Parts Car - Thoughts...

[UdubBadger]

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=933612

I am not gonna lie... the AA stage 2 S/C, AA Exhaust, Apex Wheels and coveted Natural Brown interior has me SERIOUSLY :drool over this car.

I am wondering how BAD of an idea it would be to take out a loan on it, swap all that stuff over to my car, fix the things wrong with it (listed and inspect unlisted), swap back to an OEM stereo and then sell it myself and pay off that loan in a couple of months (hopefully).

Someone might need to talk me out of this.

[Hornung418]

Can you DIY it or would you need to pay to do this?

Horney...via TT.

[M3TA5IN]

This sounds like some crazy idea I would come up with...

In which case I propose it is a bad idea :rofl

[UdubBadger]

Can you DIY it or would you need to pay to do this?

Horney...via TT.

I think a good amount of the swapping I could do. Seats wouldn't be TOO hard to swap with a DIY, wheels are easy, I wanna say the SC swap would be challenging but if I had help I could pull it off (literally). My shop gives me good rates if I needed them to do stuff.

Fixing the suspension would probably need a trip to the shop and I'd have to pay for the new stuff - FCABs, RTABs, both sides of stabilizers and then a right rear shock, then a new radio (could possibly eBay the old one).

Not saying it wouldn't be an investment of time and some money but I assume it would be SUPER cheap compared to just buying the parts outright and doing it that way. An AA stage II kit is like $4500 used right off the bat.

So say parts/labor I invest $1000, the question is can I make that back (or most) and sell it for what I pay for it in a few months time.

[danewilson77]

In a nutshell.....you would need to sell for $15k, after the fact, to get your money back.....and get the S/C for free.

[UdubBadger]

Well I don't plan on offering him full price either, he's been trying to sell since late march


- Goin' H.A.M. Mobile

[JupiterBMW]

Yep, this car is local to me and I've been so tempted to drive down there and just take a look. Hmm, I had never thought about this, but its a good idea. If anything else, I'd like to test drive and get an idea for the SC kit...

If you want to talk more and you'd like me to take a look/pictures for you, I'd be more than willing. And not to worry, I'm not going to swipe the sale out from under you, my wife would f'ing CHOKE me! :rofl

[Ryans323i]

I'd take out a small loan and put the things you listed you wanted on your car and pay the loan off. Be much easier.

But, the car is a good buy IMO. The things that need to be fixed are under $1K.

[UdubBadger]

well i guess the point was if I can steal the car for like $13500, get a $4500 SC, $1000 exhaust and $1000 wheels and then dump a few hundred into fixing it and sell it for the same price or maybe $1000 less, that list of $6500 worth of goodies only cost me the difference in what I pay to fix it and what I sell it for (potentially a few hundred bucks, maybe $1500-2000). Thats a big savings on buying the items and then paying $6500 off.

[UdubBadger]

Yep, this car is local to me and I've been so tempted to drive down there and just take a look. Hmm, I had never thought about this, but its a good idea. If anything else, I'd like to test drive and get an idea for the SC kit...

If you want to talk more and you'd like me to take a look/pictures for you, I'd be more than willing. And not to worry, I'm not going to swipe the sale out from under you, my wife would f'ing CHOKE me! :rofl

no worries, I'm still only 1/2 serious at this point.

[wsmeyer]

I think if you could financially afford to lose up to $2K on it I'd do it. Breaking even or making money on this kind of thing rarely works out.

[UdubBadger]

right but essentially "losing money" is still saving on all of those parts purchased separately though... thats my logic at least.

[wsmeyer]

right but essentially "losing money" is still saving on all of those parts purchased separately though... thats my logic at least.

Oh for sure, what you would be getting would easily be worth the money. $2k might even be wishful thinking though as you have to go down to Florida and bring the car back. There's going to be DMV fees, taxes, and insurance too. If he was local you might be able to circumvent those by doing a quick swap and resell with him present but out of state, I don't know.

[webster]

the idea seems like a fun project but financially i don't know that it's worth it. much easier to just sell your ZHP and buy a more powerful car if that's what you want. the ZHP is not meant to be special.

[Johal E32]

if you buy it, I will buy the cube trim, steering wheel, and front bumper! I can help you get some of your money back on the car :)

Of course, it all comes down to how much you get the car for and how much you sell those pieces for.

[UdubBadger]

Oh for sure, what you would be getting would easily be worth the money. $2k might even be wishful thinking though as you have to go down to Florida and bring the car back. There's going to be DMV fees, taxes, and insurance too. If he was local you might be able to circumvent those by doing a quick swap and resell with him present but out of state, I don't know.

Ya plates title tax is about $500 right there and shipping from Fla is like $800 so I guess I'm down $1300 off the bat huh.



- Goin' H.A.M. Mobile

[UdubBadger]

the idea seems like a fun project but financially i don't know that it's worth it. much easier to just sell your ZHP and buy a more powerful car if that's what you want. the ZHP is not meant to be special.

Why sell? Point is to make this car - the one i live driving, faster, better handling and more visibly appealing... Not start over.


- Goin' H.A.M. Mobile

[UdubBadger]

if you buy it, I will buy the cube trim, steering wheel, and front bumper! I can help you get some of your money back on the car :)

Of course, it all comes down to how much you get the car for and how much you sell those pieces for.

That wouldn't work cuz I'd be selling as a complete car not a parts car.


- Goin' H.A.M. Mobile

[JupiterBMW]

If all you're going to do is remove mods, swap a few parts, etc... Then don't bother with registration. I bought my car with out of state tags. Leave registration up to the new owner. All you need is a bill of sale and a title signed over from the current owner. Don't sign the FL title yourself.

The only catch, here in FL license plates stay with the owner, so most likely you'd get the car without plates. No big deal though, just get a moving permit or bring a plate from your car down to slap on and drive it back up.

[danewilson77]

That wouldn't work cuz I'd be selling as a complete car not a parts car.


- Goin' H.A.M. Mobile

Title = parts car = misleading

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[UdubBadger]

yeah I know D, I meant a parts car for me to swap stuff on then resell as a total car using the other stuff from mine.

[UdubBadger]

If all you're going to do is remove mods, swap a few parts, etc... Then don't bother with registration. I bought my car with out of state tags. Leave registration up to the new owner. All you need is a bill of sale and a title signed over from the current owner. Don't sign the FL title yourself.

The only catch, here in FL license plates stay with the owner, so most likely you'd get the car without plates. No big deal though, just get a moving permit or bring a plate from your car down to slap on and drive it back up.


Good point but I'd have to have it shipped out to me anyway so wouldn't even need the plates (I assume).

[danewilson77]

yeah I know D, I meant a parts car for me to swap stuff on then resell as a total car using the other stuff from mine.

Got it bro. You want 2 complete cars. All is good.

[JupiterBMW]

Dude, take a train/flight down and drive it back. WAAAAAAAY cheaper...

[UdubBadger]

it has a few "needs replacing" suspension parts and a leaky head gasket. I just don't wanna risk it. I am graduating in a month so I'm swamped with work too. A flight down is like $250, add in gas @ $4 gal, food and all that plus a hotel room for the trip 1/2 way and I'm looking at $500-600 easily. Might as well just ship it for pretty close to that and not worry bout it.

[JupiterBMW]

Well, I'll pick it up for you and store it at my place until you come down. That'll save you about 90 miles. :biggrin

[danewilson77]

it has a few "needs replacing" suspension parts and a leaky head gasket. I just don't wanna risk it. I am graduating in a month so I'm swamped with work too. A flight down is like $250, add in gas @ $4 gal, food and all that plus a hotel room for the trip 1/2 way and I'm looking at $500-600 easily. Might as well just ship it for pretty close to that and not worry bout it.

Valve Cover Gasket.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[UdubBadger]

right my bad

[Blaster3500]

Sounds like a good idea but I dont think I would do it unless you are ready to have the money tied up for a while. Everything usually takes longer then planed. Also keep in mind you have to pay AA for software.

[UdubBadger]

true about the being tied up part Blaster, however, I won't be paying a dime for software ;)

[wsmeyer]

If all you're going to do is remove mods, swap a few parts, etc... Then don't bother with registration. I bought my car with out of state tags. Leave registration up to the new owner. All you need is a bill of sale and a title signed over from the current owner. Don't sign the FL title yourself.

The only catch, here in FL license plates stay with the owner, so most likely you'd get the car without plates. No big deal though, just get a moving permit or bring a plate from your car down to slap on and drive it back up.


The problem though is that he will be trying to sell the car in Illinois where no one knows what a Florida title is supposed to look like, and pay for it with a cashiers check made out to him, who's name isn't on the title.

[Blaster3500]

Oops! That completely slipped my mind.

[UdubBadger]

The problem though is that he will be trying to sell the car in Illinois where no one knows what a Florida title is supposed to look like, and pay for it with a cashiers check made out to him, who's name isn't on the title.

yeah again, not opposed to getting it titled because of savings over buying all the stuff individually.

maybe I should speak to someone who has a dealers license who will let me pick the stuff off the car and then just let them sell it and try to make some $ on it.

[UdubBadger]

actually that wouldn't work if I purchased it. the dealer would need to buy it cuz if I took a loan on it the bank would want the title so I would have to register it. hmmmmmm, still something to think about.

[M3TA5IN]

Headaches man! Headaches!

[UdubBadger]

yeah which is ultimately why it probably won't happen but I like to talk these things out in hopes that I find a way for it to work out.

Maybe I should just offer the guy $2500 to come swap everything out and try to sell his car aggressively for him. :dunno

[JupiterBMW]

I've bought cars before and then resold them without retitling them. Seriously, its not that hard. As long as you have original title (FL in this case) signed over from the person's name ON the title, and a signed bill of sale from that person to you, you're fine. Then when you resell the car, you write ANOTHER bill of sale from you to the next owner. You give them the title (don't sign it when you get the car) and then they take the original title from FL and their bill of sale, and a copy of the bill of sale from original FL owner to you.

Its really not that hard. I've bought and sold cars with out of state tags before.

In other words, come down to Florida, buy the car, swap the mods... Doooo eeeeeet..

[JupiterBMW]

You can come crash at my pad for a night if you want too. :thumbsup

[UdubBadger]

Lol.

Thanks but again, no time for that. Would have to calculate a shipped at to me


- Goin' H.A.M. Mobile

[UdubBadger]

did some more thinking bout this... rough estimates.

Parting the car out could make it worth my while $ plus I'd get to keep a bunch of the good parts I would end up buying in the future anyway.

5413

[JupiterBMW]

If you're still thinking about it, clearly you want it. I'll take a drive down and check it out for you, let you know the actual condition of things as I see it. Truth is, the seller's comments and pics are always pumped up more so than reality... :)

[UdubBadger]

Don't waste your time just yet. I'd be waiting another month for it to still be there at a bargain price anyway.


- Goin' H.A.M. Mobile

[JupiterBMW]

Hahha, great idea on your part... Can you tell, I've just been looking for an excuse to go drive it? :biggrin I won't be around in a month, going back to work soon. So, if you do want a local test, lemme know sooner than later.

[Johnmadd]

Just out of experience, I bought an e30 parts car and have I saved, omg yes, still got stuff like window regulators and uncracked e30 dash... the uncracked dash is the messiah.

[UdubBadger]

this wont be a traditional parts car john, it would be to swap parts on then sell as a whole car.