What would you do?
- Thread starter stevemase
- Start date
Depends. And what everyone else said above.
Service it - shows the car is cared for, is actually in reasonably good nick, stay firmer on price. Don't service it and expect to be taken down a rung or two on price at sale. As a buyer, I can work with both.
HTH
Stevo
Service it - shows the car is cared for, is actually in reasonably good nick, stay firmer on price. Don't service it and expect to be taken down a rung or two on price at sale. As a buyer, I can work with both.
HTH
Stevo
grumpyoldfart
Member
As nice low mileage cars in short supply and high demand at the moment ,i would just sell it as is and then let the buyer decide re further servicing options and whether it's good value as it stands -not everyone out there is as anal as folk on this forum -and at this age of car a full BMW isn't really a deal breaker IMHO.
ie it wont stop you selling at a realistic price -at this time of year you're talking IRO 12k realistically -or wait till May and then you'll get 12.5-13.0 K .Hope that helps .
ie it wont stop you selling at a realistic price -at this time of year you're talking IRO 12k realistically -or wait till May and then you'll get 12.5-13.0 K .Hope that helps .
Service by independent as above.
What I have done in the past with other BMWs (although not Ms) is if a service is near, not do it but ask the price which enables me to do a service. Then I simply offer to the buyer, I can get a stamp in the book for them OR if they want to negotiate on the price then I will do that but not if I am going to service it. With a normal beemer obviously you're only talking a couple of hundred, the M is a bit more serious but same principle.
I have not yet had a buyer who doesn't feel the need to haggle, I think too many of them have seen Wheeler Dealers. So the easiest thing is to start off by giving yourself a (modest) amount of wiggle room, somewhere.
I have not yet had a buyer who doesn't feel the need to haggle, I think too many of them have seen Wheeler Dealers. So the easiest thing is to start off by giving yourself a (modest) amount of wiggle room, somewhere.
jampudding
Member
If you have only had the car for less than a year then use BMW to service it, using an indie has the potential to give the wrong impression . Using an independent might limit your market as the average joe may not get the concept of using indies. Saying FBMWSH to Full SH in my opinion will limit your market to knowledgeable folk. Check the difference in price of say M3's which say either FBMWSH or Full SH.
If you advertise it for a grand less than you would otherwise it will sell. If you want to get it done which will increase its appeal. Doesnt matter at all if its a specialist. These days people appreaciate that the specialists are probably more knowledgeable than the main dealers. It wont affect resale in any way. I'm working in the trade and it wouldn't affect my ideas on the valuation for the car.
Mad Professor
Active member
Agree with friday
fridaypassion said:
I think this all depends on whether the specialist is a recognised one for the car, ie, in this case a specialist in M servicing. I've had and heard of varying experiences with so called specialists yet my dealer experiences have always been fantastic. I've seen a few cars recently that seem to have had the cheaper stuff (oil changes) done at the dealer, and inspections done at specialists. That to me reeks of penny pinching while trying to keep a BMW service history and I wouldn't want an expensive car that is expensive to maintain from a penny pinching previous owner
- probably even used the cheapest non-superunleaded supermarket fuel too.The good dealers will allow negotiation of the price as they know the book price for M seriving is a bit OTT and one of the big benefits is you can resolve issues with BMW UK if you have them -so the dealer have to report to a higher authority
.I just had four tyres replaced at BMW (runflats on an X1) and due to taking longer than expected received a discount. Not only that but the price before the discount was cheaper than anywhere else! A colleague said "should have gone to Asda tyres". SO we checked online and the price was over £900 - I paid £640. THis isn't the first time either (and not the same dealer) yet people would avoid even calling the dealer as they assume the price will be too much. A benefit here is there are no arguments over wheel damage if it happens - they will repair, oh and if waiitng you get to nose around the nice new cars and drink their nice coffee
Just to update the thread.... I took my car to my local specialist and had the Inspection II carried out there at the same time as a brake fluid change, VANOS filter change and unfortunately two rear springs as one had snapped a coil 
.... Came in at just under £900, so pretty chuffed with that.
I've had the usual 'placebo' effect of the car feeling smoother after a service before, but this has genuinely made the car much smoother and the gear change is much improved!
.... Came in at just under £900, so pretty chuffed with that.I've had the usual 'placebo' effect of the car feeling smoother after a service before, but this has genuinely made the car much smoother and the gear change is much improved!
It's not the service cost that people avoid, it's the potential extra costs an inspII might reveal - so offering selling -500 doesn't offset the service cost, nevermind the risks.
If you do get it serviced (i would, i'd only sell mine in top condition - makes everyones life easier) - get them to give you the valve clearances written down
If you do get it serviced (i would, i'd only sell mine in top condition - makes everyones life easier) - get them to give you the valve clearances written down