[WhiteNoiseMaker]

OK so like the title says, what effect will an insurance repair have on the trade in or resale value? I crashed my MCS on 31/01/2007 and just got it back this week. The damage was to the front end, requiring new bumper, bonnet, lights, radiator, 2 airbags & windscreen, the repair bill came to £6300! Everything appears to be fine and the work was done at an approved BMW body shop.

So what can I expect the knock on effect (excuse the pun) to be, come next march when if available I plan on buying a new MCS Works?

[Scrogg]

Unless the car has been entered into the insurance register as any category of write-off (depending how serious the damage was?) the value will only be affected if you choose to tell the dealer valuing it!

[WhiteNoiseMaker]

Well that sounds like some good news! I Thought maybe BMW would keep a record of this though as they must have knowledge of this now.

[Snowie]

A few years ago my wife crashed our brand new Citroen ZX with only 136 miles on the clock. Impact was right on drivers door / rear passenger door - thankfully no personal injuries.

The car was a mess, insurance would not write it off and chose to repair it.
New shell etc - the only original panels were boot lid & passenger side doors. The body shop repair was fantastic quality. Much to my suprise the original chassis number was transfered to the new shell.

After such a big smash we obviously were never comfortable with the car so I put a few miles on it quickly by using it instead of my company car and traded it in. The reason I gave to a dealer some miles away from were I bought it from (supplying dealer had been involved in the repair) was I needed to change from a 3 door to a five door due to having to ferry my parents around (actually there was a strong element of truth in this as my father had just come out of hospital)
Anyway the dealer never even had a detailed look at the car, he did all of the HPI, insurance checks etc and gave me a good price for the car.

If you do not tell anyone the no one will be any wiser, so it will have no effect on trade in value.

The key - a good qualaity repair and silence, however if you are asked a specific question then you do have a duty to inform.

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by WhiteNoiseMaker (original)

I Thought maybe BMW would keep a record of this though as they must have knowledge of this now.

The dealer that carried out the work will obviously have a record of it, but it will just show as another dealer visit on the national system, and it is unlikely that the valuing dealer will see it as anything other than a Service etc.

It's down to your conscience whether you decide to tell them or not!

[WhiteNoiseMaker]

Thanks for the reply guys!

I was really worried I'd get a really bad trade-in price for it so you've put those fears to rest. I'll take it to another MINI dealer come trade in time just in case

[Mini-Trainer]

Quote: Originally Posted by WhiteNoiseMaker (original)

OK so like the title says, what effect will an insurance repair have on the trade in or resale value? I crashed my MCS on 31/01/2007 and just got it back this week. The damage was to the front end, requiring new bumper, bonnet, lights, radiator, 2 airbags & windscreen, the repair bill came to £6300! Everything appears to be fine and the work was done at an approved BMW body shop.

So what can I expect the knock on effect (excuse the pun) to be, come next march when if available I plan on buying a new MCS Works?

Unless the vehicle has been an insurance write off you have no need to inform any potentail purchaser of the car unless asked directly.
My car had the same misfortune of being involved in a accident, and the repairing garage used this against my trade in value to them......about 1000 pounds less than it's worth.

The BMW standard is that they repair back to the specification of it's original form if not better, only personal ethics will bind you to telling anyone of it's past.

Take my advice and tell no-one, after all purchasers virtually want the car giving and if they can chip you on the price they will.

Rams

[SteveBrass]

My car was bumped 2 days before trade in time.

As it turned, the new car wasn't ready. I got the repair authorised with the Mini dealer supplying the new car, and they accepted it damaged the following week.

The trade in value was not affected.

I can't see how a Mini dealer could say that a car is worth less if it's been repaired by another Mini dealer..

But as advised - and good advice for life in general! offer nothing but answer all questions truthfully.