Benefits of Used BMW Dealership

S

Sollytear

Member
Hey guys,

Just wondering what your thoughts on using the Used BMW Dealership scheme to get a Z4? Apart from the warranty (which I am told is worth £1k and pretty essential...), are there any other benefits I should be made aware of?

I am not exactly car savvy, and havnt purchased many 2nd hand cards before, so I am swinging towards it just for safety. Prices seem more than private, even with the Warranty discounted off.

Joe
 
BMW warranty is very good, probably the best going I would say.

What I would also say is treat AUC with a pinch of salt. It is very open to dealer discretion so still do all the check on service history etc as being AUC does not mean it's been serviced as per BMW specification which in turn could invalidate your warranty (Any warranty not just BMW)
 
listening to the blurb on the BMW website, it says that the vehicle must have a full service history - it doesn't say anything about it being BMW only. generally though, most cars that are in the scheme are relatively new and most will have only had one or two services. within a 40 mile radius of me, there are only 17 under £10k and that is for all models.
 
Shame the colours arnt that great ;)

Ok, ill keep an eye out. From what I remember from last time I read these forums, a full BMW service history is something I should look out for?
 
Also, don't think that because a car is an AUC it hasn't had bodywork repairs, regardless of age. A few forum members have already discovered this and I've seen some shoddy paintwork repairs at my local dealership too.
 
My stepson just bought a 2 year old 1 series from Westerly Exeter with 4 different tyres fitted to it;AUC my ar$e !!
 
micz4 said:
....,a 2 year old 1 series from Westerly Exeter with 4 different tyres fitted to it...
Click to expand...

Bearing in mind Series 1 are supplied with run flats I trust they were all run flats? If not they want the book throwing at them! :thumbsdown:
 
Sollytear said:
Seriously? I thought it could only be in a AUC if it was serviced by a BMW dealership as required.
Click to expand...

No, I was told my previous cars service history was 100% correct. Following day at home trying to find Bluetooth code looking through everything found the gap between the sat two services was two years as eight months. Car was returned and transaction cancelled. They offered all sorts for me to keep the car, but I know it would have caused my sues when I sold it on or had engine issues which the warranty might then not cover.
 
My AUC'ed car had the headlamp washer system blocked off with a M10 bolt, checked by a Mr S Wonder perhaps?

...and a coil spring that failed ten days into ownership.
 
Adam D said:
My AUC'ed car had the headlamp washer system blocked off with a M10 bolt, checked by a Mr S Wonder perhaps?

...and a coil spring that failed ten days into ownership.
Click to expand...

The spring was just one of those things, but the washer proofs they didn't check it properly. :x
 
The more shiny the dealer the more I would worry.

Trust no one, check everything twice.

Only reason I would go AUC is if you want the BMW warranty and MOT guarantee which can be worth a fair bit.
 
Every time you buy a used car from a dealer you are paying a premium on top of the car's actual value. This will vary from around £1,000 at Z4 entry level (ie 2003/4 models between £5k and £8k) up to several thousands once you are spending in excess of £10k.

What you get for the extra is usually a limited warranty and the perceived comfort that you have some recourse if something serious goes wrong.

Unless you are inept at properly checking what will be under your nose (ie the paperwork and the actual car) then you might as well buy private under the £10k threshold. Even if you are really unlucky and end up having to spend a thousand pounds on your Zed in the first year it is only the amount that a dealer would have put on top of the true value of the car anyway. So in one sense you are paying in advance for repairs that may or may not be required when you buy a used car from a dealer.

Even with dealer warranted cars the potential to get your fingers burnt exists - don't assume they will always come to the rescue.
 
Sollytear said:
Shame the colours arnt that great ;)

Ok, ill keep an eye out. From what I remember from last time I read these forums, a full BMW service history is something I should look out for?
Click to expand...

General concensus is that a top indie is as good as, if not better than, a BMW dealer. Mine had a full BMW history, and I've continued using a dealer and taking advantage of their +x years scheme that gets an automatic discount. Mainly because I am happy with the dealer though.

If you're buying from any dealer, indie or franchise, don't look at the car through rosy tinted spectacles. Look at it as if you were criticising every last inch of the car. Find every flaw and every minor niggle and use them to haggle. If you still like the car after that, it's probably sound :)
 
Why use a franchised dealer for sourcing a Z4?

- Warranty that covers pretty much everything that a new car warranty covers
- Full breakdown cover including homestart
- MOT cover
- It should be very well prepared and shouldn't be due any immediate additional work or repairs

I was polite but firm on the deal I was prepared to do on my car and I still believe that I paid no more than I would have for a non franchised dealer car buy through the AUC scheme. The car had four new run flat tyres, all four 108 wheels refurbushed, new discs & pads and a full service before it went on the forecourt hopefully meaning no additional expense for a year. It also had no stone chips, scuffs or dings.

I'd use a main dealer approved used scheme everytime. But only ever on my terms and I wouldn't add any of their extra's or use their finance etc. as thats where the deal moves more in their favour and away from yours (eg. £300 paint protection or buy the same stuff yourself from ebay for a fiver!)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom