[Swish]

I am seriously considering it, which might sound crazy, but hear me out before you crucify me.

The car is a 2013 M-Sport with about every conceivable option and only 27,000 on the odometer. It's a dealer who bought if from an insurance company that paid a claim for 'water damage'.

Yes, that scared me off a bit, but the car is immaculate and everything works. There are tons of pictures and they're basically challenging me to find any evidence of water damage.

They claim that before they bought it (makes sense) they checked it out from top to bottom and gave it a test drive. They also claims everything works exactly as it should; navigation, lane departure warning, back up camera, heated front and rear seats....everything.

There is no warranty (wonder if Route 66 would offer one?) and the price is only $24,900.

I would appreciate your thoughts as well as the price and warranty concerns.

Thank in advance.

Swish

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by Swish

I am seriously considering it, which might sound crazy, but hear me out before you crucify me......

There is no warranty (wonder if Route 66 would offer one?) and the price is only $24,900.

For what it's worth, I wouldn't touch it, but especially not at that price, not even 1/2 that price if I'm honest.

I hear "water damage", and my reaction is "run as far as you can and never look back".
These can be expensive to repair/maintain even when purchased brand new.

[SilverRevlis]

I'd offer them 5k.....cause if you try to trade that in at a dealer, they are going to lowball the crap out of you because there is no reliable way to value a vehicle that has been "totaled". Also, understand that NOTHING will be covered by BMW as all warranties are voided at the point of the vehicle being branded with that.

[Trian]

Water damage is tough to diagnose ---- really! Everything may be working today, but without going through every little nook and cranny, you may find corrosion slowly working away, that will come back and bite you in a few months or a few years.

[belarus27]

could you possibly post pics of it when it was at the auction?

maybe take it to independent mechanic , if you seriously considering it.
sounds like hit or miss...
but isnt 24k a bit too high for a salvage title? id say if independent mechanic looks at it , and okays it , id buy it for no more than $18k-20k out the door.

[graphite]

Working for a dealer, I can tell you that salvage vehicles usually go for about half the value of a clean title vehicle, and that's on a good day.

Also, Route 66 will not warranty any branded or salvage title vehicles. Don't think I've come across a single warranty that will.

My advice: avoid it like the plague. There's a reason an insurance company forked out +/-$30k from their pocket to the original owner, and it's sure not for a simple claim. Pay an extra 3-5k and get a clean title F10 with similar features and move along happily in life.

[07e92]

no, period

[phefner]

I think you would have more fun burning $100 bills.

[johnhva]

Originally Posted by 07e92

no, period

+1

[midwest 340xi 6sp]

I wouldn't buy an F'10 out of warranty let alone with a salvage title.

NO

[ezaircon4jc]

If the dealer is so confident of their repairs make them give you a warranty. Like a 3/36 bumper to bumper warranty. And with that I wouldn't pay more than $18K out the door.

With water damage I would still.... RUN!!!

[Stück]

I have 9 years experience in the salvage industry. I bought my F10 a year ago wadded up in the front for a song with half the miles and repaired it perfectly on the cheap. All in well under yours at its asking, which is way too high considering the particular story attached IMO.

There is a thread on my build here: http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1264793

I wouldn't touch a real water damage car with a 10 ft pole though. I've had too many run through the shop that were effing nightmares of one electrical degradation related problem after another.

[Teddylongtooth]

What kind of water damage are we talking about? Was the car completly submerged or did some idiot run it thru a car wash with the sunroof open or maybe a 5 gallon water bottle opened up in the trunk and flooded the inside of the trunk?? Obviously the insurance company totaled it, so it was fu@@d. If the dealer is so confident its working good as new then they should offer atleast a 1 year warranty for that price. Your rolling the dice just buying a non salvaged title used bmw with no warranty, I would never buy any European luxury car without a warranty. Can you find out more details on the "water" damage and get back to us??

[spielnicht]

Hidden damage and possibility of costly repairs aside, unless you're planning on keeping this car until it basically dies, you're going to have a tough time selling it to the next owner. Sane people avoid cars with accident reports on a Carfax, just imagine their reaction to a salvage title.

[Stück]

Now that is a bit much, as to say you have to be insane to buy a car that's had an accident or a salvage title.

The biggest problem with accident reports and salvage branding is that its a wide brush that paints the same picture on every car. Something relatively minor is labeled exactly the same as a car thats been blasted into two halves and reconstructed with bubble gum and chicken wire.

Being scared of such cars is strictly ignorance. Having the experience and the wherewithal to buy the right car can leave you with a great vehicle with zero problems at a steal of a price. If you're not an aptly equipped buyer you can also end up with a complete nightmare.

As with many things in life, and especially here... caveat emptor.

[eaglecomm]

I would avoid it on price alone. While the mileage is good and has a bunch of options, you should be able to find a 2013 with decent (<60k) mileage for at or less, without a salvage title. Even if it isn't in your city, fly out and drive it back or have it shipped. Just on a quick CL search, I found a 2013 MSport Black on Black with 46k miles and a ton of options (including HUD, active and ventilated seats and others), listing for $21k.

I don't agree that a salvage title is horrible, but at least you can see a bent frame or easily replace a bumper. With water damage and little to no knowledge of what actually happened, I think it could haunt you for the rest of the time you have it. And due to depreciation + salvage title, it's going to be worth much less as time goes by.

As most others have said, I would pass on it.

[Teddylongtooth]

Here is a 2014 with comparably close miles for only $8900 more....

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used...ting=166849086

Its a year newer with less miles, just sayin.

[EL Jeffe 5]

buy it if car checks out OK
I bought folded cars before I never had any issues
but again make sure you check everything out.

[ItBloo]

That's pretty awful. I'm not a salvage, but I have an accident on record. Super minor fender-bender. 2012 535i m-sport with 50k, for $25,000. Plus all my auto nation warranty crap and vehicle buy out. and damn CA sales tax.

[Swish]

Originally Posted by Teddylongtooth

What kind of water damage are we talking about? Was the car completly submerged or did some idiot run it thru a car wash with the sunroof open or maybe a 5 gallon water bottle opened up in the trunk and flooded the inside of the trunk?? Obviously the insurance company totaled it, so it was fu@@d. If the dealer is so confident its working good as new then they should offer atleast a 1 year warranty for that price. Your rolling the dice just buying a non salvaged title used bmw with no warranty, I would never buy any European luxury car without a warranty. Can you find out more details on the "water" damage and get back to us??

...he explained they're a regular buyer from insurance companies. Some are damaged, some not. He said they have passed on 'flood cars' numerous times after inspecting them, but not so in this case. They basically removed nearly every interior part and couldn't see any evidence of water damage, no odd smells, etc., and everything works...audio, back-up camera, lane change warning, navigation...everything.

They have a 100% positive seller rating on ebay as well. I'm probably going to make the 85 mile drive to check it out and do a test drive, then make a somewhat low-ball offer. If I can get this for under $20,000, I don't care if I end up spending another $5 to $10,000 on repairs in the near term. It would still be a good buy. Call me crazy, but I'm willing to take the chance.

[Teddylongtooth]

Originally Posted by Swish

...he explained they're a regular buyer from insurance companies. Some are damaged, some not. He said they have passed on 'flood cars' numerous times after inspecting them, but not so in this case. They basically removed nearly every interior part and couldn't see any evidence of water damage, no odd smells, etc., and everything works...audio, back-up camera, lane change warning, navigation...everything.

They have a 100% positive seller rating on ebay as well. I'm probably going to make the 85 mile drive to check it out and do a test drive, then make a somewhat low-ball offer. If I can get this for under $20,000, I don't care if I end up spending another $5 to $10,000 on repairs in the near term. It would still be a good buy. Call me crazy, but I'm willing to take the chance.

The general consensus is "dont buy it" for fear its going to give you problems, maybe it will maybe it wont, nobody commenting could possibly know. But, from my experience a warranty would have to be purchased or included before I would buy a car like this, My 2011 550 m sport had 51,600 miles on it when I acquired it, I paid $4200 extra for a 3 year/30k mile warranty. During the first 3 months of owning the car all 4 electronic dampeners had to be replaced which would have cost me $7200, the warranty already paid for itself plus its been in 3 other times for other stuff. My car was sold to me as a "Great running car with no problems", these cars are known for having engine problems and electrical problems without the water damage. You can read thru the threads of people having issues brand new right off the show room floor. But if your willing to possibly spend some extra cash down the road it doesnt really matter. I hope it works out for you and you dont have any electrical or mechanical problems if you decide to buy it. Your not crazy or stupid if you do, your just more confident in your dealer than most would be. Good luck to you brother

[SLVSRFR]

With Electronic technician as my expertise, do not do it. Yes, everything is working now, but at a drop of a dime things can start failing. The corrosion has not set in yet, if you can live with that then buy the car. I'm not saying it's going to give you serious problems, but the odds are HIGHLY against you. The only thing this car is running on is fuel and luck. Unless they took components down to a depot level, inspected circuit cards for corrosion, you're rolling a costly dice. They're going to tell you what you want to hear