The stupidest **** happened today. I was showing a friend of mine the engine, and when I let the hood drop (I was being cautious to drop it gently), it didn't close fully. So what does my dumba$$ do? I pushed on it (slightly) and the thing shut but the panel got a very very slight dent. The dent was visible only because I was in a somewhat dark parking lot and one of the street lamps cast its light so that you can see the slight imperfection. There's no paint damage, and the dent is BARELY visible.

But, it's visible to me and it's really bothering me (I've only had the car for a week). I brought it home, and showed it to my father (he's good with cars), but he said he couldn't see it or feel it, even though I THINK I could feel it (I couldn't see it cause the lighting was diff at this point). What the heck am I supposed to do now? I'd hate to have a dent after a week of ownership?

Will Dent Wizard be able to remove it without any damage to the paint/surface? I can't believe this ****! How can the hood be so fragile?

Please help!

 

Sorry about the double post, the server froze so I didn't know if the first submissio went through...

 

Haha...sounds kinda like what happened with me. I had my I35 for like a week and my girlfriend tries to be funny and jumps on my hood in the school parking lot

I later find two shallow dents exactly like you described. Nobody knows they're there, and you can only see them in certain light. But it bothers the heck out of me because I know they're THERE.

Anyways, I looked into getting Dent Wizard to do it, and I talked to my friend who works with a guy that's contracted by his employer to do paintless dent removal, and he assured me it could be taken care of, it'd just be upwards of $100. I figured at that price I'd wait till I get a couple of those inevitable <gasp> door dings and get a package price before fixing them.



_________________________
2002 Infiniti I35 Sport

"Additions:"
Front STB
Blue #194 LED City lights
Kicker R13 Front Tweeter Swap
-Give me a little while..I'm only 18..

 

yeah, i had a couple of those, too - i think the oil change guys were slamming my hood or something - wasn't me!

thought about fixing them... but then winter came, and with it a million rock chips. and then my hood looked like crap anyway. so i procrastinated.

then some doofus cut me off this fall and i smashed into her SUV, and i got a new hood (and some other stuff, too). and now nobody touches that hood!

i read somewhere that you can use a (clean!) plunger to pull some of those little dents back out. just don't plunge too hard and make more...

 

Good job on spelling different to get around the language cussing barrier. You realize you kinda breaking the Terms you agreed to? I realize you upset but this wont fly for long.

About the panel. Most people get the same issue when they push on it. Dent works will help but will cost $250.

 

I have one thing....As seen on T.V..... The Ding King! Or something like that.

 

Call your local Dent Wizard. They fixed my front fender for 125. Came out absolutely perfect!

 

Sorry about the language if I offended you (I figured it was ok since I wasn't using the language to flame anyone). I'm just PO about this--I never thought the hood is made out of aluminum foil. My father said that there's a chance with small dents that they will actually pop out themselves. Has anyone heard of this or had this happen? The dent is not visible under ANY lighting, just under certain lighting, but I KNOW it's there, so it's really bothering me.

On the other hand I don't want to go and pay for each dent that I get cause I'll probably be spending $100 a week just on dent removal. Do you guys also have a hard time dealing with these dents, or do you just get over it after a while?

 

Has anyone used Dent Wizard before with good results? I'm thinking of just paying $70 (I don't think it should be more since the dent is very very minor) and getting it removed. Is there any damage to the paint AT ALL? I'd like it to look like there was nothing there before, and I'd rather have them not drill any holes and then put a filler in there. It's a small dent, so I would think it should be relatively easy for them to remove it, but then again, I don't know.

Also, has anyone used a dent wizard somewhere in MA that they can recommend?

Thanks guys. Those damn dents...

 

What's up with this post? I've seen moderators themselves doing this. Not saying it's okay to do it because they do it... but umm... yeah this is the first time I saw anyone get a negative reply because they did it?

$hiiiiiiiiit.

vito1281: Just get a carbon fiber hood. Irvine78 is hooking us up with dope a$$ ones with GREAT quality. Worthy of the Maxima. Check out the 5th gen section in the Parts Forum.

 

Hey lcf,
I was suprised that he was giving me ish (i'm trying...) about garbbling up the cusses. I'm sure if that happened to him he'd be pretty heated as well, and I don't think it's a big deal if I express how I felt (I wasn't insulting anyone by cussing at them).

Anyhow, what's the deal with the carbon fiber hood? Is it more dent/scratch resistant? Can I get it the EXACT same color as my Max? If I can get a hood that resists such petty dents, I'd be pretty happy. I don't know how anyone can avoid dents with such fragile panels. I'm going to go check out the parts thread to reab about this CF hood.

Thanks man.

 

Those little dents drive me nuts as well! Listen to this...

Yesterday I was relaxing in Starbucks, not really awake yet Peering out at the parking lot, I notice a Navigator pull along side my ding free max. With plenty of clearance, the milaca opens his gigantic door all the way, and well wouldn't you know it hits my max. Getting a little upset, but not really in the mood to say anything, because sometimes accidents do happen, I let it slide. Well wouldn't you know...this shmuck does the same thing, only worse because now he has to put his coffee in the big boat. I almost ran out, but did not want to jump the gun. I am bull, because now I have a nice ding that is like a magnet! Everytime I walk by I SEE IT!!! Should I have gone out there and said something?

From the outside this guy looked to be one of those milica's, that just does not give a rats rear about others. In other words he is the only one that matters.

 

I hate those types of people--they **** me off! I think if I ever see someone do that to my car, I'd definitely say something (not beat anyones a$$, but def say something about it). That's the prob with getting a new car--you worry about all these little dents and scratches, and they end up ruining your day (it sure as heck ruined mine). I think I may try to see if Dent Wizard can pull it out without any marks given that the dent is tiny, and it's on the hood (easily accessible). I'm bout to put kevlar all over my car to prevent these things! Can you say group deal?

 

Please don't tell me nobody has used them? I really need advice on this thing. I'd like to not have any dents (especially ones made by me) after only a week of ownership.

Also, does anyone know how much an OEM hood would cost (if I need to replace it later on down the road)?

Thanks guys.

 

I didn't read all the responses, but I can tell you that I did the same thing with only 1500 miles on the ODO. One of those 'dent wizard' places was able to fix it from underneath through the hole where the hood latch is.

You should be able to get it fixed as long as it isn't too big. Mine was only noticable from certain angles, and mostly just by me.

Just let it slam from about a foot or so from now on. That aluminum hood doesn't take much. Good luck.


Edit: Oh yeah, and it was like $50 to get it done.

 

Vito;

2 things from me:

1) I did the same thing to my AE hood when closing it. I couldn't believe that it happened. I thought no one would notice, but I sure did and it ticked me off. I went to Dent Doctor and they thought it would be tough to get out because they don't have a lot of room to get to the underside of the sheet metal. However, they fixed it right up.

2) I got hit by a hail storm a few weeks back on my 4 month old TE. I ended up with 92 dents of all sizes. Dent Doctor got every last one out and the car looks new. They don't mess the paint up at all.

All in all, I highly recommed the paintless dent removal process/concept. They were a lifesaver with the hail damage. Total bill was just over $2K, but that was alot cheaper than the $9500 dealer quote (repair/replace all body panels and repaint).

 

MS and 2002Maxxxima,
thanks for the replies. I guess I'll try Dent Wizard and see if they can do it. It looks like this dent would have to be worked out from the hole where the latch is as well. I still can't believe the hood. Are all the new cars like that nowadays, or is this just the Max?

 

Forgot to ask you...Is there any evidence on that spot that something was done? I don't want the paint to become different or have anything there that would remind me that I had a dent there.

Thanks.

 

It was all done from the inside, through that little hole by the hood latch. No one will ever know, and I can't tell there was ever a dent. My original dent was about 2 inches across but VERY shallow, only visible from side angles.

I didn't see the exact process used, but there weren't any marks from equipment used or anything. I am 110% happy with the results, good as new.

 

What does your new girlfriend think of the car