Warning - misrepresented car for sale

V

v8matt

Member
 Purley
Hi All

My Z was written off earlier this year. It is now being misrepresented for sale on Gumtree, and possible elsewhere. The information provided in the advert is almost entirely false.

I have reported this to Gumtree and my insurer, but wanted to let any prospective buyers know to watch out. I'm afraid I have no idea how the insurer has let it fall into some rogue's hands in this way, but I will post an update if / when I find out.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/2008-bmw-z4-coupe-38k-miles-light-damage/1079957535#photo-content

Advert: 2008 BMW Z4 Coupe 38k miles light damage, “Genuine 38k miles , 2 owners , 6 months mot, all the extras, xenons, no mechanical faults, needs passenger door, and passenger side skirt, I have the rear wing, car was parked up and someone drove into it, Catc. Cars with this mileage are going for over 10k, check for yourself . Can deliver if need be.”

Correct information: 2007, 39k miles (was just about to tick over 40k, hence my recollection of it), 4 owners, not quite all the extras (no sat nav). Insurer's repairer indicated the floor was creased and the safety cell of the car was cracked. Rear wing also damaged in addition to passenger door and side skirt. Repair estimated by Harwoods at £19k, hence the write off. Car was NOT stationary when it was hit.

Buy safe,

Matt
 
Is this on AT as well ? I'm sure I saw it on there the other day, and at the time figured it wasn't stationary because of damage on the driver side too.

Shame about your car :( ... But good job on the heads up :thumbsup:
 
Yup, here it is - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201409067181495

And no, I wasn't looking for a coupe, just curious about prices :roll: :P
 
Bing said:
Is this on AT as well ? I'm sure I saw it on there the other day, and at the time figured it wasn't stationary because of damage on the driver side too.

Shame about your car :( ... But good job on the heads up :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

There wasn't any damage on the driver's side when it left the scene of the accident! What can you see? The mirror is up but I'm presuming that was for storage. We were simply hit on the left by a car pulling out from a junction. We were travelling at 10 / 15 mph or so.

Will report to Autotrader, thanks. "Drives spot on" - ha, without the full repair I doubt the engine has even been turned over since the accident. Side airbag needs replacing and fuel shut off valve was triggered. Photo shows true mileage and the engine fault light is still on.

Still seeking the perfect Coupe replacement.
 
nothing new here, we all know that the chancerswho buy salvage "repair" and resell it do it on the cheap to maximise their profit , downplay the damage in every case, and try to get as much cash off any potential purchasers. best stay clear unless its super cheap and you expect the worse and dont expect any comeback :thumbsdown:
 
Agree that it grates to have someone sell something when as a former owner you know it's wrong.

However the seller does advertise it as a Cat C and with the price so low that should ring bells and so it's up to the buyer to check things out.
 
The sale has an air of someone who bought it to repair then in the cold light of day realised it wasn't such an easy fix :wink: buyer beware for sure on this one but no doubt the price will be enough to get a bite :?
 
v8matt said:
Bing said:
Is this on AT as well ? I'm sure I saw it on there the other day, and at the time figured it wasn't stationary because of damage on the driver side too.

Shame about your car :( ... But good job on the heads up :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

There wasn't any damage on the driver's side when it left the scene of the accident! What can you see? The mirror is up but I'm presuming that was for storage. We were simply hit on the left by a car pulling out from a junction. We were travelling at 10 / 15 mph or so.

Will report to Autotrader, thanks. "Drives spot on" - ha, without the full repair I doubt the engine has even been turned over since the accident. Side airbag needs replacing and fuel shut off valve was triggered. Photo shows true mileage and the engine fault light is still on.

Still seeking the perfect Coupe replacement.
Click to expand...

Well, the side skirt is missing - though that may not be 'damage' per se, just it having been removed to do some form of inspection. As cj and others say, buyer beware at that price.
 
cj10jeeper said:
Agree that it grates to have someone sell something when as a former owner you know it's wrong.

However the seller does advertise it as a Cat C and with the price so low that should ring bells and so it's up to the buyer to check things out.
Click to expand...
I agree he states it is cat c, but aside from that it is simply incorrect on hard facts about the car and the damage. He is either making it up or the salvage co that sold it to him made active misrepresentations, e.g. on the nature of the accident.

Tbh its not that galling to see it for sale. I had expected that it would broken up for parts, but it would be lovely to see it repaired and back on the road one day.
 
v8matt said:
cj10jeeper said:
Agree that it grates to have someone sell something when as a former owner you know it's wrong.

However the seller does advertise it as a Cat C and with the price so low that should ring bells and so it's up to the buyer to check things out.
Click to expand...
I agree he states it is cat c, but aside from that it is simply incorrect on hard facts about the car and the damage. He is either making it up or the salvage co that sold it to him made active misrepresentations, e.g. on the nature of the accident.

Tbh its not that galling to see it for sale. I had expected that it would broken up for parts, but it would be lovely to see it repaired and back on the road one day.
Click to expand...


You should see some of the misrepresentations we've seen over the years.

I recall one that was advertised as a light damage ///M and they'd sprayed up and fitted a standard bonnet and bolted a bumper on the front to hide a totalled car. Also one on the forum where someone bought a salvage and rebuilt it from scrap and second hand parts, then had the balls to advertise it on here as a professionally repaired car...lol

Not for one minute defending the seller in this case, but who knows the information and sale trail form your accident to it's posting. He may be hiding the truth or simply not know. It really does show how careful you have to be in buying an accident repair and equally the pitfalls of buying one that has been repaired other than by an accident repair specialist.
 
cj10jeeper said:
v8matt said:
cj10jeeper said:
Agree that it grates to have someone sell something when as a former owner you know it's wrong.

However the seller does advertise it as a Cat C and with the price so low that should ring bells and so it's up to the buyer to check things out.
Click to expand...
I agree he states it is cat c, but aside from that it is simply incorrect on hard facts about the car and the damage. He is either making it up or the salvage co that sold it to him made active misrepresentations, e.g. on the nature of the accident.

Tbh its not that galling to see it for sale. I had expected that it would broken up for parts, but it would be lovely to see it repaired and back on the road one day.
Click to expand...


You should see some of the misrepresentations we've seen over the years.

I recall one that was advertised as a light damage ///M and they'd sprayed up and fitted a standard bonnet and bolted a bumper on the front to hide a totalled car. Also one on the forum where someone bought a salvage and rebuilt it from scrap and second hand parts, then had the balls to advertise it on here as a professionally repaired car...lol

Not for one minute defending the seller in this case, but who knows the information and sale trail form your accident to it's posting. He may be hiding the truth or simply not know. It really does show how careful you have to be in buying an accident repair and equally the pitfalls of buying one that has been repaired other than by an accident repair specialist.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Already asked insurer for engineers report plus confirmation of info passed from salvage co to buyer. Ultimately the latter is none of my business but someone should be asking these questions of them.
 
cj10jeeper said:
v8matt said:
cj10jeeper said:
Agree that it grates to have someone sell something when as a former owner you know it's wrong.

However the seller does advertise it as a Cat C and with the price so low that should ring bells and so it's up to the buyer to check things out.
Click to expand...
I agree he states it is cat c, but aside from that it is simply incorrect on hard facts about the car and the damage. He is either making it up or the salvage co that sold it to him made active misrepresentations, e.g. on the nature of the accident.

Tbh its not that galling to see it for sale. I had expected that it would broken up for parts, but it would be lovely to see it repaired and back on the road one day.
Click to expand...


You should see some of the misrepresentations we've seen over the years.

I recall one that was advertised as a light damage ///M and they'd sprayed up and fitted a standard bonnet and bolted a bumper on the front to hide a totalled car. Also one on the forum where someone bought a salvage and rebuilt it from scrap and second hand parts, then had the balls to advertise it on here as a professionally repaired car...lol

Not for one minute defending the seller in this case, but who knows the information and sale trail form your accident to it's posting. He may be hiding the truth or simply not know. It really does show how careful you have to be in buying an accident repair and equally the pitfalls of buying one that has been repaired other than by an accident repair specialist.
Click to expand...

Or any car. The ones that are "Not Recorded" could be even harder to spot.
 
v8matt said:
Agreed. Already asked insurer for engineers report plus confirmation of info passed from salvage co to buyer. Ultimately the latter is none of my business but someone should be asking these questions of them.
Click to expand...

Have you asked the seller for this info?
 
Saw this on AT too. Good if you want a parts car but does seem dishonest/dangerous to sell as "just needing a few parts" especially as OP said about the floor. Going to look at a cat d coupe tomorrow so I'll take that extra care.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom