In order to maintain the value of your car, it is not necessary to go to the workshop for small paint defects or dents. It is however important to remove scratches quickly to prevent rusting. It is possible to make small repairs yourself with certain tools. These measures are all part of car care and are called “SMART repair”. This term is generic for small repairs in and around the car. These include plastic repairs, where the original surface is restored. For example, you can repair burn marks and holes with SMART repair. Custom SMART repair methods are also suitable to push out or pull out dents on the car’s body with special tools. This method is also called paintless dent repair in professional circles. Upholstery and glass repairs also belong to car care, all of which – if not too large – can be repaired by means of SMART repair.
SMART repair is usually used for:
- Scratches in the paint
- Scuffs
- Dents
- Dings
- Burn holes
- Cracks and holes in the plastic (e.g. The dashboard)
- Holes in upholstery
- Damage to the glass
The SMART repair process: How does it work?
It is common that small paint damages have to be repaired. “Spot painting” and touch painting are SMART repair methods that are carried out with the airbrush. Through the strong focus very small areas can be treated. The area to be treated should be maximum hand size. Motorists should bear in mind that when they complete SMART repair themselves that the repaired spot especially the back and on the hood is visible in the sun.
Small dings and dents in the body caused by parking dents or shopping carts are common. Special lever techniques where the dents are pressed out of the metal are the solution from the experts. In this way, paint repairs are then not necessary. Vehicle owners can repair dents themselves with SMART repair. If the paint damages are not profoundly deep, they can be repaired without a paint renewal. One form of treatment is the glue pulling technology, which is also easy to handle alone.
Glue pulling technology as SMART repair process for dent repair:
- Take a tension adapter and clean the adhesive surface and matt it with an abrasive pad
- Heat the glue gun and clean the area to be worked on with a suitable paint cleaner
- Exactly locate the dent
- Choose a tension adapter that is large enough to fit in the dent
- Place the special glue in the middle of the adapter until it is completely covered
- Glue the adapter immediately to the dent and wait until it is almost cooled
- Use a special tool such as a slide hammer, and use it with the adapter
- Drag and pry gently
- Pay close attention to how much force is required to straighten the sheet
- Always pull perpendicular to the damage
- Loosen the adapter and wipe the adhesive and solvent with a cloth
- Repeat the process until you are satisfied
Holes in seats and instrument panels are filled by the professional with a special substance. When it is all dried the appropriate colour is then applied. If the component has a specific structure, this is adjusted by using structural paper or a structural spray mass. The same procedure is also used for cracks in the vehicle’s upholstery and seats, as long as they are not too large and can be repaired via SMART repair.
The repair of minor glass damage, for example in the windshield is also part of the SMART repair kit. However, this can only be completed if the stone chip is not directly in front of the driver, otherwise the entire windshield needs to be replaced. The expert fills the area using an injector with synthetic resin and lets it harden with UV light, so that the damaged area is sealed.
Average SMART repair costs
- Stone chip Repair: 350 AED
- Burn holes in the upholstery – repair: 400 AED
- Torn leather seat – repair: 450 AED
- Push out dents without painting: 280 AED
- Panel beating and painting: 640 AED
Should you do SMART repair yourself?
You can find countless SMART repair tools in automotive accessory shops for removing minor damage, but caution is required when doing repairs. Repair kits that do not cost much are very tempting but most tools cause damage and make the area to be repaired even worse. That is why we always recommend going to a SMART repair expert.