Among the victims of Hurricane Ian is this BMW M Roadster. Not only was it inundated by the hurricane, but the salvage society decided to park it in the lake behind their store. Between the flood and the submersion of the lake, it is irreparable. In addition to the water destroyed parts, the car is covered in layers of mud, silt, grime and everything else you can imagine.
This makes it the perfect car to demonstrate how even the dirtiest cars can be cleaned up and made presentable. A flooded BMW seems like an odd choice to wash and detail, but there are practical benefits to cleaning it.
For full disclosure, the company that bought the BMW, J&J Auto Salvage, is not repairing it or putting it back on the road. He separates. Everything salvageable is stripped before the rest of the M Roadster’s dead carcass heads to the crusher. All parts will be offered for sale with a disclaimer on the status of the BMW as a salvage car.
The first step is to vacuum and disassemble the interior. Everything goes out and will either be salvaged or scrapped. One thing to note is all the wiring and electronics spread throughout the interior of the BMW, most of which have been submerged for an extended period. Water doesn’t play well with electronics, which is one of the main reasons flooded cars get totaled.
It’s amazing how much the interior can be salvaged, from the console, to the seats, to the trim and even some of the carpeting and upholstery. Everything is washed, scrubbed and pressure dried, so it’s presentable. During this time, the exterior receives a deep wash to remove any mud or salt. This includes the engine compartment, which is pressure washed to remove the worst of the dirt.
The end result is nothing less than a major transformation. With everything cleaned up and reassembled, the BMW M Roadster looks almost ready to roll. The paint shines and the interior is clean and presentable. Except for the front damage, it looks like a clean, well-maintained car.
Unfortunately, this BMW M Roadster will never see the road again or do fast laps on the track. However, some parts of it will live, helping to repair other BMWs.
Among the victims of Hurricane Ian is this BMW M Roadster. Not only was it inundated by the hurricane, but the salvage society decided to park it in the lake behind their store. Between the flood and the submersion of the lake, it is irreparable. In addition to the water destroyed parts, the car is covered in layers of mud, silt, grime and everything else you can imagine.
This makes it the perfect car to demonstrate how even the dirtiest cars can be cleaned up and made presentable. A flooded BMW seems like an odd choice to wash and detail, but there are practical benefits to cleaning it.
For full disclosure, the company that bought the BMW, J&J Auto Salvage, is not repairing it or putting it back on the road. He separates. Everything salvageable is stripped before the rest of the M Roadster’s dead carcass heads to the crusher. All parts will be offered for sale with a disclaimer on the status of the BMW as a salvage car.
The first step is to vacuum and disassemble the interior. Everything goes out and will either be salvaged or scrapped. One thing to note is all the wiring and electronics spread throughout the interior of the BMW, most of which have been submerged for an extended period. Water doesn’t play well with electronics, which is one of the main reasons flooded cars get totaled.
It’s amazing how much the interior can be salvaged, from the console, to the seats, to the trim and even some of the carpeting and upholstery. Everything is washed, scrubbed and pressure dried, so it’s presentable. During this time, the exterior receives a deep wash to remove any mud or salt. This includes the engine compartment, which is pressure washed to remove the worst of the dirt.
The end result is nothing less than a major transformation. With everything cleaned up and reassembled, the BMW M Roadster looks almost ready to roll. The paint shines and the interior is clean and presentable. Except for the front damage, it looks like a clean, well-maintained car.
Unfortunately, this BMW M Roadster will never see the road again or do fast laps on the track. However, some parts of it will live, helping to repair other BMWs.
