Suspected stolen/cloned car on AutoTrader
Discussion
Been on the lookout for a E70 X5M - spotted one on AutoTrader. Ticked every single box - very loaded, low mileage etc. Even the price was good, I would say too good... Anyway, HPI-ed the car before going to see it. It came back all clear, but as a X5 50i M Sport. I know my X5M from my X5 50i, and the car in the adverts ain’t a cooking X5. Run the VIN supplied by HPI through a BMW options decoder - half of the options that I can see on the advertised car are not on the decoder. The dealer is being very shifty... Obviously did not bother with a viewing.
The question is - do I bother with a call to 101? I am beyond certain that the car for sale shares only its colour with the car that it purports to be...
The question is - do I bother with a call to 101? I am beyond certain that the car for sale shares only its colour with the car that it purports to be...
Cheburator mk2 said:
Been on the lookout for a E70 X5M - spotted one on AutoTrader. Ticked every single box - very loaded, low mileage etc. Even the price was good, I would say too good... Anyway, HPI-ed the car before going to see it. It came back all clear, but as a X5 50i M Sport. I know my X5M from my X5 50i, and the car in the adverts ain’t a cooking X5. Run the VIN supplied by HPI through a BMW options decoder - half of the options that I can see on the advertised car are not on the decoder. The dealer is being very shifty... Obviously did not bother with a viewing.
The question is - do I bother with a call to 101? I am beyond certain that the car for sale shares only its colour with the car that it purports to be...
Had you actually gone to see the car in person, you could have made a note of the VIN number stamped on the car, and compared it to the VIN number that the HPI check shows.The question is - do I bother with a call to 101? I am beyond certain that the car for sale shares only its colour with the car that it purports to be...
If the VIN numbers match, and the stampings/stickers on the car look legit - No need to report anything.
If the VIN numbers don't match, or don't look legit - Report it.
You didn't bother going to see the car, so you have no real evidence of what your alleging - Only an unsubstantiated suspicion.
Also, be aware that the BMW VIN Decoder only lists the options ordered from the factory. It's perfectly possible that additional options could have been added to the vehicle by the dealership, after delivery from the factory.
4rephill said:
Had you actually gone to see the car in person, you could have made a note of the VIN number stamped on the car, and compared it to the VIN number that the HPI check shows.
If the VIN numbers match, and the stampings/stickers on the car look legit - No need to report anything.
If the VIN numbers don't match, or don't look legit - Report it.
You didn't bother going to see the car, so you have no real evidence of what your alleging - Only an unsubstantiated suspicion.
Also, be aware that the BMW VIN Decoder only lists the options ordered from the factory. It's perfectly possible that additional options could have been added to the vehicle by the dealership, after delivery from the factory.
Matching VIN numbers and stickers doesn’t mean it’s not a ringer unfortunately If the VIN numbers match, and the stampings/stickers on the car look legit - No need to report anything.
If the VIN numbers don't match, or don't look legit - Report it.
You didn't bother going to see the car, so you have no real evidence of what your alleging - Only an unsubstantiated suspicion.
Also, be aware that the BMW VIN Decoder only lists the options ordered from the factory. It's perfectly possible that additional options could have been added to the vehicle by the dealership, after delivery from the factory.
They can all be changed/altered
There are other more invasive ways of finding the true ID but they are unfortunately beyond even the most clued up punter on a forecourt inspection
dogbucket said:
A chap at work was telling me last week he was looking for a new X5 and found a 500bhp one (sorry I am not good on BMW models) for 18K? Went to look and the dealer is on a traveller site London area. Same car??
What could possibly go wrong Edited by dogbucket on Sunday 17th November 18:01
dogbucket said:
A chap at work was telling me last week he was looking for a new X5 and found a 500bhp one (sorry I am not good on BMW models) for 18K? Went to look and the dealer is on a traveller site London area. Same car??
That’s the one - hence I did not even bother to go and see it. To the other chaps suggesting my suspicions could be wrong... For many reasons I am a lot more clued up on BMWs in particular than your average punter. I know a X5M when I see one. No need to check a VIN on the front suspension tower. The options this car has cannot be retrofitted - it would cost more than the car - as simple as that. The fact that someone else has been to see it in person and hasn’t bought a car, which is about £10k underpriced confirms my guesswork. The question whether to report or not still stands... Reg is LF61XAG - just so Google picks up on it...Edited by dogbucket on Sunday 17th November 18:01
Cheburator mk2 said:
dogbucket said:
A chap at work was telling me last week he was looking for a new X5 and found a 500bhp one (sorry I am not good on BMW models) for 18K? Went to look and the dealer is on a traveller site London area. Same car??
That’s the one - hence I did not even bother to go and see it. To the other chaps suggesting my suspicions could be wrong... For many reasons I am a lot more clued up on BMWs in particular than your average punter. I know a X5M when I see one. No need to check a VIN on the front suspension tower. The options this car has cannot be retrofitted - it would cost more than the car - as simple as that. The fact that someone else has been to see it in person and hasn’t bought a car, which is about £10k underpriced confirms my guesswork. The question whether to report or not still stands... Reg is LF61XAG - just so Google picks up on it...Edited by dogbucket on Sunday 17th November 18:01
Earthdweller said:
Cheburator mk2 said:
dogbucket said:
A chap at work was telling me last week he was looking for a new X5 and found a 500bhp one (sorry I am not good on BMW models) for 18K? Went to look and the dealer is on a traveller site London area. Same car??
That’s the one - hence I did not even bother to go and see it. To the other chaps suggesting my suspicions could be wrong... For many reasons I am a lot more clued up on BMWs in particular than your average punter. I know a X5M when I see one. No need to check a VIN on the front suspension tower. The options this car has cannot be retrofitted - it would cost more than the car - as simple as that. The fact that someone else has been to see it in person and hasn’t bought a car, which is about £10k underpriced confirms my guesswork. The question whether to report or not still stands... Reg is LF61XAG - just so Google picks up on it...Edited by dogbucket on Sunday 17th November 18:01
You’ve nothing to lose other than a bit of time and effort. If you were willing to contact them if the forums answer was yes, I’d have just done it anyway instead of waiting on the say so of anyone on here.
The worst that can happen is, as above, naff all. On the other hand some scrote trying to pull a fast one might get nicked. The question of whether to report it or not seems a no brainer.
Hopefully you see some positive feedback from whoever you contact.
The worst that can happen is, as above, naff all. On the other hand some scrote trying to pull a fast one might get nicked. The question of whether to report it or not seems a no brainer.
Hopefully you see some positive feedback from whoever you contact.
krisdelta said:
It's showing up as a 50i M Sport on AT now... maybe it was listed in the wrong category?
Read the thread from the start - it was always showing as X5 50i M Sport while the car clearly is a X5M. The HPI certificate comes back with a X5 50i M Sport VIN and options list, both of which are completely different from what the actual car for sale has. The only similarities are that they are both X5s and that both cars are silver. Comparing a X5M to a X5 50i M Sport is like comparing a M3 to 318i - both are made by BMW, both are passenger cars but that's where the similarities end.
Cheburator mk2 said:
krisdelta said:
It's showing up as a 50i M Sport on AT now... maybe it was listed in the wrong category?
Read the thread from the start - it was always showing as X5 50i M Sport while the car clearly is a X5M. The HPI certificate comes back with a X5 50i M Sport VIN and options list, both of which are completely different from what the actual car for sale has. The only similarities are that they are both X5s and that both cars are silver. Comparing a X5M to a X5 50i M Sport is like comparing a M3 to 318i - both are made by BMW, both are passenger cars but that's where the similarities end.
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