Write-off · Cat N
An insurance write-off is recorded against this vehicle.
Data provided byExperian
Category
Cat N
Date of loss
24 June 2026
Location:
Pathway:
Location:
Pathway:
Report generated 18 July 2026 at 09:30
Auction bid decision
The numbers to know before you bid
Based on the listing, market valuation, visual condition and the costs you confirmed.
Recommended max bid
£1,900
At your chosen plan and costs
Cost to fix
£900 to £1,400
Broad planning allowance; no component quote
Total cost
£4,802
At the recommended bid, including the displayed repair allowance and risk buffer
Repaired value used
£5,220
Not a guaranteed resale price
Damage, replace and repair breakdown
6 cost lines · The bid uses the high end of the repair allowance
Replacement parts
Front bumper assembly (cover + crash bar)
£150 – £300
Used from a breaker, or new OEM
Estimated parts allowance
Search eBay with these terms:
BMW 2 Series Front bumper (cover + crash bar)
Bonnet
£100 – £220
Used, colour-matched where possible
Estimated parts allowance
Search eBay with these terms:
BMW 2 Series Bonnet
Nearside headlight
£90 – £200
Used from a breaker
Estimated parts allowance
Search eBay with these terms:
BMW 2 Series left headlight
Radiator support / slam panel
£60 – £150
Used, subject to impact behind the bumper
Estimated parts allowance
Search eBay with these terms:
BMW 2 Series Radiator support
Replacement parts subtotal
£400 – £870Workshop
Repairs and fitting purchased replacements, including necessary materials. Estimated fees; confirm with your workshop.
Bodywork and paint
£200How this estimate is calculated
The saved workshop fee covers the tasks below. Purchased replacement parts are budgeted separately.
- Paint & blend, front end
Respray and blend into the wings
Specialist work
£300 – £330How this estimate is calculated
The saved workshop fee covers the tasks below. Purchased replacement parts are budgeted separately.
- Panel fitting & alignment
Independent bodyshop rate
Workshop subtotal
£500 – £530Allowance used in the bid calculation
£900 – £1,400Visible front-end panels, paint and alignment checks, excluding hidden chassis or airbag damage.
Review the bid calculation and test costs
Recommended max bid
£1,900 – £2,300
Bidding is already at £4,600, past the top of the range
- £5,220
What it's worth repaired
SalvageGuide category-adjusted resale, the price this car actually sells for once repaired with its recorded category
SourceSalvageGuide
- −£1,400
Cost to fixEstimate
Based on the damage visible in the listing and photos
- −£420
TransportEstimate
Transport quote plus 20% VAT
- −£310
Copart buyer feeEstimate
Low volume tier, from Copart's published table
- −£79
Copart live bid feeEstimate
- −£50
Copart lot retrieval fee
- −£88
VAT on Copart fees (20%)
- −£522
Buffer for what the photos don't show (10%)
- −£418
Your saving for the auction risk (8%)
If you can't buy below this, retail is the better deal
Bid range
£1,900 – £2,300
Total at your door£4,802 – £5,220
Measured against what a recorded Cat N realistically resells for (£5,220), not the clean-car price.
Getting it home
This lot is at South Yorkshire. Enter a transport price before VAT to see its effect on the bid.
Retail value comparison
Independent market valuation
£9,050
UK Vehicle Data · licensed trade guide
Copart estimated retail value
£10,900
Auction listing · not independently verified
Copart is £1,850 (20%) higher.
Ralph uses the independent UK Vehicle Data valuation, not Copart's listing estimate, to calculate your maximum bid.
Repairs priced between £900 and £1,400, Visible front-end panels, paint and alignment checks, excluding hidden chassis or airbag damage.. This sum uses the higher end, because on a damaged car the cautious number is the honest one. Copart fees come from their published low-volume buyer table plus the live-bid fee and the £50 lot retrieval fee, with 20% VAT added on top. Check your Copart account for the exact figure before you bid.
Visual condition
The visible impact is concentrated at the front nearside, but the chassis legs and airbags are not shown clearly enough to rule out a larger repair. Ralph inspected 12 supplied images.
- DangerFront nearside impact
Bumper, wing and headlamp damage are visible. Alignment and cooling-pack damage need a physical inspection.
- WatchAirbag condition is not proven
The dashboard is powered, but the listing does not show the full restraint-system warning-light sequence.
Market valuation
UK Vehicle Data range
Value comparison
UK Vehicle Data · licensed trade guide
Retail price
£8,150 - £9,900
9,050
Private sale price
£7,700 - £8,150
8,150
Trade price
Low £6,100
6,775
Part exchange price
6,150
Auction price
5,475
SalvageGuide · salvage market model
Recorded write-off price
£4,595 - £5,845
5,845
Predicted auction bid
£1,989 - £3,438
2,607
Based on 38,450 miles · guide
Vehicle Information
Make & Model
Bmw 2 Series 218i LuxuryBmw 2 Series 218i Luxury
Year of Manufacture
20162016
Colour
BlackBlack
Transmission
AutomaticAutomatic
Registration
KX20 TDFKX20 TDF
Registration Date
01 Sept 201601 September 2016
Latest Mileage
38,450 mi38,450 mi
MOT Status
ValidValid (Expires: 12 April 2027)
ULEZ
CompliantCompliant
Tax Status
TaxedTaxed (Due: 01 January 2027)
Engine & Fuel Consumption
Fuel typePetrol
Engine capacityUnknown
Consumption combined48.7 mpg
CO2 emission112 g/km
CO2 ratingC
Cost per mileEstimated13.5p / mile
Annual fuel costEstimated£1,002
22% better than UK average (40 mpg)
CO₂ Efficiency Rating
C (112 g/km)
0 < 101
A
101 - 120
BC
RATING C
121 - 140
DE
141 - 165
FG
166 - 185
HI
186 - 225
JK
225+
LM
Official values are shown where supplied; estimated values use vehicle specifications. Fuel costs assume £1.45/litre and 7,400 miles/year. Actual use and prices vary.
Odometer history
Track how the vehicle's mileage has changed over time
First recorded29,844 mi
Latest recorded38,450 mi
Mar 2024: 29,844 mi
Apr 2025: 34,090 mi
Apr 2026: 38,450 mi
MOT Test History
Test Number
test-0
Odometer
38,450 mi
Noted Defects & Advisories (1)
- ADVISORYFront tyre worn close to legal limit
MOT Pass Rate
First-time pass rate. A fail that passed on retest still counts as a fail.
67%Pass rate
Passed: 2 (67%)
Failed: 1 (33%)
What's claimed vs what the record shows
- WatchRun and drive
The listing records run and drive, but that does not confirm roadworthiness after the impact.
- WatchCategory N
The current marker agrees, but licensed salvage history also found an earlier Category S event.
Vehicle history
Licensed evidence summary
2 critical licensed markers found
6 checks
Critical2
Needs context0
Clear4
- Write-off / Cat status
- Recorded · Cat N
- Outstanding finance
- None found
- Stolen marker
- No marker
- Previous keepers
- 3 keepers
- Plate changes
- None
- Colour changes
- Not recorded
Experian
Experian
Experian
Experian
Experian
Experian
Recent dated evidence
- Previous history search25 Jun 2026
Salvage Auction
- Write-off recorded24 Jun 2026
Cat N
- Prior auction / salvage24 Jun 2026
Front End · 38,450 miles
- V5C logbook issued10 May 2024
DVLA registration certificate issued / updated
- Prior auction / salvage17 Oct 2019
Front End · 21,106 miles
What this means for the buyer
Prior auction / salvage
This car has a prior salvage or auction record.
Data provided bySalvageGuide
Date
24 June 2026
Mileage then
38,450 miles
Primary damage
Front End
Salvage 1 · Mileage
38,450 miles
Salvage 2 · Date
17 October 2019
Salvage 2 · Lot
BMW 218I Luxury - Category S
Supporting licensed detail
Checked 18 July 2026Data provided byExperian
V5C, identity checks & indemnity
V5C issued
10 May 2024
Ownership, colour and search history
Keeper record
2 previous keepers · last changed 14 Jan 2022 · updated 14 Jan 2022
Previous search
25 June 2026 · 16:40 · Salvage Auction
Data provided byExperianSalvageGuide
Ralph's Call
64/ 100
Key Findings
Current Category N plus an earlier Category S salvage record
Photos do not prove airbags or chassis alignment
No active finance, theft, scrap or export marker
ULEZ Compliant
Maintenance evidence
What this vehicle's record suggests dealing with now, before its next MOT and over the next year. Ralph does not estimate a long-term maintenance bill.
Deal with now
Evidence worth checking before relying on the car.
Front-end damage allowance
£1,400High
Before road use
Before the next MOT
Items to inspect or resolve before the next test.
Front tyre
£140Medium
Latest MOT advisory
Ralph Recommendation
Treat the maximum bid as a hard ceiling. It already deducts the high repair allowance, estimated auction fees, £350 transport, a 10% unknown-condition buffer and your 8% target margin.
MOT Analysis
Mileage progression is consistent. The latest MOT passed, but the recent brake failure and current tyre advisory should remain in the preparation budget.
What hidden evidence reveals
From unlocked paid evidence, read against what the free check already showed.
- No stolen marker on the paid history check.
- No outstanding finance recorded on the paid check.
- Paid market valuation is unlocked, use it with asking price and condition, not on its own.
- Insurance write-off history (N) is on the paid check, weigh repair quality and residual value carefully.
- Salvage / auction salvage history appears on the paid check.
Before you commit
- Obtain a physical body-alignment and chassis-leg inspection
- Confirm airbags, seatbelts and warning lights complete their self-check
- Get the exact buyer fee and delivery quote for your account
- Inspect evidence of the 2019 Category S repair
Free Multi-Vehicle Compare
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Ralph provides AI-assisted vehicle information, not a physical inspection or guarantee. Records and estimates may be incomplete. Verify the vehicle, its history, condition and price independently before buying. Your statutory rights are unaffected.