Pops-A-Dent DIY Worked on Panel Dent - With Limitations
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 996
Likes: 16
From: Tampa, Florida
2017 E300W
Pops-A-Dent DIY Worked on Panel Dent - With Limitations
I encountered my first parking lot ding(s) on the LR quarter panel. Several 3" scratches culminating in a quarter inch vertical crease. It looked like a shopping cart job. Polishing compound took care of the scratches.
I asked a friend at the local MB body shop about consumer-level dent pullers like the Simoniz Pops-a-Dent. He said that they were pretty cheap but were similar in design to the professional tools they use. He heard about some successes and lots of frustrations, but never any damage caused by them. Internet opinions on this were generally negative.
Being a DIY’er, I bought one on ebay for $14 and gave it a shot this weekend – it worked and pulled the dent! But it took 8 applications with the puller as the crease was gradually worked out. It definitely didn’t instantly pop out like the ad shows but it did work. I don’t think this product would work near the end of a body panel or in a formed crease. Also, it didn’t work on a dent on my stainless refrigerator door.
All in all, it took about 45 minutes to complete and I don’t mind doing the work myself. And of course, saved the $129 per dent repair offered by the dealer.
I asked a friend at the local MB body shop about consumer-level dent pullers like the Simoniz Pops-a-Dent. He said that they were pretty cheap but were similar in design to the professional tools they use. He heard about some successes and lots of frustrations, but never any damage caused by them. Internet opinions on this were generally negative.
Being a DIY’er, I bought one on ebay for $14 and gave it a shot this weekend – it worked and pulled the dent! But it took 8 applications with the puller as the crease was gradually worked out. It definitely didn’t instantly pop out like the ad shows but it did work. I don’t think this product would work near the end of a body panel or in a formed crease. Also, it didn’t work on a dent on my stainless refrigerator door.
All in all, it took about 45 minutes to complete and I don’t mind doing the work myself. And of course, saved the $129 per dent repair offered by the dealer.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 693
Likes: 1
From: Mansfield, TX
11 ML350W2 / 17 GLC300
I too fell for the ad and bought one of those dent pullers. Yes, they do work somewhat but for only a small number of dents. I had a little dent in the back door on my W211 that was in the crease high on the door. I had a fellow come to my house and he spent an hour getting that dent out. He was a real artist with his tools. He told me he had been making a good living taking dents out of doors for over 8 years. I have his card and will call him and pay whatever he charges then to get dents out like that.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 581
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area, CA
11 W212 E350 Sport, sold 06 W211 E350
I bought a pops-a-dent on ebay and it would not take out a nickel size dent in the rear door of my 02 BMW, the steel was too heavy and the ding too deep for the pop tool. Ended up throwing it out after numerous attempts and going to a professional for $90.00.
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,330
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From: Seattle, WA
'09 911 C4S
Originally Posted by rickyfanmdr
I've gotten one door ding, and my dealer removed it (perfectly!) for $90.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 996
Likes: 16
From: Tampa, Florida
2017 E300W
Originally Posted by Kev04C320
the hillbillies family left a huge dent on my driver door (they were parked at a really crooked angle which prevented my car from pulling out of the parking space). After $80.00, my car is like brand new again and the dealership's body shop also buffed off the scratches for free (they outsource the dent repair).
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