls they said it would only cost 75 quid +VAT!

Sounds like a good deal to me. Has anyone had any experience with Coventry & Clark in Basingstoke? Also any advice on whether to see if they can polish it out or should I go to Chipsaway and get them to remove the paint a chemical solution?

Any pearls of wisdom welcome!

[johnnyj]

Here's a pic of the door... somehow they managed to just mostly transfer paint and not scratch the door that much.

DSC00226.JPG

Anyone had any experience dealing with this and know the best way to get rid of it? Machine polish/solvents? Also has anyone dealt with Coventry & Clark paint shop in Basingstoke?

[smstext]

a-r-s-e holes, hopefully they can remove it with a bit of elbow grease and a few different polishes and stuff like that.

[KUJO]

I can't stand people who do that!

As for Coventry & Clark in Basingstoke I personally haven't used them but I have heard good reviews.

[mattbeef]

Id say rub it down with some White spirit first to see if that takes anything off and then go old school with T-Cut if you have any of it as you need something with plenty of cut in there.

Failing that it may need wet sanding first

[Jaymz]

the stupid t**t , you could check the cameras nail them!

[anewman]

My car is my GF's old car, and she told me the story of how she watched a woman bang into it then hastily drive away with her bumper hanging off with no damage to the car whatsoever

Unfortunately I don't think supermarkets would be forthcoming with CCTV footage or identifying a registration. They often display disclaimers. It's probably best to park at the empty far end of the car park where people tend not to park to avoid this sort of damage, plus you benefit from the exercise too.

Sorry to hear about the damage, but here's hoping there's more damage to their car than yours

[skomaz]

Ouch - I feel for you! - If it is just paintwork transfer (and you can probably tell by trying to pick some off with your fingernail then it should be easy enough to sirt. If it is white and powdery and dissapears when wet then it's probably damage to the clear topcoat but again may polish out with cutting compound provided it's not taken the colour off underneath.

[johnnyj]

I actually did try to catch them on camera!! I called up the retail park and asked them to check the CCTV. They actually checked for me but it was on the wrong side of the car. Definitely worth doing though cause you never know you may catch them.

I actually tried to remove the paint myself. I cleaned down the door and used T-cut. Where there was only a bit of paint transfer it came off and the paint was fine underneath. Unfortunately there is too much transfer in some places and it's likely that i'll spoil the paint if I use too much T-cut. Not sure about white spirit, is that a good idea??

I'll post up pics of the repair job when I get it sorted.

[skomaz]

I wouldn't use white spirit - try proper cutting compound from you local motor factors - it's specifically made for cutting and blending in new paint so should work a treat (it seems to have on my Octy that the wife reversed into someone with the other day)

[cheezemonkhai]

Try a magic eraser by JML

[Kaiserb_uk]

Originally Posted by cheezemonkhai

Try a magic eraser by JML

What the hell are those things made of? They feel like soft foam but absolutely DESTROY polished surfaces

[Mike UK]

I wonder if Fabia`s are invisible when parked?
Old car was never hit but this one seems to get hit every 2 months always careful where the things parked just noticed when I was washing mine this morning its got another scuff which ill have to try and tcut out shame it always seems to take the clearcoat off.

[mattbeef]

Originally Posted by johnnyj

Not sure about white spirit, is that a good idea??

Its fine mate tar remover is nothing more than diluted white spirit most of the time

[cheezemonkhai]

Originally Posted by Kaiserb_uk

What the hell are those things made of? They feel like soft foam but absolutely DESTROY polished surfaces

They are a mild abrasive kind of like a high grit sanding block. You would need to use that on the bits that wont come off then use a decent polish to get it back to a shine.

Autoperfection

Phone those guys and get some samples of the cut and extra fine or see what they recommend.

[johnnyj]

Thanks for the advice guys. I ended up taking the car the Coventry & Clark. The did a brilliant job removing the paint and some minor scratches. Unfortunately a few other inperfections didn't come out as hoped and there is a minor dent still visible from the scrape. They did chuck in a pair of new number plates for free so well worth it.

Overall, I'd say they are well worth using and thankfully I didn't have to fork out as much cash as first feared!

[Mark raw]

Agirl at work reversed into my honda, phoned her and complained shouted etc she creid her dad came round later and paid for dent removal and respray