Smart Repairs, Paintless
Dent Removal & Bumper Scuffs
Smart Repairs In Hinckley
Over the past decade, the term smart repairs has become common in the body repair industry. Essentially, when a customer searches for smart body repairs, they are seeking small, localised body repairs to their car or van. Whilst most bodyshop services have traditionally been carried out in dedicated bodyshops, smart body repairs have been associated with mobile services. Mobile car and van repairs are usually carried out on the customers driveway or place of work, and typically completed within a few hours.
Such mobile smart repairs may be convenient and at times cost effective, but a lower cost is too often a result of reduced quality. Understandably, mobile repairers do not have access to professional equipment such as low bake spray booths and ovens, and the significantly lower overheads are often reflected in the price the customer pays. For a top quality, lasting finish, nothing can match an equipped bodyshop with experienced technicians. This does not mean, however, that bodyshops cannot offer high quality ‘local’ repairs. Here at Allied Automotive, we offer a number of services that provide a relatively low cost without compromising quality.
PAINTLESS DENT REMOVAL
We offer a paintless dent removal service. Paintless dent removal, or “PDR” is a process of removing dents from metalwork without the need to damage the paint. In most cases, these are parking dents along doors and quarter panels, but we have PDR’ed bonnets, roofs, tailgates and almost any other part of a vehicle. Because of its nature, PDR is always much cheaper than repairing and painting – the time and materials used is a fraction in comparison. Not all dents can be PDR’ed, but in many caes we will attempt a PDR first on the understanding that further repair may be required.
When PDR is unsuccessful, we use multiple tools and methods to remove damage as much as possible prior to repairing the panel. Essentially, we aim to use as little body filler/stopper as possible. We have seen some horror repairs in the past that have come in for rectification, some with over 50mm of body filler applied. This does not make for a lasting repair, so we avoid this approach at all costs.
SCRATCH REMOVAL SERVICES
We also provide scratch removal services. In some cases, scratches can be machine polished out – you would be amazed at some of the scratches we have removed without the need for paint.
We are a busy workshop, and if we can reduce the amount of work coming through the door, save the customer money and ourselves time then we will do this every time.
For deeper scratches, however, repair and paint will be necessary, and we use a wide range of specialist tools to properly remove the scratch, prime and repaint for a completely invisible repair.
BUMPER REPAIRS
Finally, we take a similar approach with bumper repairs. Too many smart repairers simply “fill” over damage, prime and paint.
Our approach is to rework the plastic, machine sand the damage and in most cases, end up with no filler at all. This removes the possibility of future failure and gives a much better finished result.
When carrying out bumper repairs, we also take time to research any ADAS safety radars or sensors that could potentially be affected. On modern cars, the radar sensors are mounted behind the bumper, meaning great care and correct methods of repair must be used.
If calibration is required, we arrange for this on site, taking the hassle out of trips to the main dealers.
