E46 M3 write off - opinions on options?

[FFS]

After a couple of years of enjoyable M motoring I recently ended up as the meat in a 3 car sandwich. I haven't got confirmation yet, but looks like I'll have the option of accepting a write off on the car. It's repairable, but a a minimum needs a bonnet, grille, a few other bits up front, exhaust has been pushed back, rear bumper, boot might need to be straightened etc. As usual the options are:

1. accept a write off and move on - probably the sensible thing to do, but struggling to think of what I could replace it with and can't really face the hassle of trying to find a mint example of whatever it is I might be trying to find.

2. Get it repaired by the insurers - will be hard to move on when I eventually decided to sell at any kind of decent price (I like to be honest).

3. accept a write off and buy back the salvage. I'm starting to think this might be the best route, if I can find someone that I know will do a good job, at an economically viable price (i.e. fix it at a cost less than the insurance pay out so that I can cover the loss in the value of the car due to its "write-off" status).

I'm starting to think Option 3 might be best ... assuming I can find a suitable garage. Any opinions on this?

[AyBee]

If you don't know a suitable garage, I'd collect information on what your car is worth from the classifieds on here and elsewhere and then make sure the payout is enough to cover the costs of option 1.

[scz4]

FFS said:

3. accept a write off and buy back the salvage. I'm starting to think this might be the best route, if I can find someone that I know will do a good job, at an economically viable price (i.e. fix it at a cost less than the insurance pay out so that I can cover the loss in the value of the car due to its "write-off" status).

Option 3 + split. You should more than make the money back plus quite a bit more. I'll take the engine if the price is right

I've only written off one car many years ago and I bought it back and split for a lot more, handy deposit for the next car.

Personally I'd never be happy driving a written off car, something would just annoy me whether it be panel gaps, colour mismatch....

Edited by scz4 on Saturday 2nd October 16:08

[NickXX]

Option 3 for me.

[FFS]

Splitting the salvage probably would be an interesting and probably the most profitable route, but I don't have the time or the space ... I guess the engine would be worth at least £4K on its own?

I can imagine never being quite happy with a written off car - I guess that's part of my answer.

Edited by FFS on Sunday 3rd October 10:20

Edited by FFS on Sunday 3rd October 10:21

Edited by FFS on Sunday 3rd October 10:21

[Slurms]

Just check your options with the insurance company as a few of them have started saying that you can't buy your car back after it's been written off and that they will only sell to salvage companies

[scz4]

FFS said:

. I guess the engine would be worth at least £4K on its own?

No where near it unfortunately. Seem to go on average for around £2000, but a friend recently bought a low mileage one for £1200.

[groucho]

A lot of it about. My M5 is no more. Cat D.

[mat205125]

NickXX said:

Option 3 for me.

Same here, depending on what the buy back cost will be, however be prepared for a lot of junk to be taking up a lot of space for a fair amount of time.

At least your ebay feedback will be really good when you've finished