what's acceptable in a car ad and what's not?

I

iwatchlive

Member
 doing the E of my BASE
Hi, newb question I guess but thought I'd ask all the same
:oops:

Been looking at a Z4 for sale from a car trader/ dealer that states the term " ONLY 40K miles with full logbook and stamped service book MAIN DEALER" yet when asked prior to actually travelling the 80 or so miles to see it I find out it only has the first two BMW "Main dealer" stamps and one other independent stamp. Car is 6 years 4 months old.

Does this sound right to you learned and experienced owners?

Also- after getting the vin and doc reg it has a chequered history, what d'you think?

02/03/2004 First Registered -
21/03/2007- 1st MOT: pass- ADV front brake pads wearing thin-
miles@21,055

12/07/2007- Registration change from X800LEE to BK04HUU

13/08/2007- 2nd MOT: pass- ADV front brake disks-
miles@25,715 N.B. I thought you couldn’t get another MOT until month 10??

N.B nearly two years later
27/07/2009- 3rd MOT: FAIL- Offside front & nearside rear tyres cords exposed
ADV
Offside rear & nearside front tyres at legal limit-
Nearside & offside front disks
miles@36,644

06/08/2009- 4th MOT: pass- ADV
Offside rear & nearside front tyres at legal limit-
Nearside & offside front disks

I guess all that was done to pass mot was two new tyres?
So the car has only got two weeks MOT left anyways- even though dealer said he’d get 12 months on it all seems dodgy to me.

So am I getting it right in summary??
The car had 1 MOT in the two years between 13/08/2007 & 27/07/2009 and in 2009 the owner felt it OK to be driving with illegal tyres with the cords exposed and didn’t have the cash to get either new tyres or the new disks originally mentioned in 2007 – HHHmmm.

I take it that if that’s the case then my instincts tell me to steer clear as the owner certainly hasn’t been the type of owner to be putting tyres on let alone taking good care of the car, changing oil etc etc, am I right to assume this or being too cautious


thanks for any advice. (-;


regards

IwatchLive
 
Car was sold in 2007. The reg change and the fresh MOT point in that direction.

Regarding the tyres - it will be most likely the rears inners, difficult to see and the outside could have had loads of tread.
 
Car Adverts:

Thay are just what they say - an advertisement to sell a product, to temp you amd lure you into a purchae. It's what you do next that matters and especially with cars. The advert that Iwatchlive responded to looked really good and the car a promising purchase. But do a little bit of homework and it reveals the true history of the vehicle. Full service history - no not really, well maintained - just look at the MOT history! The good ones are out there just a case of being patient and doing a little homework prior to handing over you hard earned.
 
Doesn't look to be the best cared for car I can see with fails on tyres and reminders on brake pads then disks.

You can have an MOT as often as you want. Perhaps you're thinking of the rule that allows it up to 30 days in advance for continuity

I'd go find another example, unless the price is really good or it has something specila that you're after.
 
pvr said:
Regarding the tyres - it will be most likely the rears inners, difficult to see and the outside could have had loads of tread.
Click to expand...

I've found a really good way of checking the rear tyres. It goes in several stages

1. Position yourself behind and facing the vehicle about 1/2 metres from the bumper along the vehicles centre line.
2. Bend you legs at the knee joints and gently (and this depends on you age) lower yourself to the ground (shorts/loose dress or skirt, depending on gender/sexual preference, make this movement easier to achieve).
3. Lower yourself sufficiently so that you can see the full tread width on each rear tyre (you may need to use your hands to support your body weight and a torch if dark or reduced visibility (Haldfords do a good range).
4. Observe the tread wear on each tyre - UK minimum tread depth; a minimum of 1.6mm in a continuous band throughout the central three-quarters of the tread width, throughout the whole of the circumference.
5. If you value the safety of yourself, passenger and other road users do this on a regular (weekly) basis.

I would like to take credit for this advice but can't. My daughter, Lucy, who is 17 wrote it as part of her project work for her D of E Gold Award! (I did add some bits...... :roll: )
 
Alan, I think most of us would be checking the tyres (I actually usually hug them whilst cleaning the inside ... :oops: ).

It is more the "general public" that just looks from the side of the wheel and sees plenty of tread and walks away. Due to the camber on the BMWs, the inner part is the one that wears most actually, hence resulting in a MOT warning.

D of E ... I trust you (or Mrs J) had to do the lovely driving to the charity shop for months on end as well then :)
 
pvr said:
Alan, I think most of us would be checking the tyres (I actually usually hug them whilst cleaning the inside ... :oops: ).

It is more the "general public" that just looks from the side of the wheel and sees plenty of tread and walks away. Due to the camber on the BMWs, the inner part is the one that wears most actually, hence resulting in a MOT warning.

D of E ... I trust you (or Mrs J) had to do the lovely driving to the charity shop for months on end as well then :)
Click to expand...

Yes I know - all in jest! The point I would make though is that the obvious state of the tyres may just indicate how the previous owner did or did not maintain the car as regards other critical items. As for the drive yes - a shared responsibility. AND then, bless her, she passed her test - dig deep Dad, first car and insurance..... just as I was eyeing up a new Zed, when will it end. :(
 
thanks everyone :D

It always shocks me the amount of people that run tyres way beyond the legal (and safe limit) :? Do these people never see that the only thing keeping their contact with the road surface is in fact just a few square inches of rubber at each corner of the vehicle they are in? Shocking really, even more so in a sports car eh! Still like Bertie Basset says “It takes ALLSORTS” (-;

Must say that I’ve never felt such an emotional response to any car as I have for the Z, but that’s just what it does huh! Found my first drive in the Z more exciting than my first ride on my Honda Valkyrie / F6C (which is currently being prepared for sale in order to help me get the Z4) 4 wheels just seem better than only 2, especially on today’s roads..

The thought of finally getting one for myself gives me a tingly warm feeling in a special place...oh no sorry...i’ve just wet myself :oops:

It appears that the first (of no doubt many) of my mid life crisis’ is appearing to rear its head too :cry:

I’m off to clean myself up :D

Thanks for not only the advice, but for the fine welcome into your community, what a fine bunch U R

Have a great weekend

IwatchLive
 
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