Solo Man
Well-known member
Guys, need advice please. Have bought a 1999 E46 328i with 131k on the clock from a BMW dealer on Friday. Yesterday when i had some time i had a good look at the car and found the following:
Plastic cover over radiator leading to the air cleaner intake fixed with cable ties, left flicker loose, right flicker out of alignment and protruding the bodywork, left headlight globe holders fixed with cable ties, front bumper out of alignment with rest of bodywork (left fender sitting more inwards than right fender in relation to bumper)
Then first tried to get hold of salesman but he was at a wedding (not his, fortunately)
After i had cooled down i thought it is not that bad, i will have a go at the bumper and try and align it.
What i found was that the headlights were fixed with self tappers, broken tabs, etc. Also found that the bumper carrier onto the chassis where the collision piston are, only one bolt fastened, one finger tight and the third quite loose. On the other side i could not get the light out, saw that that light was fixed with beforementioned self tapper and still could not get it out. What it seems like is that the three bolts on the bumper carrier, only one is there that i could see and the other two it seems are loose or missing. Also found the bonnet was slightly standing up at the hinges when closed and upon investigating found the both the back screws were very loose whereupon tightening them brought the bonnet back into alignment with the body.
My dilemma is that the interior is in excellent condition, the mileage is 131k km and the motor is sweet. I would like to keep the car but am worried about what else is broken/loose/bent/etc. So, what to do now: should i return the car en ask for my money back (cash deal), negotiate about having the broken stuff fixed/replaced or should i negotiate to buy the 2003 E46 320d with 187k km for the same money. When i went to see the car the first time i asked the salesman if the car had been in an accident and he assured me that it had not been in an accident. Must admit, i did not notice any of the above at that stage.
Plastic cover over radiator leading to the air cleaner intake fixed with cable ties, left flicker loose, right flicker out of alignment and protruding the bodywork, left headlight globe holders fixed with cable ties, front bumper out of alignment with rest of bodywork (left fender sitting more inwards than right fender in relation to bumper)
Then first tried to get hold of salesman but he was at a wedding (not his, fortunately)
After i had cooled down i thought it is not that bad, i will have a go at the bumper and try and align it.
What i found was that the headlights were fixed with self tappers, broken tabs, etc. Also found that the bumper carrier onto the chassis where the collision piston are, only one bolt fastened, one finger tight and the third quite loose. On the other side i could not get the light out, saw that that light was fixed with beforementioned self tapper and still could not get it out. What it seems like is that the three bolts on the bumper carrier, only one is there that i could see and the other two it seems are loose or missing. Also found the bonnet was slightly standing up at the hinges when closed and upon investigating found the both the back screws were very loose whereupon tightening them brought the bonnet back into alignment with the body.
My dilemma is that the interior is in excellent condition, the mileage is 131k km and the motor is sweet. I would like to keep the car but am worried about what else is broken/loose/bent/etc. So, what to do now: should i return the car en ask for my money back (cash deal), negotiate about having the broken stuff fixed/replaced or should i negotiate to buy the 2003 E46 320d with 187k km for the same money. When i went to see the car the first time i asked the salesman if the car had been in an accident and he assured me that it had not been in an accident. Must admit, i did not notice any of the above at that stage.
