Would you buy an E86 Cat D?

[stijohnny]

This advert is on EBAY
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-Coupe-3-0-Si-Black-2007-LOW-MILEAGE-53k-RELISTED-DUE-TO-TIME-WASTER/132988577697?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
I asked the seller some questions - a lot of questions - about the car.
Turns out it was stolen recovered in 2013 but with no damage to the car and before this guy owned it.
Main issue is that he has not stated it is a Cat D (not yet anyway).
Thoughts?

 

[mmm-five]

If it wasn’t damaged & repired, then wouldn’t it have been recorded as a cat n?

 

[stijohnny]

mmm-five Im not sure and you could be right. I asked him what the Cat is and he has not come back yet.

 

[philbo909]

"relisted due to time waster" = I didn't tell the buyer it was a cat d, when he found out he wasn't pleased

 

[saj77]

"relisted due to time waster" = I didn't tell the buyer it was a cat d, when he found out he wasn't pleased

Exactly my thoughts! I’d avoid on that basis alone!

 

[stijohnny]

I asked the seller to state in the advert that it was a Cat D (or whatever is on the HPI), here's his answer...

"New message from: conversionsmart (840Purple Star)
It’s pretty much sold I think someone’s coming tomorrow for it"

 

[derin100]

Isn't "Stolen Recovered with no or very minimal damage" now classified as 'Category X'?

Cat D (or N as it now is) per se wouldn't put me off buying a car depending on reflective pricing and whether it had been adequately repaired. In former times when my wife and I had very little money that's what we had to buy. I remember replacing, out of necessity, a Cat D E28 520i with a Cat D Saab 9000 when we had our twins because we already had a 2.5 year old child and three child car-seats wouldn't fit in the back of an E28! Both were actually completely fine cars.

What would put me off is a seller being cagey about it rather than upfront!

 

[Nictrix]

If it wasn’t damaged & repired, then wouldn’t it have been recorded as a cat n?

I dont think cat n was around in 2013. Not that it matters it would be a cat d.

 

[philbo909]

This advert is on EBAY
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-Coupe-3-0-Si-Black-2007-LOW-MILEAGE-53k-RELISTED-DUE-TO-TIME-WASTER/132988577697?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
I asked the seller some questions - a lot of questions - about the car.
Turns out it was stolen recovered in 2013 but with no damage to the car and before this guy owned it.
Main issue is that he has not stated it is a Cat D (not yet anyway).
Thoughts?

Are you after a cheap z4 Coupe or just testing the water?

 

[stijohnny]

Ive got a lovely E89 35i with 385Bbhp and 37k on the clock, but I am always considering other cars and I love the shape of the e86.
Do you have one for sale then?

 

[Ed Doe]

Op - I bought an accident repaired cat D coupe in 2014 - I went in eyes open, got it for the right price and had 5 years and 50k of very happy motoring out of it. It absolutely is OK to buy something cat d - but do your homework on the purchase first to avoid any clangers

 

[Mr Tidy]

I've had quite a few over the years - working in motor claims at an insurance company had some perks back in the 80s! :lol:

But back then there were only 3 categories, "Wreck" which meant it couldn't go back on the road, "BER" or "Stolen/Recovered" both of which could.

My first was a 1978 Granada Ghia I bought in 1981, the next was a Gold 1.3 I got in 1986 when I had my first mortgage - both were stolen/recovered.

Then I had a few more as my mate was a salvage dealer, but I didn't do quite so well with those. :roll:

Categories A,B, C & D didn't come along until 2007, then they changed C & D to S & N in 2017.

So to answer the original question, I wouldn't be put off by it, but the price would need to reflect it. It also helps if you plan to keep it for some time as it will obviously restrict your market when you come to sell.

If I was spending £5,000 and the seller was in any way vague I'd probably just pay for an HPI check - they don't cost much!

But that's part of the problem with ebay - if you advertise on AutoTrader they identify the Cat on the advert.

I think it's a shame they did away with the "Stolen/Recovered" category - neither of my 1st two had any damage at all and my Mercedes C280 had none, other than the AMG alloys and leather interior that had gone AWOL!

Anyway now I know how many miles an N52 engine can cope with I'd probably just buy a "straight" one with higher mileage - there's an E86 Sport on Autotrader with 113K miles for £6,195.

 

[rally-chris]

If it was stolen and then recovered quickly, without the insurance having to pay out to the owner at the time, then the car will NOT be recorded as any type of category total loss. I had a Skoda vrs in the past that was exactly this. A typical HPI check may not even list that it was stolen & recovered - only certain vehicle check companies report a non paid out s&r vehicle.

Chris

 

[philbo909]

Ive got a lovely E89 35i with 385Bbhp and 37k on the clock, but I am always considering other cars and I love the shape of the e86.
Do you have one for sale then?

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=113124
I've just put mine for sale, I'm after something a bit more practical now

 

[srhutch]

This advert is on EBAY
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-Coupe-3-0-Si-Black-2007-LOW-MILEAGE-53k-RELISTED-DUE-TO-TIME-WASTER/132988577697?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
I asked the seller some questions - a lot of questions - about the car.
Turns out it was stolen recovered in 2013 but with no damage to the car and before this guy owned it.
Main issue is that he has not stated it is a Cat D (not yet anyway).
Thoughts?

Report the item would be my first thought.