Advice on selling.

[Adamski]

Service is a must. I would also get the other bits done. Most buyers won't want to spend time getting them fixed unless they got a really good deal, which means you lose out. Choice is yours as they say.

^^^ This.

I recently sold my coupe, and had a similar dilemma. The front bumper had stone chips, and the front brakes were looking a little sorry for themselves, and whilst they would pass an MOT, anyone buying the car would know it was a job needing done soon.

So, what did I do? I changed the front brakes, got the bumper done - and the car looked as it should. An immaculate example with no work needing done. I stuck a years MOT on it too for the buyer, meaning that it wanted for nothing. It was an easy sell, and priced as an immaculate example.

I can't understand anyone selling a car that needs X, Y and Z done to it. As a buyer, I wouldn't want to buy something that needs work done.

 

[alphadynamic]

Thanks for the advice chaps, I think even if I break even on sorting the car, it'll be easier to sell and I'll feel better knowing it's not got any issues.!

Couple of Q's - Independent v's Main dealer for inspection II? Do you think it makes a difference to a buyer? also what's the going rate?

and

Boot lid brake light, I need to replace the plastic as it's cracking a little and the rubber is not in the best nick. Is there a part number or good source for this part? I'm presuming they all go like this?

 

[mattwaltersz4m]

Thanks for the advice chaps, I think even if I break even on sorting the car, it'll be easier to sell and I'll feel better knowing it's not got any issues.!

Couple of Q's - Independent v's Main dealer for inspection II? Do you think it makes a difference to a buyer? also what's the going rate?

and

Boot lid brake light, I need to replace the plastic as it's cracking a little and the rubber is not in the best nick. Is there a part number or good source for this part? I'm presuming they all go like this?

With the qs that have and will come up on the service history I would swallow the pill and get it done at the dealer, rightly or wrongly this will make it more sell-able to people outside of the forum. You will get all the indie ball touchers saying theirs are the best and its half price with a better service but in reality its not. You should get it done for around £800ish

Sopers in Lincoln are a good bet for the boot light.

 

[AndyBeech]

Thanks for the advice chaps, I think even if I break even on sorting the car, it'll be easier to sell and I'll feel better knowing it's not got any issues.!

Couple of Q's - Independent v's Main dealer for inspection II? Do you think it makes a difference to a buyer? also what's the going rate?

and

Boot lid brake light, I need to replace the plastic as it's cracking a little and the rubber is not in the best nick. Is there a part number or good source for this part? I'm presuming they all go like this?

With the qs that have and will come up on the service history I would swallow the pill and get it done at the dealer, rightly or wrongly this will make it more sell-able to people outside of the forum. You will get all the indie ball touchers saying theirs are the best and its half price with a better service but in reality its not. You should get it done for around £800ish

Sopers in Lincoln are a good bet for the boot light.

Fair point on the dealer part, for someone not in the know they probably will prefer a dealer service. In reality most (not all) of the indie's I've used through recommendation and knowledge know these engines and cars much better than some apprentice at a BMW dealer who's bread and butter is the bog standard BMW engines, also they can offer much better service.
I had an email from James at Redish Motorsport the other week out of the blue and unprompted, who did my VANOS refurb back in January, offering to take apart the VANOS again and re-check all the work done to make sure it's all as it should be and working correctly still, all free of charge. No way that service would happen with a dealer.

 

[Nictrix]

Thanks for the advice chaps, I think even if I break even on sorting the car, it'll be easier to sell and I'll feel better knowing it's not got any issues.!

Couple of Q's - Independent v's Main dealer for inspection II? Do you think it makes a difference to a buyer? also what's the going rate?

and

Boot lid brake light, I need to replace the plastic as it's cracking a little and the rubber is not in the best nick. Is there a part number or good source for this part? I'm presuming they all go like this?

With the qs that have and will come up on the service history I would swallow the pill and get it done at the dealer, rightly or wrongly this will make it more sell-able to people outside of the forum. You will get all the indie ball touchers saying theirs are the best and its half price with a better service but in reality its not. You should get it done for around £800ish

Sopers in Lincoln are a good bet for the boot light.

Fair point on the dealer part, for someone not in the know they probably will prefer a dealer service. In reality most (not all) of the indie's I've used through recommendation and knowledge know these engines and cars much better than some apprentice at a BMW dealer who's bread and butter is the bog standard BMW engines, also they can offer much better service.
I had an email from James at Redish Motorsport the other week out of the blue and unprompted, who did my VANOS refurb back in January, offering to take apart the VANOS again and re-check all the work done to make sure it's all as it should be and working correctly still, all free of charge. No way that service would happen with a dealer.

Bit strange that.
Is he not confident that he done it properly?

 

[AndyBeech]

Fair point on the dealer part, for someone not in the know they probably will prefer a dealer service. In reality most (not all) of the indie's I've used through recommendation and knowledge know these engines and cars much better than some apprentice at a BMW dealer who's bread and butter is the bog standard BMW engines, also they can offer much better service.
I had an email from James at Redish Motorsport the other week out of the blue and unprompted, who did my VANOS refurb back in January, offering to take apart the VANOS again and re-check all the work done to make sure it's all as it should be and working correctly still, all free of charge. No way that service would happen with a dealer.

Bit strange that.
Is he not confident that he done it properly?

[/quote]

Not at all, I've never had any issues with it, he only started doing the VANOS refurb's fairly recently though so like anyone carrying out a new repair things come to light the more they do, better practice etc. It was well over 6 months ago so if it wasn't done correctly I would have known about it by now. If you've ever had any dealings with James you would know he takes his business and customer care very seriously, I've never heard a single complaint against any of his work, only the time it takes to book in as he's so busy!
Anyway, off topic, back to the OP's post

 

[Nictrix]

Its just not often (or ever) that you hear of a tradesman wanting to check their work 6 months later for free.
Maybe he lost a good spanner and he is just calling in all the vehicles he may have left it in.

 

[AndyBeech]

Its just not often (or ever) that you hear of a tradesman wanting to check their work 6 months later for free.
Maybe he lost a good spanner and he is just calling in all the vehicles he may have left it in.

Possibly!
I knew James when he started out on his own in a tiny unit in Bristol, he now employs a number of other staff and has a much larger unit that keeps expanding to keep up with demand, he's probably the most trustworthy guy I know in the business, which having used a certain other well recommended Indy recently who turned out to be useless so far, has only solidified that view. There is a bit more to the whole story to be fair, but that involves said Indy above who I don't want to name and shame just yet, but let's just say on this topic that in my experience the *right* Indy can offer far better CS than dealers do.

Just as a nudge from another thread to the OP, you tried sticking your car details on WBAC and seeing what it comes up with? Probably crap but worth a punt, might be less interested in the whole servicing issue than a private buyer.....

 

[mattwaltersz4m]

Just as a nudge from another thread to the OP, you tried sticking your car details on WBAC and seeing what it comes up with? Probably crap but worth a punt, might be less interested in the whole servicing issue than a private buyer.....

Absolutely pointless! :roll: The quote won't be representative. When they see the service book and overall condition as described in this thread there will be £3k taken off face to face.

 

[abar121]

I would actually book it in with a specialist with a good rep, tbh. The FBMWSH is long gone anyway.

There will probably be a few items that need attention, possibly consumables like disks, pads, bushes etc. Your wallet could get quite a bashing at a dealer

Having said that, I just had an Inspection II done at Sytner and was again impressed with their service and price. The valve clearance and full Inspection II report including video walk around under the car was impressive and would be reassuring to a potential buyer.

I guess it depends if it's given a clean bill of health