Opinions On Buying M5 With Accidents

[M_FunfER]

What's going on guys,
I was wondering what the general consensus is on buying an M5 that has been in an accident. The one I'm looking at specifically is a 02 Imola Red M5 w/ 40k miles, looks flawless from what I can see on the pictures. However, I checked the carfax and it states that the car had an accident to the left- front of the car twice, the first time the side-airbags deployed and the second time nothing deployed. The car is about 100 mi. away from me and I was wondering if I should consider checking it out or run away from it. If it's worth checking it out, what should I look for to tell if the accidents were major or just fender benders. Thanks!,

[gmakishima]

Originally Posted by M_FunfER

What's going on guys,
I was wondering what the general consensus is on buying an M5 that has been in an accident. The one I'm looking at specifically is a 02 Imola Red M5 w/ 40k miles, looks flawless from what I can see on the pictures. However, I checked the carfax and it states that the car had an accident to the left- front of the car twice, the first time the side-airbags deployed and the second time nothing deployed. The car is about 100 mi. away from me and I was wondering if I should consider checking it out or run away from it. If it's worth checking it out, what should I look for to tell if the accidents were major or just fender benders. Thanks!,

Well, if the airbags deployed in one of the accidents it must've been a significant impact. The airbags are deployed based on a number factors such as speed, g-force, angle of impact etc. and calculated in a complex algorithm. If the airbags deployed, it must have been enough of an impact to cause the computer to think the airbag was needed to save a life. I've heard that your airbag will deploy if you hit a SOLID (immovable) barrier at 10-12 mph. Just imagine how much damage that car would have. Not sure I'd want a car that has had that kind of damage since there are any number of problems that it could have that you just can't detect easily (bent subframe, etc.) There are plenty of used Beasts out there so why take a gamble... How much is it going for? If it's going for a great price and if you don't care to get too much back on it if/when you get rid of it, it might be worth it. Definitely get a thorough PPI done.

That's just my opinion.

[gmakishima]

BTW, I'm selling my 2002 Sterling Gray Beast for $28.5K to board members only. It's listed on AutoTrader for $28,750, and it has a clean history!

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=234857185&dealer_id=61617603&car_year=2002&model=M5&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&start_year=2002&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=25&marketZipError=false&search_lang=&make=BMW&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=94706&advanced=&end_year=2002&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=0

It has TV, DVD, Nav, and Bluetooth! I'm trying to decrease my expenses (gas in CA is ridiculous and I do a lot of driving) to buy a house.

[EM5PWR]

Cars are never quite the same after a major accident, close but never the same. Do a through inspection if you feel the need to buy one..

[KevinM]

All subjective of course, but I would never consider purchasing a car in which air bags were deployed due to an accident.

That is not to say that with enough owner perseverance and enough shop TLC a car can never be restored to its' former glory. However, it is very difficult to determine if this level of repair occurred. Most people just don't care that much.