tresean1

I am terrified!

So I was at a family gathering yesterday. I parked where thought no one would park. Lo and behold, a family member parked next to me.

When I came out to leave, I noticed a gouge in my door. I know who did it (the significant other of a family member). I was furious...I called and asked the person to ask their significant other if they did it. I didn't want to blow up and lose my mind on them and be SUPER ACCUSATORY, so I took 20 minutes to calm down. Of course the answer was "no, I didn't" <<liar!>> I am so pissed off! Due to how relatively trivial it is (but this is MY baby), combined with the unsightly damage I am stuck with due to someone's $%&*$#@! carelessness (I think that's what pisses me off most), I would have rather it been a full on accident---know what I mean?

So now I am stuck in a dilemma: file it on insurance to get it fixed (they have to paint entire door and adjacent panels); or ask the dealer to do a touch-up.

Either way, I am really freaked out, as I have heard Diamond White is a nightmare to match. Anyone else with Diamond White had to do bodywork, or what do you guy suggest?

I am having an anxiety attack here.

Thanks guys

teksurv

Is the damage more than what PDR could take care of? I've had amazing results with PDR, depending on the damage, worth a shot. Sucks that it happened but a reputable shop, if needed, will do a good job on the match.

baybombers

That's the worst. Sorry to hear it. I guess it depends on how big the mark is as to whether to get the entire door sprayed. I'd start with the dealer and ask for their candid assessment of what they can do.

tresean1

I am sorry, what is PDR?

teksurv

Paintless dent repair. Had it done, on a crease line no less, on my Infiniti, and it was like it never happened. 150-200 dollars and done.

tresean1

Oh yeah, it's an actual gouge with paint missing.

teksurv

Sorry to hear. I would say that your designo white may be a challenge, but in my experience nothing is worse than matching black paint. I think, depending on the size of the gouge, a good shop could pull the dent, and apply a star pattern paint correction in the localized area, making use of the metallic flake. Best of luck.

raja777m

That's sucks and am so sorry to hear that.
I would start with an estimate from the dealer, for different choices of fixes you have.

kajtek1

Put a sticker on it.

tresean1

Thanks...I have had pretty good experience matching black. Local Mercedes shop matched the door on my W202 perfectly, even though it was like 10 years old.

I will ask them what they think, and if they even know what a star pattern paint correction.

KEY08

Oh gee, sorry to hear that!! With the same paint, I am dreading this very day. I think you should be fine with a good shop. The metal flake is so small in this Diamond white that I'm sure they can blend it. I also can't stand it when people won't admit they damaged my cars. I have had this happen before and you feel helpless.

tresean1

Thanks---funny thing is: I have been super careful with this car. Even more careful than I would be with a "normal" Mercedes.

And now this happens, when/where/by whom I least expect it. I really feel helpless. Just drives me nuts thinking about it. And I don't even want to look at it. And it makes things worse that the very soonest I'd be able to get it looked at will be Tuesday

Mud

A good shop should be able to match the paint. MB is not the only brand out there with premium paint.

I tell this to myself as well, these are not garage queens that we drive. That is the unfortunate reality of having a nice car in the real world. I feel the same way about my car, I park in the back of the lots, etc. But yet I know that from fools driving to crap laying in the roads it's a matter of time till something pops.

I feel for you though, I've been thru similar.

raja777m

This is where I parked at the theatre, yesterday; I went for a movie..!

This is a panoramic view and too large, I have to save it in the google drive to share it with you guys
This is one of the perks of owning a luxury/exotic/expensive cars.

Well, I don't need to tell you that; You owned several of such before me; I just came to the party, tresean1.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz...2gwaGc0LS1hcUE

kajtek1

Love such spots with big margin for parking my dually Supercab.

tresean1

Thanks. Now just the torture of waiting until something opens after the holiday.

KEY08

Can't stop thinking about this now and now I'm freaking out and parking in the boondocks. Ha

LindseyDA

Are you 100% positive that it wasnt there...before you parked at the family function? Is it possible?

tresean1

Seeing this post reminded me of it, haha. I was trying to be in denial about it...but I have to accept it tomorrow or Wednesday when I take it in.

This is the damage:

thefisch

Feel for you OP. I only have one door ding and my wife did it getting into her car parked next to mine. It's bad when strangers treat you better than family.

davidjohnbamber

My present ride has Diamond White Metallic Code 799U. The passenger side rocker panel was refinished prior to purchase. The refinished panel matches perfectly. The Diamond White color requires 2 additional coats of the metallic after the base coat, and then clear coated. Good luck!

cocobeex

That is why i always parked beside a wall or somewhere far with no cars on both sides.

But, sometimes, people really just careless.
That pissed me off big time!!!

tresean1

OK, just took my car to the dealership, no appointment and unannounced. They were great! My SA [he is awesome] immediately took the car right in...he took it up and washed it and they did the touch-up right on the spot. I can hardly tell there was any damage.

Total cost to me: $0.00
Total cost of a piece of mind: $priceless

Thanks for all you guys' support and help!

dieseldoc

Congrats!!!!

KEY08

Nice job!