BMW Tuner Says 1,000 HP M3 Stolen After Bank Approved Buyer’s Fake Check

Sometimes, even when you’ve made every effort to do things right and have sought help from various authorities, things can still take a turn for the worse. Unfortunately, it seems that YouTuber Kies Motorsports has found itself in such a situation.

The garage is seeking help from the BMW community and its loyal fan base to locate a Ferrari Red F80 BMW M3. They’ve poured more than $175,000 into this vehicle, which has been tuned to produce an impressive 1,000 hp. They claim that the car was stolen using a fake cashier’s check.

More: Stolen Truck Returned With Apology Letter And Toys For Owner’s Son

In a video shared by the shop, Bryan Kiefer, the CEO of Kies Motorsports, narrates the events from his perspective. He claims that the car was listed for sale and that a potential buyer going by the name John Clay made an offer of $75,000, which he accepted.

“Clay” showed up with a cashier’s check valued at $75,000, and to verify its authenticity, Kiefer says he took it to a bank for inspection. The bank examined the check, confirmed its legitimacy, and deposited the funds into the seller’s account. Satisfied with this, Kiefer then handed over the keys.

“Four days later, the bank had withdrawn the funds, saying that the account and the routing number were completely false,” said Kiefer in his YouTube video. “In life, sometimes people make mistakes, and I wanted to give John every out that I possibly could.”

In his initial attempt to resolve the situation, Kiefer offered “Clay” a chance to return the car by a specified date and time without any further questions asked. He emphasized that his primary concern was just getting the M3 back in his possession rather than seeking retribution.

Unfortunately, his deadline came and went, and the performance sedan was not returned. Strangely, he appears to have been in continued communication with “Clay,” who he now believes used a fake last name.

In their ongoing communications, Kiefer reveals that the individual who had the M3 claimed to be just two hours away. Once more, he attempted to negotiate a resolution by suggesting that the buyer could return the vehicle to a mutually convenient location, with Kiefer agreeing to leave before disclosing the specific meeting point.

Despite his efforts, this approach also proved unsuccessful. While Kiefer has sought assistance from the authorities in recovering his vehicle, he has also reached out to the BMW community for support. The BMW M3 holds significant sentimental value for him and his garage. Kiefer acknowledges that the car, along with the build process documented on its YouTube channel, played a pivotal role in establishing Kies Motorsports and propelling it forward.

Our sympathies are with Kiefer and the entire Kies Motorsports team, as losing a car under these circumstances is undoubtedly tough. If anyone has information that could assist the garage, they are encouraged to reach out via email to tips[at]kies.com.

H/T to Jalopnik!