BMW AUC - What's it worth?

S

sprainedmind

Member
Hi all,

The search for a zed continues and I'm off to see an AUC at a local dealer tomorrow. Obviously the price is quite a bit higher than similar looking cars on the classifieds, but what an I actually getting for the premium?

As far as I can work out it boils down to the equivalent of:

HPI check (~£20)
Vehicle inspection (~£300 (AA comprehensive inspection))
Warranty (~£500)

Is there anything I've missed, because that comes to not a lot really?
 
Ask to see the paperwork that covers the preparation of the car to bring it up to AUC standard. It may be nothing, but in my case this was something like £900 worth including things like a brake fluid change (it was due one), re-alignment of the headlights, two rear tyres, a full KDS, a new 2nd key and a bunch of other stuff. Stuff that a private seller, nor independent will do.

Also, you are paying for peace of mind, and of course nice coffee and biscuits :wink:
 
- 12 months warranty that works pretty much exactly like it does on a new car
- Someone to go back to in the event of a problem
- Protection under the sale of goods act
- AUC Check : tyres are all above 4mm, no service due for 2500 miles, MOT done if due within 12 months, wheels refurbed, etc
- Trade in and car finance facilities
- General security

Of course you pay for more for all that, particularly on trade ins (Where you have to haggle hard). If you aren't interested in any of that and are a cash buyer, then it doesn't really offer a lot
 
Also have you had an actual quote for £500 warranty or are you guesssing? I would have thought depending on the model it could be a fair bit more than that.
 
trying to think what else you get above what has been said already, not much but:

- 12 months breakdown cover
- 7 days complementary insurance
- professional and accountable service

i went with approved used for the huge peace of mind and the warranty. Don't think i ever will buy private in the future, its a premium worth paying for imo, especially as i know little about the mechanics of cars.
 
glastoveteran said:
Also have you had an actual quote for £500 warranty or are you guesssing? I would have thought depending on the model it could be a fair bit more than that.
Click to expand...
No, I got a couple of online quotes, so I know it's ballpark. I agree that the BMW warranty could well be more valuable than that.

I also agree that the convenience factor & peace of mind are obviously huge points in AUC's favour.

I'm actually posting this from the dealer's free wifi, so I may need to decide if it's worth it soon :-)
 
Go with AUC if you are going to purchase an aftermarket one then the little extra you pay with main dealer is IMO well worth it.
 
You pay your money and take your choice....

From some of the prices I've compared recently you can easily pay maybe £3,000.00 more for an AUC compared to a private sale.

Question is whether you are liable to get 3 grand's worth of repairs, etc.

Personally, I'd bank the 3 grand and take my chances - just make sure I had the car carefully checked-out (HPI and Mechanically)
 
Bought my Z4 private and at the age i was looking at 03-05 the best ones seemed to be private where you could speak to the person who had owned the car from new... I spoke to some dealers on the phone but there was not a lot of choice about.

I don't usually buy private preferring the warranty that comes with an approved car ( we have a landy and i would never ever buy one of these without a fully approved warranty on it).
 
I only bought my first BMW (318i) from an independent dealer. The car had many repairs during my ownership, e.g. new head gaskets, new seal for rear axles, etc. After that, all my other BMW were bought from BMW dealers, and always have extended warranty.
 
bmwangler said:
You pay your money and take your choice....

From some of the prices I've compared recently you can easily pay maybe £3,000.00 more for an AUC compared to a private sale.

Question is whether you are liable to get 3 grand's worth of repairs, etc.

Personally, I'd bank the 3 grand and take my chances - just make sure I had the car carefully checked-out (HPI and Mechanically)
Click to expand...

Yeah, £3k looks about right. Saw 2 zeds today, very similar cars, £3,100 difference in asking prices. AUC would be nice, but so would £3k in my pocket!
 
Independant dealer is the one place personally i would not buy one from... if it is a good car and has gone back into the dealership circuit you have to ask yourself why it is not an approved car.
 
Have a look at private cars that have a BMW warranty, and save yourself a fortune.

I know of a good example for sale :D
 
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