Where did this dent come from?!
 

I've been seeing a reflection on the lower trim, driver's side, of my car. I looked quickly the other day, saw it was "bent" in, but it was so uniform I assumed it was molded that way. It just wasn't sitting right with me, so I checked it out again. In deed, there is a huge white scratch mark all the length of the dent that the passenger side does NOT have. I have no idea when it got there or what could have caused it... it honestly looks like a uniform press job. The only thing I can think is when I took it in for service the other week, cause I think I'd certainly remember having hit something hard enough to do that! Any ideas? I'll try to post a pic later.

Ok, it's not too clear, but here's a picture of the dent and scratch. It's very odd, almost as if a fork trunk ran into it... blunt and shallow, then very deep, then back to regular form. Does anyone have any suggestions as to the cause?

Strange looking mark. At first I thought it was just the rubber scuff marks of a boot but when I looked at the pictures it seemed a lot worse. Have you wiped it clean? Any really damage like scratches or dents?

If you have a hard time getting the white stuff off, try a clay bar or use some polishing compound.

From the looks if it, it seems like someone backed the car up against a tire that was laying on the ground. The white marks might be tire lettering and the black marks are the remnant rubber.

The white marks are actually the undercoat... from the paint being scratched. So it's definitely a drag line. And there is a huge dent, roughly 1.5" at the deepest point. It's hard to tell from the pic, but in the first pic where the white line disappears to the right is where it dents in. You can see a little reflection of the scratch above it from it denting in soo much.

I was thinking if I hit a curb coming off the driveway, but my driveway is flat, and as the dent is central it seems it'd have to have hit the curb going around a turn! I'm stumped :(

Not on this car, but I once got something similar to that on my last car by cutting the turn to sharply at a gas station. The pumps are on a raised island and I was backing and turning and the damaged area caught the end of the curb of the island. It created a gash just like that one.

a curb? that sucks, looks deep.

or some piece of crap in the garage...

Maybe a mishap while jacking the car up? Looks like it starts right around the area of the jacking point for the driver-front.

I haven't jacked the car up myself, but it was in for service maybe 2 weeks ago. I am curious if a lift could have done that somehow. And it's not garaged, so that's out.

Napboy, when you hit the curb, did you know it? I can't recall any noise or hesitation in driving like I thought there'd be for that kind of dent.

Prolly happened while in the shop and they didn't tell you and when you picked it up you didn't notice until it was too late. Looks like curbage to me.

There would have to be some kind of noise/hesitation from a dent like that. My money is on where ever you took your car in... (and my .02 worth... just blame it on them and argue, get it fixed)

I say take it back to the dealer and tell them that it wasn't like that before you brought it there and make them fix it. It works, trust me. I work at a body shop and I get dealerships bringing stuff in all the time because they messed something up and tried to hide it. The customers always find out and I end up fixing the cars for them at the dealers expense. It's worth a shot.

Not saying that it was done at the shop, but for those who care (in case it was), I took the car to Huntington Mazda.

Ref. the "where to go" forum:
https://www.rx8club.com/ne-rx-8-forum-29/long-island-owners-mazda-dealer-recommendations-99196/

I'm thinking it may be one of the hydraulic jacks at the shop?

Thanks for the input everyone. I'll try the shop and post the outcome.

Perhaps the dorky cat inspecting your bumper had something to do with it?... ;)

damn!!! thats one deep crease. its sure from the service racks. unless if they have the ground racks. but i'm sure they don't. they must've drove ur car in too much to the left...

u should really complain about it. thats really an eyesore. and had you washed your car... someone like me will spot that a mile away. actually, carwash not needed and i can still spot that a mile away.

the tarot card fortune reader says "the quick service team at ur mazda dealer is gonna get a pounding from u real soon!"

good luck man... i would tell u worst stories concerning cars and service stations involving me and crushed doors and all, but... i won't since its a let it happen once and never again kinda thing.

damn...heartache thats all i can say. it looks like theres no way around having some filler in that dent.

best of luck man. i feel sorry for that dealership.

i HAVE AN IDea.


it involves a gun.

Haha, usually I inspect the car after I get it from the shop, or any place that has had it, but the heavy rains, time crunch, etc. I slipped.

You ran over a tire tread or tree branch.

Thats from a curb.

I have one just like it but a lil more underneath. I was pulling out of an ATM drive thru and it was one where view was obstructed a lil and the curb stuck out much further than the pole and i took it a bit too narrow. I was so damn pissed, i got out and didnt see anything at first but when i got down and looked under there it was, as scrape similar to yours (not quite as bad but all the same).

Its from the curb.

Dont ask me how I KNOW :(

If it's from a curb, I don't see why the dent is midway (horizontally) on the trim... I'd think it would be scored and dented further down. I'll have to take a measurement of curb heights around me and compare!

maybe the curb has some areas that sticks out in the middle ?

I mean come on, you live in Long island right? you SHOULD KNOW how shitty NYC roads/curbs are. they're never even.

im going with the lift in the service bay. they have arms that are kicked under your car. i bet an arm was sticking out a bit, it wasnt all the way down, and the guy drove into it.

Well, I took my car back to the shop for resolution. Bottom line, the service manager refused to offer help. I asked to see the service bay and he took me in and showed me a lift on the Lincoln side. When I asked to see the bay my car was worked on, he said he didn't know where it was. He did verify that each mechanic has their own bay. Therefore, as I mentioned to him, knowing which mechanic worked on my car, he could show me the bay. He turned around and walked away with no help to me! Mazda Corp. is next on my list for a letter. At a minimum it is poor customer service.