Dent - what next?

[Corradobrit]

The problem is that the skin is likely to be covered in insulation and soundproofing materials. There are also some cables behind there. It will literally take 2 minutes to pop those plastic studs off. The central pin prises out. You can try using an allen/torz key but I had no success, because the material is plastic. You can reuse the pins and studs.

I don't think VW use any sound deadening or insulation between the external skin and the interior panels...... unfortunately. You can see from cupboards below the cooker that the exterior panel is visible.

 

[WelshGas]

I don't think VW use any sound deadening or insulation between the external skin and the interior panels...... unfortunately. You can see from cupboards below the cooker that the exterior panel is visible.

Well these plenty on the T5.1 California.

 

[TripleBee]

There is no insulation, and if there is some bitumen soundproofing, you can pull it off and buy a new sheet to glue it back on after they have finished the dent repair.

 

[acer]

There is no insulation, and if there is some bitumen soundproofing, you can pull it off and buy a new sheet to glue it back on after they have finished the dent repair.

Thanks. Bitumen soundproofing sounds a bit technical, but I assume that it’s easy enough to source the original VW product. I’ll have a peek when it stops raining…eventually.

 

[Corradobrit]

You can also use Dodo mats and cut to size. They are adhesive on one side

 

[TripleBee]

Thanks. Bitumen soundproofing sounds a bit technical, but I assume that it’s easy enough to source the original VW product. I’ll have a peek when it stops raining…eventually.

Well, that is what VW uses. It looks like hard rubber, but is very brittle. It breaks when you want to peel it off.
But there are different kinds of soundproofing. You don't really need to buy the VW original stuff.
But watch out if you would try to insulate the van. There might be chance of condensation problems.

 

[Resfeber]

I’ve done some measuring to see if my dent is going to be accessible from the inside. I think that it’s just below the highlighted region in the wardrobe.
View attachment 131219
I’ve got no idea if removing this panel will then provide the necessary access. Can anyone advise? Also, is there much chance of me regretting removing the panel? It looks to be just 3 small hex screws and therefore within my limited range of ability. Apologies for the basic question.

I managed to get in here when I put a cable from the rear tail light cluster to the right hand end of the kitchen unit.
From what I remember the access to the inside face of the van side was good and should be more than sufficient for an experienced dent repairer with the trick metal shapers that they have.

 

[acer]

Well, that is what VW uses. It looks like hard rubber, but is very brittle. It breaks when you want to peel it off.
But there are different kinds of soundproofing. You don't really need to buy the VW original stuff.
But watch out if you would try to insulate the van. There might be chance of condensation problems.

Ah! Yes, I was thinking about using the opportunity to add some insulation, but probably best not to mess with what you don’t properly understand!

 

[WelshGas]

Ah! Yes, I was thinking about using the opportunity to add some insulation, but probably best not to mess with what you don’t properly understand!

There is a reason VW don't insulate the vehicle. You have the Parking Heater.

 

[Perfectos]

There is a reason VW don't insulate the vehicle. You have the Parking Heater.

VW couldn't justify the additional manufacturing and TUV testing cost, it would inhibit "book" times for maintenance (I.e. what they pay Franchise dealers for works / repairs etc) they couldn't have two fee systems, "transporter is ALL transporter" Mien Gott !

 

[acer]

Those are just 3 plastic popper fasteners. The central portion simply prises out from the outer studded portion. I have removed these fasteners multiple times.

I was surprised to find that I was able to remove the middle fastener with an allen key. The outer two do indeed spin and are proving much more difficult. I can’t seem to prise them out with any manner of blade, pliers, grip or tweezers due to the fact that they sit inside that recess.

How are you getting these out without damaging the very soft plastic?

 

[TripleBee]

I was surprised to find that I was able to remove the middle fastener with an allen key. The outer two do indeed spin and are proving much more difficult. I can’t seem to prise them out with any manner of blade, pliers, grip or tweezers due to the fact that they sit inside that recess.
View attachment 131272
How are you getting these out without damaging the very soft plastic?

Torx 20 or 25

 

[acer]

Many thanks, I’ll give that a go. I think that I might still struggle - I’m turning the screw with the allen key, but it just keeps spinning without releasing / undoing.

 

[Corradobrit]

Try to get some fishing line behind the poppet and pull to release the capture tab.

 

[acer]

Try to get some fishing line behind the poppet and pull to release the capture tab.

Ah! Yes! Excellent! I’ll do that and return tomorrow with an update.

 

[acer]

Ah! Yes! Excellent! I’ll do that and return tomorrow with an update.

As a non-fishing, but ageing father, old kite string was more available to me than fishing line, but the general approach did work very well, so thanks very much!

The fasteners / screws don't now look very pretty, so if anyone knows where I can get some replacements I'd be very grateful. What do you even call these plastic thingys?

If anyone is wondering what it actually looks like behind the panel, here's a couple of photos. There's a triangular shape block of foam. I'm not absolutely sure if the picture shows it in the correct position - in my eagerness to see the dent on the inside I pulled it out before I took this photo. Is it orientated correctly people?


Anyway, once the triangular foam block is removed this is what you see:



I think that my dent is in the area behind that black rectangular band (just above the purple pipe in the photo). This must be the 'bitumen soundproofing' that TripleBee was referring to. Here's the dent location from the outside again:


Anyway, I don't want to be removing this panel again. Is there anything useful to be done in here before I refit it? I never had it off in 9 years of owning my 5.1 embarrased) but you never know, someone might have a fantastic hack to offer.

 

[johns6809]

I feel sure that dent will just be a distant memory. As soon as your PDR guy has had a fettle.
I've had far worse over the years. Just make sure you get someone with excellent reviews.

 

[TripleBee]

As a non-fishing, but ageing father, old kite string was more available to me than fishing line, but the general approach did work very well, so thanks very much!

The fasteners / screws don't now look very pretty, so if anyone knows where I can get some replacements I'd be very grateful. What do you even call these plastic thingys?

It should be:

7H0 867 299 92W

clip moonrock grey

In Belgium it's € 0.56 per piece original from VW.
You can try to source them elsewhere, but the quality might be lower and/or the color would not be completely the same.

 

[acer]

I feel sure that dent will just be a distant memory. As soon as your PDR guy has had a fettle.
I've had far worse over the years. Just make sure you get someone with excellent reviews.

It should be:

7H0 867 299 92W

clip moonrock grey

In Belgium it's € 0.56 per piece original from VW.
You can try to source them elsewhere, but the quality might be lower and/or the color would not be completely the same.

That’s just brilliant. Thank you.

 

[acer]

I feel sure that dent will just be a distant memory. As soon as your PDR guy has had a fettle.
I've had far worse over the years. Just make sure you get someone with excellent reviews.

I'm sure that you're right. Thanks.

Excellent reviews are tricky actually. In general, in this country there seems to be a growing culture of scoring 5 out of 5 for merely satisfactory work, with just the odd disgruntled customer scoring 1 out of 5. It makes online comparisons difficult. On top of this, google / trustpilot searches for bodywork repair tend to reveal franchises / big companies and so you're not really sure about the individual that will turn up on the day. While I generally trust reviews from the excellent Cali Forum, we're spread about and ideally I'll be using someone local. I've contacted a local independent garage that I've used in the past that don't do bodywork repairs for a recommendation and they were very hesitant which surprised me.

I'm sure I'll get there. It wouldn't be the first time that I've over thought something.

 

[Lee.Van.Cleef]

The last time I needed a ding-man I ended up finding a local chap via google then checked out his facebook pages. The chap I used put a selection of his recent jobs on every few weeks so gave a good inpression of the range of work he did - whereas websites will tend to just have a few stock images and rarely be updated.

 

[WelshGas]

I'm sure that you're right. Thanks.

Excellent reviews are tricky actually. In general, in this country there seems to be a growing culture of scoring 5 out of 5 for merely satisfactory work, with just the odd disgruntled customer scoring 1 out of 5. It makes online comparisons difficult. On top of this, google / trustpilot searches for bodywork repair tend to reveal franchises / big companies and so you're not really sure about the individual that will turn up on the day. While I generally trust reviews from the excellent Cali Forum, we're spread about and ideally I'll be using someone local. I've contacted a local independent garage that I've used in the past that don't do bodywork repairs for a recommendation and they were very hesitant which surprised me.

I'm sure I'll get there. It wouldn't be the first time that I've over thought something.

You might get a recommendation from a local Dealership, cars/vans or other makes as they often use such companies during the PDI on new cars/vans.

 

[acer]

You might get a recommendation from a local Dealership, cars/vans or other makes as they often use such companies during the PDI on new cars/vans.

The last time I needed a ding-man I ended up finding a local chap via google then checked out his facebook pages. The chap I used put a selection of his recent jobs on every few weeks so gave a good inpression of the range of work he did - whereas websites will tend to just have a few stock images and rarely be updated.

Two very good suggestions