Toyota Highlander Dent Repair & Corvette Ceramic Coating: Project Highlights

Andrew Ott • December 7, 2023

Hey, it’s Andy with MidMo Den! Today, I wanted to share a couple of exciting projects we’ve had in the shop recently, starting with a Toyota Highlander that came in with a fender dent, followed by a Corvette that received a ceramic coating treatment.

Toyota Highlander: Fender Dent Repair

We started the day with the Toyota Highlander, which had a sizable 5-inch dent in the fender. The customer wasn’t exactly sure how it happened but suspected it was a parking lot mishap. The dent ran through a body line, making it a bit tricky to work with, but thankfully, we had plenty of access to the panel, allowing us to get right to it.


Our first step was to remove the plastic panel under the hood to access the backside of the dent. After setting up our lights to get a clear view of the damage, we began by warming the panel with a torch. Using the torch helps evenly heat the metal, making it more pliable without risking any paint damage, and it allows for a cleaner overall repair. Once the panel was ready, we used a rubber-tipped tool to start pushing the dent out. The initial push brought out a good portion of the dent, but the real challenge was in perfecting the remaining 50%, which took about two hours of precise work. This is where the expertise comes into play—making sure every little bit of the dent is gone without overdoing it and causing further damage.


To finish the job, we switched to smaller, sharper tools for the detailed work around the body line, making hundreds of tiny pushes to ensure a flawless finish. After a final buff and polish to remove any scuffs, the fender looked good as new. The customer was thrilled with the result, which is always the most satisfying part of the job.

Corvette: Ceramic Coating Prep

Our next project was prepping a Corvette for ceramic coating. This Corvette was a couple of years old, and while the paint was in decent shape, it still needed some prep work to ensure the ceramic coating would adhere properly and provide the best results.


We started by inspecting the car with the customer, agreeing on a wash, clay bar treatment, and a one-step polish to remove any minor swirls or imperfections. After a thorough degreasing of the tires, we sprayed down the car to remove any surface dirt and grit before applying a foam wash. Our washes include cleaning everything from the exterior body to the wheels, inner fenders, and even the door jams. Once the wash was complete, we used a clay bar to remove any contaminants that the wash missed, such as brake dust, tree sap, or other debris. This step is crucial to ensure a smooth, clean surface before polishing.


Next came the polishing. Using a fine polishing pad and compound, we carefully buffed the paint to eliminate any remaining imperfections. After polishing, we applied a prep spray to remove any oils or waxes that might interfere with the ceramic coating. With the car now prepped, we began the ceramic coating process. This is a meticulous job that takes time. One person applied the coating while another used a three-towel method to ensure the coating was leveled correctly, without streaks or residue. Each layer of coating took about an hour to apply, and we also treated the wheels and windows to make sure every surface was protected.


Once the ceramic coating was applied, the car was left to cure overnight. The difference in gloss was immediately noticeable, and the customer was thrilled with the improvement in the paint’s appearance and the added protection from the ceramic coating.

Window Tinting on a Dodge Ram

We also had a Dodge Ram come in for window tinting on the two front windows. The customer opted for our carbon tint, which offers a lifetime guarantee and matches perfectly with the factory tint on the rear windows.


After selecting the proper patterns for the tint, we removed the rubber weather strips from the windows to allow for a cleaner application. Removing these strips minimizes the risk of dirt or debris getting trapped under the tint. After thoroughly cleaning the glass with a stainless steel razor blade, we carefully applied the tint, making sure not to touch the door panels or any other surfaces that could introduce dirt. Once the tint was in place, we squeegeed out the soapy water, ensuring a perfect fit with no bubbles. The tint will take a few days to fully cure, but even immediately after application, the windows looked fantastic.


These projects highlight the kind of detailed work we love to do here at MidMo Den. Whether it’s dent repair, ceramic coating, or window tinting, we take pride in delivering top-quality results for our customers. As winter gives way to spring, we expect to be busy with even more ceramic coatings and tint jobs. If you're interested in any of these services, be sure to follow us for updates on the latest projects. Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you on the next one!

October 16, 2025
Why Your Car’s Exterior Needs More Love Than Ever The engine may outlive the paint—but only if you let it. In the golden age of American muscle—think 1960s and ’70s—cars were built like tanks. Their engines were temperamental, but their exteriors? Solid steel, thick chrome, and paint that could take a beating. Fast forward to today, and we’re living in a golden age of mechanical reliability. Modern vehicles routinely surpass 200,000 miles, some even pushing 300,000 with ease. But while the engines have evolved, the exteriors have quietly regressed. 🧩 The Paradox of Progress Today’s cars are engineered to last longer, drive farther, and sip less fuel. But to achieve that, manufacturers have made trade-offs: • Plastic replaces metal in bumpers, grilles, and trim—not just for weight savings, but cost. • Thinner paint layers and water-based formulas meet environmental standards but sacrifice durability. • Aerodynamic designs often expose more surface area to road debris, salt, and UV damage. So while your engine might be marathon-ready, your paint and panels are sprinting toward premature aging. 🛣️ More Miles, More Exposure Older vehicles might have seen 100,000 miles in their lifetime. Today’s daily drivers often double or triple that. That means: • More gravel, salt, and bugs hitting the front end. • More sun exposure, especially on horizontal surfaces like hoods and roofs. • More wear from automatic car washes, which brings us to the next point… 🧼 The Car Wash Myth Many well-meaning owners believe frequent car washes are the key to a clean, well-maintained vehicle. But here’s the catch: • Brush-style automatic washes can leave micro-scratches that dull paint over time. • High-pressure touchless washes often rely on harsh chemicals that strip protective coatings. • Quick-dry cycles can bake contaminants into the surface if not properly rinsed. In short, what feels like care can actually be slow erosion—especially without follow-up protection like wax or ceramic coatings. 🌤️ The Exterior Is a Canvas—Treat It Like One Your vehicle’s exterior isn’t just a shell—it’s a story. A reflection of care, pride, and longevity. And in today’s landscape, preserving that story requires more than soap and water. 🧴 Why Professional Detailing Beats the Tunnel Professional detailing isn’t just about making a car shiny—it’s about preserving its integrity: • Paint correction removes years of wear, not just surface grime. • Ceramic coatings create a sacrificial layer that resists UV, chemicals, and abrasion. • Trim and glass treatments restore clarity and prevent fading. • Tailored product systems ensure compatibility and long-term performance. Unlike generic car wash soaps and waxes that often clash or cancel each other out, high-quality detailing products are designed to work together—layer by layer, purposefully. They don’t just clean; they protect, enhance, and extend the life of your finish. 🛠️ The Synergy of Smart Products Think of your detailing regimen like a well-tuned engine: • Decontamination clears the way. • Correction refines the surface. • Protection locks in clarity. • Maintenance keeps the system balanced. When each step is intentional and each product is chosen for its role, the result isn’t just visual—it’s structural. Your paint lasts longer. Your trim stays rich. Your glass stays clear. And your vehicle tells a different story: one of care, not compromise. 🪞 Final Reflection We’re in an era where vehicles can live long lives—but only if we treat their exteriors with the same reverence we give their engines. Maintenance isn’t just mechanical. It’s visual. It’s tactile. It’s poetic. So next time you think about preserving your ride, skip the tunnel. Choose the hands that know the surface. Choose products that speak the same language. And let your vehicle wear its miles like a badge—not a burden.
By Chris Stevens September 24, 2025
You’ve probably seen tint shops, detail shops, and dent shops around town. Finding one place that does all four — window tinting, PDR/SMART repair, paint correction, and high‑end ceramic coatings — is rare. Running a full‑stack auto appearance shop takes more than skill. It takes space, equipment, staffing, and the patience to do things right. That’s exactly what Mid‑Mo Dents built. Why this combo is hard to run • Different trades, different tools. PDR needs light bars and specialized metal skills; paint correction and ceramic coatings demand polishing gear, controlled wash and prep areas, and dust‑free cure space; tinting needs clean bays and film inventory; SMART repair requires both finesse and materials. • Staffing and training are intensive. Each service requires certified techs, ongoing training, and quality control standards. Keeping multiple specialists in one shop increases payroll and coordination demands. • Operational complexity. Managing bays, scheduling multi‑stage jobs, inventory for films/chemicals/parts, and insurance workflows for repair work adds administrative overhead most small shops avoid. • Upfront investment. Equipment, coatings inventory, film stock, and proper ventilation/lighting all add capital cost before the first job is booked. Why having all four services in one shop matters for you • Single point of accountability. No back‑and‑forth between businesses. If a vehicle needs dent repair, paint correction, and ceramic coating, one shop owns the whole process. • Faster, cleaner handoffs. Techs can coordinate the right sequence of work so repairs, paint correction, and coatings are applied in the ideal order without waiting on outside vendors. • Better outcomes and consistency. When the same team handles everything, the finish quality, cure timing, and final inspection standards are consistent. That directly protects your finish and resale value. • Cost and time savings. Bundled work reduces duplicated labor, multiple drop‑offs, and shipping of parts. You save time and often money compared with coordinating separate specialists. • Long‑term maintenance plan. A full‑service shop can offer a tailored program: PDR for small dings, paint correction to remove swirls, ceramic for protection, and tint for UV/heat control — all scheduled and maintained together. How Mid‑Mo Dents turns rarity into value • We staff specialists for each discipline and run dedicated bays for detailed prep, tint installs, and paint correction. • We sequence work to protect finishes and maximize product performance from day one. • We stand behind bundled services with consistent quality checks so your vehicle leaves finished and ready to stay that way. If you care about preserving appearance, protecting your paint, and saving time, trust the shop that can truly own the whole job. Book a free inspection and we’ll map the single plan that keeps your car looking its best for years.
Driver's view of the interior of a 2025 Cadillac Escalade ESV
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By Andrew Ott September 20, 2024
Today we repaired a new Shelby gt500 that had a nice dent in the driver side roof rail. Not sure how this dent was caused but we sure knew how to fix it. This customer actually was referred to us by a local mustang car club near our shop in Jefferson City Missouri. Repair cost was $225 and repair time was only about 45 minutes. If you interested in see more of the services we offer follow the channel. We do paintless dent repair, detailing, ceramic coating, windshield chip repair and minor body repair. Located in Jefferson City Missouri. Interested in having a dent repaired by us. Visit our website and fill out the contact form. https://www.mid-modents.com #missouri #business #paintlessdentrepair #dentrepair #automobile #shelby #mustang #gt500 #professional #satisfying #nicecars #pdr
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