Just bought an ebay special...
Discussion
Well, been trying to work out what to do car/insurance wise for a week or so now.
My situation was that my insurance policy on the swift runs out at the end of the month. I've told them not to renew as the renewal was a 100% increase on last year and I've got much better quotes elsewhere.
I'm a little bored of the Swift now (having had it for 5 months or so)( http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2843956.htm ) so seemed an ideal chance to buy something else. I only planned on finding something super cheap with MOT and Tax to run around in for a few months when I plan on buying a newer car as a keeper.
My budget was basically what I think I could get for the Swift (£400ish) plus maybe £100.
My plan of action for the last few days has been to set ebay to show all cars (with no search string), under £600, ending soonest. I would then refresh page 1 of results every now and then and see what was ending in a few mins, quickly get a quote on insurance and if pleasing, throw in a bid.
So tonight, doing exactly that, I spot a 1989 BMW E30 318 saloon. Check the listing, has MOT and Tax for 6 months or so. Drives fine apparently, looks in good nick inside and out, says the arches look fine now but a little rust starting to appear on the rear pass side and the backbox might need replacing soon as it's getting rusty. Sounds fine.
It's got 3 mins to go and is at £366. I place a max bid of £400 on and wait.
£390 was the ending price so I'm off to pick up my new BMW tomorrow morning!
Any words of wisdom on what I've let myself in for? I'm not shy of a bit of ebay bidding and have bought many a car without viewing through ebay (with mixed results...) so really should know better but, well, you know... Seemed like a good punt... I've bought a 1 day insurance cover with optional AA cover, just incase.
Linky : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
My situation was that my insurance policy on the swift runs out at the end of the month. I've told them not to renew as the renewal was a 100% increase on last year and I've got much better quotes elsewhere.
I'm a little bored of the Swift now (having had it for 5 months or so)( http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2843956.htm ) so seemed an ideal chance to buy something else. I only planned on finding something super cheap with MOT and Tax to run around in for a few months when I plan on buying a newer car as a keeper.
My budget was basically what I think I could get for the Swift (£400ish) plus maybe £100.
My plan of action for the last few days has been to set ebay to show all cars (with no search string), under £600, ending soonest. I would then refresh page 1 of results every now and then and see what was ending in a few mins, quickly get a quote on insurance and if pleasing, throw in a bid.
So tonight, doing exactly that, I spot a 1989 BMW E30 318 saloon. Check the listing, has MOT and Tax for 6 months or so. Drives fine apparently, looks in good nick inside and out, says the arches look fine now but a little rust starting to appear on the rear pass side and the backbox might need replacing soon as it's getting rusty. Sounds fine.
It's got 3 mins to go and is at £366. I place a max bid of £400 on and wait.
£390 was the ending price so I'm off to pick up my new BMW tomorrow morning!
Any words of wisdom on what I've let myself in for? I'm not shy of a bit of ebay bidding and have bought many a car without viewing through ebay (with mixed results...) so really should know better but, well, you know... Seemed like a good punt... I've bought a 1 day insurance cover with optional AA cover, just incase.
Linky : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
Edited by Deluded on Friday 20th May 21:55
Good potential shedding. 
Get yourself over to www.e30zone.net
Looks like the interior has been swapped at some point - doorcards are grey, the interior arm and door pockets are black. Sport leather though!
Get yourself over to www.e30zone.net
Looks like the interior has been swapped at some point - doorcards are grey, the interior arm and door pockets are black. Sport leather though!
Disco You said:
They are some pretty big drums?!
14 inch alloys I think.VeeFour said:
That'll be back on eBay in bits within weeks.
I don't believe his 'redundancy' story, especially as he's parked next to a particularly
dropside tranny....
Looks like you've bought a car off a!
To be honest, I'd probably find a way out of this one.
This is why I went for the optional AA cover I don't believe his 'redundancy' story, especially as he's parked next to a particularly
dropside tranny....Looks like you've bought a car off a
!To be honest, I'd probably find a way out of this one.
Well, if it is s
te then maybe I'll finally learn not to buy cheap cars off ebay... I doubt it though.Agree with what you say though, the story is probably made up and he's either just lost interest in the car or it's got something wrong with it, in which case, I'll just walk away.
Either way, I only want it to last me a few months. I don't mind spending a little on it (backbox for example) but as already said, it's probably worth more in parts that I'm paying (plus cashing in the tax) so if it's knackered, I'll break it and hand onto the swift for a little longer.
Edited by Deluded on Friday 20th May 23:03
Deluded said:
SWH said:
You may end up like this.... but hopefully not 
- I was well aware it was knackered when I started bidding, the most convenient package of spares I've ever acquired
It's only 50 miles home! Hopefully it will make it under its own power...
You'll be fine This one had a cambelt failure and I need the front bodywork (mainly)... hence the truck. Unseen eBay special as well, I'm on the south coast and it was in Essex... what could possibly go wrong?! Well, nothing much, apart from going a bit deaf driving that truck around the country!
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