[BessyTheBeast]

Stolen from Caversham today 20/06/2022 on a flatbed, confirmed by neighbours. Any details?
M5 E39 - Silver, Black+Grey Leather Seats, noticeable damage to the bottom of the Front Bumper 3inch gap in the center of the air intake, paint damage.
Reg: X309 UOM (build 2001 - E39)
Colour: Silver
VIN: WBSDE92040BJ11460
She's been sitting for a while, looks like it's been lifted by a flatbed (No drag marks). Not hopeful, I guess it'll be broken down.
Any advice welcome! I'll see if I can get a more recent picture of the car.

Absolutely gutted.....

 

[Garfunkgrin]

Coming soon to a Mid Eastern or Eastern European port, you can bet on that!

Sorry to hear- was it insured and sitting?

 

[DepthHoar]

Very sad news. Being a RHD car there'll be limited potential for its sale overseas as a running/driving car so I'm guessing it'll be broken for parts. The engine and gearbox will have quite some value + all the other M-specific parts. (Right now I see there's a complete engine - from a legit seller - on eBay UK for £10k; 155k miles on it too). I can only see this type of theft issue becoming more of a problem as the rarity and values of our cars rise. To add insult to injury, I'll bet that the UK police won't be that interested in your loss. Car theft for desirable cars in some parts of the UK is now endemic.

Edit. You need to do your due diligence on values for your M5 with solid market evidence. Your insurer will almost certainly low-ball you with their opening offer, assuming it is insured. Be prepared to negotiate hard.

 

[BessyTheBeast]

Very sad news. Being a RHD car there'll be limited potential for its sale overseas as a running/driving car so I'm guessing it'll be broken for parts. The engine and gearbox will have quite some value + all the other M-specific parts. Right now (I see there's a complete engine - from a legit seller - on eBay UK for £10k; 155k miles on it too). I can only see this type of theft issue becoming more of a problem as the rarity and values of our cars rise. To add insult to injury, I'll bet that the UK police won't be that interested in your loss. Car theft for desirable cars in some parts of the UK is now endemic.

Edit. You need to do your due diligence on values for your M5 with solid market evidence. Your insurer will almost certainly low-ball you with their opening offer, assuming it is insured. Be prepared to negotiate hard.

Sadly, it'll almost certainly be broken down to parts. As you say, police don't seem overly interested. Unfortunately, it wasn't insured either so... broad daylight as well, neighbours saw it but couldn't identify the plates or livery on the flatbed. Fufff... bad day

 

[BessyTheBeast]

Coming soon to a Mid Eastern or Eastern European port, you can bet on that!

Sorry to hear- was it insured and sitting?

no unfortunately ;-(

 

[DepthHoar]

Not sure what to advise. A total bummer of a situation. You could try a social media campaign but that's a bit of a shot in the dark.

Since the engine number will be on your V5C registration document you could contact the well-known BMW specialist breakers (like Quarry Motors etc) to see if they've been offered your engine, that way you may have a lead on the perps. The reputable breakers probably wouldn't accept an engine with the engine code ground off so it may end up on Gumtree, FB Marketplace or eBay. It's also entirely possible it (or its parts) has already been spirited out of the country.

I really feel for you. I would be utterly devastated if that happened to me....even though mine is insured.

 

[flacoramos]

Any chance the police took it? Depending where you live here in the US you cannot leave a non running car even on your driveway. First pic sure looks like it's a non runner. If cops then that would explain boldness of taking a car in the middle of the day.

 

[GabrielD]

Sadly, it'll almost certainly be broken down to parts. As you say, police don't seem overly interested. Unfortunately, it wasn't insured either so... broad daylight as well, neighbours saw it but couldn't identify the plates or livery on the flatbed. Fufff... bad day

I hate to say it but you're probably right about this. My previous car (S2000) was stolen when I lived in Florida and was found in pieces the next day (before and after pics below). The cops basically did nothing but tell me to keep an eye out on ebay for parts of my car. Really rough that it wasn't insured, sorry to hear about this, it's a really awful feeling.

 

[pmalik]

Any chance the police took it? Depending where you live here in the US you cannot leave a non running car even on your driveway. First pic sure looks like it's a non runner. If cops then that would explain boldness of taking a car in the middle of the day.

Yeah, most municipalities wouldn't let you keep a car of that condition in plain sight.

 

[mailman]

Uh, quite ****ty situation 🤬
Feeling bad for you...

Depending where you live here in the US you cannot leave a non running car even on your driveway.

Seems that he is from UK

 

[JonJon2015]

Yeah, most municipalities wouldn't let you keep a car of that condition in plain sight.

Not so here in the UK, where you can let a car literally turn to dust on your driveway (and many people do).

Desperately sorry for the OP and hope that there's some positive news for you some time soon.

 

[BessyTheBeast]

I hate to say it but you're probably right about this. My previous car (S2000) was stolen when I lived in Florida and was found in pieces the next day (before and after pics below). The cops basically did nothing but tell me to keep an eye out on ebay for parts of my car. Really rough that it wasn't insured, sorry to hear about this, it's a really awful feeling.

View attachment 963670
View attachment 963671
View attachment 963672

View attachment 963669
View attachment 963673

Blood hell!! Feel for you!

 

[BessyTheBeast]

Any chance the police took it? Depending where you live here in the US you cannot leave a non running car even on your driveway. First pic sure looks like it's a non runner. If cops then that would explain boldness of taking a car in the middle of the day.

No, it's legal in the UK as long as you register it.

 

[BessyTheBeast]

Uh, quite ****ty situation 🤬
Feeling bad for you...



Seems that he is from UK

yup

 

[BessyTheBeast]

Not sure what to advise. A total bummer of a situation. You could try a social media campaign but that's a bit of a shot in the dark.

Since the engine number will be on your V5C registration document you could contact the well-known BMW specialist breakers (like Quarry Motors etc) to see if they've been offered your engine, that way you may have a lead on the perps. The reputable breakers probably wouldn't accept an engine with the engine code ground off so it may end up on Gumtree, FB Marketplace or eBay. It's also entirely possible it (or its parts) has already been spirited out of the country.

I really feel for you. I would be utterly devastated if that happened to me....even though mine is insured.

Thanks mate, that's a good idea

 

[Edgy36-39]

Really sorry to hear about this. I'd be capable of serious violence if I ever saw someone stealing my M5. Too bad no neighbor confronted them. May karma come back and bite these a-holes hugely.

Don't know about other places in this big country, but can do what you want in your driveway in Virginia. Neighbor has a decaying E32 with a tax decal from 2008 in his driveway - utterly shameful but none of my business. It's when parked in the street that lots of rules come into play.