11 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHFender Dent: DIY Pull, PDR or Fender Swap? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Leading reported evidence
Use fender is the way
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Fender Dent: DIY Pull, PDR or Fender Swap? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Read full discussion summary
Leading evidence: 'Use fender is the way' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Recommend i' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I've used PDR for years,hundreds of times and in my opinion that PDR guys brain is gravy.
Fender Dent: DIY Pull, PDR or Fender Swap? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Recommend i
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
He recommended I replace the fender, and in that case I would try the suction tool to see what I could DIY before replacing.
Fender Dent: DIY Pull, PDR or Fender Swap? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Repair articles
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
Was looking for some bumper cover repair articles...
Fender Dent: DIY Pull, PDR or Fender Swap? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Repair | mobile dent
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Fender Dent: DIY Pull, PDR or Fender Swap? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Coverage and how to read this overview
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
11 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
986Forum: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T150451Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Looking for opinions here based on community experience. My front driver side fender was hit and run while parked. No note. This is not a concourse show car (155k miles, 1999), but overall in good shape cosmetically. However, I am not vain and priorities keep me budget minded. I DIY all my mechanical needs, and have done limited body work in the past. I'm not sure what direction I should go:
1. DIY Pull: pick up a tool locally and try to pull it myself. Touch-up paint to match. I pass right by a harbor freight daily
https://www.harborfreight.com/pneumatic-dent-puller-69718.html
2. Get PDR Quotes
3. Buy a used front fender in the same color for about $300. It would be about a 3hr round trip, approx 4-5 hrs of my time to swap out? So about $300 and one work day worth of time.
If you are looking for the most ideal budget option id say research first. Call around at least 4 shops to get a solid idea on what to expect with a PDR to that extent. If the quotes are higher than $300 which i dont doubt they could be, id suggest getting the fender IF it matches the same color and isnt damaged. Doing it yourself is definitely the cheapest however that also comes with cheap work as I assume you arent in the profession of PDR and it can come out looking not so great.
Definately PDR. My guy would say, "Gravy".
My passenger door looked equally damaged. 45 minutes later (and a few "thrown in" ding repairs)... and $275 dollar later... door looked as good as "new". Body shop pegged repair at ~$1500.
Hit a couple exottic dealerships in your area... ask who is their guy. Repair. Profit.
PS You might have a slight crease upon conclusion... paint may be necessary. Good luck.
Thanks for the replies! I had one highly rated PDR guy take a look yesterday and he said there was nothing that he could do for it and wouldn’t want to stand behind any attempts. He recommended I replace the fender, and in that case I would try the suction tool to see what I could DIY before replacing. I will get more PDR estimates this week.
I've used PDR for years,hundreds of times and in my opinion that PDR guys brain is gravy. Just buy a fender. No way that's going to PDR and even if he could he's going to charge a hell of a lot more than $300.
JBauer, you would be correct! Second PDR guy gave me the same honest assessment as the first- replace the fender. I will work on tracking a good one down.
If I can remember... later I'll send my guy a copy of the pics... see if my assesssment is correct. My guy is solid with the Lambo, Mercedess, McClaren... etc. dealerships in the Coachella Valley. I've confidence in his ability, and him having been doing it for 20+ years.
PS If anybody would pay more than $300 to have that ding repaired.... cuckoo.
PT Barnum would be proven correct
Was looking for some bumper cover repair articles... stumbled upon my guy's website.
You can tell by his before/after pics that all is not lost on OP's ride.
Desert Dent Repair | Mobile Dent Repair
If I'm looking at it correctly, the upper part has a crease with the paint already chipped off, so PDR is out of the question.
My suggestion is to look for a junkyard unit with matching paint.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
