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Pre Purchase inspection

"M" Specific discussion
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bensz4mc
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Pre Purchase inspection

Post by bensz4mc » Mon Sep 11, 2017 9:35 pm

I am planning on buying my M privately if possible - what's the best company to do a pre-purchase inspection please? Can a BMW dealer do this?

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mr wilks
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Pre Purchase inspection

Post by mr wilks » Mon Sep 11, 2017 9:41 pm

How do you know the seller will allow this ? I know i wouldn't & ive sold a good few used cars :oops:
Got nothing to hide but certainly not going to let some half trained stranger meddle with my car then voice his opinion like he's some sort of expert :? especially so with a S54 & all its foibles , , , nah , not happening
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Havard
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Pre Purchase inspection

Post by Havard » Mon Sep 11, 2017 9:52 pm

I think it would depend on who the inspection was being carried out by. Also who covers the sellers time travelling to a dealer etc.

Difficult as nobody wants to buy a lemon but sellers aren't free to be running about getting their car inspected by strangers either.

Tough one.
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Pre Purchase inspection

Post by Beedub » Mon Sep 11, 2017 10:10 pm

you'd probably get a better reception taking a well known forum member who can actually be respectful, be discreet, and knows his s**t.

if anyone came to buy my car with an expert who picked it apart for fun, i would probably punch him in the face.
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hopz121
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Pre Purchase inspection

Post by hopz121 » Mon Sep 11, 2017 10:17 pm

Beedub wrote: Mon Sep 11, 2017 10:10 pm you'd probably get a better reception taking a well known forum member who can actually be respectful, be discreet, and knows his s**t.

if anyone came to buy my car with an expert who picked it apart for fun, i would probably punch him in the face.
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Pre Purchase inspection

Post by hopz121 » Mon Sep 11, 2017 10:19 pm

As beedub was saying take a good forum memember with you.

You can always go get an inspection after to high light any potential issues

Most Z4M problems can be identified easily enough take someone with you for help and advice :thumbsup:
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bensz4mc
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Pre Purchase inspection

Post by bensz4mc » Mon Sep 11, 2017 10:49 pm

:D . Thanks guys... I don't particularly like being punched in the face, especially when I'm trying to hand over my hard earned money :D

Looks like I will be tapping up one of you good forum members!

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Pre Purchase inspection

Post by wspohn » Tue Sep 12, 2017 5:58 pm

When I bought mine, I just arranged for the owner to take it down to a local BMW garage to have it inspected. I think that driving it there himself and the fact that it was a shop that dealt in BMWs reassured him. I told him that I was paying in any case and even if I didn't buy it, I would give him a copy of the report so he knew what might come up again.

The shop did it in a couple of hours, the fee was modest and they emailed me a report right away.

If the owner has no time to take it in, you can always ask if he could drop it off and leave it and consider using his shop that services it rather than an independent, although the latter would obviously be better.

No way would I buy a car like this without having an inspection. The days when I could do a satisfactory inspection myself are long gone - cars are just too darned complex today but OTOH they also offer easy hook up to the ECM for error codes etc.
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Pre Purchase inspection

Post by Havard » Tue Sep 12, 2017 7:13 pm

I suppose if you want to sell the car, you need to give the buyer some piece of mind. I am however a bit sceptical about so called experts, getting money for their opinions.

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Pre Purchase inspection

Post by Angelus666 » Tue Sep 12, 2017 8:15 pm

Where is the car located? I'm sure you'll get a friendly member help you out. As stated, you'd be far better off getting a member who has an M to know whether your M stacks up 100%. I think you'd be better off taking it for a £30 MOT then paying a dealer £200 for an inspection.

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Pre Purchase inspection

Post by wspohn » Tue Sep 12, 2017 8:23 pm

Angelus666 wrote: Tue Sep 12, 2017 8:15 pm As stated, you'd be far better off getting a member who has an M to know whether your M stacks up 100%. I think you'd be better off taking it for a £30 MOT then paying a dealer £200 for an inspection.
I think the point is that the owner doesn't pay. If the prospective buyer wants an examination of the car, they foot the bill. The seller just accommodates them by making the car available.

No way would I buy a modern high tech car based on the word of an amateur owner who probably can't even access the service history of the car. I want to know what went wrong in the past, how it was fixed and if anything else is going or has just gone wrong. You need a mechanic familiar with the cars and a hoist for all that, no?
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Pre Purchase inspection

Post by Angelus666 » Tue Sep 12, 2017 8:34 pm

That is my point (we are advising the buyer on this thread)....if I was buying, then you'd be better off paying £30 for an MOT than £200 on a dealer who won't inspect the car any further.

These cars aren't that modern really, largely it's a 2001 car in the most part. If you're new to the M, then don't be surprised by the clunks, knocks and dubious gearbox upon first drive....you get used to it!

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Pre Purchase inspection

Post by srhutch » Tue Sep 12, 2017 8:40 pm

As above, these cars are hardly modern which I why I like them. They are easy to work on, unlike E89 which with its engines and electrical systems are in another world.

An mot is a good choice if it's not had one recently as is a forum member taking a look. Chances are they'll know more about them than most garages.
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Pre Purchase inspection

Post by wspohn » Tue Sep 12, 2017 8:43 pm

Modern, to me, is anything without a computer and with a carb! Most of my fleet (with only two exceptions) are classic cars in that category.
The MOT would presumably address part of what you need to know - are there any incipient conditions that may cause issues - marginal suspension etc., plus an MOT failure Don't think it tells you about service history and what was previously repaired, though.
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Pre Purchase inspection

Post by markos » Wed Sep 13, 2017 7:38 pm

I had the BMW dealer nearest the seller inspect mine (at my expense) for peace of mind. Was only around £150 (back in 2011). MOT not a bad shout either.
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