does it make sense to repaint bumper before selling

Rassilon · 11-03-2021, 09:17 PM

Hi guys,

I have a well-maintained AW m3 coupe that I owned for 6+ years that I have to move on from. Unfortunately, the car has some minor (<2in) but visible scratches on the front bumper caused by the previous owner, me rubbering on concrete garage posts, and autox cone hits. I am curious if I should spend some money myself to repaint the bumper before selling or simply account for it in the sale price and sell as is?

Thanks for any ideas and suggestions.

WagonR · 11-04-2021, 12:26 AM

Pictures would help, but I'd guess you'll never get the money back when you sell it. In the current market, I question if you'll get any less than you would if the front bumper didn't have some minor cosmetic damage.

Not to degrade in any way, but it is a 10 year old car, so unless the rest of it is factory fresh, and this really stands out, I think it's just assumed a few things here and there are part of the assumed package for buyers.

LakeSurfer · 11-04-2021, 06:29 AM

If it's my car, I'm painting it 100% hands down before selling.

Sure it's a sellers market now but that is starting to change and it will change fast. Don't give anyone any reason to not consider buying your car. Getting the bumper re painted can cost $500-$1500. You won't get that money back but you would sell it a lot faster than if it had the damage.

Helmsman · 11-04-2021, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LakeSurfer

If it's my car, I'm painting it 100% hands down before selling.

Sure it's a sellers market now but that is starting to change and it will change fast. Don't give anyone any reason to not consider buying your car. Getting the bumper re painted can cost $500-$1500. You won't get that money back but you would sell it a lot faster than if it had the damage.

Totally agree, assuming the car in in good shape otherwise. A "perfectly" looked after car doesn't have any scratches in my world. If it has, who knows whats hiding elsewhere, kind of thinking.

LakeSurfer · 11-04-2021, 07:45 AM

My last house that I sold, we put in a new roof, new floors and carpet, re painted almost all of the interior and a bunch of other odds and ends. I think we ended up putting $20k into the house just ti sell it. It didn't need and of that. The roof could have made it 5 more years and the floors were perfectly fine. But it sold in less than a day on the market and we were offered over asking price.

The water heater was old and so was the furnace. They worked fine without issues but all the upgrades distracted from the older units we had.

Nobody wants to buy a car like that and have to put money into it.

Mr. BMW · 11-04-2021, 08:00 AM

Also depends on the quality of the repair. If paint job is sloppy or doesn't match, etc... it will deduct value from the car.
It's expected that a 10 year old car might have some minor scratches/dents.
I would rather purchase a car that has some imperfections and then have them fixed myself rather than have something that is sloppy looking..

pedro2u · 11-04-2021, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Totally agree, assuming the car in in good shape otherwise. A "perfectly" looked after car doesn't have any scratches in my world. If it has, who knows whats hiding elsewhere, kind of thinking.

+1 on this one

Since my ZHP was otherwise nearly perfect, I replaced the front bumper cover before I sold it because of spoiler curb damage done by the previous owner. Wanting a perfect color match, I had my local BMW dealer's body shop paint/clear it including the lower grill, and they only charged $500. And it came out great. I installed the bumper myself and got a premium for it when I sold it on BaT

Rassilon · 11-04-2021, 04:23 PM

Thank you guys for the suggestions. I will look into getting the bumper repainted. I live in a very high cost of living area, so I suspect it will be over $1k. =(

monterey · 11-05-2021, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rassilon

Thank you guys for the suggestions. I will look into getting the bumper repainted. I live in a very high cost of living area, so I suspect it will be over $1k. =(

Shop around, I live in a high cost of living area myself, San Francisco. I got quotes around $1200 but I found a place that had a bumper special, Front and back for $500. It's a very easy job for most body shops. I think you shouldn't have to pay more than $500 for one bumper. But do it correctly, don't screw over the next guy. Make sure they use the flex paint additive.

nrubenstein · 11-09-2021, 11:18 AM

Is the car an otherwise gorgeous "needs nothing" car? Unless it is, you're probably better off splitting the difference and listing it cheaper.

jayzbird · 11-09-2021, 11:25 PM

I’d say “no.” A freshly painted bumper begs the question “what necessitated the repaint?” If you do, take pics with date stamps (maybe with today’s NY Times like the hostage takers do) to show there was no damage prior.

11-03-2021, 09:17 PM	#1
Rassilon First Lieutenant 85 Rep 330 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 m3 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	does it make sense to repaint bumper before selling Hi guys, I have a well-maintained AW m3 coupe that I owned for 6+ years that I have to move on from. Unfortunately, the car has some minor (<2in) but visible scratches on the front bumper caused by the previous owner, me rubbering on concrete garage posts, and autox cone hits. I am curious if I should spend some money myself to repaint the bumper before selling or simply account for it in the sale price and sell as is? Thanks for any ideas and suggestions.
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11-04-2021, 12:26 AM	#2
WagonR First Lieutenant 293 Rep 360 Posts Drives: 2017 M2 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (9)	Pictures would help, but I'd guess you'll never get the money back when you sell it. In the current market, I question if you'll get any less than you would if the front bumper didn't have some minor cosmetic damage. Not to degrade in any way, but it is a 10 year old car, so unless the rest of it is factory fresh, and this really stands out, I think it's just assumed a few things here and there are part of the assumed package for buyers. __________________ Current: 2017 F87 M2 6MT 2013 F25 X3 3.5i 2008 E90 M3 6MT
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11-04-2021, 06:29 AM	#3
LakeSurfer Captain 822 Rep 684 Posts Drives: bicycle Join Date: May 2019 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	If it's my car, I'm painting it 100% hands down before selling. Sure it's a sellers market now but that is starting to change and it will change fast. Don't give anyone any reason to not consider buying your car. Getting the bumper re painted can cost $500-$1500. You won't get that money back but you would sell it a lot faster than if it had the damage.
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11-04-2021, 07:45 AM	#5
LakeSurfer Captain 822 Rep 684 Posts Drives: bicycle Join Date: May 2019 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	My last house that I sold, we put in a new roof, new floors and carpet, re painted almost all of the interior and a bunch of other odds and ends. I think we ended up putting $20k into the house just ti sell it. It didn't need and of that. The roof could have made it 5 more years and the floors were perfectly fine. But it sold in less than a day on the market and we were offered over asking price. The water heater was old and so was the furnace. They worked fine without issues but all the upgrades distracted from the older units we had. Nobody wants to buy a car like that and have to put money into it.
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11-04-2021, 08:00 AM	#6
Mr. BMW Major 263 Rep 1,390 Posts Drives: 2012 E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 M3 [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00] 2018 Jeep Grand Che ... [0.00]	Also depends on the quality of the repair. If paint job is sloppy or doesn't match, etc... it will deduct value from the car. It's expected that a 10 year old car might have some minor scratches/dents. I would rather purchase a car that has some imperfections and then have them fixed myself rather than have something that is sloppy looking.. __________________ 12 M3 Interlagos Blue/Black 18 Jeep Grand Cherokee (Yeah, it's got a HEMI) 21 X3 Silver/Black(Wife's) 06 330i Monaco Blue/Black (retired) 02 X5 3.0 Topaz Blue/Black (retired)
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11-04-2021, 04:23 PM	#8
Rassilon First Lieutenant 85 Rep 330 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 m3 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	Thank you guys for the suggestions. I will look into getting the bumper repainted. I live in a very high cost of living area, so I suspect it will be over $1k. =(
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11-09-2021, 11:18 AM	#10
nrubenstein Captain 567 Rep 801 Posts Drives: E30 M3/E36 M3/E46 M3/E90 M3 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Washington, DC iTrader: (2)	Is the car an otherwise gorgeous "needs nothing" car? Unless it is, you're probably better off splitting the difference and listing it cheaper. __________________ 2011.75 E90 M3 \| 2006 GMC Sierra LBZ \| 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT \| 1995 M3 S50B32 \| 1990 325is \| 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1996 911 Turbo \| 1989 325iX
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11-09-2021, 11:25 PM	#11
jayzbird Private 35 Rep 59 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Ca iTrader: (0)	I’d say “no.” A freshly painted bumper begs the question “what necessitated the repaint?” If you do, take pics with date stamps (maybe with today’s NY Times like the hostage takers do) to show there was no damage prior.
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