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This sad story pulled from Jalopnik

If, by chance, you may have wandered over to the ADESA salvage yard in Vancouver, British Columbia anytime over the last four years, you would have discovered a field of nearly 3,000 seemingly brand-new BMW and Mini models parked bumper to bumper, just rotting away.
A reader who sent Jalopnik photos of the cars in the salvage yard has done exactly that a few times over the last couple of years, and every time the cars appear a little sadder.

Back in February of 2015, a rough winter storm rocked Halifax port just as a fresh shipment of 2014 and 2015 model year BMW and Mini cars had arrived, as reported at the time by CBC.

Due to the extensive “exposure to standing water and salt for an extended period,” Transport Canada—the transportation regulatory department of the Canadian government—issued a recall for the 2,966 vehicles in port affected by the storm back in 2015.
The cars have been sitting at ADESA Vancouver, a salvage auction yard, ever since. According to the official recall, the Mini models were determined to be at increased risk of crash due to “corrosion at the starter motor power supply cable connectors, which could lead to the inability to restart the engine following an engine shutdown by the start-stop (MSA) system.”
The same recall determined the BMW models were at increased risk of crash because “lubrication of some internal components within the steering rack may have been exposed to excessive water or salt which could result in higher than normal steering effort or steering binding.”

The recall also warned of damage to electrical wires and connectors in the cars. The list of models affected included the BMW 2 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series, 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series, i3 electric hatch, i8 electric coupe, X1 crossover, Z4 roadster, Mini Cooper, Cooper Convertible, Coupe, Mini Paceman, and Mini Roadster.
This week, BMW of Canada sent Jalopnik the following statement in response to the situation:
While we cannot confirm without seeing individual VINs, it appears that the vehicles pictured may be among those involved in the Port of Halifax recall.
This recall was implemented in conjunction with Transport Canada. It was issued due to risks relating to the exposure of certain vehicles to excessive standing water or salt for an extended period of time at the port of entry in Halifax in 2015.
It was deemed that this exposure could result in a number of issues including, for example, damage to electrical systems.
All vehicles subject to the recall were removed from service. BMW and MINI retailers worked with affected customers to replace their vehicle with a new vehicle as quickly as possible.
The photos Luke sent to Jalopnik show some M models, including an M4 and a few M6s. That’s a lot of good car just sitting there going to waste. Why hasn’t somebody started a spec salvage racing series with these yet? Can we try

[stein_325i]

Those poor M-cars, and the Alpina! The Minis, meh.

They've really been sitting there for a while, those are last generation E84 X1's back when they were new!

[NickyC]

[///M Power-Belgium]

.

[Gamb1t]

Hey I don't live far from there! Looks like it's by the suburb or Richmond.

I remember that ice storm. From pictures these cars and other brands were frozen in salt water because the proximity to the sea. Real shame. Looks like these cars will be auctioned off for parts. I imagine the interior parts are in good shape.

Breaks my heart.

[brad850csi]

I realise that obviously a bunch of parts can't be used but surely wheels, tyres, some interior trim (originally, but perhaps not now?) and so on can be pulled off the cars and used as spare parts.

[..Rush..]

What a poor waste of great machines.

[BMW DIY Guy]

seriously hurts my heart. At least let enthusiasts like us part them out??? 50% off.. 75% off.. something!!

[Eddien123]

That's ridiculous. I'd be more than happy to take a couple of the m6s off their hands for them.

[Sedan_Clan]

That's a crazy sight to see.

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by Gamb1t

Hey I don't live far from there! Looks like it's by the suburb or Richmond.

I remember that ice storm. From pictures these cars and other brands were frozen in salt water because the proximity to the sea. Real shame. Looks like these cars will be auctioned off for parts. I imagine the interior parts are in good shape.

Breaks my heart.

Why wouldn't they have been auctioned off years ago if that is the route they were taking?

Originally Posted by brad850csi

I realise that obviously a bunch of parts can't be used but surely wheels, tyres, some interior trim (originally, but perhaps not now?) and so on can be pulled off the cars and used as spare parts.

Tires from 2014. No thanks.

I'm sure the wheels are rusted now (as well as most metal parts) and interior is probably moldy.

Not even NBT EVO units. Very outdated now.

I'd take a factory bumper for a project. Not much more.

[VCP]

Lol

[tkila]

better than someone buying these cars, getting them professionally cleaned inside and out, and then selling them for high prices in China or other countries.

[dezzracer]

What a waste. It's not about the waste of money it's the waste of cars. People make really bad decisions.

[dharo1]

A waste of cars, a waste of resources, opportunities, parts, engines. And ultimately these will go to a wasteland while many of us will be crying out loud to get one of these M-cars

[allen3ybq]

This is.....crime........

[paliknight]

They have to inevitably move all those cars. Wondering what course of action they'll take.

[bimmerride0]

. .

[JustChris]

After M Town...

Ghost Town

[48Laws]

More proof most of the stuff we give value to isn’t worth crap. Yet people, even me at one point, wait in line, salivate over, sign wait lists, put deposits down, and trap ourselves with things like this. Funny, In a show room, these cars are locked, cordoned off, yet it’s ok for them to rot in this field.

[cracker123]

Sad sight. What is the black stuff on the cars ?

[bjcarls]

I doubt it was at port since the photos shown have dealership stickers on already. Either way, I see no carbon in the M4 exhaust, clearly a waste, save the environment.