Mis advertised car
Discussion
Bear with me on this... New to this game...
Ok, my trustworthy 2002 330i touring gave up the ghost a couple of weeks ago. Strictly speaking, not beyond repair but the auto box let go and in limp home mode having made a horrible jolt and bang on the slip road into the m40. It also a day or two before this, it threw on 3 traction control lights which were diagnosed as either a speed sensor or the abs pump.
Beyond economic repair in my book...so I sold to a salvage co. Particularly unpleasant man on collection made the usual noises about how he thought the car had a knackered engine and that it was 'bone dry' - aren't they all if you check the oil with the motor running? Anyway, in order to get him to bugger off without getting more aggressive I took my cash (not much) and he left. Really, it was a fine solid car with FSH and the engine was sublime.
Lo and behold, the car is on eBay and described as A1 condition. Up for top dollar too... There's no way that auto box fault could have been repaired so fast and no pictures of the ignition on showing no less than 5 red or yellow warning lights and the cog of death which is how it was when he drove it away jammed in third gear.
Ok - I have been a mug and caught off guard to fall for his low cash scam, but the car is no way as described.
Ok, my trustworthy 2002 330i touring gave up the ghost a couple of weeks ago. Strictly speaking, not beyond repair but the auto box let go and in limp home mode having made a horrible jolt and bang on the slip road into the m40. It also a day or two before this, it threw on 3 traction control lights which were diagnosed as either a speed sensor or the abs pump.
Beyond economic repair in my book...so I sold to a salvage co. Particularly unpleasant man on collection made the usual noises about how he thought the car had a knackered engine and that it was 'bone dry' - aren't they all if you check the oil with the motor running? Anyway, in order to get him to bugger off without getting more aggressive I took my cash (not much) and he left. Really, it was a fine solid car with FSH and the engine was sublime.
Lo and behold, the car is on eBay and described as A1 condition. Up for top dollar too... There's no way that auto box fault could have been repaired so fast and no pictures of the ignition on showing no less than 5 red or yellow warning lights and the cog of death which is how it was when he drove it away jammed in third gear.
Ok - I have been a mug and caught off guard to fall for his low cash scam, but the car is no way as described.
^ Hmm. Personally I dislike the "not my problem" attitude. I'd help a friend who had a problem with a car... why shouldn't I warn a stranger to avoid one?
For example, was walking to the bus this morning as a woman driving a new 5 series with tinted windows floored it past me. Huge tyre noise... rear nearside surviving just on run flat. She stopped for lights and the tyre was smoking so I knocked on her window. He passenger jumped out of her skin and refused to lower it... when she did she only put it down a few cm so I could just make out her eyes and I told her her tyre was flat. She already knew... bizarre... but at least I'm sure she knows!
Maybe it's just me, but personally I don't like standing by!
For example, was walking to the bus this morning as a woman driving a new 5 series with tinted windows floored it past me. Huge tyre noise... rear nearside surviving just on run flat. She stopped for lights and the tyre was smoking so I knocked on her window. He passenger jumped out of her skin and refused to lower it... when she did she only put it down a few cm so I could just make out her eyes and I told her her tyre was flat. She already knew... bizarre... but at least I'm sure she knows!
Maybe it's just me, but personally I don't like standing by!
Edited by Freddy88FM on Tuesday 26th February 13:10
Edited by Freddy88FM on Tuesday 26th February 13:15
Donatello said:
It's pretty obvious what his problem is. He doesn't want someone else getting f
ked over.
This and the fact that he is gutted the salvage co. will make more than he realised he could and he is angry!
They've obviously fixed something with regards to the box though unless they're banking on someone buying it without ever driving it... ked over.This and the fact that he is gutted the salvage co. will make more than he realised he could and he is angry!
And if they haven't then surely anyone viewing the car would spot that anyway?
carlingofblack said:
Bear with me on this... New to this game...
Ok, my trustworthy 2002 330i touring gave up the ghost a couple of weeks ago. Strictly speaking, not beyond repair but the auto box let go and in limp home mode having made a horrible jolt and bang on the slip road into the m40. It also a day or two before this, it threw on 3 traction control lights which were diagnosed as either a speed sensor or the abs pump.
Beyond economic repair in my book...so I sold to a salvage co. Particularly unpleasant man on collection made the usual noises about how he thought the car had a knackered engine and that it was 'bone dry' - aren't they all if you check the oil with the motor running? Anyway, in order to get him to bugger off without getting more aggressive I took my cash (not much) and he left. Really, it was a fine solid car with FSH and the engine was sublime.
Lo and behold, the car is on eBay and described as A1 condition. Up for top dollar too... There's no way that auto box fault could have been repaired so fast and no pictures of the ignition on showing no less than 5 red or yellow warning lights and the cog of death which is how it was when he drove it away jammed in third gear.
Ok - I have been a mug and caught off guard to fall for his low cash scam, but the car is no way as described.
Lots of reasons for the box to go into limp mode not necessarily related to the box. The ignition switch can cause it... The cure could have been simple if you know the car well. ABS sensor, half an hour if you know what you're doing and the gods are on your side Ok, my trustworthy 2002 330i touring gave up the ghost a couple of weeks ago. Strictly speaking, not beyond repair but the auto box let go and in limp home mode having made a horrible jolt and bang on the slip road into the m40. It also a day or two before this, it threw on 3 traction control lights which were diagnosed as either a speed sensor or the abs pump.
Beyond economic repair in my book...so I sold to a salvage co. Particularly unpleasant man on collection made the usual noises about how he thought the car had a knackered engine and that it was 'bone dry' - aren't they all if you check the oil with the motor running? Anyway, in order to get him to bugger off without getting more aggressive I took my cash (not much) and he left. Really, it was a fine solid car with FSH and the engine was sublime.
Lo and behold, the car is on eBay and described as A1 condition. Up for top dollar too... There's no way that auto box fault could have been repaired so fast and no pictures of the ignition on showing no less than 5 red or yellow warning lights and the cog of death which is how it was when he drove it away jammed in third gear.
Ok - I have been a mug and caught off guard to fall for his low cash scam, but the car is no way as described.
Freddy88FM said:
^ Hmm. Personally I dislike the "not my problem" attitude. I'd help a friend who had a problem with a car... why shouldn't I warn a stranger to avoid ?
Because you don't know the whole truth.Maybe the car has been fixed.
It's one thing to help a stranger out.
It's another to go looking for trouble.
The OP said it's a great car except the gearbox.
In that xase it makes sense for someone to fix it and sell it on.
It may have beeb uneconomical for the op to fix, but might be a goid days profit from someone else.
Freddy88FM said:
^ Hmm. Personally I dislike the "not my problem" attitude. I'd help a friend who had a problem with a car... why shouldn't I warn a stranger to avoid one?
Yeah but he doesn't know there is a problem for sure, he's just speculating. The salvage yard could've fixed it easily yet he's assuming they haven't. By the sounds of it, they couldn't have done a sticky plaster fix to hide the gearbox issues so if they're advertising it as "A1" then it at least must be drivable now, which means they have done something to the box.
Also, may be just me but there's no way that I'd deem my own car "uneconomical to repair" without a garage at least having a look at it and giving me their opinion!
Edited by Leebo310 on Tuesday 26th February 13:23
Leebo310 said:
They've obviously fixed something with regards to the box though unless they're banking on someone buying it without ever driving it...
And if they haven't then surely anyone viewing the car would spot that anyway?
It happens...And if they haven't then surely anyone viewing the car would spot that anyway?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
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