ASSISTANCE NEEDED; going to check out a car for a friend.

[popo8]

Ok... before I begin... when u read the "catch," know that I am aware of the issues associated with what happened.


Ok, here is the deal. My best friend and I are going to look at a car this Sat afternoon. He found a GREAT DEAL on the car and I believe with cash...he can knock another k or 2 off of the price.

Here is a listing of a car IDENTICAL to the one we will look at. Even the mileage is almost the same. Only issue is I do not know much about the car specifically, amd the value depreciation is insane and worries me as to why the rapid/large depreciation.

Here it is...(well one that looks like it).

http://cnj.craigslist.org/ctd/4956102805.html

This is a 6 figure car. 500hp. V10. Raved about on Top Gear BBC.... But look at that depreciation...

So with that information and before the "catch," what are things I need to look at for him?

[popo8]

THE CATCH; The actual car is an R title (meaning the insurance company totalled it and found it not worth the repair cost. Im my experience that means the repair cost was 80% of the vehicle value).

Now... it was purchased 2 yrs ago in NJ from a used car lot and was obviously repaired ENOUGH to be on the road. With that being said... the current owner is selling it because he is picking up a zr1 (same deal, R title and for the same reason , which leads me to believe this car did not put a sour taste in his mouth for being an R)...

The thing that I am worried about, on top of my ignorance to BMW M6s... is that it was totalled over FLOOD DAMAGE.

RUST/ROT

MOLD

ELECTRICAL ISSUES/CORROSION

butttttt....



At the same time, Asking price is 19k on it... and i think 15k to 17k are not out of reach.

Now please... give me ur insight, keeping in mind the flood damage concerns that were listed above that I am aware of..

[popo8]

Thanku in advance.

[jaysz2893]

only thing I would worry about is the hidden stuff that didn't get fixed, like airbag modules, body control modules, anything electrical that is expensive to repair. Also would be good to find out where the damage was so you can check for structure damage and how it was fixed. If it was done by a reputable shop it should be OK. Getting an R title here in DE is not hard and I have seen some great salvage rebuilds and some horrid ones. Also need to see about transferring R titles across state lines.

[popo8]

Well its registered in PA now...so it has a PA "R title" so no issues there.

I know PA has strict guidelines to meet to turn a salvage (can't be registered) back into an R (can be registered ) so id be comfortable knowimg it was R title approved in PA. However im unsure if the repairs were done and approved in NJ or PA....

Thats why I start these posts..

Ty man

[rjmarazzi]

only thing I would worry about is the hidden stuff that didn't get fixed, like airbag modules, body control modules, anything electrical that is expensive to repair.

^this. I have bought and sold salvage cars but they were wrecked and fairly easy to see the extent of the damage. Flood damage on a car like that the electronics would be the big one.

[popo8]

Agreed... im just hoping that the fact that he is paying even more for another similar issue car means the BMW did not rear up ugly issues.

Does that make sense?

[blackbirdws6]

The fact he is buying another car with a similar R title doesn't matter really. He could have gotten it dirt cheap, had his fun and is moving to something different. It may have issues but really you just have to do your best to ask a lot of questions and use your common sense. Its not a small amount of money. I personally would never want to own a German car out of warranty. Small stuff is not cheap and many times, only the dealer can fix them.

[popo8]

I just figured that i dont make the same mistake twice is all. If i bought something that became a pita... i would want out of the pain amd not repeat it.

[popo8]

Thats the stuff i wanted to hear from people with experience. Our old benz was out of warranty and even tho some parts were more expensive as the domestic counterparts we fixed it ourselves.... but i know nothing about the v10... amd M6.

[popo8]

Aftermarket warranties are also available...thats a good idea... seeee once again spitballing fires up the ideas.

[jaysz2893]

I personally would never want to own a German car out of warranty. Small stuff is not cheap and many times, only the dealer can fix them.

I totally agree. If you can't buy the tools and do your own work, BMW, Audi, Merc, VW can get pricey quick. The big parts for the audi I built with my son were cheap. Things like electrical parts were VAG specific and expensive. The software for tuning is expensive, and some of jobs take hours due to special tools, assembly methods, etc. Fastbird he has some German car experience now too.

[popo8]

Lol... vag.

[popo8]

I totally agree. If you can't buy the tools and do your own work, BMW, Audi, Merc, VW can get pricey quick. The big parts for the audi I built with my son were cheap. Things like electrical parts were VAG specific and expensive. The software for tuning is expensive, and some of jobs take hours due to special tools, assembly methods, etc. ....

I think thats common knowledge tho. U want the name... u pay the price.

Anyone aware of any common issues with the m6?

[popo8]

Off topic... but i always wanted one of these.

32506

[Fastbird]

Man, I'd be very wary buying a car like that which was totaled out due to flood damage. There's electronics everywhere, and unless they replaced every connector and wiring harness, moisture penetrated somewhere and problems will arise. I'd ask for service records, etc.

When you're looking at it, I'd probably say pull up some carpet in the cabin and trunk and see what's underneath. Get it in the air and check the underside too. I love those cars but a flood car? I'd pass.

[SSlowBoat]

Here's the thing with hurricane sandy, insurance companies were totalling out higher end cars left and right that barely had water over the tire sidewall on the ground, just out of sheer fear that salt water got into something. There was a guy on njfboa who had his c6z totalled and the water didn't even touch the bottom of the car. Although there were many others that were swamped. Just be keen on any wierd little quirks

[shownomercy]

And for every one car that had a tiny bit of water on it, you have ten that got flooded over roof. ;)

I would still be wary.

[SSlowBoat]

And for every one car that had a tiny bit of water on it, you have ten that got flooded over roof. ;)

I would still be wary.
Exactly, saw em all at the yard lined up in pine brook nj for the insurance companies. They still have cars sitting there

[shownomercy]

Exactly, saw em all at the yard lined up in pine brook nj for the insurance companies. They still have cars sitting there

Cars, and boats, I remember insurance companies renting huge plots of farmland to store all the junked crap from the storm.

Def heard a few vague stories of those collections being shipped out of state for "resale"

[SSlowBoat]

Cars, and boats, I remember insurance companies renting huge plots of farmland to store all the junked crap from the storm.

Def heard a few vague stories of those collections being shipped out of state for "resale"
Yep, buddy of mine got a truck in ohio, air bags were all effed. Here it was from bayhead....

[Revolutions]

Why not run a CarFax or alternative on it to see why it was totalled.
Here is the one I use http://www.vinaudit.com/
I have compared it to carfax several times and never seen a difference with both clean and history.
If the seller won't give you the VIN pre-inspection RUUUUUUNNNNNNNN

[popo8]

I know why it was totalled. Flood damage. Thats not really the focus. Im looking more in the lines of common problems that people may be awary of from the m6... or bmw v10...etc. flood damage is flood damage... the warning signs will be the same weather its a lambo or a geo. Lol

[popo8]

Here's the thing with hurricane sandy, insurance companies were totalling out higher end cars left and right that barely had water over the tire sidewall on the ground, just out of sheer fear that salt water got into something. There was a guy on njfboa who had his c6z totalled and the water didn't even touch the bottom of the car. Although there were many others that were swamped. Just be keen on any wierd little quirks
Thats actually alot of what i read... and am hoping.

[popo8]

Well its a no go. 2 many red flags.

[popo8]

My phone had died from the 2hr drive using it as gps... but man... what a mess. Lol.

The car was def worth the money for someone who could live with all of the minor issues and not need to fix them... but for me or my friend...the issues would need to be fixed and it would have cost alot.


Dude was at a bottom dollar of 18k... and although 10k under book... the car was fair condition with an r title. My offer to him was honestly 10k... amd we were 2 far apart on that.

[blackbirdws6]

What were the little issues?

[popo8]

Ophhhh... where to start.

First the overall condition was just pigd up.

The trunk was filled with junk... top to bottom. I wanted to check the trunk floor and couldnt even find it.

Carbon fiber rear accents were falling off of the car... as if the double sided tape was submerged for a while and lost its ability to hold.


Tail lights actually had water inside them.

Front grill inserts were lose with broken clips.

Passenger side chair power worked spuratically... he had an excuse that he forgot the window down in the rain... jusy one hell of a coincidence.

Damage to the front bumper....

Damage to the rear bumper.

Purple ricer tow hook sticking out the front.

Fact that he said he got the car 1.5 year earlier... claimed to only pit 10k on it... but yet told us that when he got it... it had new tires on it... which were gone...and he replace them with "100 dollar used tires" that were also bald. He also continued to brag about going 180mph in the car.


Kid was 22 and it was getting clear he was not taking care of it...

Rear view mirror housing was missing plastic... door sill clips were broken... ash tray lid was off its hinges... and exclamation light on the dash... he could not figure out.

Showed me a reciept for 800 bucks for a new oil cooler... claimed he hit a pot hold and it came apart... shop that did work was an unknown on the reciept... belly pan under the car covered in oil... a resovoir under the hood (in german...so i did not know what it was) was clearly building up pressure and occasionally spouting off into the under the side of the hood....


Phew.... and thats off the top of my head about the car.


Now for the seller. He owns a pawn shop. It was tiny and the inventory was literally nill. He told us about how he was opening a second location as well. He was selling his bmw amd his benz suv so he could get a new car (see below).

He had two hood rat employees working his store when we got there... no customers coming in... but rather they sat outside and took walks around the corner as they saw vertain vehicles drive by multiple times...... yeahhhhhh.


New car originally was a zr1... now its a gtr... story changed...

Sooooo between the car and the shadiness. The deal became a No go.

[blackbirdws6]

Pawn shop you say...

32538

[popo8]

Lol... it was so shady on the drive home my friend and I discussed the fact that we are most probably on surveilance footage for some law enforcement agency. Lol