Is approved used worth the extra?

[DrEMa]

Trying to decide between a couple of M140is.

https://www.cazoo.co.uk/car-details/78766065-a8b1-...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110228...

Theres not much difference in them, 5 doors would be a little better, but I'd also quite like heated seats. My question is, what is the collectives opinion on approved used Vs other dealership options?

[LightningBlue]

Approved used in my experience doesn’t mean the car will be better prepared (you can still expect undiscovered faults) but in theory it means it should have a better service history and appear to be in better condition (main dealers usually have the better stock). It also means a 12 month warranty and breakdown cover so I’d be going for approved used

[swisstoni]

On a recent thread it was pointed out that rejected ‘lemons’ can appear as Approved Used.

I’m not trying to make out that they are many examples of this but it’s worth bearing in mind.

[SmithCorona]

If it main dealer vs independent, back street, I would go approved.

But, Cazoo are desperate to make a name for themselves, and are relatively low volume at this point.

I'd argue they would be better prepared cars and they will be more eager to fix issues.

[Jamescrs]

DrEMa said:

Trying to decide between a couple of M140is.

https://www.cazoo.co.uk/car-details/78766065-a8b1-...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110228...

Theres not much difference in them, 5 doors would be a little better, but I'd also quite like heated seats. My question is, what is the collectives opinion on approved used Vs other dealership options?

All other things being equal i'd go approved used if the difference was around £1000.
Looking at the two cars you have linked the Cazoo car appears to have better options, it has Cruise control and the bigger sat nav screen, I prefer the interior on the other but between these two i'd buy the one from Cazoo personally.

[jason61c]

you can get a cazoo warranty extension, i'd argue you'd end up with a 'better' car and the same protection for less by buying from Cazoo.

[Al U]

I bought a BMW 330D (66 plate) in January 2020 as a used approved car from a Sytner BMW main dealer.

While they were unwilling to move an inch on price, any issues I found with the car such as paint or interior trim were agreed to be rectified prior to hand over. One of the paint issues wasn't rectified before hand over and they asked me to bring the car back in a few weeks later so they could repaint the bonnet.

I also like that you get BMW warranty and breakdown cover and should be getting a car with full history in the I-drive (unless you are like the guy in that thread who bought an M4 recently that wasn't so approved used after all). I think you still need to go in with your eyes open and do your usual checks, but personally when I'm spending £20k, I'd rather get the car from BMW main dealer than getting it from Cazoo.

But with BMW's as you'll know it's all about finding the car that ticks the right spec boxes for you, so that may force your hand somewhat.

[Driver101]

Don't expect the car to be any better or have a clear history. You still need to check everything.

The 5 door car is the better of the two cars you've linked. I would still want the upgrade Harmon Kardon hifi which neither car have. Pro Nav with the big screen is a must to many BMW owners.

[SWoll]

Having had problems with <5 year old both approved and non approved used BMW's in the past that required warranty work I'd not consider buying one that wasn't approved going forward.

You can pay for the BMW comprehensive warranty to cover the Cazoo car at £675 per year but even that doesn't offer quite the coverage you get buying approved used.

https://www.bmw-warranty.co.uk/Login/Index

[nickfrog]

jason61c said:

you can get a cazoo warranty extension, i'd argue you'd end up with a 'better' car and the same protection for less by buying from Cazoo.

I don't know the details of the Cazoo warranty but I doubt it's anywhere near as good as the AUC warranty. I would want to investigate limits, exclusions and if wear and tear is covered (I doubt it is whereas the BMW product does cover it).

The other aspect is if one insists on an on going BMW warranty beyond the first year then buying AUC means it will be far cheaper than to add it to a non AUC car that has had a gap in the coverage.

The oil filter housing fragility of the B58 engine alone would sway me towards the better warranty.

Edited by nickfrog on Monday 28th February 11:21

[CarCrazyDad]

The only warranty worth anything is either the AUC or the BMW Insured Warranty

You can buy the BMW Insured Warranty on any car irrespective of where you bought it, as long as it has a full service history


If you want a reason to not buy an approved used car, please look at one of my recent threads where a friend spent £32,000 on a car that was advertised as Approved Used from Sy___r BMW in the north and turned out to not have been serviced for 5 years!

[DrEMa]

Thanks for the responses folks. Being able to buy the BMW insured warranty evens things up a little more in terms of peace of mind (but also price). Food for thought.

[nickfrog]

^ it depends. Just bear in mind that buying the warranty on a non AUC or non extended car will cost almost twice as much as extending it on a AUC car so there is a point where the non AUC car will have proven more expensive If you keep extending the warranty unless of course the delta is big to start with.

[CarCrazyDad]

nickfrog said:

^ it depends. Just bear in mind that buying the warranty on a non AUC or non extended car will cost almost twice as much as extending it on a AUC car so there is a point where the non AUC car will have proven more expensive If you keep extending the warranty unless of course the delta is big to start with.

Apparently the car needs warranty "from any provider" for 3 months to not count as "lapsed cover"

of course depending on the car , my Sons M140i is around £400 a year fully comp with the £250 excess

[nickfrog]

CarCrazyDad said:

Apparently the car needs warranty "from any provider" for 3 months to not count as "lapsed cover"

Interesting - where did you hear that? The AWP site only screens on any original warranty or AUC warranty (which is the the same product from the same carrier anyway, i.e. them) - I wonder how the AWP site would know about any other non official warranty and therefore price it accordingly.

[CarCrazyDad]

nickfrog said:

CarCrazyDad said:

Apparently the car needs warranty "from any provider" for 3 months to not count as "lapsed cover"

Interesting - where did you hear that? The AWP site only screens on any original warranty or AUC warranty (which is the the same product from the same carrier anyway, i.e. them) - I wonder how the AWP site would know about any other non official warranty and therefore price it accordingly.

Just what my Son told me they told him, Chinese whispers

[DrEMa]

Just to give the thread closure. Have ordered the car below this morning. Has the options and colours I want (cruise and heated seats). Will get the BMW insured warranty to go with it (or reject the car if it's not up to scratch when I go to pick up).

https://www.cazoo.co.uk/car-details/ca8e0191-9b87-...

[CarCrazyDad]

Enjoy! Great cars.

[swisstoni]

DrEMa said:

Just to give the thread closure. Have ordered the car below this morning. Has the options and colours I want (cruise and heated seats). Will get the BMW insured warranty to go with it (or reject the car if it's not up to scratch when I go to pick up).

https://www.cazoo.co.uk/car-details/ca8e0191-9b87-...

I’m ashamed to say I’ve never looked at the Cazoo site.
I like their ‘imperfections’ section and that they go down to quite low level nicks and scuffs.

It seems that they are at least trying not to mislead, and just want to move the car on.

[CarCrazyDad]

swisstoni said:

I’m ashamed to say I’ve never looked at the Cazoo site.
I like their ‘imperfections’ section and that they go down to quite low level nicks and scuffs.

It seems that they are at least trying not to mislead, and just want to move the car on.

Likewise - that is impressive.