[Swish]

I saw a very nice 535i with nearly every conceivable option; M Sport, back up camera, Comfort Access, Cold Weather Packages, Nav...but the dealer claims the title will be a 'Salvage' title due to the car being stolen and later recovered.

Does anyone know much about this? I've heard of salvage/reconstructed due to heavy damage via accident or flood, but never for a stolen vehicle.

While I'm guessing you cannot get a warranty on a salvage title in the latter cases, I'm thinking you could get one for a vehicle that was stolen and later recovered, right?

[WTF?]

Sure....stolen and stripped. Stolen and just recovered....nope. My sons Silverado was just stolen last Monday from his high school parking lot. Found partially stripped the next morning. All lights, bumpers, rims, grille, dash pad, gauges, seats, stereo......got it back with a clean title....so, I'd be weary.

[BeastMode335i]

I had a car get stolen and had a salvage title due to that happening.. So yes, it happens..

[Swish]

Originally Posted by WTF?

Sure....stolen and stripped. Stolen and just recovered....nope. My sons Silverado was just stolen last Monday from his high school parking lot. Found partially stripped the next morning. All lights, bumpers, rims, grille, dash pad, gauges, seats, stereo......got it back with a clean title....so, I'd be weary.

The insurance company paid the claim for a stolen vehicle that was later recovered. This dealer bought it from the insurance company. Your son's wasn't paid for a 'total loss'.

[tlow98]

Besides being stripped there is also a time expiration. For example, if your car is stolen and is not recovered in (typically) 30 days they will 'total' the vehicle and send you a check. After which of the insurance company does recover the vehicle they will sell it as a salvage title regardless of whether the vehicle has been stripped or not.

Lots of ins and outs to this. Give your insurance company a call. They will educate you.

[Maestro]

Originally Posted by tlow98

Besides being stripped there is also a time expiration. For example, if your car is stolen and is not recovered in (typically) 30 days they will 'total' the vehicle and send you a check. After which of the insurance company does recover the vehicle they will sell it as a salvage title regardless of whether the vehicle has been stripped or not.

Lots of ins and outs to this. Give your insurance company a call. They will educate you.

I think this maybe correct, if the car was declared a total lost, then it put in the DMV system as such, they only way to make it active again under the current system is to give it a salvage title. If it was in fact a stripped down car and rebuild there will be evidence of this all over the car, you should see new parts on the car, it was wrecked there should also be evidence of this, there is usually signs of the car being repaired and painted. Look the car over closely and see it was a wreck of rebuild. Even rebuild can be a problem since many time the guys stripping cut cables and such verse wasting the time trying to get connectors loose.

[9krpmrx8]

Yep, my 98's Integra GSR has a salvage title due to being stolen and recovered.

[racermp]

i used to be a salvage rebuilder. yea, i've gotten cars with 0 damage, not stolen and marked salvage. i've gotten cars where i had to cut the car in half because the chassis was so badly bent and it was a clear title.

got lots of stolen cars, some perfectly ready for sale, some just missing wheels or seats or something dumb. and salvage.

it's all insurance company paper work, best way they can make the most money and write off. don't assume a car is bad if it's salvage. doesn't have to be 70% loss in value. inspect every car that you buy, as the story only lays within the car itself. lol

[IllSic_Design]

Yes just being stolen can cause salvage title.

[TemjinX2]

if its not a daily driver and a second car, could be worth the risk. But i would also check with your insurance. Some insurances won't insure salvage cars, due to potential liabilities since your rolling the dice with a salvage car.

[dannyhavok]

I bought a motorcycle with a salvage title due to being stolen and recovered. It was fine.

[krhodes1]

My first BMW was exactly this - a '91 318iS that had been stolen, then had all the "iS" bits stripped out. Was enough to "total" the car, but nothing really wrong with it - car dealer bought it at the salvage auction, replaced all the bits, and sold it on to me. Branded title but the price was great, as was the car.

Your going to have to pay cash for the car and insure it only with liability, otherwise, inspect the car very closely for signs of water damage/accidents.

If it looks like it checks out and your happy with the deal then do it period.

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by index1489

Your going to have to pay cash for the car and insure it only with liability, otherwise, inspect the car very closely for signs of water damage/accidents.

If it looks like it checks out and your happy with the deal then do it period.

I have never had any issue getting comprehensive and collision coverage on salvage title cars (I've had several). My credit union will finance them too, though I didn't.

[kolhozbrothers]

There are plenty of cars that were stolen and later recovered. They are sold as "salvage" because insurance companies declare them a total loss. Sometimes the entire car is stripped, sometimes only airbags, headlights and body parts are removed and everything else is left as it is. Insurance companies do not want to deal with that, and they usually total loss them.
I would buy a salvage/rebuilt theft recovery vehicle over any other car that had a front end impact.

[Supra2k6]

it will be salvaged if they owner went thru insurance if you got your car back and didn't go thru insurance title remains clean