530d Sport - something not quite right

[Ogri]

Hi All!

Went to have a look at a 530d Sport the other day and was hoping you could give me some advice...

Advertised at £12700 with 80,000miles.
Auto/tip 'box.
Alcantara.
March 02 on 02 plate.
Silver.

The guy selling sounded a right dodgy geezer on the phone and seemed way over the top telling me the car was clean, straight and legit' etc. He mentioned a small scuff on the bumper.

I said that if the car was clean and straight I'd give £12250. He agreed.Afterwards, he called me about 3 times to make sure I was coming - just a bit pushy!

It HPI'd clear and when I called the BMW dealer who supplied it they confirmed they knew the car - supplied by them and last serviced in April 04 at 61k.

All seems cool so far - Arthur Daley character aside. :bandit:

So, went to see the car...

First thing was that the bumper scuff extended to a ding to the wing - not too serious but probably £150 to fix. Upon closer inspection there were a few other scuffs and scratches, again, nowt too serious.

So I said I only wanted to pay 12k.

The mileage was actually 87000 so it has done 25k since last service but still has amber service light showing. Oil was unsurprisingly, a nasty black sludged. Dealer said a typical service interval would be 16-18k. How could it have done 25k and still have an amber service indicator showing?

There were no signs of accident damage under bonnet or in the boot/wheel well and all the shut lines looked right.

On the test drive everything seemed fine - but there was some wind noise coming from the window/door frame at 'motorway speed' - not too bad, could have been a bit of crosswind I suppose.

I then noticed that the plastic 'undertray' - below the front bumper was smacked to bits - probably from scraping on kerbs when parking.

At this point I walked away - too many things wrong.

Half an hour later the chap calls me to say he'd take £11800 - I think that's pretty cheap for a 530d Auto Sport.

Was I right to leave it or am I missing a potential bargain?

Any advice appreciated

TIA

:beer:

[baz1985]

Parents paid £16250 for a 75k, August 2003 530dA Sport Aegean Blue with sat nav & xenons if that gives an idea of price. Dont bother relapcing with the plastic undertray it'll only bottom out again.

[patrico]

Hi Simon

Without answering the specifics of your mail it sounds to me like you have done the right thing. I think you should trust you gut instincts in these situations. Loads of other cars out there.

[ogri]

Thanks chaps! best left well alone then