Time to get back in an E86 after 10 years away

[r5pny]

Morning All, after 10 years away I am finally back and looking for an E86. Found one that is the exact spec I want but sadly it is lacking a service history... So reaching out to the Forum so see if anyone knows the following car...

Black BMW 3.0si Sport - Original Reg YK09 RKU, private plates of 22YXE, C6CRC, G12AME

The full background check looks OK, MoT and mileage seems to stack up, but the lack for service history has me worried. I spoke to my local BMW garage this morning and the VIN number confirmed the build and spec are bang on, but no service. Now that could be because it was a 2009 car and they didn't digitise their service records until a few years later.

The urge to buy a Coupe now has me making rash decisions

So any help appreciated.

If anyone is looking at selling their car, I am interest in a Sport, Manual with Cruise control and headed seats (ideally), and either Black, Grey or Silver.

 

[DaveP]

I would factor a specialist inspection and major service into your price, and just crack on. These aren't complicated cars (most of the oily bits come from the 1, 3 and 5 series), and there are plenty of specialists who can work on the car.

If you were buying a garage queen Countach my advice would be very different, but this is a mass-produced car whose faults are well documented.

If you're concerned about the lack of history affecting resale price (no idea why you would), then walk away. If BMW can't help you, I suspect it's unlikely anyone here is sitting on a folder of receipts.

 

[r5pny]

I would factor a specialist inspection and major service into your price, and just crack on. These aren't complicated cars (most of the oily bits come from the 1, 3 and 5 series), and there are plenty of specialists who can work on the car.

If you were buying a garage queen Countach my advice would be very different, but this is a mass-produced car whose faults are well documented.

If you're concerned about the lack of history affecting resale price (no idea why you would), then walk away. If BMW can't help you, I suspect it's unlikely anyone here is sitting on a folder of receipts.

Thanks for the reply... Think I am probably being over cautious as I have a poor history when it comes to buying cars. It's on at £13,950 with 65K so on the high side, but I am sure the chap is open to an offer.

Any other tips, questions you'd be asking?

Maybe a noddy question, but the lack of service history and knock on effect on resale price was a concern... I guess at this age I'm missing the point. I am also planning on keeping this for the long term.

Midlife crisis and all that :rofl:

 

[True-Blue]

£14k for a 65k E86 with zero history, we’ll overpriced unless it’s an M, look for another.


If it is an M no history is a major issue with resale

EDIT - you’ve stated it’s a 3.0si - way overpriced

 

[r5pny]

£14k for a 65k E86 with zero history, we’ll overpriced unless it’s an M, look for another.


If it is an M no history is a major issue with resale

EDIT - you’ve stated it’s a 3.0si - way overpriced

Thanks for the feedback… I’m totally out of the loop on these now having sold mine back in 2011.

Any coaching on what I should be looking at price wise would be appreciated.

Looking at AutoTrader, Pistonheads and EBay, prices seem to be all over the place!

 

[r5pny]

£14k for a 65k E86 with zero history, we’ll overpriced unless it’s an M, look for another.


If it is an M no history is a major issue with resale

EDIT - you’ve stated it’s a 3.0si - way overpriced

Thanks for the feedback… I’m totally out of the loop on these now having sold mine back in 2011.

Any coaching on what I should be looking at price wise would be appreciated.

Looking at AutoTrader, Pistonheads and EBay, prices seem to be all over the place!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208168823447

 

[warmasice]

£14k for a 65k E86 with zero history, we’ll overpriced unless it’s an M, look for another.


If it is an M no history is a major issue with resale

EDIT - you’ve stated it’s a 3.0si - way overpriced

Sounds overpriced to me.

 

[Z450]

Welcome to the forum

If you are keeping the car long term the lack of service history would not be a concern as you can build a service history up over time.

Is it the right car, colour specification you want? What’s the condition like, condition is key. These cars condition vary massively.

With regards to pricing, it’s going to be more than one from a private seller as it’s a dealer. That being said, you get a warranty which can be handy, what’s the dealer themselves like, do they seem ok, good reputation etc??

Looking at the advert that car probably more expensive as it’s one of the last Coupes made/ registered (2009) also it looks like it has a great spec, just lacking the navigation and extended leather so certainly some positives!

Good luck with your search these are great cars

 

[pvr]

The challenge with the price is that anyone who bought a car in the last two years, have purchased at the top peak of values and are chasing an unrealistic target. There have been a spade of those recently on the forum, and an asking price that is so far removed from reality that there are no responses on the adverts.

If you want to get a realiistic value (also what you would back in case of theft or major damage in case of an accident), check the likes of Motorway by putting the number plate in. If they quote say 9k for the car you are looking at, it means you either have to take agreed value insurance if you are desperate to pay over the odds for it, or you are risking the balance of the (over) payment.

 

[r5pny]

Welcome to the forum

If you are keeping the car long term the lack of service history would not be a concern as you can build a service history up over time.

Is it the right car, colour specification you want? What’s the condition like, condition is key. These cars condition vary massively.

With regards to pricing, it’s going to be more than one from a private seller as it’s a dealer. That being said, you get a warranty which can be handy, what’s the dealer themselves like, do they seem ok, good reputation etc??

Looking at the advert that car probably more expensive as it’s one of the last Coupes made/ registered (2009) also it looks like it has a great spec, just lacking the navigation and extended leather so certainly some positives!

Good luck with your search these are great cars

Thanks… more of a welcome back. Glad that my user name and password from 2011 still worked

I’m going to have a look at it. There is some history, but no stamps in the service book and nothing came back from BMW when I gave them the VIN number.

 

[Z450]

It’s worth having a look, ultimately if it ticks the majority of the boxes it may well be worth it. Shame about the history but it’s sadly quite common. I would imagine someone has spent money at some point I mean the CSL rep wheels and looks like Michelin tyres

 

[r5pny]

The challenge with the price is that anyone who bought a car in the last two years, have purchased at the top peak of values and are chasing an unrealistic target. There have been a spade of those recently on the forum, and an asking price that is so far removed from reality that there are no responses on the adverts.

If you want to get a realiistic value (also what you would back in case of theft or major damage in case of an accident), check the likes of Motorway by putting the number plate in. If they quote say 9k for the car you are looking at, it means you either have to take agreed value insurance if you are desperate to pay over the odds for it, or you are risking the balance of the (over) payment.

Ouch... Just put it into Motorway! Great shout... If this is the "trade" price then they are going to need to put VAT on that I guess, plus some margin. But at a shade under £14K it is over priced.

I am going to look and drive it tomorrow...

No that I want one, I am going to need to control my urge to just get the first one I see... Though this is a very nice spec, with everything I want.

 

[pvr]

No VAT to be added for trade, only over the profit level.

What did Motorway state out of interest? I generally work on the Motorway + 2k or so as what you should expect to pay for it.

 

[Z450]

No VAT to be added for trade, only over the profit level.

What did Motorway state out of interest? I generally work on the Motorway + 2k or so as what you should expect to pay for it.

motorway give an estimate and the other dealers bid, so if motor way valued it at £9000, that would probably be the reserve, but a car like that could end up going over easily by £1000, then you have the £300 buyers fee on top!

Also from my experience if the trader put £2000 across it does not leave much room for prep and negotiation, a car of that age will need at least £500 spending on cosmetic and mechanical if not more, the average buyer would want £500 off , so leaving a £1000 gross profit minus VAT that would leave £800 then you still have to take in putting fuel into the car any potential warranty costs, advertising etc… in reality they probably are not making as much as you think it’s rarely a case of just £2000 across and the jobs good one..

 

[Zedebee]

It looks like a nice car to me, lots of goodies, if a tad boring black/black/Alu combination.

Zachary Luke tends to put out quite expensive cars and I don’t know how much they are prepared to negotiate. I would have thought about £13k for this mileage and spec with service history; but without . . .? I’d be looking elsewhere as it’s definitely not a bargain.

Here’s one for comparison, although it’s been for sale for quite a while.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205296279016

 

[r5pny]

No VAT to be added for trade, only over the profit level.

What did Motorway state out of interest? I generally work on the Motorway + 2k or so as what you should expect to pay for it.

Just under 9K from Motorway. He’s going to do a full service and 3 months warranty. I’ve also re-read the additional docs he’s sent over and there is some service history, so not as bad as I first thought.

 

[r5pny]

No VAT to be added for trade, only over the profit level.

What did Motorway state out of interest? I generally work on the Motorway + 2k or so as what you should expect to pay for it.

Just under 9K from Motorway. He’s going to do a full service and 3 months warranty. I’ve also re-read the additional docs he’s sent over and there is some service history, so not as bad as I first thought.

 

[pvr]

No VAT to be added for trade, only over the profit level.

What did Motorway state out of interest? I generally work on the Motorway + 2k or so as what you should expect to pay for it.

motorway give an estimate and the other dealers bid, so if motor way valued it at £9000, that would probably be the reserve, but a car like that could end up going over easily by £1000, then you have the £300 buyers fee on top!

Also from my experience if the trader put £2000 across it does not leave much room for prep and negotiation, a car of that age will need at least £500 spending on cosmetic and mechanical if not more, the average buyer would want £500 off , so leaving a £1000 gross profit minus VAT that would leave £800 then you still have to take in putting fuel into the car any potential warranty costs, advertising etc… in reality they probably are not making as much as you think it’s rarely a case of just £2000 across and the jobs good one..

You have a point re commercial sales, I was actually using that rule for private sales where there is no additional cost for the seller. So if you take a Motorway of 9k, I would expect to pay 11k from a private sale. From a dealer, I would expect that to be quite a bit higher.

 

[Z450]

No VAT to be added for trade, only over the profit level.

What did Motorway state out of interest? I generally work on the Motorway + 2k or so as what you should expect to pay for it.

motorway give an estimate and the other dealers bid, so if motor way valued it at £9000, that would probably be the reserve, but a car like that could end up going over easily by £1000, then you have the £300 buyers fee on top!

Also from my experience if the trader put £2000 across it does not leave much room for prep and negotiation, a car of that age will need at least £500 spending on cosmetic and mechanical if not more, the average buyer would want £500 off , so leaving a £1000 gross profit minus VAT that would leave £800 then you still have to take in putting fuel into the car any potential warranty costs, advertising etc… in reality they probably are not making as much as you think it’s rarely a case of just £2000 across and the jobs good one..

You have a point re commercial sales, I was actually using that rule for private sales where there is no additional cost for the seller. So if you take a Motorway of 9k, I would expect to pay 11k from a private sale. From a dealer, I would expect that to be quite a bit higher.

I see makes sense

 

[Zedebee]

Zachary Luke seems to something of an E86 specialist. Someone on here must have some experience of dealing with them.