Return to stock better for resale?
 

The only modification I have done is install a set of Eibach Proline springs. I am ready to move on but I want a Legacy 3.0R which are not popping up too often. My ideal scenario is being able to trade-in the FRS when I find one. I wasn't sure if they would even notice the springs.

Has anyone had a dealer ding you for trading in a barely modified car?

modifications like springs don't really add or detract any value. i would clean up the rest as best as possible, put a coat of wax on it, and sell/trade it as-is.

it seems stupid to even have to tell people to clean up a car to sell it, but you've got no idea how many used cars i've looked at that had fast food wrappers in it, or mud on the floor mats, all when it's been sitting for weeks/months to sell...

A mild set of lowering springs, especially quality ones like Eibach won’t help or hurt the resale value at a dealership. I seriously doubt they would even notice. For most mods I would say remove them and sell on a forum like here, but lowering springs might not be worth the time/effort. My FR-S had TRD lowering springs and a TRD duckbill spoiler. It didn’t seem to have any difference in price compared to similar cars. (I bought through Carvana and they had no idea what those parts cost). The reason mine was a little on the higher end of pricing was very low mileage, everything else was stock, and the body/paint were nearly perfect, one owner, no accidents, etc.
Good luck in your search for that particular Legacy, they are awesome, and not many people even know about them. [emoji106]


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I wouldn't bother, the dealer won't notice and you'll spend a few hours to maybe sell them for a hundred bucks, maybe two hundred if you're real lucky.

I deduct the cost of returning the car back to its original condition from the selling price and use that as a negotiating point. As a buyer, 99% of the time, I don’t want your “mods”.

At best, don't expect to get anything back on aftermarket parts. At worst, the dealer may refuse to take the vehicle on trade if they are concerned about having to support any kind of warranty issues - not talking factory warranty but even a 30 day used car warranty.

Well thanks for all the advice guys. Sounds like better off just yanking the springs.

Your car is not modified. Those Eibach Pro springs are also sold as TRD springs that dealers install as a factory option.

In the eyes of some dealers though - that doesn't matter.

In this instance, I'd say the OP is fine leaving them in if you're not going to use them elsewhere. If you still have your old springs and want to swap them back, that's one thing, but having to track down a set just to do it certainly won't be worth it.

And since it's not a massive lowering, I agree with others here that most dealers probably won't even notice.

If you're going to Carmax or something, they'll probably catch it and give you a lower offer though.

I may have also misstated the spring set I have. It's the lower of the two Eibach offerings. I kept everything I took off so no biggie, just kind of a time suck. I'm gonna swap them out when a decent weekend comes along that I wanna bring my car into the shop for the swap out.

If I find something in the meantime I'll see what happens trying to trade as is. I imagine I'll have the springs swapped before I find a Legacy I actually want, since I'm going to be real picky about options/colors

its gonna cost you more to remove them IMO. Just leave it as is.

I'll be doing the work myself.

they won't notice... i kept my TRD springs on when i sold my car to Carvana... not worth it too since u'll need to get an alignment after swapping in the stock springs

^^^THIS. No question about it.