Rectify bodywork before sale or not
Discussion
So my son is off to Australia for a 2 year work contract and has his Mini Cooper diesel automatic to sell. We bought him this car just over 2 years ago as his first car but he’s had a couple of parking scrapes in it. Ideally it needs a new rear bumper and has a dent about a fist size on a wing. To compound things further, he’s left the car parked under a tree while he went on a four week jolly and bird crap has completely destroyed the bonnet laquer. Mechanically absolutely sound but has big miles at 168k. He got it with 131k at the time and has been serviced by mini indi.
He wants to sell the car but should he fix the problems first ?
2014 new shape (F56?).
It will be the cheapest new shape auto on autotrader at £4k. Is this price reasonable?
He wants to sell the car but should he fix the problems first ?
2014 new shape (F56?).
It will be the cheapest new shape auto on autotrader at £4k. Is this price reasonable?
Depends how much time and money you want to put into it.
I’d suspect the cost of the repairs including parts, paint and labor would be more expensive than the higher price you could get. The mileage is the main killer there.
The bonnet may be fixable with a good polish fyi.
Personally I’d tart it up as best as possible, throw it on eBay for no reserve and see how it gets on.
I’d suspect the cost of the repairs including parts, paint and labor would be more expensive than the higher price you could get. The mileage is the main killer there.
The bonnet may be fixable with a good polish fyi.
Personally I’d tart it up as best as possible, throw it on eBay for no reserve and see how it gets on.
If you can DIY a bit and make a noticeable improvement then that's almost something for nothing. Otherwise just do the maths of pricing up the work and looking at the price of a good, well prepped age and mileage equivalent and work out the difference.
You also have to consider at the price point if your tatty Mini what else is out there. If somebody could buy a similar car but much tidier for the same or less price why wouldn't they?
Personally I think if people are after a very specific car then they generally want the best for their money. At the lower price end it's less about the exact car but maximising the value and the car type itself becomes less important.
You also have to consider at the price point if your tatty Mini what else is out there. If somebody could buy a similar car but much tidier for the same or less price why wouldn't they?
Personally I think if people are after a very specific car then they generally want the best for their money. At the lower price end it's less about the exact car but maximising the value and the car type itself becomes less important.
Had the same dilemma last year with my 2010 e91 320 touring, All kerbed alloys, scratches on both bumpers plus 3 door dings. After watching a few You Tube vids from High Peak Autos where he gets cheap cars fixes them up and makes a tidy profit, I thought I'd get it looking tip top. So spent 550 quid on wheels & body, a day polishing including engine bay tidy, fresh mot and stuck it on A/T. It looked the dogs, and the first guy that viewed bought it. (a lot of time wasters rang me also which is a downside of selling private)
ironv8 said:
Had the same dilemma last year with my 2010 e91 320 touring, All kerbed alloys, scratches on both bumpers plus 3 door dings. After watching a few You Tube vids from High Peak Autos where he gets cheap cars fixes them up and makes a tidy profit, I thought I'd get it looking tip top. So spent 550 quid on wheels & body, a day polishing including engine bay tidy, fresh mot and stuck it on A/T. It looked the dogs, and the first guy that viewed bought it. (a lot of time wasters rang me also which is a downside of selling private)
This is good advice.Do what you can do in a day, take some good photos and advertises it at four grand, the just drop it a bit if you do t get any interest.
168 will put a lot of buyers off unless cheap, even if its fine.
Dont sink a load of money into it sorting paint, just do what you can do valeting as you may find nobody wants it until it’s 2 and a bit grand.
168 will put a lot of buyers off unless cheap, even if its fine.
Dont sink a load of money into it sorting paint, just do what you can do valeting as you may find nobody wants it until it’s 2 and a bit grand.
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