Whats involved in fixing a dented A pillar?

[Astranomical]

The right A pillar on my Astra has a tiny dent in it...only ridiculously tiny, probably about a millimetre, but of course to me it stands out like a sore thumb since I know its there, and thus I want it fixed. I went to the local smash repair place today and they took some photos (the guy who normally does the quotes was out), and one of the other guys commented that its going to be a tricky job...I know that the pillars are a major structural part of the car, I guess I just want some ideas as to how much I'm probably going to be up for, and how long I'm going to be without a car for.

[IBLOWN]

Paintless dent removal.

I had a big crease dent in my wife's VT SS. He pulled it out no problem. Cheap as. He pulled 5 dents out of my VS including a crease dent in the roof and the crease dent in the VT. $180 for both cars... Came out to my house.

[Calaber]

Paintless dent removal is fine if you're not working on a blind panel. I would imagine that the A pillar would be extremely difficult to access from behind to ease the dent out. For a minute dent in such a narrow panel, a little work with filler and touch up paint is probably ok. Blending in shouldn't be difficult.

[Hangman]

Bog. Out of sight, out of mind.

[IBLOWN]

Paintless dent removal is fine if you're not working on a blind panel. I would imagine that the A pillar would be extremely difficult to access from behind to ease the dent out. For a minute dent in such a narrow panel, a little work with filler and touch up paint is probably ok. Blending in shouldn't be difficult.

They dont have to get behind the panel. They use a little glue on pad with a slide hammer.

[Calaber]

They dont have to get behind the panel. They use a little glue on pad with a slide hammer.

Well, I hadn't seen that done, and that's clever if it can do the job. Just remember that on modern cars, pillars are made of a stronger grade of steel (high strength low alloy?) than most body panels and the narrower the panel, the stronger and more resistant to being pulled the metal will be. It might resist pulling out using that method. Still, the dent removal guys are the experts so it would be worth calling them in if the dent is a real concern.

[IBLOWN]

Well, I hadn't seen that done, and that's clever if it can do the job. Just remember that on modern cars, pillars are made of a stronger grade of steel (high strength low alloy?) than most body panels and the narrower the panel, the stronger and more resistant to being pulled the metal will be. It might resist pulling out using that method. Still, the dent removal guys are the experts so it would be worth calling them in if the dent is a real concern.

Yer like i said the crease dent on the VT's pillar was fairly bad and i couldnt believe there was absolutely nothing when he was done. He even did the crease dent in my VS's roof without even taking the lining off.