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Bad Body Work Trim

Even without taking the trim off the car, we noticed that some body filler had been sanded and painted below it. Get low. Since a seller likely won't let you take the car apart, you have to look for a sign like this. Obvious Bondo will be deeply scratched by sanding. Paint cracks mean rust, filler, or an impact. Old paint will dry up and spider or fade, not split and crack.
How to Spot Bad Body Work

Even without taking the trim off the car, we noticed that some body filler had been sanded and painted below it. Get low. Since a seller likely won't let you take the car apart, you have to look for a sign like this. Obvious Bondo will be deeply scratched by sanding. Paint cracks mean rust, filler, or an impact. Old paint will dry up and spider or fade, not split and crack.  View Related Article