XFactor7

Hi all. I'm interested in getting a 2013 4GS but I see that there are 2 entries of body repair back in 2012 in Lexus service history. The carfax is clean though. Is it possible to find out what exactly was done to it? If so, how do I go about finding this sort of information out?

biggame

iTrader: (9)

If you have the dealer info where the work was done, you can call them. Just give the plate or Vin# and they should be able to look it up. Hope this helps

marjenmill

The dealer may not want to tell you what happened.

Run an AutoCheck report. They track more accidents stuff while carfaux tracks car washes and oil changes.

SW17LS

You can always take the VIN to another dealer and have them run it if the selling dealer doesn't want to tell you. Any dealer should be able to tell what happened.

bclexus

Personally I'd pass on a nearly new (1-3 year old) Lexus that has been in an accident or had paint work done. If you are not real picky about the paint, rattles, overspray, makeshift repairs, etc., or about whether the re-paint ages or fades differently than the factory paint, then you may be the perfect buyer the seller is looking for.

I'd say even a minor accident will likely devalue a fairly new Lexus by 10-20% or more. The fact that the car was involved in an accident will always remain part of the car's history and stigma, and there will always be a much reduced number of people that will consider buying the car.

SW17LS

I wouldn't automatically discount it. Could just be a bumper, could just be a wheel refinish. My dealer repaints all the front bumpers on EVERY CPO car in their inventory...

bclexus

I had a 3 month old BMW M3 that was hit with an egg on the hood on Halloween night. I reported it to the police and I was able to follow the three kids that threw the egg and helped the police catch the boys. They admitted to doing it. The egg's shell marred the finish where it impacted the hood. It was damage that I did not want to live with because it was still a new car, especially when it was not my fault and not weather related or an act of God.

I got three repair estimates to repaint the entire hood from top quality paint and body shops. I also requested from my BMW dealer a written statement on how much this 'event' reduced the value of my car. The repainting of the hood cost was ~$1,400 the best I recall. The devaluing of the car was quoted at $3,600. Each of the three boy's parents wrote a check for nearly $1,700.

SW17LS

Thats a hood though, bumper repaints don't really impact the value of the car. Even a car dealership won't hit you for a reduction in trade value because of a repainted bumper.

XFactor7

I'd definitely pass on the car if it had an accident. I'm just trying to find out what the body repair was for. If it was just a defective bumper or buffing out some scratches, I would not mind as this car is about $2-3k cheaper.

I forgot to mention in the original post that the body repair was performed with only a little over 1k miles on the odo, which is why I thought it could be something small or a manufacturing defect. I might check the autocheck report as suggested.

tnofam

I just recently bought a '13 GS with only 23k miles on it for $34k. It did have bumper damage at some point which was why it was marked down and I was able to negotiate even more taken off.

I personally didn't mind that it was in a slight fender bender. I plan on keeping my car for a while and was able to get a really good deal on pretty much a flawless car. With the exception of the bumper damage that was reported, there's absolutely nothing wrong with the car.

So it's really up to you. Everyone obviously feels differently but you definitely have some leverage in negotiations. Good luck!

raytseng

Did you try to ask the seller?

He wants to sell you the car.
You found something that concerns you. Ask him to explain it. It's in his interest to explain it otherwise you're just going to pass.
I don't understand why everyone tries the round-a-bout way rather then just directly asking.

islandbeef

Every negative item brings down the price.

Joe166

Because people who have a financial interest in things might lie?

XFactor7

I did ask the salesman. That was the first thing I did and the reply was "I am also attaching the carfax report as we are showing no accident or damage reported. This is a really clean one owner vehicle." The salesman never explained those body repair entries though.

The carfax report shows no accident or damage "reported." As we all should know, carfax report does not show everything. It just shows what was reported to them.

ZbynekZ

This is what I love about US