Car Advice

[Marco Polo]

Okay, so a 2003 BMW 325i I want is available. It's for sale for $13,900 and only has 43,000 miles. It's the exact color and wheels that I've always wanted as well. It was salvaged due to water and runs like new. The NADA value on the description and accessories is $18,875. Since it's a 325i, that means it's rear wheel drive so I imagine winters and ice would be difficult so that is a huge turn off. The mpg is 18 city/27 highway and the estimated annual fuel cost is $2578.

My 2001 Infiniti QX4 is worth around $13,950 retail and $11,525 trade-in. The mpg is 14 city/17 highway and the estimated annual fuel cost is $3392.

I drive 40 miles interstate roundtrip for my job each day so I like the thought of saving gas.

Any advice about the salvaged title issue, etc?

[Brock]

This looks like a bad idea from every angle. JMO

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Marco Polo

[SIZE=2]It was salvaged due to water

I would run away from that car waving my arms and screaming like a little girl.

[Marco Polo]

I've never encountered a title that was salvaged so I'm not sure about the experiences, horror stories out there.

[Rain Man]

My father sells used cars and always told me that a "flood car" was destined to have electrical problems, and to avoid them.

[kepp]

If its "the car you've always wanted" and you still need us to convince you, then you need to walk away from it.

[El Jefe]

Originally Posted by Marco Polo

I've never encountered a title that was salvaged so I'm not sure about the experiences, horror stories out there.

I have and it really isn't too bad, it's just a pain. Usually you fix whatever you need to fix to have it running right, and make sure all your turn signals, brakes, lights etc. work. My first car was a 1984 Buick lesabre that my dad bought with a salvage title, and we got it up and running and passed the inspections no problem. BTW Im not sure about your area but in my neck of the woods there is no emissions check on the inspection.

[Marco Polo]

I live in Overland Park but I'm in Beatrice, Nebraska (where the vehicle is) on business until mid-July. If I was interested, what kinds of questions should I ask/find out? Like how high the water was, etc?

[Chazno]

Am I the only one who finds it amusing that Marco Polo is trying to buy a flooded out car?

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Chazno

Am I the only one who finds it amusing that Marco Polo is trying to buy a flooded out car?

I hadn't thought of that

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

My father sells used cars and always told me that a "flood car" was destined to have electrical problems, and to avoid them.

You will never iron out all the little electrical gremlins that thing will have.

[stlchiefs]

Why upgrade to a car that's 2 years newer and still 5 years old? Go all out, buy a brand new BMW.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Marco Polo

I live in Overland Park but I'm in Beatrice, Nebraska (where the vehicle is) on business until mid-July. If I was interested, what kinds of questions should I ask/find out?

If he could move the decimal in his asking price one spot to the left? That’d be a lot harder to turn down.

[StcChief]

Just say no to Flooded car. 13K dream on, part it out

[CrazyPhuD]

OK BMW's have enough electrical gremlins without flood damage, and you want to consider the electrical issues with flood damage?

As nancy used to say...just say no....that 5K could disappear in a heartbeat. In addition to all the potential electrical issues, how long was it flooded and what condition are the seals in? Seals and water generally don't mix. And just to give you further nightmares...consider this. You better hope they got all the water out of the engine before they started it the first time. If not there are risks to rod and valve damage.

Just simply not worth it. Cudos to the guy for advertising it as flood damage but just don't do it. It's probably the only salvage that you really don't ever want to touch. Also you may want to ask your insurance company, they usually have different policies for salvage cars and some just won't offer comprehensive insurance on them.