citroen C4 2006 bodywork repairs

[Steve]

Hi guys, long time since I posted here. I've never had to have bodywork repairs done to my cars (always been insurance jobs where I could prove fault). Anyway, I've had my car now for over 5 years and it has spent a good proportion of that time in supermarket car parks, and the last year or so doing plenty of motorway miles (it is on 92,000 miles now).

So it has amassed quite a few dents and scrapes down the sides, and plenty of grit damage on the front. I've taken a few photos today after its first clean for several months, which show the bulk of the damaged areas. The drivers door and adjoining wheel arch has the worst damage, where someone has kindly driven into/out of the adjoining parking space, scraping right down the side, and possibly another incident where someone has rubbed their tyre right down the side, scuffing the black trim and wheel arch corner quite badly.

The upshot is, I'm going to be selling the car in the new year. Is it worth having this lot repaired? How much of this could I do myself and how do I go about doing it? Would you recommend I use a bodywork repair specialist? I am hoping to get about £2500 for the car (its a 1.6HDi 90 and extremely reliable).

Photos are here:

http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Crafty1289/library/car damage photos

 

[Burnerman]

Its so easy to get carried away with repairs such as these, Steve - and my advice would be to do the minimal and trade the car on.
Many of those scratches are just in the lacquer, so consider a smart repair for those - likewise the tyre rubber mark....that should rub out.
The fact is, even if the car is absolutely perfect its still not much more than it is now - it will go straight into the trade.
Car dealers are very keen for sales just now - you may be surprised at what you'll pay for a 12 or 62 plate vehicle just now.
John

 

[Steve]

Cheers John, I was planning to sell privately, due to the factors you mention, the main dealers probably wont want this car on the forecourt for long and probably send it to auction or a backstreet dealer to sell for pennies - thats two dealers to make a profit from it, what do I get? WBAC.com offered me £1200 for it (wouldn't dream of it!) . . . I plan to at least double that with a private sale (they always say money in the bank is better than a part-ex when buying)

Could I use something like t-cut or turtle wax colour magic to disguise some of the less major scrapes?

What could I use on the tyre scuffs? I thought of using a scouring pad but that seems a bit too abrasive.

 

[Burnerman]

I think I'd go for an Autoglym product such as a metallic paint restore - T cut is a bit archaic now but the principle is the same - only kinder! It will have some effect on the scuffs and the tyre mark. Colour magic doesn't work - whatever is said about it!
By all means do what you can, and then try ebay or Autotrader.
These 'buy any car' firms will always give you less than trade - a reputable dealer will offer you more than trade to get a sale these days - and the car will go straight on to a used car dealer miles away from you.
John

 

[Mursal]

Eight year old Citroen will have a limited market, regardless of the reliability so keep things simple.
The only way to justify spending time/money on the bodywork will be to keep the car for longer and enjoy what you have.