Accident damage - how will it affect car's value?

Hello all, I was recently involved in a small accident that resulted in around 8k worth of damage to the front end of my 1998 996 C2. The work is being carried out by a Porsche approved body shop - arranged through OPC West London. Now, clearly this is going to affect the re-sale/trade-in value of my car but I'm wondering by how much. Considering the car is being repaired by an approved body shop, what do you think the damage will cost me when I come to sell/trade? Any replies appreciated, Gavin

Well if it is an official Porsche repairer the work is guaranteed for life. (As long as you remember to have the free yearly inspections done). So you could argue it's value has increased - The rest of the body only having a 10 year warranty [ ]

Difficult one to answer, To what extent was the repair? did it have new inner and outer wings for example?......Having just spent a grand on three pony radiators for mine I don't reckon 8 grand goes far. It would depend on whether the prospective purchaser notices it's had damage.

Cheers for the replies. The damage doesn't seem to have been too bad. They're replacing the front bumper, bonnet and tub - plus various other small parts. The total parts estimate was around 3k. They checked the chassis alignment earlier this week and it's all fine. It's been just over 3 weeks since it went in now and I'm starting to get withdrawal symptoms [ ] The reason I'm concerned about the value is that I got a quote from OPC Silverstone for a trade-in against a Cayman S, I explained about the damage and they came back with a trade in value that made my eyes water. Cheers

Don't worry - they all do that [&:] Sometimes they do it just after telling you the new one will have excellent residuals because its a Porsche .... [ ]

Not suggesting you do anything dishonest but why tell them? Unless it was insurance disposal category I dont think you have any obligation to own up, particularly if its trade. And you have done the approved repairs. In my experience, such repairs will be impossible for anyone to detect on a trade in check, they usually just walk round the car and kick the tyres! I suspect the accident made very little difference to the trade in, maybe just gave them an opportunity to try it on and knock a bit off. Take it elsewhere and dont tell them - see what the difference is.

Just to be clear, as long as the car is roadworthy (which it will be) you don't have to tell people UNLESS they ask. If they ask and you lie then you are breaking the law. I don't see that it should affect the value one bit if it has been professionally done and you have the receipts etc.

It's probably done you a favour, in that you will get a nice new front end free of any stone chips. Most people in the know won't be surprised to see a repainted front PU. They will only criticise if it has been done badly. They chip so easily that a lot of people get them resprayed on a regular basis.

Thanks for that, good to know [ ]

Hi, going a bit off topic, but I had been thinking about getting my front resprayed as there are quite a few stone chips on the bonnet. Does anyone know roughly how much this would cost at an OPC? Has anyone had it done? Cheers Paul

I had a Boxster quoted at a Porsche approved repair centre a few years ago which made me wince. The front PU was badly chipped and the tops of both wings and bonnet needed attention too. the total cost was 1.5K but the guy said he could do it for £1200 for notes. I didn't get it done there. If my memory serves me well I ended up paying £400 - £500 at an independant and was well chuffed with the result.

1.5K.....I guessed it might be about that. I only have stone chips on my bonnet, but I guess they have to respray the wings and front bumper as well so it blends in. Cheers Paul.

I had a 'minor' accident too where a lady mistook her accelerator for her brake pedal and made a right mess all down from the front to the rear of my car. When I wanted to sell my car they wouldn't take it through the OPC route due to body work damage. I ended up claiming £3000 in dimunition from her insurance company backed it up with a statement from my dealership stating loss in value and I ended up getting paid the lot. When I sold it privately I told them about the incident but as it was a porsche approved repair with lifetime guarantee they didn't seen the slightest bit interested and got full market value.

Just picked the car up this afternoon [ ] The last 5 weeks without it have felt like 5 months! It looks better now than when I bought it, they've really done an amazing job. If anyone's thinking of using Chandler Stewart in Tonbridge for body repairs then go for it. They also took out a small dent near the centre brake light (mentioned in another thread) and it looks like a new panel, excellent job [ ] I've got a run up to Oxfordshire planned for tomorrow, can't wait...