[makke]

Originally Posted by Clarkwgrizwald

don't even post that rebuilt M sport. Some poor sap in here won't be able to resist.

I am curious, how do you know that this rebuilt M sport is a bad idea? Beyond the general "be very cautious with rebuilt titles"...?

[Clarkwgrizwald]

See this is why i said don't post it.

Do you run a shop? No? don't ever buy a rebuilt title. This is a pretty common rule of thumb. Not be very cautious.

You are buying a car that's more than likely had structural damage and has been repaired. There are exceptions to this rule, especially with older cars, but most newer cars really are never the same.

[ppointer]

Originally Posted by makke

I am curious, how do you know that this rebuilt M sport is a bad idea? Beyond the general "be very cautious with rebuilt titles"...?

Here is the thing. If I bang up a fender and a couple of doors on my 2000 323it, the repair estimate will probably be north of $2k. The book value of my car might be $2k on a good day, and if the repairs come in higher than book value, Insurance company will total it out. They'll write me a check for the book value; I can buy back the car if I want and then fix it, but title will be salvage.

In the case of a 2012 328i wagon, book value is roughly $18k for that car. If it has a salvage title, an insurance company decided the costs of repair were higher than the book value of the car.

Did that make any sense?

[E91WAG3N]

Originally Posted by makke

I am curious, how do you know that this rebuilt M sport is a bad idea? Beyond the general "be very cautious with rebuilt titles"...?

Amazing spec, but wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole. Looks like DIY paint job in the front yard to boot.

I've never personally bought a salvage branded car. However, depending on when/who did the work relative to the value of the car, how much was damaged etc... there are some decent vehicles out there.

[keysopendoors]

Throwing mine up as a feeler if anyone is interested. Will most likely end up on Bring a Trailer in spring but figured I'd see if anyone is serious. Full details at link below.

2011 E91 RWD M Sport 6MT, Sapphire Black on Black Leather, 56k miles

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1428279

[flipwils11]

Damn I hate whoever snaked me on this one. But I bet you'll love it, lovely car.

https://www.bmwgallerynorwood.com/us...57b014902b.htm

[flipwils11]

One more

[putnampunk]

Originally Posted by ubersteuer

depending on when/who did the work relative to the value of the car, how much was damaged etc...

Hood + bumper + driver fender + door may have been enough to total it to an insurance company (might not value a M-Sport very differently nor manual or RWD than a basic xdrive auto), but given RWD manuals are rare and M-Sports even moreso, I'm personally glad someone saved it. Some people here seem to have a preference to let it go to part if it were them apparently. Guy was upfront about it, priced accordingly, and can provide more details, which is better than all the cars at the dealers with accidents on the CarFax but no info about it since bought at auction. Oh well.

$3k for Monaco Blue 2007 328xi with 135k with blown transmission: https://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/...329449050.html WARNING: Obviously you can't rely on it without being fixed up first and you ought to be mechanically savvy to venture on this car but maybe someone wants to swap in a N54 + 6MT?

2007 AWD Auto w/ sport package, BSM over Terra, 184k miles for $6k: https://albuquerque.craigslist.org/c...334017438.html

2007 328xi, 6MT, silver over black non-sport, 119k miles for $6900: https://vermont.craigslist.org/cto/d...328566084.html

2006 325xi, auto w/ sport package, silver over black w/ aluminum, 130k for $7300: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/ctd...321733536.html

I'm tempted by this because it is a clean 1-owner and in a color combo I like (but would love a car with Chestnut Brown though).
2011 RWD Auto, SGM over Black Sports Package, 71.7k miles for $15.5k: http://radicalauto.com/cars/Used/201...s/328i/3039151

[flipwils11]

Curious what people think of this one. I went and drove it last weekend and it was nice, tires were flat spotted from sitting and slow to start from sitting as well. Dealer is kind of shifty, buy here finance here kind of place. They got it at auction from NY.

Carfax is good, was a cpo at 35k when the second owner bought it and put tons of miles on it. I would be trading up from my 137k mile e46 325xiT 5spd and my wife isn't thrilled since I'm not looking at a lower mileage car. She was all for me going after the blue over oyster 2012 that was sold out from under me yesterday that I posted about above.

I would of course get a prepurchase inspection on this blue water 2011, but what does this group say about the mileage and price? Carfax showed two battery replacements, regular maintenance, and a water pump.

I wish it was a sport package car!

http://www.willdickerauto.com/invent...tails/33126830

[putnampunk]

2011 RWD Auto, Tasman over Chestnut, sport package. 114k miles for $13.5k: https://losangeles.craigslist.org/ws...314594823.html

[pickupjason]

Originally Posted by flipwils11

Curious what people think of this one. I went and drove it last weekend and it was nice, tires were flat spotted from sitting and slow to start from sitting as well. Dealer is kind of shifty, buy here finance here kind of place. They got it at auction from NY.

Carfax is good, was a cpo at 35k when the second owner bought it and put tons of miles on it. I would be trading up from my 137k mile e46 325xiT 5spd and my wife isn't thrilled since I'm not looking at a lower mileage car. She was all for me going after the blue over oyster 2012 that was sold out from under me yesterday that I posted about above.

I would of course get a prepurchase inspection on this blue water 2011, but what does this group say about the mileage and price? Carfax showed two battery replacements, regular maintenance, and a water pump.

I wish it was a sport package car!

http://www.willdickerauto.com/invent...tails/33126830

If it?s me, I will skip it. The mileage is high and it?s not that cheap. Also, it sounds you want sports package. The xdrive MT is not that difficult to come by and I would wait for the one you really like and have the options you want.

Jason

[E91WAG3N]

Originally Posted by flipwils11

Curious what people think of this one. I went and drove it last weekend and it was nice, tires were flat spotted from sitting and slow to start from sitting as well. Dealer is kind of shifty, buy here finance here kind of place. They got it at auction from NY.

Carfax is good, was a cpo at 35k when the second owner bought it and put tons of miles on it. I would be trading up from my 137k mile e46 325xiT 5spd and my wife isn't thrilled since I'm not looking at a lower mileage car. She was all for me going after the blue over oyster 2012 that was sold out from under me yesterday that I posted about above.

I would of course get a prepurchase inspection on this blue water 2011, but what does this group say about the mileage and price? Carfax showed two battery replacements, regular maintenance, and a water pump.

I wish it was a sport package car!

http://www.willdickerauto.com/invent...tails/33126830

Nice color combo, but is priced high given the mileage. I'd be game for around 10k with no ownership history if I was in the market for an AWD car. Who knows what all has been serviced - OFHG, oil pan gasket, and cooling system should have been done by this mileage at a minimum.

I don't understand why sports package vs. non is such a deal breaker for so many people. At this stage of the game, the original sports package suspension is worn and ready for replacement. The seats and steering wheel are easy to retrofit if you're halfway mechanically inclined, and not expensive to acquire. M sport on the other hand is a bit more involved with the anthracite headliner and exterior bits.

My search requirements are RWD, 6MT and hope for no idrive and a color combo I like. I've com close but yet to pick one up in 2 years of searching, so go figure. The black M Sport posted above is in perfect spec but I really don't want to do ANOTHER black on black car in Las Vegas. Maybe it's a sign it's the car for me.

[Clarkwgrizwald]

It's perfect spec, but the asking price brings in a LOT of other BMWs to compete with.

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by ubersteuer

I don't understand why sports package vs. non is such a deal breaker for so many people. At this stage of the game, the original sports package suspension is worn and ready for replacement. The seats and steering wheel are easy to retrofit if you're halfway mechanically inclined, and not expensive to acquire.

One problem with the steering wheel is that the non-sport airbag doesn't fit the sport steering wheel. So while sport steering wheels are available, used, for $200 or less, finding an airbag becomes an issue of finding one that has been replaced which most in the used market are the recalled ones...at least that's been the case the past couple of years. Perhaps now that many E9x are getting airbag replacements, this won't be as much of an issue going forward.

Seats are another item that are difficult to find in the color and especially the condition one might want. Add to that potential accident damage in junkyard seats (sometimes undetected (or more likely overlooked) deformation in the frame), finding ones with working heating pads for heated seats, etc, and it's not as easy at one might think.

[E91WAG3N]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

One problem with the steering wheel is that the non-sport airbag doesn't fit the sport steering wheel. So while sport steering wheels are available, used, for $200 or less, finding an airbag becomes an issue of finding one that has been replaced which most in the used market are the recalled ones...at least that's been the case the past couple of years. Perhaps now that many E9x are getting airbag replacements, this won't be as much of an issue going forward.

Seats are another item that are difficult to find in the color and especially the condition one might want. Add to that potential accident damage in junkyard seats (sometimes undetected (or more likely overlooked) deformation in the frame), finding ones with working heating pads for heated seats, etc, and it's not as easy at one might think.

Completely agree with the points you made. Maybe I'm more adventurous than most, having done several interior swaps through the years.

New airbags should be available new within reason now that the recall is completely stocked with new ones (as far as I know).

I suppose my point is that if you find a 6MT that's pretty close to what you want in good condition for a reasonable price, it might be worth pulling the trigger if it lacks sports package and retrofit yourself for a grand or two. Not heeding my own advise, I'm still on the lookout for the right long roof.

Originally Posted by Clarkwgrizwald

It's perfect spec, but the asking price brings in a LOT of other BMWs to compete with.

This. Even in general, $30k can get you a fair amount of new car right now.

But still... so much want!

[.RJ]

Originally Posted by ubersteuer

I suppose my point is that if you find a 6MT that's pretty close to what you want in good condition for a reasonable price, it might be worth pulling the trigger if it lacks sports package and retrofit yourself for a grand or two.

This is what I'm doing. Seats, steering wheel, wheels, shifter, trim... Not a big deal and the original stuff is in nice shape and I can resell.

The cars are hard enough to find and year/mileage/condition you cant change.

[E91WAG3N]

Originally Posted by .RJ

This is what I'm doing. Seats, steering wheel, wheels, shifter, trim... Not a big deal and the original stuff is in nice shape and I can resell.

The cars are hard enough to find and year/mileage/condition you cant change.

There you go! You should start a build thread, I'd love to see your project.

[flipwils11]

I ended up passing on the blue water 6spd after the prepurchase inspection. There were some things I didn't like.

In other news, this is a very nice automatic, sport, rwd with low miles:

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/invent...ting=188280371

Another auto, sport, RWD with low miles

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/ctd...314444616.html

[tlow98]

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto...332823229.html

These things are such a steal right now.

[ocd]

Wowee!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2011-BMW-3-S...NZ29~G&vxp=mtr

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by flipwils11

I ended up passing on the blue water 6spd after the prepurchase inspection. There were some things I didn't like.

In other news, this is a very nice automatic, sport, rwd with low miles:

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/invent...ting=188280371

Another auto, sport, RWD with low miles

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/ctd...314444616.html

Adam,
That link from the Bay area looks pretty nice...well equipped except non-sport, low mileage, etc. Fly and drive home?

Some of these E91s with no roof rails sure are making want to get these things off my car. They'd already be gone if it wasn't such a pia to do.

Regards,
Chuck

[flipwils11]

Thanks for the post on the black msport on ebay. Automatic though, ugh!

Yeah the CA cars are nice, but auto and RWD kill them for me. I can drive a RWD in MN as I did it for many years with good snow tires, but I've decided that with our 6 months of dark, cold winter, I prefer to have AWD and snow tires.

I'll keep looking but last night I did stop by the BMW dealer to look at the F31. Damn I don't know if I can sacrifice for an automatic and a 4 banger.