BMW which BMW have no knowledge of! Advice sought
Discussion
A friend has a very low, low, low mile year 2000 BMW (less than 8000 miles) purchased from a private ltd dealer 3 years ago. It was registered new Dec 2000, one previous owner; HPI clear and has all MOT's but service history lost which he accepted due to the lack of miles it had done (supported by MOT's).
So, pal rang the premium rate BMW sex sorry, service history line (£1.00 a minute) and.....the car chassis number or reg does not exist! After he was bounced around between dealers and the premium rate, the customer care people (more reasonable 0370 number) declared the car was from Germany and had never been in the UK network. Front cover of V5C does not say anything about it being an import which backs up HPI report.
So here we have a car that looks like it has fallen between the cracks. I've just earwigged on my pal ringing the dealer he bought it from who had no interest in digging out who they bought the car from (suspect BMW trader to trader network) so right now he is confused and then some. I have ran out of ideas what's gone on here so if anyone can help, that would be great!
Ty in advance.
So, pal rang the premium rate BMW sex sorry, service history line (£1.00 a minute) and.....the car chassis number or reg does not exist! After he was bounced around between dealers and the premium rate, the customer care people (more reasonable 0370 number) declared the car was from Germany and had never been in the UK network. Front cover of V5C does not say anything about it being an import which backs up HPI report.
So here we have a car that looks like it has fallen between the cracks. I've just earwigged on my pal ringing the dealer he bought it from who had no interest in digging out who they bought the car from (suspect BMW trader to trader network) so right now he is confused and then some. I have ran out of ideas what's gone on here so if anyone can help, that would be great!
Ty in advance.
What does http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html show?
Has it been a channel islands car perhaps?
Those options do not look unusual.
Need to maybe check that the Vin you have from the dash plate (I assume?) matches that elsewhere on the car to make sure its "as built" but very unusual for BMW not to know it form the vin number, are you sure the VIN was quoted corrected to them and not the reg number?
I'm assuming from the age and options its an E46 convertible?
Those options do not look unusual.
Need to maybe check that the Vin you have from the dash plate (I assume?) matches that elsewhere on the car to make sure its "as built" but very unusual for BMW not to know it form the vin number, are you sure the VIN was quoted corrected to them and not the reg number?
I'm assuming from the age and options its an E46 convertible?
kurt535 said:
He has the HPI clean and green bill of health - cross checked against the Autotrader one tonight. all matches up. Really weird!!
OK so what is the build date under the bonnet on the suspension turret?I suspect its BMW's mistake rather than anything else, best plan go to the local main dealer and ask for a price on an obscure part for it they'll need the VIN in order to locate parts for it and that way they should investigate further for you. If for no other reason than curiosity!
If it is a 2000 registered E46 convertible then its a very very early one, maybe its a pre production model or something a bit unusual in that respect?
quavey said:
If it is a 2000 registered E46 convertible then its a very very early one, maybe its a pre production model or something a bit unusual in that respect?
I reckon it probably is a pre production car or a car sent over to BMW UK for evaluation or used on a launch day for dealers or some such. "785 WHITE DIRECTION INDICATOR LIGHTS"
If that refers to the colour of the light emitted rather than the colour of the lens it's very strange, and what if it's a white lens on the rear? Does anybody know a small territory where they drive on the left and have a local regulation about indicators?
If that refers to the colour of the light emitted rather than the colour of the lens it's very strange, and what if it's a white lens on the rear? Does anybody know a small territory where they drive on the left and have a local regulation about indicators?
Locknut said:
"785 WHITE DIRECTION INDICATOR LIGHTS"
If that refers to the colour of the light emitted rather than the colour of the lens it's very strange, and what if it's a white lens on the rear? Does anybody know a small territory where they drive on the left and have a local regulation about indicators?
Sorry that's not the case, it refers to the color of the lens not the light emitted. I have just checked and both my 5 and 6 series are fitted with "785". It is in difference to amber corners on lower spec cars.If that refers to the colour of the light emitted rather than the colour of the lens it's very strange, and what if it's a white lens on the rear? Does anybody know a small territory where they drive on the left and have a local regulation about indicators?
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