Buying my first used car - Need Advice

Hi everyone,

I’m buying my first car in Abu Dhabi with a budget of around AED 35k–45k, mainly looking at used Mazda 3s, but I’m feeling overwhelmed with all the things to check.

I recently almost bought a 2023 Mazda 3, but after inspection I found multiple accidents, several repainted panels, and some ECU fault codes. It made me realize how easy it is to miss important issues.

I’d really appreciate advice from experienced buyers:

\- How many accidents are acceptable before you walk away?
\- Is repainting (bonnet/fenders/doors) a red flag or fairly common?
\- Should I only buy cars with full agency service history?
\- Is a dealer pre-purchase inspection worth it over third-party inspections?
\- What are the biggest red flags people often miss?
\- Are Mazda 3s reliable in the UAE? Any common issues around 80k–100k km?
\- If you had AED 40k–45k today, what used sedan would you buy and why?

Any tips for a first-time buyer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!