Mileage Stars, Repair Marks and Repainted Cars on Auction Sheets

Three things catch buyers off guard on Japanese auction sheets — mileage symbols they do not understand, repair marks that indicate previous work, and signs of repainting that the sheet records but sellers rarely mention. Here is how to read all three.

Mileage Stars and Symbols

Next to the mileage figure on some Japanese auction sheets, you may see one or more stars (★) or symbols. These are inspector confidence indicators:

How Inspectors Detect Mileage Fraud

Japanese auction inspectors are trained to cross-reference mileage claims against physical evidence:

• Pedal wear — brake and accelerator pedal rubber wears in a pattern consistent with real mileage
• Seat bolster wear — the driver's seat bolster shows wear proportional to use
• Steering wheel — the finish on the steering wheel wears predictably over time
• Service records — where available, service stamp mileage is compared to odometer

A 50,000km car with heavily worn pedals and a worn driver's seat is flagged by the inspector even if no odometer tampering is directly visible.

Repair Marks — What They Tell You

The W (repair/work) marks and panel annotations on an auction sheet tell you exactly where previous repair work was carried out. Common repair mark patterns to understand:

• W1 on front bumper — minor front impact, bumper repaired or replaced. Very common, generally low concern.
• W2 on bonnet — moderate front impact, bonnet repaired. Check adjacent panels for related marks.
• W3 on door sill or A-pillar — serious structural area repair. High concern — request photos and translation.
• Multiple W marks in the same zone — indicates an incident more serious than any individual mark suggests.

Identifying Repainted Panels

Repainted panels are recorded on Japanese auction sheets in several ways:

• P marks — paint issues noted by inspector
• Colour mismatch notes — inspector notes when a panel's paint does not match adjacent panels
• W marks with P marks in the same area — repaired and repainted
• Photograph evidence — auction photos sometimes show panel gaps or paint boundary lines that indicate a respray

Why Repaints Matter Beyond Aesthetics

A repainted panel is not just a cosmetic concern. It means:

• An incident occurred that damaged the original factory paint
• The quality of the repair is unknown without inspection
• Some repainted panels have thicker paint over filler, which can crack or bubble over time
• Colour matching fades differently from original factory paint

This does not mean you should reject any car with repainted panels — but you should factor the repair into the price and verify the auction sheet to understand the full extent of what was done.

Using the Auction Sheet to Protect Yourself

The JP Sheet auction report gives you the inspector's original assessment — mileage with any doubt flags, every damage and repair mark with location, and all photos from the day of auction. This is the ground truth about the vehicle before it was prepared for export. Compare this against what the seller shows you — any significant discrepancy requires explanation.