Potential E90 M3 Lemon?

[fivesixseven8]

In my on going search for M3 saloons, I saw this a little while ago http://pistonheads.com/sales/1223136.htm but it sold while I was on holiday and before I had chance to travel up to see it. 08 plate just under 16k miles, black with bamboo leather, DCT, EDC etc. Up for £36.5k

I had a friend HPI it just out of curiosity as it was a bit cheaper than others on the market. It had been through 4 owners in just over a year!! This made me cautious. It's not some kind of exotic that you may expect to get turned over quickly, it's just a BMW!

Now I think my suspicions have been confirmed... http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1335979.htm The guy has done less than 1500 miles in it and it is now up for sale... with a price increase of nearly £5000! Prices may have firmed recently but this is taking the piss a little, no? Thoughts?

Edited by fivesixseven8 on Saturday 14th November 09:06

[M3 HUG]

those 2 adverts are the same?

an ex BMW UK car judging by the numberplate as well

[fivesixseven8]

Thanks, copy and paste fail!

Have updated the links now. I thought all BMW cars were black with red or silverstone with black? I haven't seen a BMW car with DCT specced either?

[croyde]

Maybe the owners did not like the DCT gearbox.

Only saying as I have not tried one myself. Borrowed a tiptronic Boxster once and I liked the novelty of using buttons but bought a manual.

[M3 HUG]

fivesixseven8 said:

Thanks, copy and paste fail!

Have updated the links now. I thought all BMW cars were black with red or silverstone with black? I haven't seen a BMW car with DCT specced either?

no sorry i meant it must be an ex bmw employees cars..... they always have a "y" numberplate preference

my bro in law had an m3 Coupe as a company car thru bmw uk and was specced with DCT as when i took it out for a spin it had a software failure on me

[fivesixseven8]

croyde said:

Maybe the owners did not like the DCT gearbox.

Only saying as I have not tried one myself. Borrowed a tiptronic Boxster once and I liked the novelty of using buttons but bought a manual.

As I understand it DCT and Tip are totally different? Good luck to the guy if he can make that much money on it. As much as I like the spec, the fact it has been turned over so many times makes me wonder. Adding £5k to the price is taking the piss a little though!

M3 HUG said:

fivesixseven8 said:

Thanks, copy and paste fail!

Have updated the links now. I thought all BMW cars were black with red or silverstone with black? I haven't seen a BMW car with DCT specced either?

no sorry i meant it must be an ex bmw employees cars..... they always have a "y" numberplate preference

my bro in law had an m3 Coupe as a company car thru bmw uk and was specced with DCT as when i took it out for a spin it had a software failure on me

Ah ok, I see what you mean.

[waremark]

croyde said:

Maybe the owners did not like the DCT gearbox.

Only saying as I have not tried one myself. Borrowed a tiptronic Boxster once and I liked the novelty of using buttons but bought a manual.

Have you seen that the only transmission available in the new Ferrari 458 is a DCT? Because people love it so much in the California, apparently. (The Ferrari DCT's are from Getrag, like the M3's.)

The M3 DCT changes gear instantly and seemlessly, either automatically or under your control. It is great on track, on minor roads, and in town. You have to decide whether that is what you want: a computer which does a perfect job, or the pleasure and satisfaction of making good manual gearchanges.

[fivesixseven8]

The guy has replied to me, seems the car is OK with 2 of the owners being BMW themselves.

The guy is just out to make some cash. He would have paid no more than £36k and now has it up for £42k. Way OTT for a private sale IMO.

[baz1985]

A batch of pre-reg delivery mile ones were sold @ £40k or less in the Spring.

Bids on 08/08 were £30k ish then.

[fivesixseven8]

baz1985 said:

A batch of pre-reg delivery mile ones were sold @ £40k or less in the Spring.

Bids on 08/08 were £30k ish then.

Those are the Silver/black, black/red cars which dealers are wanting £40k for still!

[AyBee]

As a BMW UK car, it's possible the first owner only had it for 4 months or so, not sure how it's managed to get two BMW UK owners though....they usually only give their employees one car and then sell it off second hand, maybe a manager moved on or something (they register their cars under the employees name) and then the car was re-registered to the new manager for the remaining few months? Perfectly possible IMO, could be worth checking it out with BMW if you're interested although I'm not sure how much information, if any, they'd give you?

[AliMc99]

I looked at it when it was sale at the previous dealer in Yorkshire. Although advertised as Jerez Black metallic it is actually flat Jet black. Also I seem to recall that it did not have edc. I'd also suggest the bamboo interior would only appeal to a minority of buyers.

[JMRS4]

Thats ex-demo car well thrashed as well ( most are), the plates a give away.

[jon.b]

JMRS4 said:

Thats ex-demo car well thrashed as well ( most are), the plates a give away.

They're not all thrashed... A handful might see vigorous action but most are just either company cars for staff or cars for other halves (one of the perks). They usually make a really good buy as they are mostly well specced cars (upgrade alloys, sat nav, leather) and any maintenance will be bang up to date. They will always be sold on in tip top condition.

[fivesixseven8]

jon.b said:

JMRS4 said:

Thats ex-demo car well thrashed as well ( most are), the plates a give away.

They're not all thrashed... A handful might see vigorous action but most are just either company cars for staff or cars for other halves (one of the perks). They usually make a really good buy as they are mostly well specced cars (upgrade alloys, sat nav, leather) and any maintenance will be bang up to date. They will always be sold on in tip top condition.

They make a good buy until you clock someone trying to make £5k just from turning it round!