Another 'too good to be true?' thread?

Cibbers

Member
 Stourbridge
http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/2007-bmw-z4-30si-sport-2dr-coupe/102299720

What do you guys make of this? I've spoken with the guy and he's recently moved to Northern Ireland due to work, now has a truck so can't use the car as well. He's even willing to bring it over for the right person. It's only done 43,800 miles.
I've done a txt HPI check, a DVLA check and it all seems to add up on the surface, not stolen or scrapped etc. He reckons the oil's been changed every 8000miles (which he has paperwork for) has all paperwork documenting service history etc, last serviced in April with new tyres, pads & discs. He says it's not been involved in any accidents (HPI checker agrees with this).
I'm waiting for a reply to an email I sent asking for detailed photos of everything, with loooads of questions about the car so I'll see what he comes back with.

I'm sure you're all thinking what I'm thinking about the price... But there IS a possibility he's desperate to get rid of it ASAP and he's just not clued up about what these are worth? I think it's been on Gumtree a while, but maybe it's the owners location that's put so many people off it? The price seems that low that it may even be worth a punt!

Hmmm....
 
You need to do the HPI check. The insurances attached if it is wrong are not transferable as the contract is between HPI and whoever paid for it.
 
Well, I've not done a full HPI check, just one of those 'mini' HPI's via txt message, confirming cars details, if its been scrapped or stolen - which it hasn't.

I'm airing on the side of caution purely because I'm unsure, because surely if he was that desperate to sell the car then he'd have just taken it to a dealer and sold it to them for a quick sale?
 
Cibbers said:
I think it's been on Gumtree a while, but maybe it's the owners location that's put so many people off it?
When I look on Gumtree, it shows the location as Waltham Cross, London. It also shows the mileage as "0 miles" and that the ad is 28 days old.

It might be a bargain, but if it's been around that long and is that cheap, I'm surprised that somebody else (even somebody in the trade) hasn't gone for it.

I'd also be a bit wary about the owner having moved to NI. I'd double check all the paperwork and if there are any stories about any of it having gone missing or being unavailable because it's been re-registered on an NI plate then I'd run, rather than walk away.

It could all be genuine, but I'd proceed with extreme caution and ensure that all the necessary checks are carried out.
 
Be very wary. I had a similar 'opportunity' a while back with an ///M that was cheap in London. Turned out it really was too good to be true and lots of digging got me to that conclusion. Ask lots of questions and get as many photos and details as you can. Ask why he's selling so cheap too. He wont suddenly put the price up so you have nothing to lose. Also get a full HPI check and possibly arrange to meet him and veiw it at the port of choice. Wouldnt pay for anything I hadnt seen in the metal that didnt check out.

Caution my friend but if it checks out then great.
 
Eh! :?

Paid more for my roadster last year, and it's pre-facelift! :o


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Hmm I dunno - if I have doubts now then it's just not worth the stress.

Surely if he was that desperate to sell it, he'd have taken it to We Buy Any Car or a dealership or a trader, selling it less than trade? WTF?
Also a bit dubious, it's not been on Autotrader or Pistonheads etc. Something smells like last weeks fish then its bound to have something dodgy going on with it...
 
The bottom is dropping out of the market for larger engined cars.
I don't think I would pay much more for a medium mileage 5 year old 3.0 ZC.
What other people might pay is another story.

I would check it very very thoroughly though.

It does seem cheap.
 
I understand that train of thought, not a lot of people can justify these as a toy or their everyday car, so the prices are coming down...

Not that much though!
 
Alot of spec for the money. Seems too good to be true on paper. I'm always very wary of gumtree.

The last car I went to see listed there turned out to be running on 3 cylinders (99 BMW E36 Compact) so be very wary..
 
Don't just rely on the text check, that doesn't check for outstanding finance :headbang: When I bought the M3 I did a text check, all clear so I was in the clear right? Well it was only because I wanted to make use of a 7days free insurance offer the dealer did a full HPI check (come with that?) Then it turned out there was £5k of finance outstanding!! :o So close call that one.
 
Maybe the bottom has fallen out of the Coupe market!!!
 
M@r said:
{"]Don't just rely on the text check, that doesn't check for outstanding finance :headbang: When I bought the M3 I did a text check, all clear so I was in the clear right? Well it was only because I wanted to make use of a 7days free insurance offer the dealer did a full HPI check (come with that?) Then it turned out there was £5k of finance outstanding!! :o So close call that one.

Does HPI show up log book loans now, as that's the other thing to look out for.
 
Not sure, the one I got was very detailed. Cost about £25 iirc.

I always used to rely on those text checks (83600 is my usual one) but after that close call with the M3 they're not worth a penny. That mistake could have cost me £5k or even worse the whole £11k I spent on the car :o
 
I saw this a while ago on Gumtree and have to admit the price etc put me off. It might be absolutely fine but as others have said, it is well worth checking out in lots of detail.
 
THIS IS DEFINITELY A SCAM....

I've spoken to the same bloke about this different Z4, and got exactly the same story about Ireland etc. He even called me from a mobile phone number: Stand by - I'll dig it out!

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/2007-bmw-z4-25i-sport-2dr-auto-roadster/102799256

He claims to be called Adam Pawlak, and his number is 07598 903408.

See my e-mails to him back and forth:
 
Have you got a phone number I can call you on to discuss it? The car looks very nice.

Thanks
Dave

Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2012 10:39:24 +0100
Subject: Re: Gumtree.com ad: 2007 BMW Z4 2.5i Sport 2dr Auto Roadster
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]

Hi, my car is still available but the only issue is that I moved to Northern Ireland (Belfast) because I found a better job here. I am open to offers and the only reason I put it for sale is because I work in constructions and now I use a truck from work and this car is not useful to me anymore. If you like the car and if you want to buy it, I can take 2-3 days off from work in order to bring it to your address and close the deal. It has no accidents or mechanical problems and it's a very well maintained vehicle because I used to change the oil every 8000 miles and I can prove it because I have all service records.Last service was done in April and the mechanic replaced all tires, oil and brake pads.If you want to buy it and need more info about my car, just mention it. Forgot to mention, it has only 34,000 miles and the price is £6700
Cheers
Adam
 
I'm not sure exactly what he's trying to get from it yet - whether he was going to ask me for a deposit to bring it over here or something, I'm not sure. He asked for my postcode to see how far it is (what from Belfast to London and he doesn't know already..?!?!) so I gave him my work one just in case as there's no residential there.
 
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