U, W, E, P and C are five damage codes on Japanese auction sheets that cover fundamentally different types of problems — panel distortion from poor repairs, confirmed accident repair work, engine and mechanical faults, paint quality issues, and corrosion. Of these, W and E are the most important: W marks reveal the car's accident repair history, and E marks reveal mechanical problems the inspector observed under the bonnet. This guide explains every level of each code and exactly what it means for your buying decision.
Quick Reference
| Code | Type | What it records | Concern |
|---|---|---|---|
| U1–U4 | Panel wave / distortion | Undulation in panel surface from poor repair or impact | Medium–High |
| W1 | Minor repair | Small area of filler or touch-up bodywork | Low–Medium |
| W2 | Moderate repair | Visible panel repair work, respray on panel | Medium |
| W3 | Major repair | Significant panel work or full panel replacement | High |
| E1 | Minor engine issue | Small oil seep, cosmetic engine bay fault | Medium |
| E2 | Moderate mechanical | Engine or mechanical fault requiring attention | High |
| E3 | Significant fault | Serious mechanical problem needing repair | Critical |
| P1–P3 | Paint quality | Colour mismatch, respray quality, paint failure | Low–Medium |
| C1–C3 | Corrosion | Rust in interior or non-diagram areas | Medium–High |
W Marks — Previous Repair Work
W marks are what separate a car with clean history from one with accident repair history — even when the car does not receive an R or RA grade. A car can be graded 4 or 4.5 and still have W marks on specific panels, meaning those panels were repaired but the overall condition was not bad enough to trigger a repair grade. W marks are where the story of a car's past is written.
W marks by location — what each means
| W mark location | What it indicates | Risk level |
|---|---|---|
| Front bumper | Low-speed frontal contact — parking, reversing. Most common W location on any used car. | Low — check bumper alignment only |
| Rear bumper | Rear impact. Very common — parking reversing into objects. Usually non-structural. | Low — check boot lid and tail lights alignment |
| Bonnet | Frontal impact sufficient to damage bonnet. Check alignment with wings and headlights. | Medium — check headlight alignment, radiator support |
| Front wing / fender | Frontal or side-front impact. May indicate engine bay structural involvement. | Medium — check chassis rail and strut tower |
| Door | Side impact. Check B-pillar condition and door gap consistency. | Medium — check pillar and door gap alignment |
| Rear quarter panel | Rear-side impact. Quarter panels are structural — W3 here is a serious finding. | High — structural proximity, check boot floor and C-pillar |
| Pillar (A, B, C) | Direct impact to structural pillar. Extremely serious — pillars protect occupants in crash. | Critical — structural repair, do not buy without specialist inspection |
| Roof | Rollover or falling object damage. Roof repairs compromise rollover protection. | Critical — rollover safety compromised |
| Floor pan / sill | Underside repair — impact or corrosion repair. Seat belt anchors may be involved. | Critical — seat belt and seat mount integrity |
W marks vs R grade: A car graded 4.5 with W2 on the front bumper and W1 on the bonnet has confirmed accident repair history — even though it is not an R grade car. The R grade is applied when the overall damage was severe enough to classify the whole car as accident-repaired. W marks appear regardless of grade and are the granular record of what was done to individual panels.
U Marks — Panel Wave and Distortion
U marks record undulations — ripples or waves in a panel surface that make it look uneven when viewed in raking light. U marks are distinct from B (dent) marks because a B mark is a sharp indentation while a U mark is a gradual wave across a larger area of the panel.
U marks appear for two main reasons: a previous body repair was done with excessive filler applied over an inadequately straightened panel, or an impact deformed the panel in a way that created a broad wave rather than a sharp dent. The inspector grades the severity of the wave:
U marks on W-marked panels reveal repair quality. If the same panel has both a W mark (repaired) and a U mark (wave present), the repair was done poorly — the panel was not straightened properly before filler and paint were applied. This combination tells you the repair shop took shortcuts. The filler over a distorted panel will crack and deteriorate faster than a properly repaired panel.
E Marks — Engine and Mechanical Issues
E marks are written in the inspector notes section in Japanese — the letter E on the damage diagram flags that a mechanical observation was made, but the actual detail of what was observed is in the notes. This is why English translation is essential for any car with an E mark: without it, you know there is a fault but not what it is.
The E mark translation rule: For E1 — translation is recommended. For E2 — translation is strongly recommended. For E3 — translation is mandatory. An E3 car without a translated note is a car you do not understand. Never complete a purchase on an E3 vehicle until you have read exactly what the inspector noted and confirmed the repair cost with a mechanic.
Common E mark observations in inspector notes
- Oil seep/leak (エンジンオイル漏れ) — very common E1/E2. Gasket or seal replacement required. Cost varies from minor service to significant engine work depending on location.
- ATF leak / transmission fluid (ATFオイル漏れ) — E2. Automatic transmission seal or cooler line issue. Can be minor or indicate transmission wear.
- Coolant leak (冷却水漏れ) — E2/E3. Radiator, hose, or head gasket. Head gasket coolant leak is a serious E3 finding.
- Engine noise (エンジン異音) — E2/E3. Describes a knock, rattle or unusual noise the inspector heard. Note will describe the type — timing chain rattle, bearing knock etc.
- Check engine light (チェックランプ点灯) — E2/E3. Warning light illuminated at time of inspection. Often combined with note on which system is triggering it.
- Smoke from engine (エンジン白煙/黒煙) — E3. White smoke indicates coolant in combustion (head gasket). Blue smoke indicates oil burning. Both are serious.
P Marks — Paint Quality Issues
P marks record paint problems that go beyond standard scratches (A marks) — specifically quality issues with paintwork that indicate either poor repair work or significant paint failure. P marks are often found alongside W marks on the same panel, telling you both that the panel was repaired and that the resulting paint quality is sub-standard.
P marks combined with W marks = poor quality repair. When you see W2P2 on the same panel (moderate repair with moderate paint quality issues), the repair shop did not do a good job. The panel was straightened and resprayed, but the result is visibly sub-standard. This is particularly common on cars repaired by low-cost body shops before being sent to auction.
C Marks — Corrosion (Interior/Non-Diagram Areas)
C marks indicate corrosion in areas not covered by the standard exterior body diagram — typically interior sections, underneath areas, or specific component locations. While X marks (covered in our X, XX, Y, S, H guide) record exterior surface rust, C marks extend the rust recording to any area of the vehicle the inspector observed corrosion.
C marks are harder to assess without physical inspection because they record damage in areas you cannot see from auction photos. A C2 on the floor pan or suspension mounting area must be physically inspected before purchase — the auction photos will not show you the underside condition.
Dangerous Mark Combinations
| Combination | What it reveals | Action |
|---|---|---|
| W3 + U3 same panel | Major repair done poorly — panel not straightened before filler applied. Filler will fail. | Avoid or price for full panel replacement |
| W marks on front panels + E2/E3 | Front-end collision with mechanical damage — engine or systems affected by same impact | Translation essential — understand full damage scope |
| Multiple W2/W3 across many panels | Extensive repair history beyond what single-incident R grade implies. Car may have had multiple accidents. | Cross-reference with multiple auction records |
| W marks + P2/P3 same panel | Confirmed poor quality repair — straightened but resprayed badly. Will need respray again. | Budget for respray in purchase price |
| C2/C3 + X2/X3 | Corrosion both exterior and interior/underneath — widespread rust throughout vehicle | Physical underside inspection before purchase |
| E3 + W marks on front | Front collision serious enough to cause both body damage and mechanical damage | Translation mandatory — understand mechanical fault fully |
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