Can you repair dents in an automobile with a hair dryer and a can of compressed air? Yes and no. It depends upon the location and severity of the damage. But as I have demonstrated, with a heat gun, $9 worth of Endust Duster, and about 15 minutes, you can achieve some remarkable results.
Read more at… https://blog.yagelski.com/2011/10/paintless-dent-repair-using-heat-gun.html
Responses to the most common criticisms:
Q. Why didn’t you just push the dent out from behind?
A. This is a hybrid vehicle and there is A/C equipment for battery cooling that is located between the sheet metal and the interior finish. The dent was simply not accessible from the inside.
Q. Why didn’t you just use a toilet plunger and pull the dent out?
A. That may have worked on the larger of the two dents, but the surface area of the smaller dent would have made that impossible.
Q. This video and photos of the dents have been Photoshopped and faked!
A. Absolutely not. I will gladly attest that this video and the images of the dent, before and after, have not been retouched. I also have a witness who observed the process and would attest the same.
Q. “Tapping” the panel like you did in the video would have popped the dent out without the heating and cooling.
A. My attempts to pop the dent out with persuasive tapping by hand and a rubber mallet prior to the heating / cooling did not have any impact.
Q. This process didn’t help, you can still see the dents!
A. Yes. if you look closely you can still see the smaller of the two dents. However, the larger of the two is not distinguishable to the casual observer. This process made a significant improvement to the appearance of both dents. It is not a factory perfect repair, but this is not a valuable vehicle either. I could not justify the expense of a professional body shop for a vehicle that is seven years old and +150,000 miles. This process provided a good alternative.
Believe it or not fuel tanks can cause problems. Especially on cars that are older than 20 years and particularly on cars that have sat idle for long periods without running. Fuel gets old, varnish builds up, screens get plugged and rust and crud forms inside the tank. In some cases it can be so bad that the fuel tank will need to be removed and boiled out or replaced with a good used one. In this video Kent will talk specifically on the importance of removing the fuel tank screen and inspecting inside the tank.
For Kent’s on demand video on removing a fuel tank click here: https://mercedessource.com/store/removing-and-replacing-an-older-mercedes-diesel-fuel-tank-demand-video
For tools and kits to remove and replace the fuel tank screen click here: https://mercedessource.com/store/search?keys=fuel%20tank%20screen
For rear hose replacement kits click here: https://mercedessource.com/store/search?keys=fuel%20tank%20hose
For good used fuel tanks click here: https://mercedessource.com/store/w123-300td-wagon-fuel-tank-clean
This is part 13 of a multipart series that Kent will be filming over the next year. He will focus on Mercedes that can be purchased and fixed up to be used as daily drivers. To view the full series click here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtRKk64pu2wqUWOXbC9r-akj0xGZnk7QC
The models included will be:
Late W114 and W115 Chassis Sedans and Coupes: Mercedes 280, Mercedes 280C, Mercedes 240D, Mercedes 300D.
Late W116 Sedans: Mercedes 280SE, Mercedes 280SEL, Mercedes 300SD, Mercedes 450SE, Mercedes 450SEL and Mercedes 450SEL 6.9.
All W123 Chassis Sedans, Coupes and Wagons: Mercedes 240D, Mercedes 300D, Mercedes 300CD, Mercedes 300TD, Mercedes 230E, Mercedes 280E, Mercedes 280CE, Mercedes 280TE.
All 126 Chassis Sedans and Coupes 1981 to 1991: Mercedes 300SD, Mercedes 300SDL, Mercedes 300SE, Mercedes 300SEL, Mercedes 350SD, Mercedes 350SDL, Mercedes 380SE, Mercedes 380SEC, Mercedes 380SEL, Mercedes 420SEL, Mercedes 500SEC, Mercedes 500SEL, Mercedes 560SEC, Mercedes 560SEL.
All W201 Chassis Sedans: Mercedes 190D 2.5, Mercedes 190D 2.5, Mercedes 190E 2.3, Mercedes 190E 2.3 16V, Mercedes 190E 2.6.
All W124 Sedans, Coupes and Wagons: Mercedes 260E, Mercedes 300E, Mercedes 300D, Mercedes 300TD, Mercedes 300TE, Mercedes 300CE, Mercedes 400E, Mercedes 500E, Mercedes E320, Mercedes E420, Mercedes CE320, Mercedes E300D