salvage / junk e30 m3

[lagoon]

hello,

currently i've been looking at e30's (particularly 318is and 325is) but i stumbled upon a 1988 m3 that was about $9500 cad. it did have a salvage and junk title, but is now rebuilt (although not to the best quality). i'm not really too serious about buying it (for obvious reasons), but the idea is always at the back of my head. so, in general, if a vehicle is salvaged or junked then rebuilt and put back on the street how bad could the car actually be? i know this is a hard question to ask, because it really depends on the specific situation, but i just want peoples input on the subject.

thanks.

ps. i haven't seen the particular car, but the owner has posted receipts of recent engine maintenance and work, so mechanically the car shouldn't be too bad.

[Bimmerfanatik]

Re: salvage / junk e30 m3

hello,

currently i've been looking at e30's (particularly 318is and 325is) but i stumbled upon a 1988 m3 that was about $9500 cad. it did have a salvage and junk title, but is now rebuilt (although not to the best quality). i'm not really too serious about buying it (for obvious reasons), but the idea is always at the back of my head. so, in general, if a vehicle is salvaged or junked then rebuilt and put back on the street how bad could the car actually be? i know this is a hard question to ask, because it really depends on the specific situation, but i just want peoples input on the subject.

thanks.

Depends on the accident.

However, I'm under the firm belief that salvage cars are sometimes in BETTER shape than used clean title cars.

Why? Let's say your 88 M3 has a clear title. It's been tracked a lot, and the subframes are starting to show some stress cracks. Unless there's a careful inspection before buying the car (which there should be, but sometimes isn't, and even a thorough inspection may not find everything), you may not find out until long after you bought the car that it had a problem.

Now let's take an 88 M3 that was in an accident. In order to obtain a salvage or rebuilt title, that car has to be put back together using specific, traceable parts, everything documented, and the car undergoes a heavy inspection to determine whether the damage was repaired properly. In addition to fixing the sheetmetal damage that was obvious, they would most likely have to replace that cracked subframe while they repaired the vehicle, therefore making a more solid and checked over M3.

But if the car was totalled bad, then you really have to be amazing to bring it back to the way it was before - and that's a risk.

Just my

PS - I've rebuilt a salvage vehicle before - so I speak from experience.

[lagoon]

thanks! thats exactly the kind of post i was hoping to get. super informative. so, usually if the car passes rebuilt inspection does that mean that it isn't too, too questionable (frame strength wise)? is this inspection always or usually very thorough, or are there ways for a person to get around it, thus making the car not too safe? i know that each car/accident has specific or special circumstances, but i'm just trying to get a general idea on the topic. also, if carfax reports a severe accident, and the car is rebuilt, should i even consider the car, no matter what repairs the car received? in short, where do you draw the line?

thanks

[Bimmerfanatik]

thanks! thats exactly the kind of post i was hoping to get. super informative. so, usually if the car passes rebuilt inspection does that mean that it isn't too, too questionable (frame strength wise)? i know that each car/accident has specific or special circumstances, but i'm just trying to get a general idea on the topic. also, if carfax reports a severe accident, and the car is rebuilt, should i even consider the car, no matter what repairs the car received? in short, where do you draw the line?

thanks

Well, it's like you said - it's all a case by case basis. If the car was in a severe crash but was rebuilt by a shop that's well known for quality work and rebuilds, chances are, the car was rebuilt right - and you've got a basically new car, as everything had to be replaced.

Salvage cars are a see in person, read everything you can, go over all documentation kind of buy.

[lagoon]

ok thanks. ya i guess if the respray and finish on the car isn't good, then that likely means the repairs to the major components (frame/body) aren't very good as well. or does the inspection look specifically at things at a structural point of view and not visual fit and finish (eg. the car can have a well rebuilt frame and not a $5K paintjob).

thanks again.

[Bimmerfanatik]

ok thanks. ya i guess if the respray and finish on the car isn't good, then that likely means the repairs to the major components (frame/body) aren't very good as well. or does the inspection look specifically at things at a structural point of view and not visual fit and finish (eg. the car can have a well rebuilt frame and not a $5K paintjob).

thanks again.

Oh no, fit and finish are on the inspection as well. The car had to look as it did before the accident - that means full paint, not primer, correct fit, etc. They're quite thorough on this.

But you are correct - if respray and fit aren't very good - chances are, the rest wasn't done well either...

[lagoon]

ok. then i guess it's back to looking for that clean iS. thanks for the input, you help shed a lot of light on the topic. and hopefully others may find this thread somewhat useful.

[Bimmerfanatik]

ok. then i guess it's back to looking for that clean iS. thanks for the input, you help shed a lot of light on the topic. and hopefully others may find this thread somewhat useful.

Thanks, glad I could help out:) Let us know what you end up with...

[Werksmini]

I bought a salvage title that was properly fixed as well, and the fucking frame let loose and sagged like a bitch. I had to part it. I will never again buy a car with a salvage or like title.

[e30evolution]

to get a salvage title all they check for (on older cars is) do the lights work (brake lights) and do the brakes work... at least in washington.

my friend bought an 86 toyota corolla sr5 hatchback from a junk yard for $200... the car was totaled because of engine failure. we put an mr2 motor in it (same as the gt-s motor) and called it a day. inspection took about 10 min

inspection could care less if your car looked like a wombat on wheels... all they car about is if the vehicle will be safe on the roads... e.g. be able to stop in a reasonable amount of time and warn the people around you that it is doing so.

insurance is the one who is supposed to restore the vehicle to the condition before the colission if the vehicle has not been deemed a total loss

[Mike 91 318ic]

If that's the one in Vancouver BC that's forsale stay away it's a major POS.... It's been written off 3 or 4 times!!! If it is indeed the same car PM me and I'll give you more info.

M