does salvage title matter

[mcdesant]

hello
i live in Az and im looking for a e30 i have about 7k to spend. i have found a few that i like but they seem to be salvage title. im going to be using the car as a dd but still want it to be nice and reliable.

So what im asking is would you buy a e30 with a salvage title does it really matter on a 20 year old car or would you walk away?

Also if anybody knows of any nice cars that are around for sale im looking for something nice not bone stock lowered rims ect. i dont mind if it needs some work just not a full rebuild and i dont mind traveling out of state to get it but not across country.

thanks for all you feedback

[Knoepfler]

it might or might not. but with 7 grand i sure as hell would get one with a clean title

[CHIF8008]

for 5k you can get a swapped and dropped e30 completely done

[jaywood]

I wouldn't buy a salvage titled car. Especially if I had 7k to spend.

[Jand3rson]

My car has a salvage title. It was hit in the rear before I bought it, but there was no frame damage, just enough body damage total it. It was all repaired, and you'd never know it. I also only paid $2500 for it.

Doesn't make a damn bit of difference to me, because I'll never sell the car, but I also can't put comprehensive full coverage insurance on it.

[Van Westervelt]

My current e30 has a salvage title. But its never been in any structural accident. It was a write off due to a theft. They replaced the door and ignition cylinder, good as new (for a 25 year old e30). Haha

[MonkeyMadness]

Mines salvage, and my dder I have no problems
the PO was a raging drunk and was involved in a hit and run.
Freaky thing the cars been shot in the drivers "c" piler. When I rebuilt
the rearend I found an clump of long blond hair tangled in the shock mount..
umm took afew drinks to finish that clean up/job.. :drink:

[Rsully70sev]

Obviously depends on why it's a salvage title. Collision? Theft?...It doesn't take much for an insurance company to write off an e30, but for 7K you can get a gold mine.

[reelizmpro]

I never owned a salvage vehicle because well, there were plenty of nice unsalvaged examples still around for not much more. I think as long as you know why it was salvaged you can price it accordingly and make an informed decision about what it's worth. As mentioned above, there are different reasons a salvage title might be issued.

Just about anything can be fixed, but it's a matter of time and money. If they total a car and someone decides to repair it and does it right, does it really matter? especially if your getting a good deal?

[mcdesant]

thanks for the advise if you know of any in or around Az please let me know. also if i want it as a dd does a car that already has a swap more headaches or is it worth me to get one already done.

thanks

[Huff]

Yes, yes it does...

It depends on your state. Take GA for example, they have a pretty comprehensive inspection you have to go through each time the title changes hands.. Forever. Plus, getting an out of state salvage title throughs more tape into the mix. It took me a year to get my car legit in GA. And if I sell it, that owner has to go through an inspection too.

So, watch out for how your state handles it all.

[ill4noreason]

My car is from Maryland with a Maryland salvage title. The real reason it was salvaged is the head gasket but the guy lied and said the motor was hydrolocked due to a flood. The insurance paid him and he bought the car back and sold it to me. In my experience it was totally worth it as I got a pretty clean 87 vert for $1,000 with a lot of brand new suspension and brake parts (h&r race bilstien sports treehouse racing cabs hawk pads slotted rotors) also came with startecs and a clean interior. So to me it does not matter I don't plan on selling the car and if I do I won't lose money. In Maryland if the car is historic all you have to do is bring in the title and pay for tags... No inspection since it's historic. I would think you may be close to getting a salvage titled e30 m3 with 7k. May be hard to find but worth a look. Dam I wish I had 7k to play with...

[MR 325]

For big money, it should have a clean title. For a cheap beater, who cares! My old 325e had a salvage title but I still put 30k on that thing and loved it!

Here's something in your price range that isn't salvaged.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=206961

[urbancynic]

For 7k you can get a car without a salvage title. Hell, I'll sell you my es with a clean title and recent (yesterday) emissions for less than that.

These cars being 20+ years old it doesn't take much to earn a salvage title.

However, it could have been from something that occurred when it was newer and could have been a significant hit.

If it was repaired properly, or was labeled as salvage for something seemingly insignificant then it isn't a huge issue until you start looking to sell it. A branded title will negatively effect resale value.

If you want to spend a good amount of cash on a nicely done e30, just keep looking and find one with a clean title.

[mcdesant]

bump