What would be involved in fixing a quarter size scratch/dent near top

[monkeydust]

Trying to use my car as a pickup truck probably wasn't the best idea...

Anyway, before I take it to a body shop to see what they say, do you guys know the extent of work that would need to be done to fix a quarter size scratch (somewhat deep with small indentations) up on the curved part of a door about 1" down from the window? This is on a black 2000 C2 cab.

Would they have to paint the entire door or could a small area be fixed and blended together with the existing paint? I don't know how they could get it so perfectly matched since this is in a very visible area right on the rounded top of the door.

Edited September 16, 2007 by monkeydust

[salayc]

Would they have to paint the entire door or could a small area be fixed and blended together with the existing paint? I don't know how they could get it so perfectly matched since this is in a very visible area right on the rounded top of the door.

Yes, they should paint the whole panel.

[monkeydust]

Would they have to paint the entire door or could a small area be fixed and blended together with the existing paint? I don't know how they could get it so perfectly matched since this is in a very visible area right on the rounded top of the door.

Yes, they should paint the whole panel.

That's what I was afraid of.

I wonder if I should get the whole car painted. Over time, it has gathered all sorts of minor scratches and chips due to daily driving. How much would that sort of thing cost? $1k, $2k?, $3k?

[djantlive]

excellent paint job for whole car would be $5k+ easy in CA where labor is expensive.

to repaint the door, you are probably looking about $600-800.

any minor scratches that isn't too deep can be buffed out. it's better than a full repaint. if you can feel it with your nail, it probly needs repaint.

[monkeydust]

excellent paint job for whole car would be $5k+ easy in CA where labor is expensive.

to repaint the door, you are probably looking about $600-800.

any minor scratches that isn't too deep can be buffed out. it's better than a full repaint. if you can feel it with your nail, it probly needs repaint.

Yeah, can definitely feel it with my nail. Buffed out as much as I could but its deeper than a buff can solve.

I just wanted some knowledge of what's involved in this so the body shop doesn't tell me something that may not be entirely true and me not realizing it.

[monkeydust]

Well, I did about all I could do to it to fix the scratches myself. I tried putting touch up paint in the scratches and then sanding the overflow off but I'd always end up taking more of the paint out of the scratch groove than I wanted. But, the scratches that weren't grooved came out completely using Meguiars Scratch-X. It certainly looks better but still far from perfect.

[salayc]

I just wanted some knowledge of what's involved in this so the body shop doesn't tell me something that may not be entirely true and me not realizing it.

They should: remove the outer window seal, mirror, and door handle, tape off the window and adjacent panels, fill, sand, paint color coat, paint 1-2 coats clear, color sand, buff, clean reassamble.