Did you "rescue" your car from a neglectful owner?

"cuts_off_prius" (cutsoffprius) 10/12/2015 at 14:10 • Filed to: None

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Above: My 2009 328i xDrive after a recent thorough wash at home with some claybaring.

This is how it looked like when the original owner dropped it off at the dealership I picked it up from with 83k miles on the clock:

Brake dust, curb rash, marks on bumpers, plastic from under front bumper hanging slightly, etc., etc. Seemed like it used to be a long distance driver though the Great Lakes states for, as RCR’s Harold Slovinsky calls it, BUSINESS ACCOUNTS. And the previous owner obviously couldn’t park.

The dealership did an excellent job detailing and the results still show after each wash. Although I’m not perfect with upkeep, I still like to think I “rescued” this BMW. I had it for a bit over a year, it sees a lot less miles now and it’s actually looked after (as the pictures speak for themselves and due to the fact that you’re reading this on oppo). Any similar stories?

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > cuts_off_prius 10/12/2015 at 14:16

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I “rescued” my old CB7 Accord only to rear end someone three years later.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > cuts_off_prius 10/12/2015 at 14:19

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I wouldn’t say neglectful, but I did rescue my Mustang from a loss of time and interest.

The guy I bought it from is a mechanic, and he’s got a 1-car garage. He had gotten sick of moving the Mustang out whenever he had a job come in, so he moved it out behind the garage with a tarp over it. Tarp over it is fine, but it was sitting on dirt with no doors, fenders, or bumpers on it. If it sat for an extended period of time, it probably would have gotten to be in a bit worse shape than it is now. I’m glad I got it when I did, and then stuffed it in my nice dry garage.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > cuts_off_prius 10/12/2015 at 14:25

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I’d like to think I did. My ‘98 M3 had (unbeknownst to me) 7 owners; a totally shot suspension; bad tie rods; plastidipped wheels and roof, a barely-functioning stereo held in with napkins; LED underglow; check engine, airbag, and ABS lights; non-working mirrors; and hadn’t had a proper wash in god knows how long. I’m still slowly fixing some other stuff but I’d like to think I was its savior.

Last month at C&C:

First time I ever saw the car back in January:

I honestly have no idea how I rationalized buying it, but I did.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/12/2015 at 14:27

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Needs headlights

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > cuts_off_prius 10/12/2015 at 14:28

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I guess all four of my vehicles could be considered rescues.

I rescued the SHO from sinking into the ooze and pulled it out of a forest in upstate New York for $400.

The Bruiser might a bit of a stretch but the guy I bought it from, for $3000, said the next best offer he had was from some hick from north of 7 for a pair of 20 year old snow mobiles, so I guess you could say I rescued it from a terrible fate.

My Capri is a rescue because I bought it on the side of the road as the last owner was flat towing it to the Crusher to get squeezed. A wheel bearing seized, and I scooped it up for $100.

And of course the Gutlass which I rescued from a terrible fate at the behest of G Body Man.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 10/12/2015 at 14:29

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Do you want to buy them for me? I don’t have the money to right now. I’ve said a million fucking times they’re getting replaced eventually I just need the money.

duurtlang > cuts_off_prius 10/12/2015 at 14:32

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Depends on the car.

Daily driver ‘00 Peugeot 406 coupe: No. There was a bit of wear of the leather on the steering wheel, drivers seat, and driver side door panel (latter two due to a ring). But that was it. Brakes, tires, plugs, filters, exhaust, all of it was new or in great condition. Not bad for a then 12 year old coupe, and a steal at €3k.

‘88 Peugeot 205 GTI: Hell yes. After being cared for by the previous previous owner, the last user (teen) used it as a beater. I restored the mechanicals and interior back to great condition. It needed a ton of parts. The exterior needs a bit of attention still, luckily there’s no rust.

‘97 Peugeot 306 convertible. Yes, again. It had been ‘fixed’ with redneck mechanical tricks to prevent replacing €20 parts. A shame really. It’s fine now, it only needs a little attention.

duurtlang > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/12/2015 at 14:34

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Are they M3-specific? If not, any junkyard will have them for little money. Also: forums.

Sam > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/12/2015 at 14:35

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I think you’re gonna have to grin and bear the comments until you can afford the replacements. Or just put together a copy-paste response.

In regards to your M3- from your pictures and what I remember from when you bought it, the changes are immense.

Still needs new headlights though. =)

Sam > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts 10/12/2015 at 14:36

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Oh, you got G Body’s Cutlass? Nice.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > duurtlang 10/12/2015 at 14:38

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I have a place locally that salvages BMWs and I could get lights from them, but I want clear corner markers and headlights with halos in them. It’s about $180 and I just don’t have that right now and I don’t feel the need to buy some cheap from a salvage yard then pay again for the ones I want when my current ones work fine, they just don’t like great.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Sam 10/12/2015 at 14:40

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I know, it just gets annoying. Especially when it's the same people saying it over and over. I should just start dismissing them TBH.

cazzyodo > cuts_off_prius 10/12/2015 at 14:41

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I’d like to think I rescued mine from the dealership lot because a similar ST sat for the following 8 months.

That’s just too long.

Blurry pic from the North End.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > cuts_off_prius 10/12/2015 at 14:41

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No. I ripped my car away from its wealthy, loving, OCD owner and subjected it to the life of a high schooler’s first ride.

Klaus Schmoll > cuts_off_prius 10/12/2015 at 14:49

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I tend to do it the other way round. I buy one owner cars with a perfect service history, and keep them until it makes no sense fixing anymore. They get a wax and polish every couple of months and regular maintenance of course, but naturally they tend to look worse than when I bought them after 7 years or so.

DrScientist > cuts_off_prius 10/12/2015 at 14:50

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ive rescued 2 garage queens from boring lives spent staring at the walls, being driven ~1500 mi/year... in order to do what they wanted... be driven!

that could be a form of neglect... does it count?

Arben72 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/12/2015 at 14:52

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I too am in the 7 owner club with my sti. I don’t think the previous owner had ill intentions for it, more that they were unable to save it. I so far had to replace the gas tank because someone drilled into it, the wing, as it was mia, and the carpet plus headliner as the carpet was mia and most likely soaked by the fuel leaking into the cabin, and the headliner as it was pink cheetah print. All that's left is to replace the turbo as it burns coolant.

Sam > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/12/2015 at 14:53

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Nah, don’t bother dismissing, just ignore them and eventually they’ll get bored and stop.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Arben72 10/12/2015 at 14:55

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Mine had full intentions of going full-on ricer with the car and had no restrain in showing it.

My headliners out of my car right now for replacement actually. Thankfully it wasn’t cheetah print, just sagging like every E36.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Sam 10/12/2015 at 14:57

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Maybe, though one of them seems pretty stuck on multiple aspects of the car.

Rykilla303 > cuts_off_prius 10/12/2015 at 15:02

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Yuuuup. Last year I bought an 87 Ranger in non-running condition, seized oil pump, which broke the distributor and timing belt. Replaced all the borked parts, still on the road soon to be painted! This year I bought a 03 Grand Prix which needed a manifold gasket like every 3800 over 100k. (and both were equally filthy with many other items missing, in disrepair)

These two were my last, but many more before it.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/12/2015 at 15:06

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Chill dude, I meant no offense at all. I only said that I want to sell you the ones from my car, which you remember I offered to sell you, right?

I could have made a water pump joke but I decided not to because you asked me to stop doing that, and politely at that :).

So take a damn chill pill and accept that I’m actually offering a helping hand

lone_liberal > cuts_off_prius 10/12/2015 at 15:15

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If pulling it out of a field where it had been left to rot counts, then yes. The thing has all of the issues of having been left outside for countless years plus the damage inflicted by 40 years of ownership by ignorant (or more likely cheap and lazy) bastards. Engine mounts bolted to the frame with one bolt per side? Sure! Why not? Cut open the area for the shock mounts to enable the installation of air shocks that didn’t really fit instead of replacing the worn out springs? Of course! The list is nearly endless.

Captain of the Enterprise > cuts_off_prius 10/12/2015 at 15:18

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I hate brake dust. Has anyone else ever seen a car where you can tell the tires have been rotated because the rear tires are completely caked in brake dust and the fronts are just dirty?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 10/12/2015 at 15:19

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Because just saying “needs headlights” totally implies you want to sell me some in any way, shape, or form. I already told you I’m buying some nice looking projector ones with halos, to which you replied with something along the lines of “Shitty DEPO ones?” So you know, thanks for the “help” but I really don’t need it.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/12/2015 at 16:08

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I’m giving my advice from personal experience. They do use shit plastic that is very brittle and easy to crack.

They are good value though so as long as you have an easy hand, you can get long use from them.

FYI, if you look around you may be able to fumble across some Euro ones (ZKW, or AL, or Hella, or Bosch) for about the same price as new DEPOs

Arben72 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 10/12/2015 at 16:52

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You should definitely redo your headliner! It’s easy and relatively cheap, the glue is about $15 (make sure to use headliner specific spray glue), and I bought $15 of suede fabric 3 yds). Completely improved my interior. My car luckily only had an intake and a opensource tune. Everything else was bone stock (including exhaust). The reason I rationalized buying it was because it was the cheapest aspen white sti in the country. White is my favorite color on these. I actually started bidding another buyer up (it was found on a Facebook post) to buy it. Left for a 600 mile trip (one way) a day after to buy it.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > cuts_off_prius 10/12/2015 at 17:21

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I like to think I did, but to be realistic? probably nah....

When I got the car, the paint had more imperfections in it than any 2 year old\20K mile car should. it also had dents and scrapes on the back bumper, and a little tear in the driver’s seat. Also, whoever had it before me absolutely sucked at driving stick.

Since I got it, I’ve shoed it in good tires, tuned it, lowered it, fixed the wonky shifter (solid metal bracket versus factory rubber one) and removed the resonator.

I also got rear-ended, so I had to get a new bumper.

The paint was restored through polishing, buffing and claybarring by a professional detailer. I wax the car once a month, and wash it (inside and out) once a week.

pic of car as it sits now

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Arben72 10/12/2015 at 17:24

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I have all the stuff to do mine, I just need to get the rest of the old glue off the fiberglass panel and my pillar pieces (yay for fabric pillars -_-) Hopefully I'll have it back in the car this weekend, or at least done and ready to put in.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Sam 10/12/2015 at 19:06

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No one else wanted it and I had a car trailer and some free time.