From 318ti-compact-list_at_lists.geejeffery.com Wed Feb 12 10:40:32 1997
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Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 22:42:02 -0800
To: "BMW 318ti/Compact List" <318ti-compact-list_at_lists.geejeffery.com>
From: dching <dching_at_slip.net>
Subject: Door dings and paintless dent removal

Here are some of my parking tactics, please post more if you can think of any, I'm sure we can all use the help.

1. Avoid parking next to 2 door cars, they have longer doors.
2. Of you have to favor parking towards the left or right in a parking space, choose the left, the chances of the person next to you having a passenger is less. (It's pretty much 100% that the person on the right of you will open the door...)
3. Find the best and most immaculate car in the lot and park next to them, chances are that they will be just as careful as you.
4. Try to park in spaces parallel to the curb, at least bumpers don't dent.
5. Look for spaces in parking lots at the end of the row, at least you can be reasonably assured that nobody will park on one side of you.
6. Avoid supermarkets at all costs - shopping carts are a major source of dings.
7. Try to park next to MB 190SLs, Lamborghini Countachs or Diablos, McLaren F1s or BMW Z1s (hope you can figure this one out).

As for dentless paint removal...

I've talked to paintless dent removal techs and the general method is this: They pound the dent out from the inside. Sometimes they can get to the backside of the panel VIA a wheel well but sometimes, they have to drill holes (say, in the door jam) to insert their probes. I have an interesting dent on my passenger door which I tried to repair: The dent seems to be behind a strip of reinforcement about 1" above the side moulding. I can't access the backside of the dent because it is sandwiched between the support and the outside of the door.

-Dean