Hail damage experience?

[burtoncr]

So we had a unpredicted major hail storm here in Dallas the other day and my cars now look like shit. The FD wasn't in the garage because I didn't clean it last weekend  I'm an a-hole.

The M5 has comprehensive insurance and the FD does not. Both have 10-20 dents per panel, at least 3 panels each (hood, roof, trunk).

1) I put in a claim for the M5. Do I get a choice in the type of repair (PDR vs normal bodywork)?

2) For the FD I was thinking PDR, but will they be able to fix the aluminum hood or should I find a new one and paint it?

[zbrown]

gotta love hail

[jasons]

I've had PDR work done on over 24 cars in the past 4-5 years. Find a very reputable shop and you'll be impressed.

Good luck to you,
-Jason

[mefarri]

My wife's Mazda 3 got dominated in a hail storm. The adjuster quit counting at like 325. Every one of them got taken out by pdr. It looks brand new.  It was the hood, roof, trunk and fenders.

[digitalsolo]

Good PDR guys are freaking magic.

[HXMan]

I had a civic that got caught in a bad hailstorm.  Easily 300+ dents. 

PDR works wonders, after they got done I didn't even have any old door dings left. 

[The Goatsmith]

Some asshole backed into the the door of my WRX when it was brand new.  There weren't scratches, but the whole lower half of the door panel was a dent about 1/4" deep.  I took it to a PDR guy in Arlington, half expecting him to laugh me out of his shop, but he fixed the damn thing.  There's no flaws in it at all anymore.  For hail dents, it's a lot of labor but they can make it look like it never happened.

[burtoncr]

Are you guys thinking <$1k for the FD hood, roof, trunk? or would you expect more?

At some price point it may be better to do full paint job. I have other paint issues due to fender rolling, side skirts, and mudflaps that I would like to resolve as well.

[The Goatsmith]

1k is probably low, but I believe it'd be <2k. Go get an estimate before you do anything.

[nuimpykid]

So we had a unpredicted major hail storm here in Dallas the other day and my cars now look like shit. The FD wasn't in the garage because I didn't clean it last weekend  I'm an a-hole.

The M5 has comprehensive insurance and the FD does not. Both have 10-20 dents per panel, at least 3 panels each (hood, roof, trunk).

1) I put in a claim for the M5. Do I get a choice in the type of repair (PDR vs normal bodywork)?

2) For the FD I was thinking PDR, but will they be able to fix the aluminum hood or should I find a new one and paint it?

I had a home and car hail damaged last year. The car was a 2000 Saturn station wagon... Dents on roof and hood, broken windshield, rear quarter window, broken plastic fender, broken mirror.

The car was work, maybe 3k? The insurance totaled it, paid me around 3500 after taking my 500$ deductible. Im not sure who your insurance company is, but mine pays to make your car as "original".. PDR is not as original. Replacing panels is as original. If you get PDR and its not perfect, then what? Try to fight the people who did repairs? Refuse to take the vehicle when going to pick it up? I would 100% fight to make sure every panel that is damaged gets replace. PERIOD. If it costs too much, well then it should be totaled.

There were PDR "Camps" set up at a couple dealers. They were pulling dents for months. Some insurance companies were set up there also... Not mine however!  If I had a nice car at the time, I would be furious at the PDR concept.. Fight for what you paid your premiums for.

If you think the FD would be ok with PDR, then its your choice. Your money. But insurance company, thats a pretty easy choice IMO.

If you have questions about a house claim, I can help! Been there, done that!


ps I re read your post... They should not be "Repairing" anything. Only replacing!

[Darth Viper]

Dude...consider it a free shot peening.  They just added moar strength. 

[The Goatsmith]

I would 100% fight to make sure every panel that is damaged gets replace. PERIOD.

I appreciate what you're saying, and I don't disagree.  I have no personal bodywork experience, so this isn't me trying to be an ass, its an honest question:  If you have dents in a really rigid part of the car, like the A-pillar (this happened to my Subaru), where PDR might not work, can you cut that part out and replace it without challenging the integrity of the car?  Can we rebuild him? Do we have the technology?

[digitalsolo]

I would rather have a car with well down PDR than one that has had quarters and a ROOF cut off and replaced.

[LNF_AJ]

I would rather have a car with well down PDR than one that has had quarters and a ROOF cut off and replaced.

The other key to that if you want to keep it as original as possible is find someone that does "drill less" PDR. Some tech's are trained to drill hole's in places to access a panel and then put plastic plugs in.   We got hit last night and works going to get busy.

[theantirotor]

I would rather have a car with well down PDR than one that has had quarters and a ROOF cut off and replaced.

agreed.  new body panels could do more harm than good in some cases.