BMW AUC Website showing sold cars and general poor CS

[Strocky]

First world problems I know but reserved three M4's this week only to get a phonecall a day later saying that two of the the cars have been sold
The website also doesnt inidcate how many previous owners

The one M4 that was available had 5 owners in 7 years and the rep ignored my two other questions about FSH and could any warranty work be undertaken at my local BMW dealer rather than having to drive it 300 miles back to themselves

However they did manage to offer me a great price on ProtectX paint protection

The latest knockback came today and I was told they couldn't process my £100 reservation refund beause finance don't work Saturdays, innit

The first sold car I "reserved" a week ago still showing for sale with incoming images

Hardly a ringing endorsment from the sellers of the "ultimate driving machine"

[Mr Squarekins]

Frustrating.

Yes, BMW warranty is valid at any dealership.

[MitchT]

Interesting one!

I'm on the lookout for a specific used BMW and will buy "approved used" if possible, so it's interesting to know that they'll still sell a car if you've reserved it. I guess you reserved it online? Useful intel for me as it suggests I'll need to get my skates on if I see one I want and maybe speak to the dealer and make sure they know I definitely want it.

In terms of service history, a BMW has to have a full BMW service history with all services carried out on time to qualify as an AUC. A BMW main dealer might sell one that doesn't conform with this but it'll be sold under a different banner, for example, Sytner have "Sytner Select" for cars that don't qualify for AUC status. Stratstone tend to punt non AUC cars out through other dealerships in the group, for example, I saw a lovely 4 Series for sale at an Evans Halshaw Vauxhall dealership.

Where the number of owners is concerned, register on Carsnitch, put the reg number in and it'll show the keeper changes.

I believe a warranty claim can be handled by any BMW main dealer, not just the one who sold it to you.

[Browter]

Poor service but if you want something you need to be calling up and speaking to someone directly. How do we even know what 'reserving' on the website does in relation to the physical car in the showroom? It should stop it being sold but it probably puts a tick in a box on a system they aren't even going to check if someone walks into the showroom and takes the car there and then.

I've had very poor service from my local BMW dealer so I wouldn't trust them to do anything.

Edited by Browter on Saturday 21st September 15:36

[zsiddyy]

Used to work for a main dealer BMW in sales.

It would sometimes happen where we'd get a digital reservation but the car had been sold, and trust me it did our head in as well!
However, we'd never sell a car to anyone bar the one who put the res down, until we got a conclusive cancellation from them OR we were unable to make contact within 24 hours of the res fee being placed.
All the cars, if sold as 'Approved Used' will have full service history.

[Jamescrs]

I love BMWs but I do think the service from their franchise dealers over all is pretty terrible.
I own an M4 I bought AUC last September, thankfully mine was on the forecourt of my local dealer so I just walked in and bought it. Aftersales service has been poor to say the least.
I love the car though.

[_Hoppers]

Strocky said:

The website also doesnt inidcate how many previous owners

Go to ‘sell’ on this website then put the reg in, it will give you that info, plus more!

[Strocky]

MitchT said:

Interesting one!

I'm on the lookout for a specific used BMW and will buy "approved used" if possible, so it's interesting to know that they'll still sell a car if you've reserved it. I guess you reserved it online? Useful intel for me as it suggests I'll need to get my skates on if I see one I want and maybe speak to the dealer and make sure they know I definitely want it.

In terms of service history, a BMW has to have a full BMW service history with all services carried out on time to qualify as an AUC. A BMW main dealer might sell one that doesn't conform with this but it'll be sold under a different banner, for example, Sytner have "Sytner Select" for cars that don't qualify for AUC status. Stratstone tend to punt non AUC cars out through other dealerships in the group, for example, I saw a lovely 4 Series for sale at an Evans Halshaw Vauxhall dealership.

Where the number of owners is concerned, register on Carsnitch, put the reg number in and it'll show the keeper changes.

I believe a warranty claim can be handled by any BMW main dealer, not just the one who sold it to you.

Thanks for that excellent Carsnitch weblink, invaluable tool

[Truckosaurus]

MitchT said:

....In terms of service history, a BMW has to have a full BMW service history with all services carried out on time to qualify as an AUC.....

The M5 Is bought as an AUC had a couple of indie services, which I queried, the salesman suggested that as long as the most recent service was at BMW and it passed the million point checks it was all good. It, of course, might not have been an AUC on the sly but did have a two year BMW warranty which is the important bit (as it paid out for a couple of big bills).

[MitchT]

zsiddyy said:

It would sometimes happen where we'd get a digital reservation but the car had been sold, and trust me it did our head in as well!

I think the whole process needs tightening up. I was watching a BMW to see what the price did over time. Eventually it was removed from Autotrader and showing as taxed, but it still came up on the BMW AUC search with the "Reserve for £100" button. Another car I was watching was removed from the BMW AUC search and showing as taxed but remained on Autotrader for several more weeks!

[SFTWend]

I phoned a main dealer about a used BMW, who were very good, to be told it was reserved. After investigating, turns out car was available.

Apparently, they constantly received online £100 reservations on cars where customers never followed through with purchase. A nice little money earner!

[Strocky]

SFTWend said:

I phoned a main dealer about a used BMW, who were very good, to be told it was reserved. After investigating, turns out car was available.

Apparently, they constantly received online £100 reservations on cars where customers never followed through with purchase. A nice little money earner!

The money is refunded if the deal doesn't go through

Hopefully 3rd times the charm "reserved" one last night but they aren't open on a Sunday

[zsiddyy]

MitchT said:

I think the whole process needs tightening up. I was watching a BMW to see what the price did over time. Eventually it was removed from Autotrader and showing as taxed, but it still came up on the BMW AUC search with the "Reserve for £100" button. Another car I was watching was removed from the BMW AUC search and showing as taxed but remained on Autotrader for several more weeks!

Still working in sales but now for a different brand, I absolutely agree with you.

[Strocky]

Well 3rd time was indeed the charm got excellent service from BMW Cotswold, unfortunately (for both parties) we couldn't agree a price (the car price had been adjusted by £1500 3 weeks ago)

I would have bought it at that cost but not the new cost (despite a counter offer)

Ach well back to the drawing board

Game back on, the dealer is now willing to honour the earlier price if we do a deal this week, so just about to pull the trigger

Only small annoyance is they can't deliver up to Scotland so it will be a trains, planes & automobiles number

Edited by Strocky on Monday 23 September 14:19

[Strocky]

So ended up getting this........