At Japanese auctions, a damaged 2021–23 AMG, BMW M, Porsche or Audi RS typically sells for 45–65% of the price of the same car undamaged. A repaired car with an R score sells for 65–80%. Most of these cars hammer between ¥2.5 million and ¥5.5 million.
Body shops and rebuilders in Southeast Asia, the Caucasus and Eastern Europe buy damaged European performance cars from Japan for a simple reason: Japanese cars are inspected and documented at the auction, low-mileage stock is common, and the damage is described on a sheet before anyone bids. This is what they actually cost. The figures come from 23 damaged 2021–23 Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, BMW M and M Performance, and Audi RS and S cars sold in the 12 weekly sales to mid-October 2026.
Recent results: damaged 2021–23 performance cars#
| Car | Year | Mileage | Score | Hammer price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porsche 911 Carrera coupe | 2023 | 8,000 km | as-is | ¥7,360,000 |
| Porsche Macan GTS | 2022 | 54,000 km | R | ¥5,330,000 |
| BMW M2 | 2023 | 50,000 km | as-is | ¥5,175,000 |
| Mercedes-AMG C43 4MATIC | 2023 | 23,000 km | R | ¥4,920,000 |
| Audi RS5 Sportback | 2021 | 30,000 km | R | ¥4,800,000 |
| Porsche Macan | 2023 | 32,000 km | as-is | ¥3,885,000 |
| BMW M340i xDrive | 2023 | 31,000 km | as-is | ¥3,765,000 |
| Mercedes-AMG CLA45 S 4MATIC+ | 2021 | 58,000 km | R | ¥3,700,000 |
| BMW X3 M40d | 2023 | 13,000 km | R | ¥3,690,000 |
| BMW M4 Competition coupe | 2021 | 77,000 km | as-is | ¥3,540,000 |
| Mercedes-AMG GLB35 4MATIC | 2023 | 27,000 km | R | ¥3,500,000 |
| Mercedes-AMG E53 4MATIC+ | 2022 | 25,000 km | as-is | ¥3,015,000 |
| Mercedes-AMG GLA35 4MATIC | 2021 | 13,000 km | R | ¥2,460,000 |
"As-is" means the inspector did not grade the car (shown as *** on the sheet) because it is sold in its damaged state. "R" means the car has been repaired after structural damage and is drivable.
Three kinds of damaged car, three price levels#
| Condition on the sheet | What it means | Share of clean price |
|---|---|---|
| Score 3.5 and above | No structural repair | 100% |
| Score R or RA | Structural damage, repaired | 65 – 80% |
| *** / as-is, front-end damage | Not repaired, often not drivable | 45 – 65% |
| Heavy damage | Major parts of the body or chassis affected | far lower |
Heavy damage is a different market. A 2021 CLA45 S Shooting Brake with heavy damage sold for ¥590,000, a 2021 BMW M8 for ¥1,225,000 and a 2022 Audi RS Q3 for ¥1,025,000. These are parts cars or projects for a well-equipped shop, not quick repairs.
What ¥4 million buys#
Under about ¥4 million at the hammer, the realistic targets are AMG 35, 43 and 45 models, the Macan, BMW M340i and X3 M40i or M40d, and the Audi RS3, S3, S4 and S5. Under ¥2.5 million you are mostly looking at AMG 35 models with front damage, or older cars.
Not every damaged car sells. In one October sale a 2023 AMG C43 wagon with 4,000 km stopped at ¥2.56 million, a 2021 Audi S5 Sportback at ¥2.13 million and a 2023 BMW X3 M40i at ¥3.38 million, all below the sellers' reserves. Cars that do not sell can sometimes be bought afterwards by negotiation, at or slightly above the top bid.
Flood cars#
Flood-damaged cars are listed openly in Japan and marked on the auction sheet, usually with the water level. They sell well below accident cars of the same model. In a single accident corner of 167 imported cars we counted nine flood cars, none of them a 2021–23 performance model. Whether a flood car is worth buying depends almost entirely on how high the water came: up to the floor, the seats or the dashboard are three different jobs. Read more in our article on what is inside a Japanese accident corner.
Check the age rule and the import permit#
Several markets limit how old an imported car can be, and some need an import permit before the car ships. Malaysia, for example, only allows used imports up to five years old and requires an Approved Permit. That is why the 2021–23 window matters for many rebuilders. Check your own rules before the auction, not after. Our Malaysia import guide covers that market in detail.
Read the sheet, then the photos#
On a damaged car the auction sheet is the whole story: where the damage is, whether the airbags deployed, whether the car runs, and whether the service book and keys come with it. We send the full sheet and photos of every candidate before you bid. If the sheet is new to you, start with reading a Japanese auction sheet and auction grades explained.
From hammer price to FOB#
For a ¥3,700,000 car:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Hammer price | ¥3,700,000 |
| Auction fee | ¥22,000 |
| 10% consumption tax | ¥372,200 |
| Our service fee (hammer price ¥3.5M–5M) | ¥90,000 |
| Inland transport to the port | about ¥30,000 |
| FOB | about ¥4,214,000 |
A car that does not drive cannot board a RoRo vessel on its own wheels and usually needs a container or a flat rack, and a tow truck to the port costs more than normal transport. Ask for both when you plan a non-runner.
Frequently asked questions#
Is an R-score car safe to buy? R means the car has had structural repairs. The repair quality varies, and the sheet shows where the repairs were made. Many rebuilders prefer as-is cars because they control the repair themselves.
Can I buy several damaged cars every month? Yes. Tell us the brands, years and budget per car, and we send a weekly shortlist with sheets and photos for you to choose from.
Do you buy flood cars? We can bid on them if they suit your market. We always forward the inspector's note on the water level first.
Buying damaged European cars for your workshop? Request a quote with the models and budget you work with.
