Would you buy a car with comments?

[Seaspray]

Hey all,

Just wanted to get some advise/opinions regarding the subject title (would you buy a car with comments).

The salesman reckon it has been repaired by BMW, been BMW quality checked, most of the parts were replaced rather than repaired and the Motor Plan re-instated... so there should be nothing to be worried about.

When I asked if it affects re-sale value when "I" try to sell it, he said it should not (not sure if I buy that though)

 

[Dippies]

Well if there is one thing i learned now over the years is that salesmen Auto will say anything to get the sale.


If you do consider it i would advise talking to BMW and giving them the Vin number of the car so that they can commend before you initiate the sale.

Sorry just being honest about second hand care salesmen. Cant trust them :fencelook:

 

[SPIDER]

Well if there is one thing i learned now over the years is that salesmen Auto will say anything to get the sale.


If you do consider it i would advise talking to BMW and giving them the Vin number of the car so that they can commend before you initiate the sale.

Sorry just being honest about second hand care salesmen. Cant trust them :fencelook:

+10000000

 

[Seaspray]

If you do consider it i would advise talking to BMW and giving them the Vin number of the car so that they can commend before you initiate the sale.

This is from a BMW dealership :fencelook:

 

[Bugger]

Do not believe a word they say about not losing value. When I had my last M3 I had a front end accident,all panels replaced,quality checked and all done at Autobahn ARC. The job was brilliant and the motorplan unaffected.
When I tried to trade the car in about 6 months later (the damage was cosmetic,there was NO mechanical damage to my car) JSN offered me,with motorplan,R140k and that was about R120k LESS than what the recommended trade price was at the time. If you have comments,YOU will lose A LOT in terms of trade value.
BMW rate the level of the damage on a car when it is repaired,so like a Level 1 would be R0-R10k, Level 2 R10k-R30k etc etc. If it is a MINOR one,ya,maybe,but would want full AA check on the car etc etc.
Just as a matter of interest,what model is it?

 

[Seaspray]

If you have comments,YOU will lose A LOT in terms of trade value.

Thought so....

Must have paid the poor sod peanuts for it, and now trying to sell it at retail.

Just as a matter of interest,what model is it?

Its a 2010 E90 335i... its got loads of options though!!

 

[Bugger]

If you have comments,YOU will lose A LOT in terms of trade value.

Thought so....

Must have paid the poor sod peanuts for it, and now trying to sell it at retail.

Just as a matter of interest,what model is it?

Its a 2010 E90 335i... its got loads of options though!!

And they selling it for how much? I can tell you that they probably ripped him a new one on the trade value that they gave him. The whole reason you take a car like that to a BMW ARC is that you get told it doesn't affect your trade value wadda wadda. They talk kak. All they do is load it on the BMW system and dealers give you nothing for the car and then sell it, like you rightly pointed out,at full retail prices.

Being a 335i,I would check what the accident level is (if it's minor,hey,bargain,then it's the kinda thing you could probably live with,but if it's big,there's a reason the previous owner traded....) and then make an informed decision from there. It's always a risk buying like this. I guess at least,if nothing, the salesman was honest about it having comments.

 

[msm]

If you can take it for a test drive, take it to another BMW dealer - give them the key, let them look up the history and ask them how much they will trade the car in for. Use that as a base value +R20k-R40k to negotiate the selling price. If the selling price is a lot more than that, walk away.

There's also some type of ratings on the comments, ranging from minor to major damages.

 

[Bugger]

If you can take it for a test drive, take it to another BMW dealer - give them the key, let them look up the history and ask them how much they will trade the car in for. Use that as a base value +R20k-R40k to negotiate the selling price. If the selling price is a lot more than that, walk away.

There's also some type of ratings on the comments, ranging from minor to major damages.

See, they know what I am talking about! :biglol:

 

[scunick]

Don't touch a car with comments at retail price.. It's the first thing I check on a car I am going to buy. It drags about 25-40% off the trade value of the car...

 

[Gilbert]

I would prefer peace of mind and rather walk away from the deal. It will be something that will always bug me. Second hand car purchasing has to be a patient game. You will know when it's the right one.

 

[Bugger]

Don't rush into it,you could be buying someone elses troubles by doing that. I can understand the temptation to buy a fully loaded car for a decent price,it makes your mind play wonderful tricks on you!

 

[Seaspray]

If you can take it for a test drive, take it to another BMW dealer - give them the key, let them look up the history and ask them how much they will trade the car in for. Use that as a base value +R20k-R40k to negotiate the selling price. If the selling price is a lot more than that, walk away.

Good idea... Should do this with the salesman in the car :rollsmile:

There's also some type of ratings on the comments, ranging from minor to major damages.

See, they know what I am talking about! :biglol:

Didn't know about this classification :=): txs

I would prefer peace of mind and rather walk away from the deal. It will be something that will always bug me. Second hand car purchasing has to be a patient game. You will know when it's the right one.

I am, but coming to this conclusion... (Unless he is willing to take 40k or more of retail...) :rollsmile:

 

[AdiS]

Don't touch a car with comments at retail price.. It's the first thing I check on a car I am going to buy. It drags about 25-40% off the trade value of the car...

Agreed, it doesnt matter who it was repaired by, the car's resale is officially screwed. Even if the car is in perfect condition, you should only consider it if you get a HUGE discount in order to protect yourself from the resale later on.

 

[Bugger]

Don't touch a car with comments at retail price.. It's the first thing I check on a car I am going to buy. It drags about 25-40% off the trade value of the car...

Agreed, it doesnt matter who it was repaired by, the car's resale is officially screwed. Even if the car is in perfect condition, you should only consider it if you get a HUGE discount in order to protect yourself from the resale later on.

+1

 

[h4tch3t]

Depends on comments. Comments would include something like having the wrong tyres fitted, having a bumper respray done, etc. If the comments are small things then it would have no effect on my purchasing decision.

Also, not all BMW owners have their vehicles fixed by BMW approved places, nor do they report their brandy induced smidges after repair to BMW. So chances are you won't even know in most cases.

Best bet would be to have the AA do a full impartial quality check and decide from there on. Motorplan is great, but it doesn't mean you'll always get the desired resale, nor does it guarantee you have a flawless accident free car.

 

[Andy1GP]

To answer your thread question Yes I would depending on the amount of comments and type. If it's only a respray for the front bumper and replacement of prematurely failing hardware like fuel pump etc then at least you know it's been done and don't have to worry about it further. Big issues should give you an uneasy feeling. And as always if there is any doubt, then there's no doubt to walk away.

 

[Iceman007]

Depends on comments. Comments would include something like having the wrong tyres fitted, having a bumper respray done, etc. If the comments are small things then it would have no effect on my purchasing decision.

Also, not all BMW owners have their vehicles fixed by BMW approved places, nor do they report their brandy induced smidges after repair to BMW. So chances are you won't even know in most cases.

Best bet would be to have the AA do a full impartial quality check and decide from there on. Motorplan is great, but it doesn't mean you'll always get the desired resale, nor does it guarantee you have a flawless accident free car.

Its true and correct. If you just know how many BMW dealers have thier sow room cors and trade ins repaired at private pannelbeaters so that there wont be any coments on the MP. I would pull the damage report to see what was repaired. Atleast the car had 1 honest owner and took it through the right chanels. Maybe you can contact the previous owner.

 

[herr bmw]

To answer your thread question Yes I would depending on the amount of comments and type. If it's only a respray for the front bumper and replacement of prematurely failing hardware like fuel pump etc then at least you know it's been done and don't have to worry about it further. Big issues should give you an uneasy feeling. And as always if there is any doubt, then there's no doubt to walk away.

+1 on what andy said

also i ask for the previous owners details and a contact number,sometimes i call the guy there and then and ask questions,he doesnt lose anything by being honest,and if i am happy with the details then will carry on with the transaction,if not i walk away

 

[abmi0000]

To answer your thread question Yes I would depending on the amount of comments and type. If it's only a respray for the front bumper and replacement of prematurely failing hardware like fuel pump etc then at least you know it's been done and don't have to worry about it further. Big issues should give you an uneasy feeling. And as always if there is any doubt, then there's no doubt to walk away.

+1 on what andy said

also i ask for the previous owners details and a contact number,sometimes i call the guy there and then and ask questions,he doesnt lose anything by being honest,and if i am happy with the details then will carry on with the transaction,if not i walk away

My route too.

I bought both my 330's with comments which weren't major but never regretted a day. Paid R175k for my E90 and got R145 on a trade in 2 years later. At the end, it all boils down to severity of the comments.