BMW i3 - I3 catches fire and takes out 3 shops then vanish

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Mon 8 May 2023 08:54
BMW i3 - I3 catches fire and takes out 3 shops then vanish - Steveieb

But interestingly the car disappeared when arrangement s were made to collect the car for examination. So the owner and the shop owners are left with an insurance claim she can’t progress

This is an exclusive story from the Times which has a paywall . But can anyone find the story reported anywhere else ?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 8 May 2023 09:06
BMW i3 - I3 catches fire and takes out 3 shops then vanish - Lee Power

Found the article easily enough.

Doesn't answer was the car in question subject to the recall - be easy enough to check via the VIN number.

Remains of vehicle have gone missing - possibly been disposed as scrap metal as the recovery contractor has gone in to liquidation.

So the newspaper can track down the recovery yard to see its empty but cant be bothered to check if the vehicle was affected by the recall?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 8 May 2023 09:11
BMW i3 - I3 catches fire and takes out 3 shops then vanish - bathtub tom

This is an exclusive story from the Times which has a paywall . But can anyone find the story reported anywhere else ?

link removed

Mod

Edited by Xileno on 08/05/2023 at 10:31

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 8 May 2023 09:40
BMW i3 - I3 catches fire and takes out 3 shops then vanish - Steveieb

Until the car can be examined by the manufacturer or insurance company the owner can’t progress her claim for a lost business and income .

And it is unclear who sent the recovery truck to collect what little remained of the I3.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 8 May 2023 10:35
BMW i3 - I3 catches fire and takes out 3 shops then vanish - Xileno

As the OP states, the article is behind a paywall.

I've removed a link posted that may circumvent the paywall (although when I tried it nothing much more was displayed) but the legalities and ethics of doing so are questionable. If people wish to circumvent paywalls then HJ should not be assisting in them doing so.

Mods

Edited by Xileno on 08/05/2023 at 10:38

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 8 May 2023 10:44
BMW i3 - I3 catches fire and takes out 3 shops then vanish - Steveieb

Let’s try this link

Link removed as it's just another link to the Times paywall, routed via Twitter.

Also the width of the link was messing up the screen.

Mod

Edited by Xileno on 08/05/2023 at 10:53

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 8 May 2023 11:01
BMW i3 - I3 catches fire and takes out 3 shops then vanish - badbusdriver

Let’s try this link

Wow, that is a link and a half!

I wonder if it is common for damaged cars (or the remains of) to be stolen?. Under different circumstances, the i3's carbon and aluminium construction, along with the electric powertrain, would probably make it appealing to some. But you'd have to assume, after a fire, not much salvageable materials would be left?.

Which then makes me wonder if the car was being used in some kind of criminal activity, evidence of which may lie within its remains?

Link removed - see post above

Mod

Edited by Xileno on 08/05/2023 at 11:07

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 8 May 2023 12:18
BMW i3 - I3 catches fire and takes out 3 shops then vanish - edlithgow
My ex-BT workshop Dodge-Renault camper was broken into and vandalized (windscreen smashed) when parked in the (dodgy) King’s Cross area. Reported it to insurer who said they would arrange inspection, so when it disappeared I assumed they had towed it. Eventually enquirer and they knew nothing, nor did cops or Council. Was very surprised to get a cheque for almost what I paid for it, since I didn’t think it plausible that a huge yellow truck with a smashed windscreen would be stolen.

According to The Borough of Enfield MOT guy, they went to Africa, so perhaps that’s where it is.

Edited by edlithgow on 08/05/2023 at 12:21

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 8 May 2023 12:19
BMW i3 - I3 catches fire and takes out 3 shops then vanish - Engineer Andy

Let’s try this link

Link removed as it's just another link to the Times paywall, routed via Twitter.

Also the width of the link was messing up the screen.

Mod

You might find that the article appears on some 'legit' news amalgamation / ticker website lik MSN a few days after the original, though admitedly I rarely come across News International ones there, Telegraph, Guardian, Mail and Express, yes, so one of them might also do an article, as they often do once some 'juicy news' item comes to light. When this one will encourage them to report it is anyone's guess.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 8 May 2023 14:13
BMW i3 - I3 catches fire and takes out 3 shops then vanish - Steveieb

Initial examination by theLondon Fire Brigade indicated that the fire started in the battery area but the owner claimed that she had allegedly received a phone call from a BMW representative telling her that they had never seen anything like it.

Then she claims she waited for BMW to collect the car but had to get some lunch and when she returned the remains of the car had disappeared .

Now she and her neighbours are unable to progress an insurance claim .

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 9 May 2023 03:15
BMW i3 - I3 catches fire and takes out 3 shops then vanish - expat
Is it just me being cynical or does the whole thing sound rather fishy? A business gets burnt down by a car which mysteriously vanishes. I am not surprised that the insurance company is reluctant to pay.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link

We give you the low down on how to save on insurance, little-known tricks and tips, what insurance groups mean and how to use insurance aggregators to beat insurers.

Insurance group finder and how to save on insurance