Declaring remap when selling?

[nammynake]

I plan to sell my remapped 320i Xdrive Touring through webuyanycar. Do I legally (or per their T&Cs) need to declare the remap? I’m reluctant to declare unless necessary as I suspect they’ll use that to knock a fair chunk off the valuation.

The remap was relatively light (180 up to 240 bhp) for this engine and was done by a reputable tuner but I suspect this information will be irrelevant to them.

Thanks in advance folks.

[832ark]

What would be the cost to have the remap undone? Might be an option?

[jwilco]

This certainly suggests they are happy to buy it off you regardless:

https://www.webuyanycar.com/sell-my-car/selling-a-...

It's still a little unclear if you "legally" have to declare it though...

[GT119]

nammynake said:

I plan to sell my remapped 320i Xdrive Touring through webuyanycar. Do I legally (or per their T&Cs) need to declare the remap? I’m reluctant to declare unless necessary as I suspect they’ll use that to knock a fair chunk off the valuation.

The remap was relatively light (180 up to 240 bhp) for this engine and was done by a reputable tuner but I suspect this information will be irrelevant to them.

Thanks in advance folks.

Has the remap been declared to your insurer?

If so, and you don’t declare it to WBAC and therefore they can’t declare it to an new owner, have you considered what happens if they come unstuck in a claim where the remap is discovered and they are deemed to be uninsured?

It’s unlikely but not impossible that insurance companies might share information that could implicate you.

If it hasn’t been declared then I suppose it’s fair to say you already have form for withholding information and would be in a position to wash your hands of it, unless they could prove you sold it undeclared.

Why not get a valuation without the remap and then a separate one with and compare the difference with the cost of removing it.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

GT119 said:

Has the remap been declared to your insurer?

If so, and you don’t declare it to WBAC and therefore they can’t declare it to an new owner, have you considered what happens if they come unstuck in a claim where the remap is discovered and they are deemed to be uninsured?

If the new owner doesn't declare it because they don't know about it, then they won't be uninsured. They'll have disclosed all the info to the best of their knowledge, which is all they are required to do.

[manracer]

just out of curiosity, have you checked the price autotrader would offer vs WBAC now that Autotrader have launched their own car buying service?

[LeoSayer]

If they ask then answer honestly.

I wouldn't call a 33% gain "light".

Edited by LeoSayer on Monday 10th August 16:37

[GT119]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

If the new owner doesn't declare it because they don't know about it, then they won't be uninsured. They'll have disclosed all the info to the best of their knowledge, which is all they are required to do.

I’ve seen this statement a few times now and whilst it may be correct In most cases, I’d like to know the outcome of when it’s tested in real life.

If it was such a sound defence then surely all you need to do in the event of being caught out with a map you have fitted yourself is claim it was the previous owner wot did it, assuming you are not the first owner of course.

Not declaring a map you have installed when selling on seems to me to be dishonest, regardless of whether WBAC t&cs require it or not.

[nammynake]

Thanks all. I think the right thing to do is declare the modification. The buyer shouldn’t be unknowingly getting a vehicle with anything “hidden”, even if they are getting a free £500 performance enhancement.

Thanks for pointing me to Autotrader - I’ll take a look.

[ChrisH72]

Where do WBAC cars actually go after you've sold to them?

I would very much doubt that the next owner of the car will be made aware of any remap.

[ED209]

nammynake said:

I plan to sell my remapped 320i Xdrive Touring through webuyanycar. Do I legally (or per their T&Cs) need to declare the remap? I’m reluctant to declare unless necessary as I suspect they’ll use that to knock a fair chunk off the valuation.

The remap was relatively light (180 up to 240 bhp) for this engine and was done by a reputable tuner but I suspect this information will be irrelevant to them.

Thanks in advance folks.

As a side issue what sort of mpg do you get with that?

Considering a 3 for my next car and trying to avoid a 320d.

[SlowAndDull]

ChrisH72 said:

Where do WBAC cars actually go after you've sold to them?

I would very much doubt that the next owner of the car will be made aware of any remap.

Straight to BCA (who own WBAC) - they’ll lose half the legitimate history of the car, let alone anything about a remap!

[nammynake]

ED209 said:

As a side issue what sort of mpg do you get with that?

Considering a 3 for my next car and trying to avoid a 320d.

Remap was done shortly after lockdown so not really done enough miles since to tell. In theory the mpg shouldn’t be any worse than in its original state of tune. Power and torque are noticeably higher, which confirms the print outs they gave me. For info the work was done by RS Tuning in Leeds.

[dhutch]

Amazed you can get a better price selling privately and or to a local dealer?

[vindaloo79]

How far short of Autotrader prices were the offers?

[TwigtheWonderkid]

GT119 said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

If the new owner doesn't declare it because they don't know about it, then they won't be uninsured. They'll have disclosed all the info to the best of their knowledge, which is all they are required to do.

I’ve seen this statement a few times now and whilst it may be correct In most cases, I’d like to know the outcome of when it’s tested in real life.

If it was such a sound defence then surely all you need to do in the event of being caught out with a map you have fitted yourself is claim it was the previous owner wot did it, assuming you are not the first owner of course.

In the event of a big claim, which is when they would really investigate, they would contact the previous owner. Also, they could check with the maker of the chip to see when it was produced. So if you are lying you could get caught. But if you genuinely didn't know, you're in the clear.

[anonymous-user]

on handover you will declare certain things, so if you know about a remap and fail to declare, you are committing fraud.

[TimmyMallett]

1. If you are asked to declare it and you do declare it, make damn sure you get it in writing. You don't want some forgetful salesperson not noting it on their paperwork or having any evidence of you declaring it and it then biting you in the arse.

I'd be surprised though that when the car goes into the massive churning pot of BCA that that information end up anywhere near a forecourt of you local independent trader.

[Brett748]

I did a temporary trade plate driving job driving cars from WBAC to BCA.

80% of the cars are totally shagged. Even a tidy looking MK7 Golf GTI PP with all matching tyres etc had a horrific wheel wobble under braking for example.

I’d never buy a car from BCA.

I rally wouldn’t be bothered too, they don’t give a st.

[nammynake]

Brett748 said:

I did a temporary trade plate driving job driving cars from WBAC to BCA.

80% of the cars are totally shagged. Even a tidy looking MK7 Golf GTI PP with all matching tyres etc had a horrific wheel wobble under braking for example.

I’d never buy a car from BCA.

I rally wouldn’t be bothered too, they don’t give a st.

Mine will be a rare car in great condition then. Only 22k miles, 66 plate, loaded with options. WBAC quoting just under £17k. Could probably get £18k, possibly £19k, for a private sale but offer seems decent enough...unless they start chipping away at the offer when I inform them of the engine tune (it’s a proper remap BTW, not a bolt on chip).