AUC...YH14 VPT....M3.........
Discussion
Apologies if this has come up before but just a heads up for prospective buyers..
The wife has been trawling the BMW AUC site for a month or two now looking for the right colour and spec combo and found the above car which she was very interested in.
Mmmmnn, not my favourite colour, but then again its not going to be for me, some nice carbon ceramic brakes on it though which looked very trick.
Then I saw the reg plate, I was sure this plate rang a bell from somewhere. Anyway to cut a long story short, its the one from Top Gear where Clarkson was drifting it round the runway with smoke and rubber flying off the tyres. So I don't know whether it was a one off loan for the tv or if every journalist has screwed the arse off it. I know they are meant to be driven hard but I can't see journalists being that sympathetic with warming it up and cooling it down etc.
I wonder if I phone the dealer it will be "a one careful owner car"!
So the search continues.
The wife has been trawling the BMW AUC site for a month or two now looking for the right colour and spec combo and found the above car which she was very interested in.
Mmmmnn, not my favourite colour, but then again its not going to be for me, some nice carbon ceramic brakes on it though which looked very trick.
Then I saw the reg plate, I was sure this plate rang a bell from somewhere. Anyway to cut a long story short, its the one from Top Gear where Clarkson was drifting it round the runway with smoke and rubber flying off the tyres. So I don't know whether it was a one off loan for the tv or if every journalist has screwed the arse off it. I know they are meant to be driven hard but I can't see journalists being that sympathetic with warming it up and cooling it down etc.
I wonder if I phone the dealer it will be "a one careful owner car"!
So the search continues.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3352287/IT...
"Father-of-one Mr Willis, 27, said the expensive vehicle had brake and steering problems after he bought it from a local dealership."
"Father-of-one Mr Willis, 27, said the expensive vehicle had brake and steering problems after he bought it from a local dealership."
Thanks magnum. What a story, never read that before! I bet the bloke got a shock when Top Gear was aired!
And here we are thinking buying from the BMW AUC scheme would avoid buying a car like this!
I wonder if any history is divulged when a potential purchaser goes to look at this car.?
I wish there was a list of M3s to avoid!
And here we are thinking buying from the BMW AUC scheme would avoid buying a car like this!
I wonder if any history is divulged when a potential purchaser goes to look at this car.?
I wish there was a list of M3s to avoid!
xjay1337 said:
REALIST123 said:
Wouldn't even think of going near s car with that history. And the colour doesn't help.
Why?These M3s are built to be abused.
In addition, the daily mail article sounds like a moron
"it makes a noise when coming off the motorway".
Gee, great.
"They're built to be abused"? I guess that's why that one and many others fall apart when they are abused.
I'm just grateful that there are punters like you to soak up the crap and reduce the chance of others being stung. But then again, I'll bet you wouldn't knowingly buy a car that had been abused like that unless you got it very cheaply.
REALIST123 said:
"They're built to be abused"? I guess that's why that one and many others fall apart when they are abused.
I'm just grateful that there are punters like you to soak up the crap and reduce the chance of others being stung. But then again, I'll bet you wouldn't knowingly buy a car that had been abused like that unless you got it very cheaply.
I'm up to 160k now. Nothing's broken. Engine gearbox drivetrain all fine.
If an M3 can't take a few days of press abuse going sideways, then it's not really going to hold up in real life is it?
We have no idea if Mr Daily Mail actually had the fault(s) with his car inspected and rectified and of course we had no further information whether the faults that the (frankly) idiot was having actually related to any abuse it received at the hands of Top Gear. He had a few problems with his car (it happens, get over it) which all suddenly came to light when he realised the car was on Top Gear... funny that!
It's a very common practise. All of the cars at the recent Mercedes Benz Sunday Service? All will be sold back into the dealer network.
All of the Astra / Corsa / Insignia VXRs used on the VXR Power Events? Where do you think they end up... back in the dealer network.
It's very very common for cars used for their intended purpose (IE performance) end up in the dealer network.
In answer to your question, yes I would expect it to be discounted somewhat but as long as it checked all the boxes then I wouldn't really care.
It's quite easy to tell if they are ex track/press cars.
The cars will be low mileage for their year (generally) maybe only a few thousand but will have BRAND NEW tyres and brakes all round.. hmmm.....
You can buy your M3 from dave the used car salesman who seems nice and sensible but you know he's ragged the tits off it when it was cold and not checked the oil until the warning light comes on...
xjay1337 said:
Handy-Bs in McDonalds car park and all that for days mate.
Sorry but... 
xjay1337 said:
You can buy your M3 from dave the used car salesman who seems nice and sensible but you know he's ragged the tits off it when it was cold and not checked the oil until the warning light comes on...
I'd say you're probably right about this - I got stung with a dodgy AUC M3 and decided to buy a new one instead so I know the only ragging it's had is from me when properly warmed up!Edited by Timbuktu on Wednesday 23 March 08:54
There's a danger that this car is developing something of a cult following...
I echo the thoughts above, that is; provided the car has been serviced correctly and was up to operating temperature before being driven like it was by TG, I can't see the problem. I'd much rather have this car than a M3 which has trudged around London for much of its life.
I echo the thoughts above, that is; provided the car has been serviced correctly and was up to operating temperature before being driven like it was by TG, I can't see the problem. I'd much rather have this car than a M3 which has trudged around London for much of its life.
RossP said:
This has popped up on some of the BMW forums already. It's been for sale for quite a while...
Given the choice, I would rather not have one that has been ragged by journos.
Me too, but some of the replies suggest some aren't bothered. Its slightly different doing a track day or giving it some beans now and again on the road to giving it to some journo who couldn't give a damn about the car and just wants to see how fast it will go or how long they can drift it for on the limiter.Given the choice, I would rather not have one that has been ragged by journos.
Does anybody else know of any more newish M3s to steer clear of as the whole point of buying an auc car was meant to stop all the screwed cars but that hasn't happend.
:Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff