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Thread: 2006 330XI 6MT - Totalled @104K - Monaco Blue with Tan

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    7
    My Cars
    2006 330XI 6spd, Monaco

    Question 2006 330XI 6MT - Totalled @104K - Monaco Blue with Tan

    Hey guys,

    If there's no interest in discussing this just let me know but I would appreciate your opinion on the three questions I have asked below after my 330XI 6MT machine got totaled a few weeks ago...hammering the value out with GEICO right now and wanted to get some perspective from the e90 enthusiast community.

    I bought chassis KL51778 CPO @ ~32K from a dealer in mid-2009 and put ~72K on the clock over the past nine years. Very low mileage around 8K/year.

    1) MAINTENANCE HISTORY
    All the regular maintenance was performed annually including oil, fluids and even changed the diff fluids. I did all the belts and pullies at 85K as one started making noise. Brakes were done twice both front and rear (for performance) and I have had only two minor repairs that cost me more than $200 to fix - 1) a blown driver's side headlight that was a result of a small bumper accident - it should have been replaced during that body repair. 2) I replaced a right rear door / window actuator. Other than that, the vehicle has had NO MAJOR MECHANICAL ISSUES ACROSS 104K miles. Nothing.

    2) MAJOR 5K REBUILD AND ENGINE REFRESH
    Over ~72K, my e90 has been nothing short of EXCEPTIONAL. So much so I would definitely buy a younger one. I've seen these cars online with 5 owners and that's just unimaginable. I was so confident in this car that I dumped $5K into the car with full H&R springs, Bilstein HD struts, new coils and plugs and a full suspension rebuild. Pretty much every bushing underneath the car was replaced. It was running better than new. I have digital records of 11 years of BMW dealer maintainance and 1 year of independent german motorsport tuner maintenance.

    3) TOTALED IN FREAK ACCIDENT WITH A MORON IN JUNE
    On June 13th, a full-size Toyota Tundra moron ran a red light 12 seconds after it change. The estimates I have gotten to repair the car range from 18k to 23K and my own amazing mechanic bowed out. He said the car is gone and will drive like a shopping car even with new frame rails and a bunch of devoted work... I have been grieving for almost a month now and beating the hell out of G E I C O on the valuation. I am now at the VP level negotiating with a guy who told me he also owns an E46 which is better than a "geico policy says..." ding dong

    4) I HAVE ONLY THREE BRIEF QUESTIONS - I would appreciate your thoughts, however quick and simple on where I am.

    BRIEF CONTEXT = I sold my last german machine @175K to buy chassis KL51778. That car was running like a Gulfstream G5 with a shine racing system suspension kit and highly modified suspension and engine bay. I got $5K for it easy as another enthusiast knew it was a rare motorsport wagon. I was planning to keep this 330XI until it was too small to drive both my kids around in so probably 5-7years max or 160K at my current low annual mileage of 8k/year. That's not going to happen obviously but it's relevant here as I will not have this car anymore. I don't car about value. I care about the loss of use and the fact that now I have to pay for a car when I owned one that was functioning perfectly.

    Q - How much would you value a 330XI AWD 6MT with this history in this rare Monaco Blue and Tan ext/int combo, super clean and super lean without NAV or any BS. This was a driver's car that always got nods from german machine freaks like us as it was simple lean clear focused torque direct to the ground through all four wheels.

    > Q1 > as an enthusiast, what would you offer an enthusiast selling this car with this heritage, history etc.

    Q - What would you do with the car? I don't have a lot of time or an air gun to remove parts from the car and I am not sure what I would do with them but hell there are four brand new springs and struts and six brand new coil packs and plugs in that thing. If I buy another e90 I could swap em on. But there's an $800 salvage deduction from GEICO, fees associated with breaking the car down and once the struts are pulled I have to put alternative struts in there if anyone at a body yard will take it. I am thinking it's too much trouble but I haven't been wrenching on my car and I don't know much about the salvage market for these cars, which is why I am asking. I have heard that title issues on a salvage car can be a pain especially when changing owners.

    > Q2 > Would you keep, scavenge and sell off the husk of the damaged car? what should I consider in terms of the costs and risks of going down that road?

    Q3 - Based on the damage and the quotes I got from 2-3 german specialists, the bent frame rails introduce so much cost and complexity it's time to walk away. For example, my body ship said it would be thousands just to drop the engine and set the car up on a jig to see if the frame is okay to rebuild. and if it isn't that money isn't going to a down payment. I am heavily leaning towards walking away and I don't have the time, location or expertise to properly rebuild the car myself right now.

    > Q3 > What else would you recommend I do to determine with complete certainty that the car is a total loss and not repairable, if anything? or at 23K repair estimate from Seattle's best body shop would you throw in the towel? I am leaning that way but taking on a 15-20K loan for a new 335XI or X5 is a pretty big painful gulp.

    All other comments and questions welcome and happy to post a link to a google photos album of the car and the damage to it if you would like.

    Lastly, this is NOT intended in any way as a "For Sale" ad for my 330XI husk so please do not flag this for the admin as an inappropriate post. I am seeking advice from fellow Bimmer folk as I have to battle with GEICO and finalize terms by this Friday.

    Really appreciate your help guys! There are no silly questions as I want to be sure I am not making mistakes or overlooking opportunity to capture the big value I had in this car.

    /Josh aka jdsboston

    PS - Every time I see a 2002 white Toyota Tundra it's like a freaking Tasmanian Devil goes off in my head. This shouldn't have happened. I am sure you can relate.
    Last edited by jdsboston; 07-18-2018 at 03:10 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Tyler, Tx
    Posts
    6,810
    My Cars
    '01 740i Sp, '07 335i
    I believe I would move on...at $23K estimate, that has to be twice the value of the car. I recently purchased a 2007 335i with 126K miles...needed a lot of TLC. Body and interior was in fair to good condition but it was leaking oil and coolant from every gasket or seam everywhere. The turbos had been replaced 3K miles before and the PO was done with it did not want to throw more money at it.... I bought for $3K and have put about $1500 in parts and many hours of labor into getting it road worthy today. This was a project car for me as I have a 1 owner 2001 e38 with 33K miles that is my main toy and garage queen. The 3 is now a play toy
    http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm71/krallopian/darthSigTest2_zpsn6zkw5id.jpg[/URL][URL="http://www.facebook.com/pages/DFW7-Dallas-Fort-Worth-BMW-7-Series-Club/300942239566"]DFW7 on Facebook/URL]
    "The Last Great e38" 2001 i Sport - Born'd on date 1/01 Cosmos/Grey - 32.8K miles - 2 1/2 " Custom Exhaust, Center “X”over , Modified OEM rear bumper, M5 style trunk spoiler, M6 OEM wheels, M3 Steering wheel with working paddle shift & CF trim, Bi-Xenon upgrade, 13mm Rear sway bar added, SS brake lines and bronze bushings, Cross drilled rotors and painted calipers, Akebono pads, Zionsville aluminum radiator & exp. tank with electric fan, Sprint Booster, BluTooth conversion, MKIV Nav., Custom wood cupholder, DUDMD Tune, Orien V2.5 LED Angel Eyes, Evans waterless. Recently added grey faced //M5 Cluster - all gauges functioning. Changed the grey carpet to black and topped off with GG Bailey front/rear mats[/SIZE]

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Vancouver Isl, BC, Canada
    Posts
    4,173
    My Cars
    98 Euro M3, 04 M3, 06 M5
    If your inclined there is money to be made parting these cars out, but it requires time and space and tools to do it. Otherwise id let them write it off and move on.
    Current:

    - 09 335i MSport, FBO.
    - 98 Euro M3, Estoril Blue
    - 04 M3, Carbon Black, 6 Speed Coupe
    - 06 M5, Black on Black, Full Leather.
    - 73 3.0CS, Tagia Green, 5 speed M30b35 converted

    Ex's: 1984 325e, 1988 325IX, 1992 525I, 1995 540i/6, 2002 330i, 2005 330xi, 1992 850i, 2003 330i #1, 2003 330i #2, 2002 330ci, 2004 330ci, 2007 328CI, 2007 335i, 2001 M3, 2006 M5 6 speed

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Fort Collins, Colorado
    Posts
    1,092
    My Cars
    2008 328xi Sportwagon
    If you want a value, go to Edmunds.com and run the car's value. Engine rebuild doesn't count; good paint doesn't count other then overall condition; "rare color" doesn't count. It's a 100K mile used car to the resale market.

    Unfortunately, a used car is just a used car. It's not rebuildable, based on what you say. Just like custom mods, things like "rare color" have no resale value except to an enthusiast, and your car is not re-sellable. It's parts.

    Unless you're in the car business and have a large back yard and lots of spare time, it's not even close to worth trying to part it out. Let it go.

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