Anyone have a theory on what's going on with this salvage M3?

[Niroc]

If flooded, it is possible that only the interior of the car that is damaged. I thought the casing of the battery is water resistant. It would take it sitting in water to penetrate interior battery for how long I wonder?

 

[rickdogg82]

Really?

Yes.

 

[RSR.M3]

I've bought cars off copart before, they usually disclose what the primary damage is, particularly if there is undercarriage damage. They also usually disclose if it is a flooded car. Like people said you could pay for a carfax/carproof or whatever it is now called in the US and see if that helps. You can actually also pay for a comprehensive report, it only gives you a bit more info, but you can ask for a video of the inside and undercarriage etc. That being said, I would never buy a car without seeing it.

 

[lolder]

Do not buy a possibly flooded Tesla. Rich Rebuilds has shown there's no way to know what components have been damaged by water intrusion. Even if they now work they might not in the future.

 

[SMAlset]

the picture on the rocker panel looks like mud to me. I am no expert at all, but I suspect it might have been flooded / and or damage to the battery.

There’s definitely some weird looking crud stuck in between the bottom of the door and frame on the driver’s door. Kind of yellowish when I’m viewing on my phone.

 

[Kuhz]

Copart. Nuff said.

 

[SoCalDriver]

Nobody should rely on Carfax for verification. Participation by insurance companies is voluntary, so it is very far from reliable. Dealers tout it but it’s basically meaningless.