[nrubenstein]

You guys know that literally any paint work or panel replacement, no matter how well done will involve some amount of bondo, right? If you’re adamantly opposed to bondo of any sort, then you are adamantly opposed to a car that has had any repair work at all.

Also, fixing the panel in place usually going to be better than a quarter panel replacement. A new quarter means cutting the car apart, and on an E9x, there are some pretty obvious panel lines where this shows unless you get the overspray and seam sealer absolutely perfect. (Spoiler alert: You won’t.)

Without knowing the specifics of *this* panel damage, I would generally prefer a repaired original panel to one that has been replaced.

Of course, all things being equal, I’d prefer neither, but I would apply a bigger discount to a replaced quarter panel. The chances of uncovering a horror show in a car that has been cut apart are much greater than one that has not.