If you are looking at buying a replacement body panel for your car, such as a guard, bumper or door, there are some things you should look for so that you know you are getting a good part. Whether your car has been in an accident and you need to replace a panel or two, it has rust that needs to be repaired, or there's some other reason you need a new body panel, in this post we will cover the main things to keep an eye out for.

Previous Repairs & Damage

One of the first things you should look for in a second hand body panel is for previous repairs and any damage the panel may have.

Unfortunately, improperly done repairs are very common, so you should definitely be looking out for things like bog (body filler), covered up rust or other damage, and bad paint work. All these things will cause you problems down the road, so make sure that the panel and the paint (unless you will be getting it painted) is in good shape so you don't end up with a worse problem than you started with!

Rust

This is generally a bigger issue on older cars, but make sure that there is no serious rust on the body panel. Rust can be very difficult to fix, as it spreads even after it has been repaired unless it is cut out entirely. So make sure the panel you are looking at buying doesn't have any serious rust such as flaking, holes or bubbling under the paint. Tiny spots of rust from stone chips are usually fine, but anything more and you should be cautious.

Bad Paintwork

Badly done paint will cause you headaches whether you are repainting the panel or trying to find one to closely match the colour of your car. Generally, you should repaint the panel to match the colour of your car perfectly and get it blended into the surrounding paint, because no paint is every going to match 100% from another car. But we understand some people are working with tighter budgets and are just trying to find something to match as close as possible.

Whether you are looking to repaint the panel or use it as is, a badly done paint job can cause countless problems, from the paint flaking off, to rusting and bubbling under the paint (potentially ruining the panel in the long turn), to making it extremely difficult to prepare the panel for repainting - which your panel beater won't appreciate and will probably charge you for.

It's best if you can get a panel that still has the factory paint finish on it, and is in good condition, as that is going to be the best to work with and last the longest.

Broken Mounting Tabs, Cracked Plastic and Hidden Problems

Make sure to check that all parts of the panel are in tact. Sometimes you will find that mounting tabs are broken off, or other pieces are missing, which you won't notice until you go to fit the panel and realise you are not able to bolt it on.

If you are buying a plastic panel such as a bumper, make sure to check that there are no broken parts or cracks that have been repaired over top of, and there there isn't anything being hidden. Check under any trims, around the edges and on the backsides for clues on any potential issues.

Conclusion

Second hand body panels can be an excellent way to repair your car without spending an arm and a leg. However, make sure that you know what you are buying and that you have carefully checked over the panel for the problems list above to avoid having problems later on.

If you need body panels for your European car, be sure to contact us for our wide range of second hand body panels for a wide range of European vehicles.