Vauxhall Astra - Paintwork repairs: mobile technician or garage?

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Thu 12 Sep 2019 13:06
Vauxhall Astra - Paintwork repairs: mobile technician or garage? - LilianS

Hi All,

A general question regarding mobile paintwork repairers vs garage. I have managed to accumulate quite a few long shallow scratches on my car. Mainly due to diving into hedges on narrow country lanes where I live and work to let oncoming cars pass. When I had one or two short scratches I'd call a mobile technician out but now that I have a few long ones am wondering whether using a garage would be more cost-effective. What are your thoughts?

Thanks!

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Thu 12 Sep 2019 13:17
Vauxhall Astra - Paintwork repairs: mobile technician or garage? - Andrew-T

I have only used proper bodyshops, but I think if your scratches are superficial - without dents - a mobile guy should be able to smooth out and colour-polish with good results. But I think the result from a static expert should always be better, or at least equally good. You could always ask one for free advice.

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Thu 12 Sep 2019 16:50
Vauxhall Astra - Paintwork repairs: mobile technician or garage? - LilianS

Thanks, Andrew T!

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Thu 12 Sep 2019 18:16
Vauxhall Astra - Paintwork repairs: mobile technician or garage? - Chris M

I think a body shop will always be able to do a better job than the mobile operators. Never been that impressed when I've used Chips Away. If the scratches are superficial, perhaps a valeter will be able to get rid of them.

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Thu 12 Sep 2019 19:06
Vauxhall Astra - Paintwork repairs: mobile technician or garage? - gordonbennet

You need to find a small one man and his dog bodyshop, these places keeping going through word of mouth, no courtesy cars receptionists managers or flash waiting rooms with free coffee/magazines...all of which you the customer would be paying for.

Ask around your friends who they use, especially someone who runs an older classic and needs the services of someone to keep it fettled bodywise, i use one of these places whenever i need anything doing.

It might need just a good mopping, but also it might need the odd panel painting if the scratches have gone too deep, as you if it was just one scratch needing sorting then a mobile chap would be ideal but if it needs painting then worth getting done right.

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Thu 12 Sep 2019 19:06
Vauxhall Astra - Paintwork repairs: mobile technician or garage? - catsdad
Have you tried polishing it yourself in an inconspicuous area? Maybe I've been lucky but having had several bush scratches over the years I have never had one that didn't polish out. You do need polish (or T-Cut) not wax.

However if it's a scratch into the actual paint that you can feel with your fingernail then it needs professional treatment.
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Sat 14 Sep 2019 18:40
Vauxhall Astra - Paintwork repairs: mobile technician or garage? - LilianS

Thank you, I'll get a quote from both and take it from there.

Edited by LilianS on 16/09/2019 at 15:45

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