scammer sellers.

R

redgum

Member
 Gloucester
Hi, just to pass on my experience , just bought a low milage Z4 2003, did alll the checks but got a bit caught on the service history. I should have noticed the lack of signitures on the service book. Just had a phone call from BMW, the last time the key was read was 2016 but that its only done 7000 miles since then luckily (58000 mile now), its possible it has non BMW services. Anyhow, hope this may help someone, I will get the car in for a full service and get everything done. On the plus side its had new brake discs all round and pads plus front springs( I can actually see those :D :D )
 
I really wouldn't stress too much like the guys have said in your other threads. It is unlikely to have been serviced at BMW dealers for a long time being a 20 year old car. Unless the book was stamped by a BMW dealer I wouldn't expect the key to be read.

If you feel like you have actually been done and it is within 30 days of the sale you should be able to return for your money back and just buy a new car and use the lessons from this one.

https://www.themotorombudsman.org/knowledge-base/can-i-return-my-car-within-14-days-of-buying-it

Just to feed your paranoia
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155404263429

I will need to check my service book but im pretty sure all mine has is Milage, Date and Stamp I dont think I have any signatures. I will take a photo later on this afternoon from my book with genuine stamps.

EDIT: I took a look at my service book and you dont always get a signature but should get a stamp, date milage etc.
This is genuine as far as I know especially given the 5 year service gap between 2014 and 2019.
IMG_5229.jpeg
 
Matty_Z4 said:
Just to feed your paranoia
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155404263429
Click to expand...
That is despicable. "ideal for replacing lost history". Yeah OK! What they really mean is "ideal for making up a history a car doesn't have"..
That needs reporting. That is encouraging fraud, or at least providing the tools to commit fraud.

I thought nothing surprised me anymore but that did! :x
 
Pondrew said:
Matty_Z4 said:
Just to feed your paranoia
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155404263429
Click to expand...
That is despicable. "ideal for replacing lost history". Yeah OK! What they really mean is "ideal for making up a history a car doesn't have"..
That needs reporting. That is encouraging fraud, or at least providing the tools to commit fraud.

I thought nothing surprised me anymore but that did! :x
Click to expand...

WTF :x :thumbsdown:
 
That is absolutely unbelievable. Surely if you genuinely require a new services book stamping because you’ve “lost” your original then a main dealer will be able to provide this service, with stamps from their database.
 
The bmw book is stamped so stolen stamp?, you can probably get the stamps on there to. I called the garage that supposely did the last 6 stamps and they had no record of the vehicle. I will report it but private sale on ebay, never been so stupid before, theres no fool like an old fool eh. The chap is selling a Bentley continental GT on ebay now, daniwat 6324, full service history and apparently it was his fathers that sadly passed away. Oddly I feel no remorse. In less than 3 hours someone is going to regret spending nearly 10 grand, oh, it does have full service history :o . The phone number on his ebay for that car is differant to the one I called him on, that will now be in the canal. He will no doupt cancel his ebay account after that. If by chance any of you chaps are the lucky bidder, just don't go to Harrogate station to be picked up!!!!!!!!
A lesson has been learned and I have been left with sorting out some issues with the car, maybe my posts will save some other poor soul. But I do have a genuine 58000 Z4 manual 3.0lt in pretty good nick, it has several faults, started misfiring soon after purchase, just changed plugs n coil with bosch. This did not stop the misfire but a mate put his reader on the car and it came up with flow control valve. At least the Z has landed on a good home and will be cherished.
 
Oh I just noticed, the books on ebay are ready stamped !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! all you have to do is sign it yourself and make up dates.
 
Just had a look at the Bentley on EBay it’s probably genuine and there are several others at around £12k low miles too.
The local pub owner has been trying to sell me his for 3 yrs, same model, not touching that with a barge pole nor will anyone else. The cost of fixing even the smallest problem is ruinous, for me just to big and awkward to use, an E85 is just right.
 
redgum said:
Oh I just noticed, the books on ebay are ready stamped !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! all you have to do is sign it yourself and make up dates.
Click to expand...

That is just shocking. :evil: :headbang:

Don't Ebay police advertisers?
 
Mr Tidy said:
Don't Ebay police advertisers?
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Nope. As long as you pay your fees, they couldn't care less. Even if reported, they are very hesitant in removing adverts/ and or sellers.

The ad is worded in a way that is not deemed to be fraudulent "ideal for replacing lost history". There is no crime in that. But we all know that is not what they are really selling. They are selling falsified service histories; buyer just fills in the blank bits.

Worst part is that people like this could undermine ANY car's genuine history. Many, many people don't keep receipts and invoices; a stamped service book is (apparently) deemed to be acceptable as proof of service. Not anymore with counterfeiters like this advertising openly. Brings into doubt all cars' service records!

They will no doubt have copies of every main dealer stamp in the UK.

GDPR regs are helping this business; as there is no longer a reliable way to trace back historical information.

I have reported the eBay item, but it is not easy. Drop-down lists (which are vague) and no opportunity to explain reasons!
 
Pondrew said:
Worst part is that people like this could undermine ANY car's genuine history. Many, many people don't keep receipts and invoices; a stamped service book is (apparently) deemed to be acceptable as proof of service. Not anymore with counterfeiters like this advertising openly. Brings into doubt all cars' service records!
Click to expand...

That's the problem, you don't often get the actual invoices when you buy a car. Especially when so many dealers/traders bin them because they think passing them on infringes GDPR. Maybe later BMWs storing history on the OBC isn't such a bad idea, although no doubt someone will find a way of getting around that like those "mileage correction" crooks!
 
Mr Tidy said:
That's the problem, you don't often get the actual invoices when you buy a car. Especially when so many dealers/traders bin them because they think passing them on infringes GDPR.
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Bloody good excuse to get rid of evidence good and bad, the old GDPR rules! It's nonsense and fuelling crooks like those in the eBay advert. Our stupid Government actually facilitate fraud by their 'brilliant' ideas!
 
Chippie said:
That is absolutely unbelievable. Surely if you genuinely require a new services book stamping because you’ve “lost” your original then a main dealer will be able to provide this service, with stamps from their database.
Click to expand...

Thats what I did with my zed, called the dealer, bought a book and they put all the service history in there with stamps, date and mileage.
 
deltasierra said:
Just had a look at the Bentley on EBay it’s probably genuine and there are several others at around £12k low miles too.
The local pub owner has been trying to sell me his for 3 yrs, same model, not touching that with a barge pole nor will anyone else. The cost of fixing even the smallest problem is ruinous, for me just to big and awkward to use, an E85 is just right.
Click to expand...
The ebay advert for my Z4 was very similar and equally plausable, your brain wants to believe its 'probably genuine'. You have to give it to the guy he is good at his job and he manages to draw you away from the important things you should be looking for.
 
Even with a private sale mis describing an item is fraud and illegal “full service history” it could mean the owner doing proper servicing it could mean very little or anything in between, personally with a 20 yr old vehicle I’m buying on condition, service history is nice. Milage is easily confirmed by MOT and you get advisories and reasons it failed tests, a 5 yr old car I do want history but even then it could be a dog.
My current Z 17yrs old very good well cared for car low miles regularly serviced, even then misfiring after a month, plugged scanner in, cleaned the Vanos solenoids fine ever since, another owner might have paid a grand plus to a garage to fix it.

BMW or Bentley you’re taking a risk with old cars, personally Bentleys are not my style and I don’t want to get involved in a W12 engine, the Z is a good choice because the mechanical help on the forum is excellent.
 
deltasierra said:
Even with a private sale mis describing an item is fraud and illegal “full service history” it could mean the owner doing proper servicing it could mean very little or anything in between, personally with a 20 yr old vehicle I’m buying on condition, service history is nice. Milage is easily confirmed by MOT and you get advisories and reasons it failed tests, a 5 yr old car I do want history but even then it could be a dog.
My current Z 17yrs old very good well cared for car low miles regularly serviced, even then misfiring after a month, plugged scanner in, cleaned the Vanos solenoids fine ever since, another owner might have paid a grand plus to a garage to fix it.

BMW or Bentley you’re taking a risk with old cars, personally Bentleys are not my style and I don’t want to get involved in a W12 engine, the Z is a good choice because the mechanical help on the forum is excellent.
Click to expand...
Well yes thats all true and even if a vehicle hasn't got BMW history on the key, it could well be serviced at a non BMW dealership. I have a Navara, had it from new but once the five year warrentee finished I have it serviced at my local garage, only proof of that is the paper work. But what ever the reason, when you feel that someone has been dishonest for capital gain it taints the good feelings, but it brings you back to reality,its just the world we live in and if I was the same I would be an aweful lot richer.
 
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