Discussion
I've paid a deposit on a 2002 BMW 330i saloon from a BMW dealer.
The car has all the options including TV, SatNav, SSG gearbox, Sunroof, Electric seats, Xenons, CD changer.
They rang me back the next day to say that the price was wrong and that the price was not £11750 as advertised but £14800, they apologised profusely that the price was marked incorrectly and agreed to knock £500 off the price.
The mileage was marked as 23390 and I decided that in view of the low mileage it was still a good buy and that I would go ahead.
I've been to see the car and today the mileage is 38000 (spotted by me not the dealership). They have subsequently offered me a further £500 off, bottle of wine etc (or my deposit refunded).
Is £14,000 still a good buy for a car of that age and mileage, I've not been able to match anything on the classifieds exactly with the car and how much more do you think I should reasonably push for?
Advice gratefully received.
PS I really need a car, since my TVR caught fire last November and travelling to dealerships is currently a problem. So I am tempted to make a deal rather than walk away from the sale.
The car has all the options including TV, SatNav, SSG gearbox, Sunroof, Electric seats, Xenons, CD changer.
They rang me back the next day to say that the price was wrong and that the price was not £11750 as advertised but £14800, they apologised profusely that the price was marked incorrectly and agreed to knock £500 off the price.
The mileage was marked as 23390 and I decided that in view of the low mileage it was still a good buy and that I would go ahead.
I've been to see the car and today the mileage is 38000 (spotted by me not the dealership). They have subsequently offered me a further £500 off, bottle of wine etc (or my deposit refunded).
Is £14,000 still a good buy for a car of that age and mileage, I've not been able to match anything on the classifieds exactly with the car and how much more do you think I should reasonably push for?
Advice gratefully received.
PS I really need a car, since my TVR caught fire last November and travelling to dealerships is currently a problem. So I am tempted to make a deal rather than walk away from the sale.
I'm sorry to say it, but I now think that the car is no longer the bargain you thought it was, and the cynics here would probably say that there may be some kind of extra "history"? that they are not telling you about?
Overall, the car just become one of the "the many" for sale imho of course...
Overall, the car just become one of the "the many" for sale imho of course...
richburley said:
I'm sorry to say it, but I now think that the car is no longer the bargain you thought it was, and the cynics here would probably say that there may be some kind of extra "history"? that they are not telling you about?
Overall, the car just become one of the "the many" for sale imho of course...
Overall, the car just become one of the "the many" for sale imho of course...
Thanks for the reply. Question now is whether to walk away or to haggle for a decent buy after all. I've checked one of the value your car websites:
WiseBuyer's Guides said:
BMW 3 Series (1998-06)
330i 4Dr Saloon 3.0 Sport SSG (2003/53)
£14,250
Earliest they list is a 2003 plate, but gives an idea that it is not as fantastic as it first appeared. Really like the car, but I think I will push for another £500 quid off, in view of the almight cockup and see if they go for it.
Do a search on the SSG gearbox.
When I was looking for a 330ci for the wife a few years ago, many knowledgable people advised to steer well clear.
E46 prices have been in freefall for some time - you'll get a very good car for £13-£14k.
There are plenty about so you can bee choosy - get a manual or steptronic but stay away from that god awful gearbox.
Also, if its not a BMW dealer, call BMW Customer Services to confirm the service history. If the garage can;t even get the mileage right you should confirm the history yourself.
When I was looking for a 330ci for the wife a few years ago, many knowledgable people advised to steer well clear.
E46 prices have been in freefall for some time - you'll get a very good car for £13-£14k.
There are plenty about so you can bee choosy - get a manual or steptronic but stay away from that god awful gearbox.
Also, if its not a BMW dealer, call BMW Customer Services to confirm the service history. If the garage can;t even get the mileage right you should confirm the history yourself.
Vee said:
Do a search on the SSG gearbox.
When I was looking for a 330ci for the wife a few years ago, many knowledgable people advised to steer well clear.
E46 prices have been in freefall for some time - you'll get a very good car for £13-£14k.
There are plenty about so you can bee choosy - get a manual or steptronic but stay away from that god awful gearbox.
Also, if its not a BMW dealer, call BMW Customer Services to confirm the service history. If the garage can;t even get the mileage right you should confirm the history yourself.
When I was looking for a 330ci for the wife a few years ago, many knowledgable people advised to steer well clear.
E46 prices have been in freefall for some time - you'll get a very good car for £13-£14k.
There are plenty about so you can bee choosy - get a manual or steptronic but stay away from that god awful gearbox.
Also, if its not a BMW dealer, call BMW Customer Services to confirm the service history. If the garage can;t even get the mileage right you should confirm the history yourself.
I did quite like the gearbox perversely, found it OK to drive. I know it's not everyones cup of tea, making me reconsider.
The dealer is a BMW dealer would you believe!
If you like the car and the gearbox We bought our 330i SE Sport Touring from a well-known independent BMW seller and they tried to claim that the website price was wrong (pre-sale, I hasten to add) but my wife managed to not only hold them to it but knock £500 off it we bought it there and then.
We too found it had a higher mileage than advertised - only 3000 miles in this case - but felt that we still had a bargain and let it go.
We too found it had a higher mileage than advertised - only 3000 miles in this case - but felt that we still had a bargain and let it go.
Personally speaking, I would try not to have my view clouded by the desire for the motor. Whether or not it appears to be a good buy, can the dealer really be so dense as to put the wrong price on AND get the mileage so wrong ?
I would be wondering what else he has "forgot" to tell me about it.
Les
I would be wondering what else he has "forgot" to tell me about it.
Les
smithsi said:
They rang me back the next day to say that the price was wrong and that the price was not £11750 as advertised but £14800
Ah, that old chestnut! When I bought my E85 it was "accidentally" advertised on the Approved Used site at £1k less than it said in the car window at the dealership. And since then I've heard of several other people that have experienced similar "accidents". I can't help but suspect that it's some oh-so-subtle marketing technique.
Negotiated the price hard back down by threatening to walk away - may well be a BMW owner.
According to Parkers it seems that I am now getting a good deal.
PS Seems the law allows people to get away with this - advertisement is not an offer in law only an 'invitation to treat'.
Very difficult to prove if it was policy.
According to Parkers it seems that I am now getting a good deal.
PS Seems the law allows people to get away with this - advertisement is not an offer in law only an 'invitation to treat'.
Very difficult to prove if it was policy.
Andrew D said:
Ah, that old chestnut! When I bought my E85 it was "accidentally" advertised on the Approved Used site at £1k less than it said in the car window at the dealership.
Indeed. But fortunately my wife had a hardcopy of the web advert back at home and offered to go back and get it for them in order to clarify what the actual price of the car was.
And then proceeded to drop them by £500 from that.
JonRB said:
Indeed. But fortunately my wife had a hardcopy of the web advert back at home and offered to go back and get it for them in order to clarify what the actual price of the car was.
And then proceeded to drop them by £500 from that.
I was minded to produce copies of the website advert, but there was no need. They had a stand detailing all of the used vehicles at the dealership sat next to the dealers desk, and for the details of each car it used hard copies from the website. Doh! So we started the negotiations at the website price. And then proceeded to drop them by £500 from that.
smithsi said:
I've paid a deposit on a 2002 BMW 330i saloon from a BMW dealer.
The car has all the options including TV, SatNav, SSG gearbox, Sunroof, Electric seats, Xenons, CD changer.
They rang me back the next day to say that the price was wrong and that the price was not £11750 as advertised but £14800 TOUGH LUCK FOR THE DEALER they apologised profusely that the price was marked incorrectly and agreed to knock £500 off the price.LMFAO. HOW VERY GENEROUS
The mileage was marked as 23390 and I decided that in view of the low mileage it was still a good buy and that I would go ahead.
I've been to see the car and today the mileage is 38000 WHAT THE HELL?? (spotted by me not the dealership). They have subsequently offered me a further £500 off, bottle of wine etc (or my deposit refunded). TAKE THE REFUND AND DON'T STOP RUNNING UNTIL YOU GET HOME.
Is £14,000 still a good buy for a car of that age and mileage, I've not been able to match anything on the classifieds exactly with the car and how much more do you think I should reasonably push for?
Advice gratefully received.START RUNNING NOW.
PS I really need a car, since my TVR caught fire last November and travelling to dealerships is currently a problem. So I am tempted to make a deal rather than walk away from the sale.
The car has all the options including TV, SatNav, SSG gearbox, Sunroof, Electric seats, Xenons, CD changer.
They rang me back the next day to say that the price was wrong and that the price was not £11750 as advertised but £14800 TOUGH LUCK FOR THE DEALER they apologised profusely that the price was marked incorrectly and agreed to knock £500 off the price.LMFAO. HOW VERY GENEROUS
The mileage was marked as 23390 and I decided that in view of the low mileage it was still a good buy and that I would go ahead.
I've been to see the car and today the mileage is 38000 WHAT THE HELL?? (spotted by me not the dealership). They have subsequently offered me a further £500 off, bottle of wine etc (or my deposit refunded). TAKE THE REFUND AND DON'T STOP RUNNING UNTIL YOU GET HOME.
Is £14,000 still a good buy for a car of that age and mileage, I've not been able to match anything on the classifieds exactly with the car and how much more do you think I should reasonably push for?
Advice gratefully received.START RUNNING NOW.
PS I really need a car, since my TVR caught fire last November and travelling to dealerships is currently a problem. So I am tempted to make a deal rather than walk away from the sale.
About 10 years ago I signed a contract with a Fiat dealer to buy a second hand car. The next day they called to say that they had priced it wrong and it was £1000 more. I refused and told them we had a signed contract and they should stick to it. They refused so I took them to court for breach of contract. We got all sorts of really nasty solicitor's letters in the run up to the hearing but stuck to our guns and won £250 plus they had to pay costs. Of course we then went elsewhere to buy another car.
When you paid the deposit, did you both sign a contract with the sale price on it? If so, the dealer has very little wriggle room and is obliged to fulfil their part of the deal.
The other thing to note is that the actual market value of the car is almost immaterial to the dealer - it is all about the margin they make, in this case most probably what the trade in was on this car that was used to subsidise a subsequent purchase. They also have to write down the value of their stock every month, so something else that you should try and find out is how long the car has been for sale - this will give you more negotiating power if they are close to having to write off another £500+ of the car's value because it has been sitting on the forecourt for too long.
When you paid the deposit, did you both sign a contract with the sale price on it? If so, the dealer has very little wriggle room and is obliged to fulfil their part of the deal.
The other thing to note is that the actual market value of the car is almost immaterial to the dealer - it is all about the margin they make, in this case most probably what the trade in was on this car that was used to subsidise a subsequent purchase. They also have to write down the value of their stock every month, so something else that you should try and find out is how long the car has been for sale - this will give you more negotiating power if they are close to having to write off another £500+ of the car's value because it has been sitting on the forecourt for too long.
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