Today, I've got another nasty repair to do on a windscreen pillar. This time, it's on a BMW. As you can see, there's a lot of depth to the dent, and it's also got a couple of creases running right through the middle. So I've definitely got my work cut out for me in this repair. A whole load of glue pulling, tapping down, and blending to get through. So let's go.
Starting the Repair with Glue Pulling
I'm gonna start this repair with glue pulling, and I've put a little bit of tape across the trim here to make sure I protect it and don't leave any marks or residue. I've got my crease tab set up at the very bottom of this dent. I'm hoping to lift it from the bottom edge and take it towards the windscreen. I want to finish my repair towards the windscreen and keep it away from the door because I can't get to the lower section of that dent.
Initial Glue Pulls
I'm getting my glue to the right temperature, about 26 degrees, and ready to start glue pulling. A couple of pulls on my slide hammer make a very slight lift on the lower section of the panel. It hasn't shifted much of the metal, but it's lifted that bottom edge a little bit. Now I'm switching to one of the large square tabs, hoping to make some gains in terms of pulling out a lot of that depth. Attaching my slide hammer, giving it quite a few good pulls, and starting to feel that metal move. Watching my slide hammer, I'm lifting it up towards the windscreen, which helps direct my glue pulling in the direction I want.
Focusing on the Smaller Dent
I've taken some depth out of the whole area, so now I'm focusing on the smaller dent to the left of my crease. Using a small tab with my slide hammer, I'm lifting that panel, and this time I definitely felt it move. Looking at it now, I've massively reduced the overall depth and size of the dent, and pulled up the small low to the left. Gradually, I'm taking the metal from the lower section and bringing it up towards the windscreen. I can't access the lower section where the trim is, so I want to lift it up and pull it towards the windscreen to finish my repair.
Progress and Tap Down Work
That last glue pull really lifted the panel, making the crease more obvious. Looking at the line board, you can see the high from the last glue pull. Now, I need to tap down some of the high spots pulled during the glue process, and tap around the tension points and crowns to direct the metal into the center of the dent.
Working on the Crease
I've set up a small crease tab and switched to my lifter, which gives me more precision to move less metal and focus on the crease itself. With slight movements, I'm bringing up the metal. Holding tension with my right hand and tightening with my left, I'm applying more pulling pressure through the lifter. Repeating this glue pull process a few more times, I can see the panel starting to take shape.
Blending and Finishing Touches
The repair is coming along well. With good pulls from my glue setup and careful tap down work, I've maintained the panel's curve. Using the line boards, I can see the remains of the crease. I begin blending the area with my blending hammer, tapping the repair and a small section on either side, blending into the existing finish on the BMW. After a couple more glue pulls for minor lows and more blending, I'm really pleased with the repair outcome.
Conclusion
When I first saw the damage, I wasn't 100% sure I could get all of it out. There were dents within a dent on the A-pillar and a crease running through the middle. But by following the paintless dent repair method, using hot glue to lift the lows, tapping down the highs, releasing tension, and understanding metal flow, I achieved great results. Most importantly, my customer was over the moon, avoiding a trip to the body shop and keeping his pride and joy from being filled and painted. I hope you've enjoyed this repair, and I look forward to seeing you in the next one.