[Peph]

Hi guys first time poster here! I've recently ordered a BMW F30 335i from USA and I'm pretty hyped. It has some minor damages of which I fear most the hood dent on the front. I haven't got any experience with such repairs and hope you share some thoughts: is it possible to fix without cutting and so on Greetings from Bulgaria!

[Boostedphil698]

You're gonna need a new hood at the very least and probably front bumper.

[scubajim]

I agree. That is a big deal to fix. A new hood should be sourced.

[mmm-five]

That has to have been almost free, as you've got to import it, pay all the shipping fees, get it registered in your country, possibly get some electronics working (don't know if US media works with European broadcasts, or whether the US MPG / MPH is an easy recode), and then fix up whatever was damaged in the accident (lights, foglights, bumper, hood, stuff under the hood, front crash structure, etc.).

Surely it would make more sense to buy a fully-functional model locally?

[Wires]

How are you certain that is "minor damage"? That looks to be a pretty major front impact which would have a lot of underlying damage. I'd suspect that the insurance company wrote that one off since it was too expensive to fix.

[Billfitz]

I've repaired far worse damage.

[Skyhigh]

Originally Posted by mmm-five

That has to have been almost free, as you've got to import it, pay all the shipping fees, get it registered in your country, possibly get some electronics working (don't know if US media works with European broadcasts, or whether the US MPG / MPH is an easy recode), and then fix up whatever was damaged in the accident (lights, foglights, bumper, hood, stuff under the hood, front crash structure, etc.).

Surely it would make more sense to buy a fully-functional model locally?

That's how it works. A lot of written-off vehicles purchased cheap from the States or Canada are re-imported to Europe, body fixed cheaply (especially in Eastern Europe), airbags just stitched back almost indistinguishable from new, electronics fooled and then sold as if they never were in an accident - Uncle Sam drove the car to McDonalds and back and decided to sell it cheaply as he was upgrading to a newer one.

I for one do not understand why people would knowingly (I mean even kids know how this works) buy a car like that, but again - money talks...

I have a relative down in Bulgaria with a professional paint-shop. His almost entire business is related to imported, damaged vehicles which he repairs and brings back to a new-looking conditions (he does just the paint-job and external panels repairs and he does a fantastic job, I've seen it live as well as before- and after- photos). The vehicles are then transported to another workshop which does all the engine and electronics repairs (fix only what must be fixed for it to run and fool everything else), then the cars are put on the market as nearly new. And cheap.

All this said, I agree with @Billfitz - I have seen much worse damage repaired.

@Peph - if you are anywhere near Pleven, I have just the guy for you