Replacing bonnet and rear bumper on a 1.9 - will this devalue the car?

[Wintermute]

As above, I'm replacing a few panels after a scrape, and wanted to know if not having all the original panels will cause a drop in resale value down the road, should I choose to sell her. It's currently the cheapest way of fixing the scrapes and dents, but wanted to know if i would end up loosing value in the long run, Not that i expect the 1.9 will ever fetch a kings ransom with nearly 70k on the clock.

Many thanks,

Sam

 

[hard top]

Nope, can't see it being a problem with the age of these cars as long as it is done properly.

 

[Wintermute]

Awesome. Thank you very much!

 

[5harp3y]

How would anyone tell?

it's not going to touch the value unless the paint match is off

 

[Wintermute]

How would anyone tell?

it's not going to touch the value unless the paint match is off

My concern was mismatching numbers, but if it's not a very large deal, i'll go ahead and swap them. Many thanks!

 

[hard top]

My concern was mismatching numbers

Its going to be a very long time before these mass produced cars become classics - if ever.
And anyway, they put new panels on classic cars all the time.

 

[5harp3y]

My concern was mismatching numbers, but if it's not a very large deal, i'll go ahead and swap them. Many thanks!

Not sure that the panels are matching numbers sensitive.

And tbh a 1.9 is never going to reach the dort of value where that matters .

 

[mrscalex]

It's very common swapping panels on Z3s. They are cheap and generally plentiful. And are all bolt on/off.

Obviously the preference is to get parts in the same colour.

I would buy good secondhand. Not new pattern parts and BMW parts are generally expensive (outer sills the exception).

 

[mrscalex]

The only panel I'm aware of that had vehicle ID from the factory is the rear bumper. Hidden under the number plate. And probably long since pulled off on most cars.

 

[hard top]

And also, don't forget, our cars get written off by the insurance company's very easily.
Ask me how I know .... Inc Co did not like the sound of a, among other bits, new bonnet for E1100 on my 1.9

 

[Wintermute]

And also, don't forget, our cars get written off by the insurance company's very easily.
Ask me how I know .... Inc Co did not like the sound of a, among other bits, new bonnet for E1100 on my 1.9

That's what i'm trying to avoid. I'll get the new panels and get a respray later on.

 

[Wintermute]

It's very common swapping panels on Z3s. They are cheap and generally plentiful. And are all bolt on/off.

Obviously the preference is to get parts in the same colour.

I would buy good secondhand. Not new pattern parts and BMW parts are generally expensive (outer sills the exception).

That's the plan. I have a few options i'm looking at going and seeing later.

 

[mrscalex]

My advice to anyone who prangs their Z3 is do not pick up the phone to your insurer in the first instance unless you feel legally obliged to do so - your decision that one.

Insurance is totally loaded in the favour of the insurance company. If they repair your car you will be stung with higher premiums regardless of fault. NCD (if protected) is only a % discount on whatever premium they charge.

The chances are the vast majority of Z3 insurance claims would result in a write-off these days. As I always say, you only need to break wind on a panel and the car is a goner. Cat D/N (lighter damage to keep it simple) is there purely for the whim of the insurance company to manage their finances at their convenience and usually has nothing to do with repair viability, especially on an older car.

Quotes are priced up based on brand new BMW parts which is simply ridiculous on an older car. A new bonnet is around £1,200 which with fitting and paint is enough to write-off the vast majority of Z3s. A second-hand bonnet is £100-£250 depending on how keen the seller is to move it on. And a bent bonnet can be repaired for as little as £200-£300 if not too serious.

Cat C/S (heavier damage to keep it simple) is also used to manipulate things. My first project, a front-ended 2.2 (as seen long since repaired in profile pic) was bought as a Cat C. That means it supposedly had chassis damage. Don't think so. It just needed a new front panel which is not structural and a bonnet. Now that car carries a nasty black mark on it's V5 for little reason at all.

I should say I'm not against the Cat system. Cat A and Cat B are clearly very important (straight to crusher and parts only respectively). Little argument there in comparison. But cat N & S (as they are now) are heavily abused by insurance companies for their own benefit.

 

[Althulas]

Totally agree I put in a claim for my bonnet but cancelled the claim as I did not like the smell of the repair centre but still got stung as a non claim but still effected me.

Nothing wrong with changing panels my bonnet as picked up lots of micro dents from god knows what source. Rear panels have some bubble how bad I don’t know and front wings have seen better days but I picked up a bonnet, near side front and two rear wings rust and dent free all in my colour after a very patient wait.

My car is a keeper though so gone the extra and all in storage after being sprayed for fitment day plus a new oem wing I got for £50 in my opinion I rather have some decent panels with next to no filler. Can’t wait untill I have it all sorted out.

You can find good panels out there to bolt straight on but getting your colour depends on luck.

 

[Mint]

My concern was mismatching numbers

I'm not sure the panels have numbers. After all as @hard top said these are mass produced cars, I'm pretty sure BMW would not be individually numbering the panels and recording them somewhere.

 

[Tracy Dee]

Seen your bonnet it does not need replacing it's just a slight pushed in dent it can be pulled out so easy I wouldn't bother replacing it .Just repair bonnet and replace the cracked grills.
Put a pic up see what others think.
Ps if you need that number of the bodyshop guys give me a shout.

 

[mrscalex]

Seen your bonnet it does not need replacing it's just a slight pushed in dent it can be pulled out so easy I wouldn't bother replacing it .Just repair bonnet and replace the cracked grills.
Put a pic up see what others think.
Ps if you need that number of the bodyshop guys give me a shout.

If there's no paint loss and no sharp creases a paintless dent removal guy can get almost anything out.

 

[gookah]

the panels will only have a part number defining them as a BMW bonnet, or wing or bumper etc.
It will not have any identification that it is from your's or anyone elses car.
If you said this to a local garage I am sure they would grab a chance to say "Yes sir, they need coding to the car"..
I can 'code' them with my laptop for £100 a panel if that eases your mind......

 

[mrscalex]

Well in fairness some pieces of machinery do have identity stamped on major components.

A steam locomotive has the original frame number (equivalent to VIN) stamped on major parts like wheels and con rods. But then parts were routinely swapped around between locomotives anyway. Most locomotives at retirement and now in preservation are a hotch potch of different locomotives parts. As Z3s owners we are just continuing the tradition of Swindon Works

 

[Wintermute]

Seen your bonnet it does not need replacing it's just a slight pushed in dent it can be pulled out so easy I wouldn't bother replacing it .Just repair bonnet and replace the cracked grills.
Put a pic up see what others think.
Ps if you need that number of the bodyshop guys give me a shout.

Hi Tracy, that's good to know, I'll drop it in with someone over the weekend, in that case.