I bought my car used with 45k miles, and my dad has been pointing out that the car was repainted in some parts. The rear bumper has orange peel on it and the front diffuser had pinkish dust which he says is polishing compound. Naturally, I get very paranoid about these sorts of things so my question is, what are the basic ways to tell if the car was in an accident? Without spending 40 bucks on a carfax, and that might not even tell me anyway. I hope it wasn't, but I want to know.

Thanks for your help,
Rex

 

If you're too cheap to spend $40, what difference does it make if it's been in an accident or not? If you won't spend $40, you're not going to spend a few hundred to get it inspected by a pro, you're not going to spend thousands on a lawyer to sue the seller for not disclosing a prior accident, etc.

Polishing compound means nothing except the seller got it detailed so it looked its best prior to sale. Orange peel - every Nissan has it. Then again, it could have been in a small fender bender - who knows????

 

Well on metal panels you can run a magnet along and see if it doesn't stick anywhere. If so, then there's been a repair.

Plastic though I'm not sure. Maybe take off the bumper and look at the underside?

 

 

Your paint has orange peels? Must be a wreck... probably totaled at one point. SELL SELL SELL

 

I won't spend the money because I don't trust carfax. I'd rather have it inspected by someone, but only if I had serious evidence or symptoms that something was wrong.

 

So if you aren't that worried about it and don't want to spend the money on getting it inspected, then what's the point of this thread?

 

If you cant see any damage,or anything out of place and its a clean title your fine. There's really nothing you can do now its purchased.

 

I think we need to back up here because this thread is going in the wrong direction.

1. I would and just so happened did spend money for my Z to be inspected. They said nothing was wrong.

2. The purpose of the thread was in the title, ways to tell if Z has been in an accident. Common knowledge, red flags, how the car might behave after a crash, does the paint have anything to do with it.

Instead, just because I won't spend $40 on something that I can't even see yet, and therefore don't trust, you're calling me too cheap to do something to fix my car, which is just not true.

I don't want to sell my car back or sue anyone, I just want to know if it needs to be fixed. I don't blame the dealer, I think it's a great car! Except....I do notice the rear bumper is falling off a bit.

 

Read my first post. I gave you advice. I'm sure other advice will follow.

And don't say we are putting words in your mouth when you obviously state you weren't clear in the first place. Since you did have it inspected, then you do have serious concerns.

Sorry, but that's the risk of buying a used car.

 

Alright fine. Before this whole thread blows up, just take a quick look at this, please:

 

Definately looks like the bumper was removed at some point and not properly reinstalled

 

Definitely been removed for some reason.

But I don't see it in your intro thread pic, unless it's hard to tell from that angle.
https://my350z.com/forum/9762645-post31.html

 

Exactly what I thought. It's been happening gradually as I drive it more.

 

I would take it off, see what you find and go from there.

 

Most used Z's I have seen at dealers have had the front bumper repainted. As gas as other crash damage , same as any other vehicle , you just have to know what your looking at.

I've also inspected a lot of Z's with minor repairs from parking lot rash and getting keyed.

 

I'll plan on doing this and let you guys know if I find anything.

 

it looks like the bumper was just reinstalled wrong and that is it

 

Who cares if it tracks well and doesn't exhibit strange on-road
Behavior. I do agree that every used car I've even considered
Purchasing gets carfaxed first. If you don't do this you're simply
Not covering all of the easy bases.

It does sound as if pops is jealous of your ride.

 

LOL jealous. I've always told him if there was a muscle car or something he really wanted, he should have bought it, but he never did. I feel like getting the carfax for peace of mind at this point. I heard from the dealership that this car was first registered by a woman. No offense to woman drivers, however I kinda want to know more about that too.