So Where Did You Find Yours

I watched an auction on ebay, the final bid didn't reach his reserve price, so I contacted him after the auction and we did a private sale.
 
THANKS :D to everyone who has shared their insights to date.
Rough sourcing breakdown so far:-
BMW AUC 42%
Autotrader 21%
PistonHeads 16%
Ebay+Other21%
This deepens the mystery as to why so many private sellers set unrealistically high prices in some instances matching or exceeding BMW AUC.
Given that the private buyer has no come back against a private seller surely these prices should be at least 10-20% below AUC.?
Anyone had any success with the big auction houses e.g. Manheim and BCA?
 
BMW AUC 100% from me. Was watching all of the sites all day every day for a couple of weeks for the right one to come up. When mine came up (monday afternoon) I called the dealer straight away and I had a deposit down subject to viewing the next morning at 10am. All correspondance with the dealer was good, an overall straightforward experience. The complete opposite from when I went to see one a couple of weeks ago (it's still on autotrader unsold) at an independent dealer, there was a lot of yellow sludge under the filler cap and there was no service history (car on 19k miles) despite advert saying FSH. When I pointed out the sludge to the dealer he refused to accept that this was a problem, suffice to say I quickly made an exit.

You do pay a premium for a BMWAUC but IMO it is worth it.

Edit: Also with buying from BMW, I got the alloys refurbed prior to collection, 2 new tyres on the rear and a couple of stone chips on the front touched up (plus he gave me the touch up pen which I imagine is a few quid from bmw).
 
alphadynamic said:
I was looking for a Porsche Cayman S, and after driving one decided pretty quickly it wasn't for me. The second car on my list was a 2007-on M3, but the prices are still a little high. I popped into my local main dealer who have a dedicated ///M department to see if they had a decent pre-'07 M3, and the roadster was sitting there. The sales manager urged me to take a test drive, I was not in the least bit interested.. I took the drive anyway, came back with the biggest cheeser. Looked around for a fortnight for another. Saw some really rough examples, mis-matched tyres, odd service intervals, rough body and interior etc.. Went back, paid 1k over book price for mine, but got a total minter with a 2 year BMW warranty, 1 years tax, and the benefit of buying from a ///M specialist. (Also drove in my "search" the new SLK, Boxster S, new Z4 2.2, but the M roadster just tickled me fizz) :D
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Best way did exactly the same worth the extra for the 2 year warranty although mines a coupe. People do diss the garages for poor performance and higher prices but if you go in with exactly what you want and a price in mind and dont budge they will, its the piece of mind and in the end they bent over backwards looking after me and £1500 worth of work later the car is exactly how I want it :D

I pushed and got:

2 year warranty - roughly worth £1200
All round wheel refurb £400
Inspection 2 £1000
New tyres all round (mich PS) £1000
New Front brake pads and discs £300

If you bought a car privately and needed to do this you wouldnt see much change from £4k. These cars even with below average milage are getting older now and most will need this attention. Obviously the garage didn't spend this but what I mean is that this would be the cost to us as consumers if we went to get it done.

Since I got it I had a few problems which meant replacing the ECU, DS window motor, DS brake calliper because it was sticking. If I didnt have the warranty the parts and labour would have been over £1500

So here is a positive for BMW AUC, although I did have some trouble with them they did all the work and now im a happy chappy.
 
TheMagus said:
Anyone had any success with the big auction houses e.g. Manheim and BCA?
Click to expand...
I continually checked the online stock lists at BCA and my F-in-L inspected aZ4 that was through in Glasgow, but it was an absolute disgrace: bad paint repairs to several panels - all fixable but it ended up going for too much of a premium to make it worthwhile.

I ended up finding mine via Pistonheads. Not locally either - was in Hartlepool and I'm Falkirk (between Glasgow/Edinburgh). I don't have an issue buying anywhere within the UK as long as the deal is right, in fact I travelled to Cornwall for my previous car which was a 950-mile round trip...
 
a11y said:
TheMagus said:
Anyone had any success with the big auction houses e.g. Manheim and BCA?
Click to expand...
I continually checked the online stock lists at BCA and my F-in-L inspected aZ4 that was through in Glasgow, but it was an absolute disgrace: bad paint repairs to several panels - all fixable but it ended up going for too much of a premium to make it worthwhile.

I ended up finding mine via Pistonheads. Not locally either - was in Hartlepool and I'm Falkirk (between Glasgow/Edinburgh). I don't have an issue buying anywhere within the UK as long as the deal is right, in fact I travelled to Cornwall for my previous car which was a 950-mile round trip...
Click to expand...

I think you have to be prepared to travel to get the right car, mine was a long train journey and 250mile drive back.
 
Be aware but even some AUC cars that are sold dont have the servicing done inline to the BMW servicing schedule.
First thing to ask before going anywhere to view a car is the service history asking when/what mileage/where the services took place.
 
Pistonheads for both the 3.0l SE and the ///M coupe.

The 3.0l was eventually sold on eBay, as was my 330ci as will be the ///MC...
 
tomscott said:
alphadynamic said:
I was looking for a Porsche Cayman S, and after driving one decided pretty quickly it wasn't for me. The second car on my list was a 2007-on M3, but the prices are still a little high. I popped into my local main dealer who have a dedicated ///M department to see if they had a decent pre-'07 M3, and the roadster was sitting there. The sales manager urged me to take a test drive, I was not in the least bit interested.. I took the drive anyway, came back with the biggest cheeser. Looked around for a fortnight for another. Saw some really rough examples, mis-matched tyres, odd service intervals, rough body and interior etc.. Went back, paid 1k over book price for mine, but got a total minter with a 2 year BMW warranty, 1 years tax, and the benefit of buying from a ///M specialist. (Also drove in my "search" the new SLK, Boxster S, new Z4 2.2, but the M roadster just tickled me fizz) :D
Click to expand...

Best way did exactly the same worth the extra for the 2 year warranty although mines a coupe. People do diss the garages for poor performance and higher prices but if you go in with exactly what you want and a price in mind and dont budge they will, its the piece of mind and in the end they bent over backwards looking after me and £1500 worth of work later the car is exactly how I want it :D

I pushed and got:

2 year warranty - roughly worth £1200
All round wheel refurb £400
Inspection 2 £1000
New tyres all round (mich PS) £1000
New Front brake pads and discs £300

If you bought a car privately and needed to do this you wouldnt see much change from £4k. These cars even with below average milage are getting older now and most will need this attention. Obviously the garage didn't spend this but what I mean is that this would be the cost to us as consumers if we went to get it done.

Since I got it I had a few problems which meant replacing the ECU, DS window motor, DS brake calliper because it was sticking. If I didnt have the warranty the parts and labour would have been over £1500

So here is a positive for BMW AUC, although I did have some trouble with them they did all the work and now im a happy chappy.
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I wasn't far off that.

I got alloys refurbed (they were not too bad in the first place)
£750 off the window price
Seats repainted due to a scratch on the leather
front bumper resprayed
Full (excellent) detailing service
new discs
next oil change
and of course my 2 year warranty.

I nearly bought a B5S Alpina from a well respected independent dealer in Edinburgh, but 6 months warranty on any large/powerful/prestige car worries me greatly.

All in all I spent 15,500 for my Z4M with 35k on the clock and FSH (all bang on in terms of mileage). I COULD have spent £14k on a similar car with the same milage, but way less in terms of prep and ongoing support.

You got a cracking deal though Tom, I pushed hard for the Inspection II (due on my car in 15k), but It wasn't happening. But, to reiterate, I'm totally comfortable with my purchase, which, had I bought privately I doubt I'd be feeling the same.
 
First one, Piston Heads. Travelled from Darlington to the south coast to pick it up.

Second one, from here. Travelled from Newcastle to Dudly for it.
 
I wasn't far off that.

I got alloys refurbed (they were not too bad in the first place)
£750 off the window price
Seats repainted due to a scratch on the leather
front bumper resprayed
Full (excellent) detailing service
new discs
next oil change
and of course my 2 year warranty.

I nearly bought a B5S Alpina from a well respected independent dealer in Edinburgh, but 6 months warranty on any large/powerful/prestige car worries me greatly.

All in all I spent 15,500 for my Z4M with 35k on the clock and FSH (all bang on in terms of mileage). I COULD have spent £14k on a similar car with the same milage, but way less in terms of prep and ongoing support.

You got a cracking deal though Tom, I pushed hard for the Inspection II (due on my car in 15k), but It wasn't happening. But, to reiterate, I'm totally comfortable with my purchase, which, had I bought privately I doubt I'd be feeling the same.
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Looks like yours was a great deal too. Ye I also got £1000 off the car and an extra £1000 part ex for mine although they gave me a bad price for my old one and sold it for a big premium which I wasn't happy about but swings and roundabouts. (so I understand people selling privately)

With the service mine had 46k on it when I bought it, and hadn't had a service in over two years and was due around 50k. I said I didn't want to buy it and 6 months later have to spend £1000 on the service so they did it with the deal. They generally wont do the service until the computer tells you it needs it or it has been a significant period between services. 15k might have been slightly pushing it haha

But ye when I look at the second hand market mine had just less than average milage for a 56 plate, and my car had been used as a motorway machine for some silly reason was able to contact the previous owner as it was only a 2 owner car and find out what it had done etc. But the private market was similar in price give or take £1000 for a car with the same spec and milage with some movement probably looking at a £1500 premium.

But like you said its the support it has already payed for itself in 6 months and I got all the rest of the prep done which I would have had to pay for. Obviously everyone will say they got a great deal but the base line is that the deals are there. Although BMW wont admit that these cars are in high demand thats why there are never many Z4Ms on the AUC website never seen more than 4 at once.

Regardless of the owner I would always feel a bit nervous buying a car privately unless it had warranty left. If I were more mechanically minded it would be fine but im not, and I also feel very comfortable with my purchase. I also got a guaranteed minimum trade in which I thought was very reasonable, as when I come to change the car will be 7 years old. They also want your returning business so if they give you a good deal I would be more inclined to go back again.

The warranty reduces my worry, there are many people on here who post worries and I dont feel the same because I just send it back and it gets fixed more convenient for me.
 
I'm quite surprised what you guys have got off the Z4M's on AUC, although to be honest i've never tried/enquired about an AUC Z4M.
There had been 10+ Z4M's on AUC for the last 2 months at least, some of them are £20k when similar age/mileage cars with very slightly lower spec are £3-4k less! Crazy pricing.
 
What a GOLDMINE of information. :D
There must either be something special about people who buy roadsters or something about driving roadsters that brings out the best in people.
The only other place I have encountered such willingness to help is the Classic MGB roadster club.
Some of you have pulled off some amazing deals via the AUC route, shows us all what can be done if you demonstrate true preparedness to walk away.!
 
duckson said:
I'm quite surprised what you guys have got off the Z4M's on AUC, although to be honest i've never tried/enquired about an AUC Z4M.
There had been 10+ Z4M's on AUC for the last 2 months at least, some of them are £20k when similar age/mileage cars with very slightly lower spec are £3-4k less! Crazy pricing.
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Not coupes :evil:

I no we are talking roadsters but my example was a coupe.

The reason is that they are getting older now and they prefer to have newer models on the forecourt, but still want to sell them as selling them to a 3rd party the profit is a lot less. Also the road tax, insurance and fuel costs put people off which is why the relative second hand value on Ms isnt fantastic and there is room to manoeuvre. Go in with what you want, if they don't walk away I guarantee they will ring you with a better deal within 48hrs. They did that to me and I said no twice and said I was going to look at other cars so did but it wasnt what i wanted but played the 'there giving me a better deal' card and this other car was older but had less spec and milage no sat nav pretty basic M and they decided to give me what I wanted on this car.

Mine was generally in impulse buy I wanted one and had test drove the SI and because of the small no. of the M coupes quite hard to find and test drive one. My local had one in at the time so went just to test it. After I decided I would much prefer the M had a huge smile on my face... bad technique and the salesman thought he had me where he wanted. Generally I would have gone with something with much less milage but it pushed all the rest of the buttons.

Although it was an AUC it had a few mods already to it tinted windows and the carbon rear spoiler, also looked very low... Found out it had H&R lowering springs on it and I told them and they have warranted these for me too. So all the mods I wanted... which would have cost an extra £300 for the spoiler £300 for the springs and £200 for the tints so an extra £800..... Thought it cant get better so I snapped it up.

Here are my dealer pics

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WBSDU92010LF78528_01_DL_160811_1 by tom_scott88, on Flickr

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WBSDU92010LF78528_02_DL_160811_2 by tom_scott88, on Flickr

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WBSDU92010LF78528_06_DL_160811_6 by tom_scott88, on Flickr

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WBSDU92010LF78528_03_DL_160811_3 by tom_scott88, on Flickr

Here is is now
6709183913_0f8d5e999a_b.jpg
BMW Z4M Coupe by tom_scott88, on Flickr

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BMW Z4M Coupe by tom_scott88, on Flickr

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BMW Z4M Coupe by tom_scott88, on Flickr
 
As follows

First Zed - Ebay Sold Via - PH
2nd - Pistonheads Sold Via - Forum
3rd - Ebay Sold Via - Ebay
4th - Autotrader

I struggle to understand what take some buyers so long , all I can think is ......

Unwilling to travel (In the past Cornwall to Scotland twice) Reckon this is key one
Unrealistic on Price for said spec/miles
Unwilling to over look a piece of "specification" that can be retro fitted... I'm not buying because it not got cruise for example
Unwilling to haggel hard to get the price they want to pay, so a prefect car is overlooked for the sake of £1000-1500

This just IMO but never had a problem finding the car I wanted or selling it either

Good luck on your search

P.s What is your dream spec then?... I reckon with this lot we can find it in a week :D
 
oli445 said:
Springer123 said:
Bmw AUC mate

i was looking every day for months till i found the right priced one ( there AUC prices seem to vary between 13k and 17k for a black coupe with less than 40k which is what i was looking for)

it turned up in newcastle and i live in bolton, 5 hour megabus trip later and i was collecting it

:thumbsup:
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That's 2 of us from Bolton then! :thumbsup:
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theres a few of us in bolton, i saw 2 coupes and 2 nice roadsters at tesco last week, actually looking at your spec i think one of them was yours :thumbsup:
 
Bought mine from the local BMW dealer - without a test drive. Paid full asking price, and have never regretted it for a minute. Over here AUC are known as CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) so it came with extended warranty, 100k mi or 6 yrs.
I think I was exceptionally lucky, and would probably not take that chance again....
You can also search BMW NA for the exact spec car that you are looking for, they will locate all the CPO cars in a specified radius, depending upon how far you are willing to travel. We bought my wife's E90 this way.
 
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