Flood Damage Car 328i

singhbmw23 · 01-23-2010, 10:42 PM

My friend is thinking about buyin an 08 328i from the auction but it has flood damage. He says he wants to buy it but it wont start it cranks but will not turn over. What do you think it could be he said the car is clean on the inside no signs of damage on the inside what do you think it could be? Please help thanks.

X1 Trojan · 01-23-2010, 10:50 PM

lol. dont buy it.

jopa489 · 01-23-2010, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335 Trojan

lol. dont buy it.

+1.

You're asking a forum to help diagnose a flood damaged car that doesn't start?

PINeely · 01-23-2010, 10:54 PM

Poor choice.

oilfighter · 01-23-2010, 10:57 PM

danger Will Robinson, DANGER

singhbmw23 · 01-23-2010, 10:57 PM

Its not me its a friend i told him not to also. Does anybody know what it could be he is set on this car for some reason. I have a car dont need another one haha. Happy with my 325i.

PINeely · 01-23-2010, 11:02 PM

That's the thing. It could be anything from a $20 part to $20,000 worth of parts. Your friend is set because he thinks he's getting a good deal on a nice car. The gamble could pay off a bit but if the car has flood damage it probably won't.

He is asking for problems now and down the road. Engines/Electrical + Water, a deal does not make.

mdrivera · 01-23-2010, 11:03 PM

Most likely ecu malfunction. He's just asking for TROUBLE!!

jopa489 · 01-23-2010, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by singhbmw23

Its not me its a friend i told him not to also. Does anybody know what it could be he is set on this car for some reason. I have a car dont need another one haha. Happy with my 325i.

He's probably set on it because he sees a BMW in his price range. It's a BAD choice, and could be a big money pit for years to come.

Tell him to consider some other cars closer to his budget.

Goody4 · 01-23-2010, 11:34 PM

I think I'm going to pile on here because all of the aforementioned advice is right. Tell your friend to RUN from this car.

chromisdesigns · 01-24-2010, 12:48 AM

Run away, Run away!

Worst possible choice in a car. I wouldn't take a flood-damaged car if you GAVE it to me!

bsamoul · 01-24-2010, 12:58 AM

definitely not!!!!

robkap · 01-24-2010, 01:00 AM

Abort! Abort!

CaliE90 · 01-24-2010, 01:00 AM

probably hydrolock. which means a new engine.

JayKay335i · 01-24-2010, 02:03 AM

I'll vote for hydrolock too.

New engine @ dealer = $24k

At the least, it will be thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dollars to diagnose and fix the amazing amount of electrical problems its going to have. Not to mention he will never be able to sell it after he wastes all his money on it.

He could buy a Honda with what it will cost to fix it.

ibeclueless · 01-24-2010, 02:38 AM

sounds like bad things going on with the car

sleepyx637 · 01-24-2010, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayKay335i

I'll vote for hydrolock too.

New engine @ dealer = $24k

At the least, it will be thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dollars to diagnose and fix the amazing amount of electrical problems its going to have. Not to mention he will never be able to sell it after he wastes all his money on it.

He could buy a Honda with what it will cost to fix it.

OR, he could be buy a non-flooded 328i with what it will cost to fix it. You should try and talk hm out of buying it (unless you feel like giving him rides to the repair shop all the time)

scheherazade · 01-24-2010, 05:26 AM

Flood damage can include hydrolock, which can include destroyed internals.

I wouldn't bother. If it doesn't run it could be a complete disaster inside the engine.

Now, if it RAN, then I'd say go for it.

My friend's BEST CAR EVER (i.e. 100% reliable, never had a single problem), was a flood damage rebuilt pickup.

-scheherazade

demosthenes · 01-24-2010, 07:56 AM

I agree with everybody else - stay away from this car!

The only person that should consider a car like this is someone with enough time, energy, knowledge and money to go through the entire car and fix everything that's wrong. It could require a complete rebuild.

Oulixes · 01-24-2010, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by singhbmw23

My friend is thinking about buyin an 08 328i from the auction but it has flood damage. He says he wants to buy it but it wont start it cranks but will not turn over. What do you think it could be he said the car is clean on the inside no signs of damage on the inside what do you think it could be? Please help thanks.

From your description, it is impossible to guess - there could be a number of things wrong with the car, and you probably know that there is only one fair advice: do not buy the car.

e90-ZeRo · 01-24-2010, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335 Trojan

lol. dont buy it.

This. Don't do it. I know your friend probably wants to be in a newer, nice BMW but if he can settle for something a little older and more affordable than a screwed up, flood damaged car, then he should absolutely go for it so that his experience with BMW will be more pleasant than paying costly bills for god knows what else is broken or will need to be fixed down the line.

xG35c · 01-24-2010, 02:29 PM

You would think whoever's selling it would have already done an easy "fix" to get the car running, just to make it easier to sell and worth more. It's also possible there are so many other problems with the car, the seller disabled the engine so it couldn't be test driven. Unless your friend is a BMW tech, buying this car doesn't seem like a good idea!

01-23-2010, 10:42 PM	#1
singhbmw23 PUNJABI KING 67 Rep 704 Posts Drives: aw e90 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: dallas,tx iTrader: (0)	Flood Damage Car 328i My friend is thinking about buyin an 08 328i from the auction but it has flood damage. He says he wants to buy it but it wont start it cranks but will not turn over. What do you think it could be he said the car is clean on the inside no signs of damage on the inside what do you think it could be? Please help thanks.
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01-23-2010, 10:50 PM	#2
X1 Trojan Go Dodgers? 93 Rep 1,557 Posts Drives: '13 BSM X1 xdrive35i Msport Join Date: May 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (13)	lol. dont buy it. __________________
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01-23-2010, 10:54 PM	#4
PINeely Lieutenant Colonel 1086 Rep 1,912 Posts Drives: 2013 535i, 2015 Tundra 1794 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Jackson, MS iTrader: (2)	Poor choice.
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01-23-2010, 10:57 PM	#5
oilfighter Private First Class 2 Rep 135 Posts Drives: 335D Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: TX iTrader: (0)	danger Will Robinson, DANGER
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01-23-2010, 10:57 PM	#6
singhbmw23 PUNJABI KING 67 Rep 704 Posts Drives: aw e90 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: dallas,tx iTrader: (0)	Its not me its a friend i told him not to also. Does anybody know what it could be he is set on this car for some reason. I have a car dont need another one haha. Happy with my 325i.
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01-23-2010, 11:02 PM	#7
PINeely Lieutenant Colonel 1086 Rep 1,912 Posts Drives: 2013 535i, 2015 Tundra 1794 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Jackson, MS iTrader: (2)	That's the thing. It could be anything from a $20 part to $20,000 worth of parts. Your friend is set because he thinks he's getting a good deal on a nice car. The gamble could pay off a bit but if the car has flood damage it probably won't. He is asking for problems now and down the road. Engines/Electrical + Water, a deal does not make. Last edited by PINeely; 01-23-2010 at 11:47 PM..
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01-23-2010, 11:03 PM	#8
mdrivera Lieutenant 17 Rep 450 Posts Drives: e90 Deep Green Metallic Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (5)	Most likely ecu malfunction. He's just asking for TROUBLE!!
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01-23-2010, 11:34 PM	#10
Goody4 Lieutenant 141 Rep 416 Posts Drives: 2022 X3 M40i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Syracuse, NY iTrader: (1)	I think I'm going to pile on here because all of the aforementioned advice is right. Tell your friend to RUN from this car.
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01-24-2010, 12:48 AM	#11
chromisdesigns Lieutenant Colonel 45 Rep 1,754 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 335i sedan Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	Run away, Run away! Worst possible choice in a car. I wouldn't take a flood-damaged car if you GAVE it to me!
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01-24-2010, 12:58 AM	#12
bsamoul Major General 167 Rep 7,433 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Walnut Creek, California iTrader: (2)	definitely not!!!! __________________ -Brian 2X 2006 BMW 325i [Electric Red & Mystic Blue] \| ZPP \| V1 \| Rear Fogs \| M3 Lip Spoiler \| EAS RemoteKey \| BMS Powerbox \| Projector90 Headlights w/ LED AE \| LED plate lights \| OEM Blacklines http://www.tech-shine.com
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01-24-2010, 01:00 AM	#13
robkap Enlisted Member 6 Rep 42 Posts Drives: '06 330i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	Abort! Abort!
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01-24-2010, 01:00 AM	#14
CaliE90 Colonel 354 Rep 2,190 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Worldwide iTrader: (19) Garage List 2021 M550xi [0.00]	probably hydrolock. which means a new engine. __________________ Retired- '14 F10 535i -- 3 2 1 \| '08 E90 335i -- 4 3 2 1 \|
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01-24-2010, 02:03 AM	#15
JayKay335i Banned 189 Rep 5,046 Posts Drives: ///M323 DCT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Dakota; its best DUHHHHHH iTrader: (1)	I'll vote for hydrolock too. New engine @ dealer = $24k At the least, it will be thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dollars to diagnose and fix the amazing amount of electrical problems its going to have. Not to mention he will never be able to sell it after he wastes all his money on it. He could buy a Honda with what it will cost to fix it.
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01-24-2010, 02:38 AM	#16
ibeclueless What 141 Rep 9,325 Posts Drives: E92 328xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Quincy, MA iTrader: (1)	sounds like bad things going on with the car __________________ E92 328xi Space Gray Aero Lip \| M3 Side Skirts \| CF Performance Spoiler \| ACS Roof \| Gloss Black Grilles \| LUX H8 Angels \| BMW Performance Exhaust My E92 Photos
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01-24-2010, 05:26 AM	#18
scheherazade Major 36 Rep 1,467 Posts Drives: 09 GTR (& 93' accord!) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: DC metro area iTrader: (8)	Flood damage can include hydrolock, which can include destroyed internals. I wouldn't bother. If it doesn't run it could be a complete disaster inside the engine. Now, if it RAN, then I'd say go for it. My friend's BEST CAR EVER (i.e. 100% reliable, never had a single problem), was a flood damage rebuilt pickup. -scheherazade
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01-24-2010, 07:56 AM	#19
demosthenes Major 48 Rep 1,162 Posts Drives: E90 328i 6MT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 328i sedan [0.00]	I agree with everybody else - stay away from this car! The only person that should consider a car like this is someone with enough time, energy, knowledge and money to go through the entire car and fix everything that's wrong. It could require a complete rebuild.
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01-24-2010, 02:29 PM	#22
xG35c Lieutenant 36 Rep 433 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	You would think whoever's selling it would have already done an easy "fix" to get the car running, just to make it easier to sell and worth more. It's also possible there are so many other problems with the car, the seller disabled the engine so it couldn't be test driven. Unless your friend is a BMW tech, buying this car doesn't seem like a good idea!
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