2006 330i mechanical damage

BMW Jet · 10-09-2009, 02:13 AM

Hello

I found a 2006 330i rebuilt/salvaged. But the seller says the cars has a mechanical problem and that the cars cannot start. He also said he does not know what kind of problem it is.

I think it could be the transmission from some undercarriage hit or something more specific in the engine compartment.
The cars cannot be started.
How can I "guess" what is the problem? The seller is a middleman, he does not have the whole story about it.

Anybody can help me with his insights into how to proceed to evaluate the damage repair cost in considering the minimum and maximum mechanical damage it could have?

FCP Euro · 10-09-2009, 08:21 AM

You should try and find the original owner. There could be a million reasons why that car will not start. Some are easy fixes and some you would want to run from the car. Honestly, I would not touch that car either way. To many red flags.

jmd_forest · 10-12-2009, 06:52 AM

I buy and fix salvage cars as a hobby and this is how I would approach that car:

1) Assume the worst, what ever that may be from however you can make that assessment. (Can you even get the motor to turn over by hand by putting a wrench on the crank bolt? Does the damage "appear" to include the engine? What can you actually tell just by looking around the car/ trying to jump start, or ANYTHING that might give you a clue as to the extent of damage?)
2) Look at the title: is it a salvage title, theft recovery, or flood car. It "should" be noted on the title.
3) Bid according to your worst case scenario and be pleasantly surprised if it is not worst case.

Recently it seems that more and more insurance companies are salvaging cars with less and less damage. I've repaired 2 late model salvage BMWs so far this year and nearly all the damage to both cars was "bolt off/replace with new or used item/bolt on replacement item/paint as necessary". Other than that some very minor body damage.

jmd_forest

10-09-2009, 02:13 AM	#1
BMW Jet BMW addict 21 Rep 256 Posts Drives: AW 2006 330i Soon to be F80 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SS iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 E90 330i [10.00]	2006 330i mechanical damage Hello I found a 2006 330i rebuilt/salvaged. But the seller says the cars has a mechanical problem and that the cars cannot start. He also said he does not know what kind of problem it is. I think it could be the transmission from some undercarriage hit or something more specific in the engine compartment. The cars cannot be started. How can I "guess" what is the problem? The seller is a middleman, he does not have the whole story about it. Anybody can help me with his insights into how to proceed to evaluate the damage repair cost in considering the minimum and maximum mechanical damage it could have?
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10-09-2009, 08:21 AM	#2
FCP Euro Lieutenant 10 Rep 462 Posts Drives: Volvo 850 T5 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Old Saybrook, CT iTrader: (0)	You should try and find the original owner. There could be a million reasons why that car will not start. Some are easy fixes and some you would want to run from the car. Honestly, I would not touch that car either way. To many red flags. __________________ sales@fcpeuro.com FCP Euro - European Car Parts Specialists
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10-12-2009, 06:52 AM	#3
jmd_forest Enlisted Member 5 Rep 45 Posts Drives: 2008 328xi Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: South NJ iTrader: (0)	I buy and fix salvage cars as a hobby and this is how I would approach that car: 1) Assume the worst, what ever that may be from however you can make that assessment. (Can you even get the motor to turn over by hand by putting a wrench on the crank bolt? Does the damage "appear" to include the engine? What can you actually tell just by looking around the car/ trying to jump start, or ANYTHING that might give you a clue as to the extent of damage?) 2) Look at the title: is it a salvage title, theft recovery, or flood car. It "should" be noted on the title. 3) Bid according to your worst case scenario and be pleasantly surprised if it is not worst case. Recently it seems that more and more insurance companies are salvaging cars with less and less damage. I've repaired 2 late model salvage BMWs so far this year and nearly all the damage to both cars was "bolt off/replace with new or used item/bolt on replacement item/paint as necessary". Other than that some very minor body damage. jmd_forest
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