Update: did not buy it. Another day, Another BMW. Also need some help

"ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability" (italianjobr53) 02/22/2020 at 11:15 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping without E90M3

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Update: like y'all said it was CP all the way. But at least I got to experience a ZHP so there is that.

T his time its on CL which means I can lowball it :P

Gonna go look at this today. Carfax shows that the airbags did not deploy during the crash so there is that:

If anyone knows how to pull accident pics, it would be highly appreciated! VIN is WBAEV53414KM05827

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/21/2020 at 12:54

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...$4,600 for a rebuilt title car with 189k miles? I’d think long and hard about that one.

I bought my 6 speed ZHP coupe with 109k miles for $4700 2 years ago. Admittedly that was a great deal even back then...but this one I’d be pretty weary about.

E90M3 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/21/2020 at 13:00

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Salvage title with 190k miles? I’d say it’s worth about 2k. 

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/21/2020 at 13:09

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it’s either on lowering springs or they are cut, look at that fender gap...

Arrivederci > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/21/2020 at 13:11

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I’d vote hard pass.

fourtitude > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/21/2020 at 13:28

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Ehh. It’s hard to tell in the photos. But it looks like it’s missing the fender liners, or at the very least the under tray component of the front bumper. I don’t think you should see that much exposed ground from inside the fender  from the side view. That speaks to me that someone tried to fix this for as cheap as possible.

functionoverfashion > fourtitude 02/21/2020 at 13:29

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Or the tires rubbed on the fender lines after it was lowered. Either way, red flag 

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > fourtitude 02/21/2020 at 13:32

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Yes you can see light through the front clip in one of the photos, there is too much half assed going on here. 

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/21/2020 at 13:33

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I hate that googling any VIN just returns spam.

functionoverfashion > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/21/2020 at 13:50

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Also to quote Jeremy Clarkson (fwiw) ... ok maybe more like paraphrase: “Never buy a used car if it’s been lowered” 

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/21/2020 at 13:52

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You’re gonna have a bad time with that one. EIther the guy will insist that his e46 is worth way more than the 2 grand you should offer and will fight tooth and nail to get double what it’s worth, or he’ll accept your offer on the spot and you’re left holding the bag for a beat up old E46.

Wait for a better car. It’ll be much cheaper in the long run.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 02/21/2020 at 14:01

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Yeah, I’m gonna try to get it at 3500. If not, then I wont get it.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > fourtitude 02/21/2020 at 14:04

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I will be bring my hydraulic jack and jack stands with me when I go look at it today, so I’ll be able to look at the u nderbody closely.

It was crashed at 60k miles, 10 years ago according to Carfax so if it been running for so long, it must have been fine, right? I will know more once I drive it.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/21/2020 at 15:58

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Obviously your choice – but for that money I’d consider a clean title regular E46 with lower miles that isn’t so questionable. I don’t think the ZHP is worth the sacrifices you’re making, even given what you’re paying.

functionoverfashion > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/21/2020 at 16:48

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My old E46 had been in a “minor” accident many years before I bought it. It had been driven many, many miles since. But still, it wouldn’t align properly, and always ate its left rear tire. Always. Even after custom-fabricating (modifying) the offending suspension part to allow for more adjustment in the required direction. It annoyed me to no end, until the day I sold the car. 

Nom De Plume > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 02/22/2020 at 11:31

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Every bit of that .

Don’t buy other people’s projects. Only make an offer if everything looks good. Otherwise walk away, politely.  If offer is not met, walk away.  Walking away can in fact be a bold but worthwhile bargaining strategy... if you are willing to walk away for good.

ihm96 > functionoverfashion 02/22/2020 at 11:37

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Sounds like you shouldve just replaced whatever the part was with a whole one from a parts car, prob wouldve been way less aggravation

ihm96 > functionoverfashion 02/22/2020 at 11:38

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Depends. If its been lowered tastefully on some super expensive Ohlins setup and had a proper alignment it can be great.

But unless its done top notch they can fuck off lol

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fourtitude 02/22/2020 at 12:50

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Strangely enough, my Cruze is missing one of the inner fender liners. However, it has never been crashed, because I can see where the missing mudflap that attaches to the liner wore on the paint on the fender. Maybe a lazy service tech did not put it back at one point?

Nibby > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/22/2020 at 16:39

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Eh why not buy a Honda Corolla GTR

functionoverfashion > ihm96 02/24/2020 at 09:29

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The part in question wasn’t damaged, or at least, it had been replaced with a good one after whatever damage occurred years before I got the car. But the subframe/unibody was slightly tweaked. It was really, really hard to see, but it became apparent after enough studying the problem. We got it close but it was never 100% right. 

functionoverfashion > ihm96 02/24/2020 at 09:30

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Absolutely agree. Like all generalizations, there are notable exceptions. I don’t put this one in the notable exceptions category haha

ihm96 > functionoverfashion 02/24/2020 at 11:12

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This one looks pretty terrible. When I got my Z3 it has H and R springs and was terrible. I got coil overs for the better handling and then put them at stock height. Handled way better than the lowering springs and now I don’t scrape when I drive into center city  Philadelphia on the weekends