Rear Wing Dent
Discussion
I appear to have picked up a small (but annoying) dent on the rear wing of the GT4. It had been at the dealer getting some work done and is stored in an empty garage outside of this so I can only assume that whatever happened, occurred at the dealers.
I’ve spoken to a well recommended dent guy however he’s said that they can’t do anything with the is as it’s plastic.
My question - has anybody come across anything similar (if so how on earth did it happen) and were you able to get it fixed?
If it makes a difference, it appears to be almost directly above where the wing supports attach. No damage to the paintwork.
I’ve spoken to a well recommended dent guy however he’s said that they can’t do anything with the is as it’s plastic.
My question - has anybody come across anything similar (if so how on earth did it happen) and were you able to get it fixed?
If it makes a difference, it appears to be almost directly above where the wing supports attach. No damage to the paintwork.
Good question, I’ve owned the car for coming up on two years and have never noticed it (but not can’t unsee it)! Wing has never been off to my knowledge and the work that the garage was doing was reprogramming so wasn’t removed for that.
You mention that you’ve seen a few - as in dents the same as this? Were they repairable?
You mention that you’ve seen a few - as in dents the same as this? Were they repairable?
Edited by Redline88 on Tuesday 18th June 16:20
Redline88 said:
Good question, I’ve owned the car for coming up on two years and have never noticed it (but not can’t unsee it)! Wing has never been off to my knowledge and the work that the garage was doing was reprogramming so wasn’t removed for that.
You mention that you’ve seen a few - as in dents the same as this? Were they repairable?
Yes same divot as this - maybe not as deep though... I don't know about repair options.You mention that you’ve seen a few - as in dents the same as this? Were they repairable?
Edited by Redline88 on Tuesday 18th June 16:20
The usual method for popping dents from plastic panels is heat. I've successfully used boiling water to remove a huge dent from a badly damaged bumper but that was absolutely mangled and being replaced anyway.
Too cool and the dent will not return to shape, too hot and the plastic will become brittle as it cools, or melt with careless use of a hot air gun.
You need someone with plenty of experience on plastic panels to get this right. It's a small dent so should be relatively easy to remove but might need manipulation or perhaps a suction cup if it's not accessible from below.
Too cool and the dent will not return to shape, too hot and the plastic will become brittle as it cools, or melt with careless use of a hot air gun.
You need someone with plenty of experience on plastic panels to get this right. It's a small dent so should be relatively easy to remove but might need manipulation or perhaps a suction cup if it's not accessible from below.
TDT said:
Redline88 said:
Good question, I’ve owned the car for coming up on two years and have never noticed it (but not can’t unsee it)! Wing has never been off to my knowledge and the work that the garage was doing was reprogramming so wasn’t removed for that.
You mention that you’ve seen a few - as in dents the same as this? Were they repairable?
Yes same divot as this - maybe not as deep though... I don't know about repair options.You mention that you’ve seen a few - as in dents the same as this? Were they repairable?
Edited by Redline88 on Tuesday 18th June 16:20
I'd be reluctant too, I'm cringing inwardly at the thought but a specialist ought to be able to advise.
With metal you need heat alone to manipulate successfully, but with plastic, rapid temperature cycling can be very effective with the sudden cooling of surrounding areas literally pulling out the dent. This one looks very small and shallow however so it's possible that none of these approaches will work.
With metal you need heat alone to manipulate successfully, but with plastic, rapid temperature cycling can be very effective with the sudden cooling of surrounding areas literally pulling out the dent. This one looks very small and shallow however so it's possible that none of these approaches will work.
As an update, it does appear to be directly at the spot where the rearmost bolt attaches to the wing so it sounds like TDT has it spot on. The question then is, should I slacken off that bolt a bit before trying to leave it in the sun?
No idea why that would ever have been touched as even with adjusting the wing, I don’t think you would touch those bolts.
No idea why that would ever have been touched as even with adjusting the wing, I don’t think you would touch those bolts.
Edited by Redline88 on Wednesday 19th June 16:13
Slackening off the bolt when the panel is hot and then applying some light pressure with your thumb around the perimeter (or from below) might have some effect. However as the plastic has probably been stressed/weakened then the dent is likely to return when the bolt is torqued down again.
I doubt you would damage it further by doing so - unless the bolt has been tightened excessively previously and requires a lot force to undo.
Perhaps Porsche have seen, and been able to correct this particular issue before?
Edited to add - could this kind of damage be caused by forcibly closing the hatch by pressing down on the rear wing?
I doubt you would damage it further by doing so - unless the bolt has been tightened excessively previously and requires a lot force to undo.
Perhaps Porsche have seen, and been able to correct this particular issue before?
Edited to add - could this kind of damage be caused by forcibly closing the hatch by pressing down on the rear wing?
Edited by 5s Alive on Tuesday 18th June 20:27
5s Alive said:
It's worth a try and the wing shouldn't be able to move with only one bolt loosened. I would check it for movement after every drive to be on the safe side.
Check the loosened bolt doesn't drop out on you!As an aside my son's Cooper S (he calls it Christine, don't know why) had a massive dent in the bonnet, the size of a football, where a pedestrian's shoulder had collided with it.
Had a quote for £1,000 to fix, left it a while, then one day it disappeared. It had popped itself out.
Just needed Ray the dent man to finish off the "repair" for £60.
As others have said it might be best to try to leave it. Not easy - understand how easy it can be to fixate on blemishes once you've noticed them.
Failing that consider speaking to a specialist or repair place for an opinion. Ideally somewhere that's encountered this before, and take the car to show them.
Would be reluctant for the trial & error approach as this could lead to more damage/problems
Failing that consider speaking to a specialist or repair place for an opinion. Ideally somewhere that's encountered this before, and take the car to show them.
Would be reluctant for the trial & error approach as this could lead to more damage/problems
Gassing Station | Boxster/Cayman | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff