Well, hail claimed another victim today. Stuck at work, it started coming down and there was nothing I could do but watch my truck get pounded by marble to golfball sized hail.

From the initial inspection, it could have been a lot worse, but I've got some good dings in it.

This is actually the first time I've had hail damage my vehicle. I have had my vehicles hailed on many times, but none causing damage.

Pisses me off something fierce. This is the first new new vehicle that I've ever bought...and this happens not even two months after owning it.

Anyone got recommendations on how to get the damage fixed? I keep seeing the paintless dent repair stuff, but am wondering if it is really legit.

I've got probably 5 noticeable dings and another 30 or so of the ones where you need to see it in teh light on the hood...bout the same on the top.

 

Aluminum hood, tap it a few times with a ball pein to ensure a write-off! Replace with a Mopar scoop hood.

 

You'd probably be best of replacing the hood, the top you could try paintless dent removal or have it fixed the old fasioned way, or just let it since most people can't see the roof anyway. I did try paintless dent removal from a shopping cart dent on my truck. I would say its 90% perfect, you can still see a line slightly when you look at it from an angle but it beat having to get the hole bed side repainted and hoped the paint would be a match.

 

I've got to meet with an adjuster in two days. We'll see how it goes I guess.

My agent said they'll see if they can just "roll them out". Seeing as how this is my first go-round with hail repair...anyone know what she's talking about?

 

They are talking about popping the dents out.
It all hinges on whether or not the metal is stretched or not.
If it is, those dents wont just pop out.
That is the main thing about paintless dent repair, they use basically high powered suction cups to "pull", or "pop" the dents out.
The process works really well, but only on metal that is strictly a ding, and not an instance where the metal is stretched.

 

I just had the paintless dent removal done on mine for hail dents. The estimate was $328.00 for 6 dents, 3 hood, 3 roof. It looks like new to me. I feel your pain though, I only had my truck 2 days when the hail came.

 

Paintless dent repair does not pop or use suction cups to remove the dents. The metal is stretched and the tech massages it back into place with small rods and tools of leverage. It is an art to watch. There are people who do this all day for a living and many of them go to where the work is. When done properly, you truck will be better than new because they will remove any stamping and forming creases and crimps. I had this done on my 02 QC when it was less than a year old. I was please beyond my expectations. You want one of the experienced guys, but only deal with and pay a local shop or dealer. Your hood is alum. and the jury is still out, but most PDR guys don't like alum. They don't feel that it repairs as well as steel. The is especially true of an Audi where the alum. has been heat treated. Good luck with it. I would never use a painted repair if PDR can fix it. My yellow sport would not be that bad painted, but if you have one of those metallic paints, it is tough to match.

 

I went to 3 different shops today for estimates on the damage I received last weekend. The quotes ranged from $900 to $1400. I made sure they knew the hood was aluminum. It has 12 dents, about 8 on the roof, and 6 more on the doors, bed and fenders. Only one shop noticed I had a golf ball size hole in my wiper cowl! I hadn't seen it, either. I see the insurance adjuster this week.

Are there opinions of shops versus the guys that come to you?

 

That is a very good idea.