Am I wrong to walk away?

Discuss Non-E30 BMW's in here - No selling!

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djk
E30 Zone Addict
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Thu Oct 02, 2008 5:24 pm

Hate to get all wise after the event and all that, coz B7 and others probably know heaps more than me about buying and selling cars, but I'd always take the view that if it seems too good to be true, it usually is. 7k for a car that books at 11 is a bit over short isn't it? That's the thought that goes through my head. I'd always be wary of buying anything for more than say 5k-ish in a private sale - it's always seemed to me more prudent having a sale brokered by a dealer if selling something of this kind of value, in the hope that the premium he can command would cover his commission and that the whole process would prevent me being scammed by an otherwise straight seeming punter.

So you have to ask, why is the seller selling it privately? Quick cash can't be the answer for, as has been said above, he could have taken it to a BMW dealer and got exactly that. So why?
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"doughnuts - power braking in circles" Peterborough Evening Telegraph :chuckle:
B7
E30 Zone Team Member
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Location: Surrey / West Sussex

Thu Oct 02, 2008 7:27 pm

djk wrote:Hate to get all wise after the event and all that, coz B7 and others probably know heaps more than me about buying and selling cars, but I'd always take the view that if it seems too good to be true, it usually is. 7k for a car that books at 11 is a bit over short isn't it? That's the thought that goes through my head. I'd always be wary of buying anything for more than say 5k-ish in a private sale - it's always seemed to me more prudent having a sale brokered by a dealer if selling something of this kind of value, in the hope that the premium he can command would cover his commission and that the whole process would prevent me being scammed by an otherwise straight seeming punter.

So you have to ask, why is the seller selling it privately? Quick cash can't be the answer for, as has been said above, he could have taken it to a BMW dealer and got exactly that. So why?
11k is what HPI value it at. There are rafts of 1 series out there from between 7.5 and 10k and I've seen one as low as 6 and a half. So 7k wasn't really anything to make me suspicious as such. Yes it was an attractive price but not SO cheap as top make me think "F*ck off!! Thats a set up if ever I saw one!".
B7's Motto. "If it's French, BURN IT!!!!!!"
dom-1984-320i
E30 Zone Camper
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Location: Sunny Essex

Thu Oct 02, 2008 7:35 pm

Sound like a blessing in disguise if you ask me. As already said there will be others and one will be the right car and price for you. Fingers and toes crossed you get your deposit back and on with the hunt ahh!
M20B25 actually :)
zaust
Zone day release
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Thu Oct 02, 2008 8:05 pm

I had a simular situation with a c2 27 a few years ago. I left a dipper with the guy who I actulay new from school day's. I went to pick up the car on the said day and he had let it go for 50 quid more the night before I was due to pick it up.(no phone call nothing) I did get my money back and made him give me extra for the waste of time and petrol. However I know exactly where the car went and still is(now rotten beyond repair), The engine left it insides on a road not far away and the car has not been repaired scince. Show's that it would have been a costly experience and I would have lost/sold my tech 1.


|Don't stress about it and carry on the search.
M30 Tech 1 Touring on gas.
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B7
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Sat Oct 04, 2008 6:57 am

The trip to north london is going to be booked today guys. 2 days and no 250 back. :x
B7's Motto. "If it's French, BURN IT!!!!!!"
StuBeeDoo
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Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:20 am

Jon_Bmw wrote:Who carries 7k of cash on them? :eek:
I know plenty of people who always have large wads, but most of them are pikeys.
This is why I no longer drive an E30......

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