Buying accident/damaged cars

[Lannister902]

Should the average joe (like me) ever consider buying a cat s accident/damaged car to repair as a keeper or would I be just pulling out my hair with regret?

[CubanPete]

I wouldn't touch one unless it is significantly cheaper than a non cat car.

Old rule of thumb used to be 30% less. But now they seem to be fitted with stolen R / RS / M etc body panels and wheels and advertised at a premium...

[Lannister902]

I made further enquiries about it, it's a bmw m235i. Its a 2014 with 76k on it with 1 owner since new.
According to the idrive, its had TWO services by the dealer in its lifetime!? Is it me, or is that just CRAZY?
No wonder we hear so many stories of engines blowing up

[mattman]

As long as you know what you are buying, or if it’s been repaired, you’ve seen evidence of the repairs and the price is right, then there isn’t any problem with them.

Some people won’t, some people will

[georgeyboy12345]

Lannister902 said:

I made further enquiries about it, it's a bmw m235i. Its a 2014 with 76k on it with 1 owner since new.
According to the idrive, its had TWO services by the dealer in its lifetime!? Is it me, or is that just CRAZY?
No wonder we hear so many stories of engines blowing up

[The Road Crew]

Lannister902 said:

Should the average joe (like me) ever consider buying a cat s accident/damaged car to repair as a keeper or would I be just pulling out my hair with regret?

Yes, it can work out well. Watch 'salvage rebuilds' on YT, they do well out of it

Buying the right car at the right price is the key.

The potential to get badly burned is high. Feeling lucky??

[Lannister902]

I'd really like to meet the original owner . Who buys a brand new car and gets it serviced twice after so long and putting so much miles on it. Need shooting

[village24]

Bmws intervals are 18k, anyone buying new unless an enthusiast will just wait for the car to tell them to go get it serviced. Also with the car in question being an M lite they don't have a RIS so it is the same oil from delivery until the first service which I do find strange.

[CarCrazyDad]

Lannister902 said:

I made further enquiries about it, it's a bmw m235i. Its a 2014 with 76k on it with 1 owner since new.
According to the idrive, its had TWO services by the dealer in its lifetime!? Is it me, or is that just CRAZY?
No wonder we hear so many stories of engines blowing up

That's on the iDrive - is there subsequent paper receipts or invoices? Many garages can't upload BMW service history to the car.

[pb8g09]

I wouldn’t touch it unless it’s for £12k or under. By the time you’re done with it, it will be on at least 100k and nobody will take it off your hands then unless it’s for pennies.

[AyBee]

It doesn't seem to be economical these days. I looked at an Elise 111R on Copart the other day, needed some fibreglass repairs to the front clam and door and a respray, went for £15k and was then up for sale at a salvage place a day later for £19k - you can buy decent condition ones without cat status for £22k!

[ScoobyChris]

Lannister902 said:

I'd really like to meet the original owner . Who buys a brand new car and gets it serviced twice after so long and putting so much miles on it. Need shooting

Were those two services done in the first 3 years - maybe a service plan included for the car when they bought it? My guess is that the remaining services were done by an independent or DIY who weren't able to update the key fob, but hopefully there is a paper trail instead.

FWIW, the servicing is condition based so best case is 18k miles between services so it should have had one fairly recently and brake fluid change at year 3 and then every 2 years therafter.

Chris

[ZX10R NIN]

If you do a Vcheck you may well find there are photo's of it before it was repaired.

[Challo]

The Road Crew said:

Yes, it can work out well. Watch 'salvage rebuilds' on YT, they do well out of it

Buying the right car at the right price is the key.

The potential to get badly burned is high. Feeling lucky??

They also know how to repair it properly and have the correct tools as well. Cat N might be ok, but I would steer clear of Cat S cars

[ZX10R NIN]

Challo said:

They also know how to repair it properly and have the correct tools as well. Cat N might be ok, but I would steer clear of Cat S cars

I've seen Cat N's that should've been S's & vice versa.

[SteBrown91]

Challo said:

They also know how to repair it properly and have the correct tools as well. Cat N might be ok, but I would steer clear of Cat S cars

I wouldn't write off (no pun intended) a Cat S if you were buying a Cat cars. Sometimes a Cat S can be because the end of the chassic leg crumple zone needs a slight pull or theres a dent in the sill.

As on salvage rebuilds alot of the "structure" is made out of flimsy tin on purpose so that absorbs the crash before it gets to the main crash cell. So you can pull this or cut it out and replace it nice and easy.

Salvage rebuilds did a Cat S GLA a while ago that looked like it has taken a major smash, but once stripped back the bent legs had only bent the bits that are designed to be sacrificed and replaced. They replaced the legs with genuine Merc repair parts and made it as good as new.

[Truckosaurus]

The Road Crew said:

...Watch 'salvage rebuilds' on YT, they do well out of it...

Indeed. Although like anyone who is Any Good at something they make it look easier than it is...

They often have cars sitting around for weeks/months waiting for parts at the right price (or just to become available).

Also they've got all the kit such as jigs and pullers, so cars with bent chassis legs are simple for them but wouldn't be for a driveway amateur.

Finally, they've got years of trade contacts to buy and sell with, let alone an army of keen followers who may or may not pay over the top for a 'famous' car they've seen on YouTube....

It is still one of my favourite YT channels though.