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types of windshield cracks

Types of Windscreen Cracks and Chips

Your windscreen is one of the most important parts of your vehicle when it comes to your safety on the road. It is therefore extremely important to ensure your windscreen is well maintained and free of any type of chip or crack that can lead to damage and dangerous situations in the future. Even the tiniest chip or crack on your windshield can lead to major problems in the future, but some are more dangerous than others. Before we discuss the different types of windscreen cracks and chips, and the extent of damage they can cause to your vehicle, it is important to mention that the best way to deal with any windscreen damage is to fix it as soon as possible at your local Vancouver auto body shop.

Identifying the type of windscreen issue you’re dealing with will help you determine the extent of repairs you will require, and how soon you will need to get these repairs completed.

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How to Choose the Right Autobody Shop in Vancouver

Why You Shouldn’t DIY Collision Repairs

In today’s world of viral videos and online how-to guides, there is no shortage of encouragement to take the Do-It-Yourself approach to a number of household projects. The same goes for automotive projects. If you own your own vehicle, you may have even taken advantage of some helpful videos and step by step DIY guides for basic car care. Being able to accomplish tasks on your own can be a great way to save time and money, but there are plenty of instances where you should just leave it up to the professionals at your local Vancouver auto body shop, especially when it comes to your vehicle. One of those instances is collision repairs. When it comes to making auto body repairs, you are better off avoiding the DIY approach all together. Here’s why:

You May Cause Inadvertent Damage

Nobody wants to make things worse by taking the DIY approach to a project, but when it comes to repairing collision damage on a car, that is exactly what you’ll probably end up doing. On the surface, repairing a minor dent, scratch or rust build up on your car’s body may seem pretty straightforward, especially after watching some DIY video guides online. Keep in mind however that these videos can easily be edited to give you the wrong impression about how easy collision repairs can be. Even a minor amount of damage to your car’s body can become a major problem if you use improper repair techniques, leading to higher repair costs and more time waiting for your car to be fixed. This is because dents and body damage require detailed repairs that focus on fixing the warped and distorted metal on your vehicle’s body. Simply popping a dent back into shape is rarely all that is required to fix the problem, which is why you should at least get a professional to assess the extent of the damage before attempting to fix the problem yourself. More often than not, you will just make the problem worse if you try to fix it without the proper tools or technique.

Problems with Paint

In the past, cars were given a single coat of paint which was applied using a one-step method. These days however there is much more that goes into fixing damaged paint on a vehicle’s surface. If you are unfamiliar with the proper steps you need to take to match and apply new paint to your car, you will likely just be adding to the problem, making your car look worse, not better, when you’ve finished. Applying paint to a damaged car requires a number of technical steps in order to ensure the paint refinishing isn’t noticeable or susceptible to fading or distortions. This requires a number of different professional grade tools such as sanders and polishers, as well as a specific paint match which can only be guaranteed by a professional. Without these tools and the necessary skills to take on this task, you will likely end up with more damage to the paint than you started with.

DIY can be beneficial when it comes to a number of different tasks. Unfortunately, collision repair isn’t one of them. If your vehicle is damaged in any way after a collision, be sure to trust the experienced autobody professionals at Spotlite Collision to handle your repairs.

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How to Protect Your Car From Vancouver Rain Damage

How to Protect Your Car From Vancouver Rain Damage

The most noticeable thing about a vehicle is how good it looks on the outside. Keeping a vehicle’s paint bright and shiny isn’t just about appearances. Protecting the exterior of your vehicle is a good way to maintain its overall value and lifespan. Living in the Vancouver area causes a number of challenges to maintaining a vehicle’s shine. One challenge that can often be overlooked is rain damage. Vancouver gets a lot of rain, and while water is not inherently bad for your vehicle, the particles in the water can be. Car painting can be expensive and tiresome, so below are some tips on how to protect your car’s shine from rain damage in the Vancouver area.

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How to Fix a Car Paint Scratch

How to Fix a Car Paint Scratch

A clean and well-maintained car not only helps its owner make a good impression wherever they may go, it can also do a lot to ensure the car performs well throughout its lifespan. There are plenty of things that can cause a car to deteriorate before its time however. Issues like paint scratches may not seem very serious or problematic at first, but they can potentially lead to issues with your car’s bodywork and overall integrity. If a paint scratch is allowed to rust, it can mean major auto body repairs in the not too distant future. Fortunately, there is a simple way to fix car paint scratches before they become a major issue for your vehicle.

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volkswagen paint

Paint Care for Volkswagens

Taking care of your vehicles paint not only keeps your vehicle looking brand new for longer, it
can also help prolong your vehicles life. There is a wide range of car wash and detailing products
available, suitable for all makes and models. This surplus of options may also make caring for your
vehicles paint seem overwhelming; leaving you wondering if you have the right products for your
vehicle. Popular European brands, such as Volkswagen often require specialized parts, making
maintenance more difficult for the Do It Yourself enthusiast. At Spotlite Collision we know our way
around a vast array of Volkswagen and European models. Through our 40 years of experience servicing
the people of Vancouver, we have gained a few helpful tips when it comes to Volkswagen paint care.

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vw golf evolution

The Evolution of the VW Golf | Auto Body Shop Vancouver

The Volkswagen Golf has remained one of the most popular Volkswagen models since being introduced in 1974. Initially, this car was created as a replacement for the more dated design of the Volkswagen Beetle, but it has since become a one of Volkswagen’s most versatile and reliable offerings to date. In its lifetime, the VW Golf has undergone a series of upgrades and changes that have helped keep it a popular choice for all kinds of drivers. Below you’ll find a brief timeline that tracks the evolution of the VW Golf and the innovative designs and upgrades that have resulted in the car we know today.

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the most popular european cars in vancouver

The Most Popular European Cars in Vancouver

In major Canadian cities like Vancouver, it is not uncommon to see a vast selection of cars o the road made by a number of manufacturers based all over the world. Although it is true that European imports are not as popular on Canadian roads compared to cars made by North American and Asian based manufacturers, there are plenty of examples of popular European cars all over Vancouver streets. Below you’ll find a list of some of the most popular European vehicles found on Vancouver streets today. For each of these vehicles, the auto collision experts at Spotlite Collision are ready to offer top quality repairs. We are fully stocked with a great selection of replacement parts for cars made by Audi, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen and more! So, let’s see what are the most popular European cars in Vancouver

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How to Choose the Right Autobody Shop in Vancouver

How to Choose the Right Auto body Shop in Vancouver

 Finding a reliable auto body shop can be a stressful time for even the savviest of car enthusiast. Everyone has heard horror stories of people being taken for a ride by shady mechanics who do subpar work or swindle inexperienced car owners into paying more than they need to. We at Spotlite Collision want to help alleviate as much stress as possible. We have been repairing cars and trucks in Vancouver since 1978 and in those 40 years, we have never deviated from being an honest and reliable auto body repair shop. We know not only what makes a great auto body shop, but also what people should be looking for if they want good, honest labour.

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should i fix stone chips

Should I Fix Stone Chips?

Whether it was caused by a car accident, or by simple misfortune, a stone chip taken out of your windshield is not something you want to leave alone for too long. That seemingly tiny chip out of the windshield on your car will turn into a major problem in no time at all, causing you to spend far more money on repairs than you would ever like. In some cases, a small chip left unattended has resulted in entire windshields needing to be replaced. The key is knowing how to identify these menacing little chips before they become a major safety issue.

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