Copart BMW finds...

@rsporsche; you have this one in your CSL list? VIN stamped on the tag is "2257310".

I think this is the one that Oldenzaal sold in 2023: the engine bay is identical: The battery with it's labels and green cut-off switch, the various label locations, white headlight cap screws, and funny voltage regulator with red sticker on top and red tape at it's bottom. I'm 100% positive it's this one. Oldenzaal did the full resto for the owner, but didn't share the VIN.

left is Copart, right is Oldenzaal:
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In my world, I would consider the damage very, very repairable, unless there is more to it vs what is shown in the pics. Front seems like new grille and perhaps some minor dents/scratches, no welding required it seems.
Rear panel could possibly be saved by a panel beater, trunk lid as well, being aluminium ( at least in 2023 at Oldenzaal it was). Worst case, new steel trunk lids are 650 euro in reproduction or around 3K for a used Alu CSL one.
The damaged rear trim is non CSL specific, so even if it would need a full left to right new set of taillights (a nice set from @mariuszmycz perhaps?) and license plate holder, it'll be less then 2K.

Fyi, for whoever buys it: i have the correct NOS thin gauge CSL specific tail panel for it.

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Front seems to have very minor damage: Panels gaps are still nice ; all that is body color looks nice.
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I don't know Copart or the meaning of it's status description in the "Title code" field, but this can't be a total write off that needs to be disassembled and chopped up for parts would it?
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fyi: Oldenzaal link:
https://oldenzaal-classics.nl/project/bmw-3-0-csl-golf/
 
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Copart is a website that holds auctions for insurance companies to dispose of cars that the insurance company considers a write off. I'm amazed that with this little damage that the car is being totaled and offered on Copart considering the value of the car in proper shape. Cars from Copart are most of the time given a salvage title, but I don't think that would be much of an issue since the buyer would have all of the pictures from the sale and the damage has been documented. There could be other issues that are causing this to be totaled, but who knows.
 
yes, this car is already in the ancestry project. i believe it was owned by samboss.

Copart is a website that holds auctions for insurance companies to dispose of cars that the insurance company considers a write off. I'm amazed that with this little damage that the car is being totaled and offered on Copart considering the value of the car in proper shape. Cars from Copart are most of the time given a salvage title, but I don't think that would be much of an issue since the buyer would have all of the pictures from the sale and the damage has been documented. There could be other issues that are causing this to be totaled, but who knows.
there is a thread in 'off topic' about copart listings. this car is already been posted in that section. i am tempted to merge them together to keep everything in 1 place.
 
In the U.K. once it is classified as non repairable, only registered breakers can buy it and it is not permitted back on the road again. There are other classes of non structural and even structural damage that can be repaired and put back of the road.
 
In the U.K. once it is classified as non repairable, only registered breakers can buy it and it is not permitted back on the road again. There are other classes of non structural and even structural damage that can be repaired and put back of the road.
I think in the US the salvage title comes form the insurer determining that the repair cost exceeds the replacement value. Classifying something as non-repairable seems like a heavy hand. Everything is repairable, including the Zagato above that sat in a UK field for 15 years...
 

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the California 'non-repairable' certificate seems quite odd for this minimal damage. the owner must have said, i can't buy the front + rear panels in the thin gauge steel - so its a total loss. but non-repairable makes you think that the frame rails are folded up or bent beyond repair. the passenger door seems a little wonky, but not repairable ??? if rusty CS / CSL are repairable ...

but once you get a non-repairable certificate, you probably have a big mountain to climb to overcome that.
 
If it is Hagerty, American etc… they would have an agreement. Insured for X and we will total it. They don’t want the car. It’s just part of the transaction. And it protects buyers of car that may be have taken back by the owner and fixed and resold.

Laws do vary from state to state. In Ohio… good luck getting a salvaged title converted. It is a freaking monumental task. You have to show cause and basically fraud.
 
While it's difficult to next to impossible in some states to get the salvage title changed to a clean title, for this car so long as you have the documentation of the damage and how it was repaired I don't think it will make that much difference as to the selling value with it having a salvage title. Most folks understand that this was "totaled" but was related to bookkeeping and insurance purposes. As the old saying goes "you wouldn't kick that one out of bed for eating crackers"... I'd bet the reserve was way out of my pocketbook range. When you look at the insurance company should have listed it as "rebuildable" and not hung the salvage title on it.
 
I already have a 2001 330Ci E46 convertible that has a CA salvage title. Was able to extract $9k net from State Farm Ins due to their relationship with body shops in CA. Fixed the car and we're still driving and enjoying it. The general rule in CA is that if the damage costs 60% of the value then the insurance co makes you an offer of the market value and takes the car. You have to fight them to establish the car value and thanks to BaT you can prove the value or get an outside appraisal. I made them pay me the increased value, bought the car back for $1,025, had it fixed for a third of the original body shop estimate and had DMV issue a salvage title for about $1,000. You should be able to do the same with this CSL. I don't know of any process in CA where a salvage title can be cleared to a clean one.
A word of caution though. I signed up with Copart to create an account and submitted my $99 application where upon they accepted my money and then issued a whole list of other info required and terms that made me suspect it would be difficult to bid on this CSL. I think anyone with a membership or the ambition to chase this should. I'm not going to.
Regards, Jon
 
guys - for anybody looking for the separate discussion on the golf csl on copart - it is now part of the copart thread in off-topic. there is a lot of good information here that is germane to the copart thread.
 
From what I read, Non-Repairable titles and Salvage titles are two different animals. I could be wrong but then why wouldn't they just call it a Salvage.
Yes, different altogether. California actually issues a Non-repairable Certificate, not a Title. It is equivalent to a Certificate of Destruction. The certificate permanently prevents the vehicle from being registered or titled again. It signifies that the vehicle is intended for parts or scrap only and cannot be legally repaired and driven. Also, the vehicle's VIN is flagged in national databases like NMVTIS, ensuring the non-repairable status is recognized across state lines. It's going to be very difficult to clear the Title on this car, if not impossible at least in the US.
 
it is unbelievable to me that this car, with such minor damage, has this certificate. so in that case, its only worth what you can sell the good items for. and there should be plenty to sell from this car
 
Another interesting tidbit... this yellow CSL was marked with "Run & Drive" ... which Copart defines as:

"According to the auction, at inventory, the vehicle was “Run & Drive” meaning the vehicle: 1) Started under its own power or with the use of external jump box, 2) Was put into gear, and 3) Moved forward. This designation is no guarantee, representation, or warranty that the vehicle is roadworthy or will be able to start, be put into gear or capable of moving forward at the time of the sale."

If this vehicle can't ever be put on the road again due to status, I'd agree.. seems like it could live on as a race car... perhaps as a Group 2 or Group 5 tribute vehicle? or something like Shawn's 2800cs track car?
 
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