Should I fix semi-minor cosmetic damages?
 

So I have a 2010 speed3 with 35k miles and the tech package that's been babied since I bought it new almost six years ago

The car is perfect in every regard - I have a three mile commute to work, and I'm a software engineer so my idea of 'fun outside of work' is sitting in front of a computer coding, meaning that (as much as I love this car and am very much a gearhead) I honestly don't get out and push this car often

Only bolt on engine mods and tuned by Freektune, plus fuel pump internals and a short shifter - no suspension upgrades, and everything else is bone stock...never even removed a body panel

That being said, about six months into owning the car someone backed into it in a parking lot and scratched up the rear bumper pretty bad, broke the mounting clip behind it so it doesn't sit flush on one side, and minorly scratched a taillight...the bumper damage isn't horrible, but it does appear that it might need to be fully replaced to repair the damage (assuming the broken clip could be fixed paint would be 'good enough' but I'm kinda anal to where it isn't 'good enough')...the tail light might be salvageable, but may need replacing as well...and there isn't any issues outside of that

note: while insurance paid me out to fix the damage, I just pocketed the much-needed-at-the-time cash instead of repairing it...but the damage isn't listed on the car's history since the payout was so low and it was strictly cosmetic

now, I'm at a juncture where I'm considering selling the car later this year to get something new (it's time for a change)...so since this is an enthusiast car, I figured I'd pose the question to the enthusiasts:

Would you hesitate to buy a car like this because of that minor damage? Would you repair the damage first prior to trying to sell the car? Would you say the car was worth significantly less (say $1000+ less) because of the damage?

Since guys like you are the target audience I'd be selling it to, I'd really appreciate some feedback from you guys on this - my wife says to fix the damages, and I'm kind of inclined to go that direction myself...thanks for any feedback!

As I buyer, when I see damage like that i think "This guy doesn't care enough about his car to bother about fixing this. Has he been changing the oil? Does he beat on the car? What damage hides beneath that I can't see?"
It would lower my opinion of the car.

^^ Agree.
A kid who just wants a MS3 may look past it.

If I saw that car I would think to my self "This fuckin guy didn't even bother to fix some cosmetic shit before he goes to sell it SMH he probably got his oil changes at jiffy lube and puts 87 in the tank...".

If you trade it in just go with the good old glue and touch up paint route!

Interesting - that's a perspective I didn't think of actually (though obvious now)...I imagine I would have the same opinion if I were a buyer

I'll keep checking back for more feedback throughout the next few days, but I think I'm gonna line up some quotes for the work needed on the car

thanks!

EDIT: Follow up question: As a buyer, would you feel like the car were 'tainted' and get a bad vibe about buying it if you knew that there was cosmetic repair work done on it, even if it had a clean carfax? Obviously I'm not a dick who wouldn't disclose that info, but I'm curious nonetheless

I think the scratches to the tail lamp housing will buff out.

If I knew there were cosmetic repair work done, and it was done well enough such that I can't tell it was done, then no it wouldn't make me think less of the car. If it's done for shit, there are things off kilter or overspray left on things, etc then yes I will think less of the car because, again, I'll think less of the owner for not demanding more.

I've seen it both ways, on my dad's Accord I paid a guy $250 to fix the floor pan after I dropped it into the ditch, he bumped it and bondoed it, sprayed it over and no way could you tell it had been worked on. By the same token on my Integra I had a collision repair done for thousands, and a couple years later I realized the rocker doesn't fit quite right. I wish I had inspected more carefully when I took it from the collision shop. I was probably just too glad to have my undented car back! But I still own it, and it's still like that. SMH.

Good to know - I'd like to think I would have the same opinion as well when looking at a potential car to buy...maybe I will just be sure to keep the pictures of the damage on hand so when I mention it I can just say 'this was all the damage there was' haha

I would hook up with one of those bumper shops that specializes in touching up and painting bumpers for the lease return vehicles. They aren't full paint shops; they literally just touch up bumpers.

You can only say that if you've had the fascia off and inspected underneath to make sure the foam and shit isn't smashed. Now if you say 'this is all the external damage there was' that's another thing... and it's now on them to weigh the risk.

I appreciate your intent to fully inform your buyers though.

Yeah the way I see it I would want to know that information about a car I was buying, so I wouldn't withhold that myself...they will definitely have to pull the bumper off to repair though because of the clips, so I'll be sure to have a look at that when they do so

I'll keep an eye out for that - idk how bad the clips are on that side but they may be able to repair that

Wet sand the housing with 400>800>2000 and then buff it out. Will look brand new for about $3.00

The scratches on the bumper probably dug into the softer plastic so sand those areas back to smooth with a medium grit that you already have from doing the light. Try to only get the scratched area to minimize the surface area you have to touch up.

Then order a color match pen for about $10.

Won't even have to remove anything. Will take less than an hour and wont even be noticeable if you point to it. For $15 ish.

Edit : Also. Buy a small precision model airplane brush to apply the paint or make sure your colormatch pen comes with one.

If you can afford it, fix it!

If I saw that damage I would immediately drop my offer 1K at least.

Yeah I got a quote for far less than that so that puts it into 'need to fix' rather than 'ehh, not worth it' haha

Still have to remove it to get the clips/bracket/whatever is there repaired since it wont pop back into place, and since I've never had good luck with body panels in the past (and I've done a lot of work on mazdas over the years) I'll leave that to the body pros haha