Advice Required On A Potential Purchase RED 3.0SI Coupe (Pics Inside)

[grumps]

Its not a great spec and given the poor fit of the nearside door and misalignment of the bonnet/wing on the offside, broken glovebox, etc., there is plenty of scope for a cheeky 'sold-as-seen' offer, particularly since the limited warranty isn't worth anything to you because of the physical distance between you and the dealer. Having said that, I'd be slightly concerned about the number of broken rear springs as well, given the low mileage of ther car. Mine is slighty older with similar miles but touch wood, I haven't needed to replace a spring so far.
Also worth noting that the Arnold Clark organisation didn't get where it is through their generosity! I have first-hand experience of their after sales care and it wasn't brilliant.
You might also want consider the difference in price between this and the local car when you subtract the cost of travelling to Dundee and then the fuel to get the car home again.

 

[mr wilks]

Id rather fix/replace a glove box & the car have aeros :wink:
No car on this forum at 56k & 12yrs old would require absolutely zero spend on it .
I understand the £ spent just to get to the car but that's life , deal with it or look closer to home .
At £9700 that car is cheap enough to throw £1300 & still be in the black.
It's unique example & I wouldn't let minor niggles prevent you from owning it .

 

[ph001]

Why £300 deposit? I would of though £100 would be enough for them to hold it for a few days. The glovebox wouldn't worry me, but can they send you a pic of the service history? The misalignment of the panels looks a bit odd - unless it's just camera angle.

 

[Looney]

Its not a great spec and given the poor fit of the nearside door and misalignment of the bonnet/wing on the offside, broken glovebox, etc., there is plenty of scope for a cheeky 'sold-as-seen' offer, particularly since the limited warranty isn't worth anything to you because of the physical distance between you and the dealer.
Also worth noting that the Arnold Clark organisation didn't get where it is through their generosity! I have first-hand experience of their after sales care and it wasn't brilliant.
You might also want consider the difference in price between this and the local car when you subtract the cost of travelling to Dundee and then the fuel to get the car home again.

Argh everything just gets more confusing!

 

[Looney]

Why £300 deposit? I would of though £100 would be enough for them to hold it for a few days. The glovebox wouldn't worry me, but can they send you a pic of the service history?

I think the book is stamped for 2 bmw inspectations but limited paperwork after that, the guy who part ex'd it got a M135 and threw it in. He did have it since 2013 though.

 

[Looney]

I like all the responses guys, getting into quite a good debate!

 

[mr wilks]

If I'm ever intersted in a car I can't get to see I always ask for a walk round video clip via whatsapp . Ask for it to show the interior / exterior , wheels etc
Its better than 100 pics & specifically ask for it done from cold start with bonnet up .
As for front end shut lines , wait for your first forum meet then walk the line . Il guarantee each one will vary & some may never have seen a bodyshop .
Red is also enhancing those lines , black/ dark blue you barely notice them

 

[ph001]

I think the book is stamped for 2 bmw inspectations but limited paperwork after that

In my eyes, there are just too many negatives stacking up here. They also say it needs a service, which probably means it's gone past the service interval... but by how much? It just doesn't feel like it's been a very well cared for car to me. It's so easy to get led by your heart when you see nice pictures but it's your head that needs to make the purchase. Other cars with better spec and less worries will come along if you are patient.

 

[Looney]

I think the book is stamped for 2 bmw inspectations but limited paperwork after that

In my eyes, there are just too many negatives stacking up here. They also say it needs a service, which probably means it's gone past the service interval... but by how much? It just doesn't feel like it's been a very well cared for car to me. It's so easy to get led by your heart when you see nice pictures but it's your head that needs to make the purchase. Other cars with better spec and less worries will come along if you are patient.

Thanks PH really appreciate the honesty

 

[earthdweller]

It’s hard to know without seeing the car in the flesh .. it’s a lovely colour imo, but without getting eyes on it’s really difficult to see what condition it is in

Things that would put me off is that it’s an Arnold Clark branch ., they will do the absolute minimum prep

Will they give you the previous keepers details so you can speak to them ?

Can you get a independent inspection done ?

I’ve bought a few cars from garages miles away . Always been on a subject to veiwing basis and I did reject one without any issues, but AC don’t have the best reputation for customer service

 

[srhutch]

If I'm ever intersted in a car I can't get to see I always ask for a walk round video clip via whatsapp . Ask for it to show the interior / exterior , wheels etc
Its better than 100 pics & specifically ask for it done from cold start with bonnet up .
As for front end shut lines , wait for your first forum meet then walk the line . Il guarantee each one will vary & some may never have seen a bodyshop .
Red is also enhancing those lines , black/ dark blue you barely notice them

The bonnet probably isn't closed properly and as Andy said panel gaps on these can be crap. The tolerances BMW use are + or - 2mm in places.

Going on the number of rear spring breakages doesn't really tell you a lot. If the car has run flats, that will influence it along with road conditions etc.

As Andy said, any car like this will need some money spent.

Get of your arse, go and have a look.

 

[stewey999]

I thought this came up for sale on a few websites a week or so ago, and sold within a couple of days?
Did the sale fall through?
If I remember, it was listed an 'SE' rather than an 'SI'. Just a typo? Think there was a bit of debate about that.
Main comment was that it was cheap for the miles, which led to comments of things being wrong although looked very good condition from the photos.

 

[earthdweller]

I’ve just looked at it’s MOT history and it’s failed every year for the last four years with some advisories carrying over to become fails in following years .. suggests neglect of mechanicals

These cars should be serviced every two years or to mileage display .. if there are only records of two services on 10 years it’s not a good sign tbf

I think I’d keep looking for a well cared for one with a good history

 

[Looney]

I thought this came up for sale on a few websites a week or so ago, and sold within a couple of days?
Did the sale fall through?
If I remember, it was listed an 'SE' rather than an 'SI'. Just a typo? Think there was a bit of debate about that.
Main comment was that it was cheap for the miles, which led to comments of things being wrong although looked very good condition from the photos.

I have it on reserve but then they said about all the issues with glovebox etc. Not sure if i am just opening a can of worms.

2 months warrenty cant i just go to a bmw garage and get an inspection 2 done and recharge ArnoldClark.

 

[R60BBA]

1. Not feeling that aero bumper.

2. Make them pay for the glovebox situation or get them to knock £700 off the asking price.

3. The passenger side looks as if it’s been in an accident and repaired awkwardly. Look at the door/nearside wing gap.

I would avoid (but that’s my opinion).

 

[ph001]

2 months warrenty cant i just go to a bmw garage and get an inspection 2 done and recharge ArnoldClark.

Highly doubt they will go for that. They will have a cheapo preferred workshop which they will no doubt insist you use. I would also presume the warranty will exclude a great many things - most likely will only cover major mechanicals, and sometimes then only the cost of the parts and not the labour. Most non-main dealer warranties are not worth the paper they are written on.

 

[earthdweller]

I thought this came up for sale on a few websites a week or so ago, and sold within a couple of days?
Did the sale fall through?
If I remember, it was listed an 'SE' rather than an 'SI'. Just a typo? Think there was a bit of debate about that.
Main comment was that it was cheap for the miles, which led to comments of things being wrong although looked very good condition from the photos.

I have it on reserve but then they said about all the issues with glovebox etc. Not sure if i am just opening a can of worms.

2 months warrenty cant i just go to a bmw garage and get an inspection 2 done and recharge ArnoldClark.

There’s no way they will do that . It will get the same cheap oil as a Corsa ( if they can’t get away with not changing it ) and a quick look over .. but that will be it

An Insp 2 at BMW will be £400-500 before they find anything .. AC won’t want to spend £50 on it let alone £500

It’s a pile em high, minimum prep outfit .. not a place for enthusiasts looking for quality

 

[Looney]

I thought this came up for sale on a few websites a week or so ago, and sold within a couple of days?
Did the sale fall through?
If I remember, it was listed an 'SE' rather than an 'SI'. Just a typo? Think there was a bit of debate about that.
Main comment was that it was cheap for the miles, which led to comments of things being wrong although looked very good condition from the photos.

I might just take the £300 hit, seems a real mixed bag reception.

 

[earthdweller]

Surely the holding deposit is refundable?

 

[R60BBA]

I thought this came up for sale on a few websites a week or so ago, and sold within a couple of days?
Did the sale fall through?
If I remember, it was listed an 'SE' rather than an 'SI'. Just a typo? Think there was a bit of debate about that.
Main comment was that it was cheap for the miles, which led to comments of things being wrong although looked very good condition from the photos.

I might just take the £300 hit, seems a real mixed bag reception.

You could find out where the car will be auctioned (assuming you really want it).

And you would probably get it for 5/6 grand.