Seeking advice on an odd situation with a pre-reg BMW car.
Discussion
Ok, bit of a mouthful but here goes.
I purchased an M135i from a BMW main dealer garage (which shall remain nameless) that was pre-registered on 29-06-2015.
I assumed they had bought in some cars at a cheaper price to pre-register/sell as the lci model was just being released. The price was basically what a new one was costing with discount which I didn't mind as I was looking for a car there/then and I wasn't 100% sold on the lci's looks.
I then bought a new set of wheels and started researching whether or not I needed tyre pressure monitors or not. I found out that for a mid 2015 car my wheels should have had metal stems with sensors inside the wheels, they are rubber. Someone else then mentioned the car should have a round air bag steering wheel. Mine has the earlier triangular one. Other things like build week on the tyres confirm the earlier date.
With these points in mind I then searched the VIN number and found out it was built in FEBRUARY 2014!! It has sat around somewhere not being used with about 15 miles on the clock for 15 months apparently, sold to myself as a '15 plate and I assumed 2015 spec. At NO point did the dealer mention the vastly different build date, I've only picked up on it due to the small differences I've noticed.
Where do I stand with this? I'm obviously not happy about it and feeling cheated, rightly or wrongly. I have tried contacting the dealer principal but he isn't back into the garage until tomorrow.
I purchased an M135i from a BMW main dealer garage (which shall remain nameless) that was pre-registered on 29-06-2015.
I assumed they had bought in some cars at a cheaper price to pre-register/sell as the lci model was just being released. The price was basically what a new one was costing with discount which I didn't mind as I was looking for a car there/then and I wasn't 100% sold on the lci's looks.
I then bought a new set of wheels and started researching whether or not I needed tyre pressure monitors or not. I found out that for a mid 2015 car my wheels should have had metal stems with sensors inside the wheels, they are rubber. Someone else then mentioned the car should have a round air bag steering wheel. Mine has the earlier triangular one. Other things like build week on the tyres confirm the earlier date.
With these points in mind I then searched the VIN number and found out it was built in FEBRUARY 2014!! It has sat around somewhere not being used with about 15 miles on the clock for 15 months apparently, sold to myself as a '15 plate and I assumed 2015 spec. At NO point did the dealer mention the vastly different build date, I've only picked up on it due to the small differences I've noticed.
Where do I stand with this? I'm obviously not happy about it and feeling cheated, rightly or wrongly. I have tried contacting the dealer principal but he isn't back into the garage until tomorrow.
I'd gladly accept that with perhaps 3-6 months at a push but 14-15 months?!
Is this common practise in main dealers? I've probably been naive but really would never have expected something like this at a main dealer, I can't even get my head round where or why a car would be sat unused for that long.
Is this common practise in main dealers? I've probably been naive but really would never have expected something like this at a main dealer, I can't even get my head round where or why a car would be sat unused for that long.
sjg said:
Did they tell you (incorrectly) when it was built? Did you ask? Or was this all assumptions?
Literally all they told me was it was an 'as new' car as it had 16 miles on the clock and was registered the month before. Had they said at that point it had been built February 2014 I'd have walked, no question.I asked on the phone for the build sheet for the car and they emailed me the link to the website (where it only states when registered)... Whether or not that was deliberate I have no idea.
Ok ill put it another way... If you were told that a car was registered a few weeks before you were buying it... Would you assume it had been built almost 1.5 years before when the standard equipment was different? It's not the steering wheel/tyre monitoring I'm making the fuss over, it's the whole thing I don't agree with. 1.5 years is a long time!
Would you pay the same price knowing it was that old? If I had wanted a second hand car I'd have bought one.
Would you pay the same price knowing it was that old? If I had wanted a second hand car I'd have bought one.
That's ok mate, don't worry I'll accept all views/opinions.
I did indeed buy it as pre-registered (it was registered to the garage) but with 16 miles on the clock it's a new car in all but name.
With it being a new car I was happy to have it delivered as they're in England and I'm in Scotland.
As you've said with your 3-6 months comment, I wouldn't bat an eyelid at that. It's the 1.5 years that's my issue. FWIW I'll accept it if I have to but had it been 6 months I wouldn't even have put a post up.
I did indeed buy it as pre-registered (it was registered to the garage) but with 16 miles on the clock it's a new car in all but name.
With it being a new car I was happy to have it delivered as they're in England and I'm in Scotland.
As you've said with your 3-6 months comment, I wouldn't bat an eyelid at that. It's the 1.5 years that's my issue. FWIW I'll accept it if I have to but had it been 6 months I wouldn't even have put a post up.
300bhp/ton said:
GP335i said:
Literally all they told me was it was an 'as new' car as it had 16 miles on the clock and was registered the month before. Had they said at that point it had been built February 2014 I'd have walked, no question.
Why? What worldly difference does it make?ModernAndy said:
OP, I see your point but I don't think there's much you can do. I'd be a bit pissed off too but I'm not sure I could blame the dealer and would just hope that it had at least stayed in the protective wrapping while it was sitting.
I suppose it comes down to how we class things as 'new'. It certainly isn't unusual to buy things that have been boxed up for quite a while unless you buy only the latest stuff.
It's done and in the grand scheme of things I think it's better for you to just move on and learn what to look for next time.
Thanks Andy.I suppose it comes down to how we class things as 'new'. It certainly isn't unusual to buy things that have been boxed up for quite a while unless you buy only the latest stuff.
It's done and in the grand scheme of things I think it's better for you to just move on and learn what to look for next time.
Not really sure mate, at the moment I just want to vent at the dealer principal as there was numerous other issues. I'm not expecting compensation or similar, I'm just interested as to their opinion on why/if they feel it's acceptable, for all I know it was just an oversight on their part not mentioning it or maybe they feel they didn't need to at all. As I mentioned earlier, 3-6 months old I wouldn't have batted an eyelid, at almost a year and a half I'd like to know if they know any history. If nothing else it'll give me something to explain to a buyer in future.
V8A*ndy said:
GP335i said:
Will certainly check in future, seriously just never expected that a moderately in demand car could've sat around unused for 18 months!
This is certainly odd and there has to be a reason for it....However after just speed reading the thread, if it hasn't been already mentioned a car sitting for a year and a half FFS!!!!
are the fluids ok? has the engine oil perhaps gone acidic? are there flat spots on the tyres?
I really wouldn't be too pleased either TBH.
Buster73 said:
It'll be interesting to see if he mentions this when he eventually moves it on.
I'm sure being a fine upstanding person that he wouldn't dream of misleading any potential buyer.
Errr actually I will, hence why I've asked the dealer if they can tell me why it wasn't on the road for nearly a year and a half, makes you look a bit less dodgy if you have a reason why. Judging by a lot of replies in this thread people will check for these inconsistencies (as will I now...) so you need to have your story straight. I'll say right now hand on heart every car I've ever sold has been done so honestly, if everyone else did the same the world would be a better place.I'm sure being a fine upstanding person that he wouldn't dream of misleading any potential buyer.
It's not a first world problem, it's just a fellow car enthusiast asking for advice on what is an odd situation. I don't know why I keep repeating it but I would never have expected a car registered a month ago to have been built almost 1.5 years before, never. I'm not alone in that either judging by a lot of replies to the thread and the friend I spoke to last night who is ex BMW/MINI.
Worst case I'll still be left with a cracking car (likely with software updates and iDrive reset) and I'll check a cars build date every time from now on, as will some others I'm sure. So it's not all negative, not in the slightest. Will I let the dealer off without voicing any dissatisfaction? Not a chance.
Edit: thanks for all the replies fellas, pretty much every post has given me food for thought be it positive or negative.
Worst case I'll still be left with a cracking car (likely with software updates and iDrive reset) and I'll check a cars build date every time from now on, as will some others I'm sure. So it's not all negative, not in the slightest. Will I let the dealer off without voicing any dissatisfaction? Not a chance.
Edit: thanks for all the replies fellas, pretty much every post has given me food for thought be it positive or negative.
Edited by GP335i on Wednesday 2nd September 21:52
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