Car info needed (Z4 E89 3.0 Auto)

Fady said:
Beerman said:
Pondrew said:
I thought unless it was specifically stated as a 'trade sale' it is against the law for a dealer selling for profit to not allow returns (or a warranty of some description)? Isn't that the whole point of buying through a dealer? :?

My understanding is they can only call it a trade sale when sell the car to another trader. They can't sell it on trade terms to a member of the public. Consumer rights always apply.

It could be the dealers own personal car, but I doubt it. The car has been untaxed for a couple of months and the log book hasn't been reissued. I think they've recently picked it up to sell for profit.

Not many private sellers put paper to cover the floor mats either.

Any dealer selling a car as a private sale is usually dodgy.

Eh? Car in question is listed as being sold by a business seller. Says 'Registered as a Business Seller' by the side of the seller name. Then there are the business details at the foot of the listing. Does not imply anywhere that it is a private sale.

Additionally, you can also verify that the seller is a company by checking the company name against the Companies House database (or just sticking it into Google).

The seller is asking for cash or a bank transfer only.

He also states no returns. A car dealer can't sell a car and not accept returns. He's clearly selling it on a private basis.

The cars he advertises through his business clearly highlight he is a car dealer. They advertise 12 months warranty, offer finance and don't request cash or bank transfer as the only payment option.

The car is the only car on his eBay account. The Z4 doesn't appear for sale at his garage.
 
Beerman said:
Fady said:
Beerman said:
My understanding is they can only call it a trade sale when sell the car to another trader. They can't sell it on trade terms to a member of the public. Consumer rights always apply.

It could be the dealers own personal car, but I doubt it. The car has been untaxed for a couple of months and the log book hasn't been reissued. I think they've recently picked it up to sell for profit.

Not many private sellers put paper to cover the floor mats either.

Any dealer selling a car as a private sale is usually dodgy.

Eh? Car in question is listed as being sold by a business seller. Says 'Registered as a Business Seller' by the side of the seller name. Then there are the business details at the foot of the listing. Does not imply anywhere that it is a private sale.

Additionally, you can also verify that the seller is a company by checking the company name against the Companies House database (or just sticking it into Google).

The seller is asking for cash or a bank transfer only.

He also states no returns. A car dealer can't sell a car and not accept returns. He's clearly selling it on a private basis.

The cars he advertises through his business clearly highlight he is a car dealer. They advertise 12 months warranty, offer finance and don't request cash or bank transfer as the only payment option.

The car is the only car on his eBay account. The Z4 doesn't appear for sale at his garage.

The fact that he is perhaps not following proper business etiquette, does not then make it a private sale. Plus can choose to sell where he wants. Also, stating no returns is by the bye, since it is listed as business sale so would not hold up in a court of law (not that there are many even fully legitimate dealers that ever make it easy to return any car subsequent to purchase).

That said, would however suggest exercising all of the usual cautions including company background...
 
Fady said:
Beerman said:
Fady said:
Eh? Car in question is listed as being sold by a business seller. Says 'Registered as a Business Seller' by the side of the seller name. Then there are the business details at the foot of the listing. Does not imply anywhere that it is a private sale.

Additionally, you can also verify that the seller is a company by checking the company name against the Companies House database (or just sticking it into Google).

The seller is asking for cash or a bank transfer only.

He also states no returns. A car dealer can't sell a car and not accept returns. He's clearly selling it on a private basis.

The cars he advertises through his business clearly highlight he is a car dealer. They advertise 12 months warranty, offer finance and don't request cash or bank transfer as the only payment option.

The car is the only car on his eBay account. The Z4 doesn't appear for sale at his garage.

The fact that he is perhaps not following proper business etiquette, does not then make it a private sale. Plus can choose to sell where he wants. Also, stating no returns is by the bye, since it is listed as business sale so would not hold up in a court of law (not that there are many even fully legitimate dealers that ever make it easy to return any car subsequent to purchase).

That said, would however suggest exercising all of the usual cautions including company background...

How many more alarm bells do you need?

I think this is why a lot of scammers and dishonest people get away with things. Even though it's blatantly obvious what he's doing, you're still trying to find excuses.

It won't stand up in court as a private sale, but why buy the car knowing the potential risk?

He has all the facilities to offer finance, warranty and take card payments. He only wants cash or a bank transfer knowing it's much harder for the buyer to recover their money if something goes wrong.

He has been a car dealer for a very long time. All his adverts follow the correct etiquette. It is very odd that only one car doesn't follow the same etiquette and is advertised elsewhere to all his other cars. It's the only car he's selling requesting a different payment method and stating he won't accept returns.

The car has no road tax and it's uninsured for its own plate.
 
Beerman said:
Fady said:
Beerman said:
The seller is asking for cash or a bank transfer only.

He also states no returns. A car dealer can't sell a car and not accept returns. He's clearly selling it on a private basis.

The cars he advertises through his business clearly highlight he is a car dealer. They advertise 12 months warranty, offer finance and don't request cash or bank transfer as the only payment option.

The car is the only car on his eBay account. The Z4 doesn't appear for sale at his garage.

The fact that he is perhaps not following proper business etiquette, does not then make it a private sale. Plus can choose to sell where he wants. Also, stating no returns is by the bye, since it is listed as business sale so would not hold up in a court of law (not that there are many even fully legitimate dealers that ever make it easy to return any car subsequent to purchase).

That said, would however suggest exercising all of the usual cautions including company background...

How many more alarm bells do you need?

I think this is why a lot of scammers and dishonest people get away with things. Even though it's blatantly obvious what he's doing, you're still trying to find excuses.

It won't stand up in court as a private sale, but why buy the car knowing the potential risk?

He has all the facilities to offer finance, warranty and take card payments. He only wants cash or a bank transfer knowing it's much harder for the buyer to recover their money if something goes wrong.

He has been a car dealer for a very long time. All his adverts follow the correct etiquette. It is very odd that only one car doesn't follow the same etiquette and is advertised elsewhere to all his other cars. It's the only car he's selling requesting a different payment method and stating he won't accept returns.

The car has no road tax and it's uninsured for its own plate.

Note that I'm not looking to buy it as do always conduct my own due diligence if I was! However, having looking at the ad more closely it doesn't seem to add up. Firstly assumption was that OP has actually been to see the car? But then, and not wishing to discredit anyone and their livelihood, business name is not the same as seller name and business has been on hold since 2019 (accounts not submitted). Would suggest therefore possibly a hijacked eBay account, a few lifted photos, some 'borrowed' business information and no actual car. Person behind this is likely anything other than a dealer. Could all be verified quite quickly by actually ringing the listed dealer - though you'd need to locate the phone number since it won't be the one shown, though personally I wouldn't go to the bother. Also, looking through the listings, that seller has never previous sold any cars via eBay.
 
The mobile phone number given is linked to Milton Service Station LTD.

The address of the bungalow on the ebay account is the same as Milton Service Station LTD.

The person's name on the eBay account is linked on companies house to Milton Service Station LTD and the name of the eBay business.

It simply looks like a dealer trying to sell a car as a private sale.
 
Beerman said:
I think this is why a lot of scammers and dishonest people get away with things. Even though it's blatantly obvious what he's doing, you're still trying to find excuses.

It won't stand up in court as a private sale, but why buy the car knowing the potential risk?

He has all the facilities to offer finance, warranty and take card payments. He only wants cash or a bank transfer knowing it's much harder for the buyer to recover their money if something goes wrong.

He has been a car dealer for a very long time. All his adverts follow the correct etiquette. It is very odd that only one car doesn't follow the same etiquette and is advertised elsewhere to all his other cars. It's the only car he's selling requesting a different payment method and stating he won't accept returns.

The car has no road tax and it's uninsured for its own plate.
I agree it does look extremely suspect. I would be looking elsewhere for a car TBH. Buying used cars is risky enough when everything is kosha, let alone when it isn't.
 
Wow, thanks guys. Shame, I did really like the car, but after raising some of the concerns raised here, the guy pulled the ad down now... :o

So, I will be on the lookout. Ideal car would be a 3.0 Auto in red for a reasonable price. How is 3.5 to drive?, is it a widowmaker in the wet/mild South England winter? Might switch my attention to the one on the marketplace...

If ideal is not reachable, would like a 6 pot, not a boring colour, not red interior, heated seats a must, rest is optional and depends on condition
 
The 3 litre N52 engine seems to be pretty bulletproof, but the twin-turbo N54 in the 35i and is can suffer from a few issues as highlighted in this thread:- https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=148281

This thread may also be useful:- https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=149853

Although I can't see the turbo models trying to kill you if you leave the TC on and don't provoke it. I haven't had an issues with my Z4M in the South East.
 
If I don't use the sport button I find the 35 quite “lazy”, obvious if I floor the accelerator then it turns into “Mr Hyde” but it can be very civilised as a daily driver.
 
How about this one?

https://www.facebook.com/share/gkk5UVJ64sdY54Ns/

468660525_3886986348205628_1973753295179445304_n.jpg
 
Looks a nice car but the advert doesn’t say much, no idrive, parking sensors, auto lights, cruise control? Probably base audio.
Previous MOTs show a neglect of tyres, so presumably previous owners just drove it and didn’t do much else.
Just my opinion, worth a look if you are local.
 
superpima said:
Wow, thanks guys. Shame, I did really like the car, but after raising some of the concerns raised here, the guy pulled the ad down now... :o

So, I will be on the lookout. Ideal car would be a 3.0 Auto in red for a reasonable price. How is 3.5 to drive?, is it a widowmaker in the wet/mild South England winter? Might switch my attention to the one on the marketplace...

If ideal is not reachable, would like a 6 pot, not a boring colour, not red interior, heated seats a must, rest is optional and depends on condition

It looks like he sold it. The car is now taxed and the V5 has been issued.

I hope the buyer doesn't have issues.
 
And this one looks OK-ish. What do you all think?
(I have requested the VINs for both)

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15470480
mw-z4-3-0-30i-auto-sdrive-euro-5-2dr-1124769711-45.jpg
 
superpima said:
And this one looks OK-ish. What do you all think?
(I have requested the VINs for both)

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15470480
mw-z4-3-0-30i-auto-sdrive-euro-5-2dr-1124769711-45.jpg

Much better ..very original..quite a few goodies..PDC, comfort pack, ( extended storage wind diffuser) idrive , maybe decent audio system, heated seats..no cruise ..obligatory covers missing over door screws ..they fall out..non MSport 17” wheels will float like a barge even with stock runflats
 
For me the white one looks the better of the 2, looks like the wind diffuser is missing along with the footwell mats, unless they’ve been left out for the photos, decent MOT history and not done many miles in the last few years, although it does run out in February so you’d think they’d put a fresh MIT on it.
 
Good MOT history and no insurance write-off. The front spoiler appears to have minor paintwork damage. Autotrader values it at £7300. Check it has two keys. 52 pictures but none of the engine bay
 
When you're looking on eBay be cautious as there are often scam adverts. See this thread from when I was looking earlier this year. https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=145908
 
Thanks Jake, its OK, I am quite cautious, part of the reason I am asking these questions here is to have someone have a second view.
I have been buying some utilitarian cars from FB ads/ eBay before, and I think you just need to go in with your eyes open
 
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