[last1left]

I would in a heart beat.

[04mazdaspeed]

This is one of those instances where you need to ask yourself, how long do I plan on keeping the car. If its a car you absolutely love and can see yourself keeping it another 10+years, I would say go for it. A car 98% of the time will never net you a return. They are simply fun hobbies. I am more of a collector of cars but sadly only have a 3 car garage. The cars I choose to have in the garage are all cars that will be kept for 10+ years if not even longer. At the rate I drive my 1er, I will only have 60k miles on it in 10yrs and 90k in 20. lol. I'm not expecting to make a penny on any of them but I enjoy what I have and would spend the money to keep them in pristine condition. Also, if this car is just a toy car for you, if you decide to spend the money, I highly suggest getting collector car insurance. They will insure the car based on what is invested and will payout whatever you agree the value is. I have it on all my toy cars including the 1er.

[DarkstarZero]

Thank you everyone for the feedback !!!!

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

Comprehensive losses include animal strikes. This would be covered as a comprehensive loss. 15+ years as an insurance appraiser.

Originally Posted by JohnnyCanuck

Sorry, you're right. I forgot that the OP hit a deer (I read the original post a couple of hours before I replied). Definitely a comp claim (10+ years as an adjuster/examiner/claims manager and can't believe I missed that).

Updated the original post with what happened with the insurance company. It worked out in my favor

Originally Posted by 04mazdaspeed

This is one of those instances where you need to ask yourself, how long do I plan on keeping the car. If its a car you absolutely love and can see yourself keeping it another 10+years, I would say go for it. A car 98% of the time will never net you a return. They are simply fun hobbies. I am more of a collector of cars but sadly only have a 3 car garage. The cars I choose to have in the garage are all cars that will be kept for 10+ years if not even longer. At the rate I drive my 1er, I will only have 60k miles on it in 10yrs and 90k in 20. lol. I'm not expecting to make a penny on any of them but I enjoy what I have and would spend the money to keep them in pristine condition. Also, if this car is just a toy car for you, if you decide to spend the money, I highly suggest getting collector car insurance. They will insure the car based on what is invested and will payout whatever you agree the value is. I have it on all my toy cars including the 1er.

If I fixed it up, I'd be keeping it for a long time. However, I do want my weekend car to be one that is also going up in value. And up until now, this has been going up in value (percentage wise) extremely fast.

Originally Posted by 86Zed

Hot daaaaaaaaamnnn that is one good looking coupe. How ragged does the interior look - I say at least see what insurance claim plus a good respray looks like. If you really do drive it, enjoy it and plan to keep it than yes it seems like a worthwhile investment.

It does seem like you have other unique toys; it could be time to pass this one along to somebody able to concentrate and bring it back to glory.

The interior looks good, just 23 years old. So the front seats are faded, starting to crack, and the dash has bubbled up in some spots, and the speakers are blown just due to age. But otherwise, great condition. I'd give it a 7/10 on the interior.

Originally Posted by thetastelingers

What about value on the ones with accident history?

Gotta think about that aspect, because someone spending a lot of cash on an old car would probably have an issue with previous damage.

True, this is top of mind for me right now. But then I think about restored e30 M3s that are going for crazy money. It seems that, when the car has been restored by a reputable shop, no one cares what the history is. All they care about is what shape the car is in after restoration. Granted, so long as it has a clean title, which this has.

[04mazdaspeed]

If this car is truly one that will bring a return on investment, then completely original is the only way to go. I would then sell this one and look for another pristine condition original and literally keep it locked away. Only way I ever see some cars returning some investment. If you want to just enjoy it for the long term then do fix it. A non accident car will 99 percent of the time bring more money than one with a history if that's your goal.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCanuck

Sorry, you're right. I forgot that the OP hit a deer (I read the original post a couple of hours before I replied). Definitely a comp claim (10+ years as an adjuster/examiner/claims manager and can't believe I missed that).

LOL no sweat. I'm about to hit the road and it's a 100% LOCK I will make at least one mistake today.

[Turbotalon92]

That pre-crash pic is hotness. As for bringing it back to life, go for it. Will be a fun project and will be good story telling looking back.

[Maynard]

Do what will satisfy yourself. I'd stop thinking about appreciation and collector value - that really went out the window when you started modding it, but after all the repairs it will be even more iffy. There might be s/b out there who is dying for this year/color, and willing to pay strong money for it, but not that strong - you'd only net a few grand at best, and that is after a ton of hassling w/ the resto and sale; probably better to find that buyer and sell them the car as-is, let them take the chance on resto costs. Cars are not good investments overall, and usually only return $$ if it is a 1-of-dozens rarity and kept up in showroom condition w/ super-low miles (or you change your name to Carroll Shelby or Michael Schumacher on the title ).

[ECSTuning]

With the salvage title putting 20k into it makes me cringe... but that being said I don't want to talk about how much I've put into some of my toys. If you love the car, rebuild it to a fashion that makes you happy.

-James

[DarkstarZero]

Originally Posted by ECSTuning

With the salvage title putting 20k into it makes me cringe... but that being said I don't want to talk about how much I've put into some of my toys. If you love the car, rebuild it to a fashion that makes you happy.

-James

The title is still clean since the estimate of repairs was $10k and the value was $17.8k.

[ECSTuning]

O snap crackle pop, I read $10k in repairs and $10k in value and stamped it salvage in my head. That changes things a little. I love the color and the characteristics of the S50 so I'd probably be rebuilding, to what extent that'd be debatable might go with a decent, not showroom, repaint and just enjoy the car.

[Ickdeep]

Keep it alive!

[KenB925]

I had one just like that, I really liked that car.

I wouldn't put money into a salvage title car myself.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the 1995 E36 M3, one year only Engine/Non OBDII, but doesn't have the real engine that the Euro M3 had.

[Alfisti]

100% do it, if you don't need the cash injection get her done.

I had an old Alfa Giulia coupe and was staggered at the price i was able to sell it for, there's a nutty market for good condition cars that were unique.

[DarkstarZero]

I talked to the restoration shop, they said to do it right and seriously restore the car to factory condition without touching the interior, it could cost between 17k-21k. But at the end of that, it'll look like it just rolled off the factory line.

Man, that's a lot of cash..

But the shop said now is the time to do it while new parts are still plentiful. If I just kept it garaged for a few years and did the resto later, it's possible some of the parts needed wouldn't exist anymore outside of junk yards.

[KenB925]

Originally Posted by DarkstarZero

I talked to the restoration shop, they said to do it right and seriously restore the car to factory condition without touching the interior, it could cost between 17k-21k. But at the end of that, it'll look like it just rolled off the factory line.

Man, that's a lot of cash..

But the shop said now is the time to do it while new parts are still plentiful. If I just kept it garaged for a few years and did the resto later, it's possible some of the parts needed wouldn't exist anymore outside of junk yards.

How do you deal with the salvage title? Do you just have the shop documents and photograph everything? Then how do you insure your newly restored valuable car?

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by DarkstarZero

I talked to the restoration shop, they said to do it right and seriously restore the car to factory condition without touching the interior, it could cost between 17k-21k.

20K without touching the interior is sky high in my book. Who is looking at the car for you? I lived in the DC area for 20 years before moving down here so I'm still familiar with a lot of the shops up that way.

[3rdcoast228i]

Fix it with the money you got. It would be better than before! You would have a classic with solid paint and body.

[DarkstarZero]

Originally Posted by KenB925

How do you deal with the salvage title? Do you just have the shop documents and photograph everything? Then how do you insure your newly restored valuable car?

The title is clean. Insurance company put the value of the car at $17,800 and cost to repair at $10k. It's just because their body shop didn't want to do the work that they paid out. That means the title remains clean - no issues.

[MalibuBimmer]

Your car as a restomod will not be worth the same as if you completely restored it to stock. That's true even though you've made it better.

So I'd patch it up (not necessarily with the cheapest possible job) and enjoy it. And use the rest as a down payment on something else.

But that's just me.

[W///]

Originally Posted by DarkstarZero

I talked to the restoration shop, they said to do it right and seriously restore the car to factory condition without touching the interior, it could cost between 17k-21k. But at the end of that, it'll look like it just rolled off the factory line.

Man, that's a lot of cash..

But the shop said now is the time to do it while new parts are still plentiful. If I just kept it garaged for a few years and did the resto later, it's possible some of the parts needed wouldn't exist anymore outside of junk yards.

That's just too much. I certainly respect that you want to do it right, but I would be happier with just repairing and painting as necessary, then just enjoy the car.

I tapped a guard rail in the rear 3/4 quarter a few years ago, but the repairs were fantastic. Paint match on my Techno Violet was spot on.

That's why I haven't sold my E36 yet even though I rarely drive it. Cheap to run, not expensive as E30 M3 and it's a blast.

[TrAcK TRaP]

Originally Posted by ECSTuning

With the salvage title putting 20k into it makes me cringe... but that being said I don't want to talk about how much I've put into some of my toys. If you love the car, rebuild it to a fashion that makes you happy.

-James

+1

[KenB925]

Originally Posted by DarkstarZero

The title is clean. Insurance company put the value of the car at $17,800 and cost to repair at $10k. It's just because their body shop didn't want to do the work that they paid out. That means the title remains clean - no issues.

well, in that case go for it, I would use oe parts, however. Stock vehicles retain their value much better then modified, and as you said, those parts are available now