Want to bid on a BCA car, can t get account, advice?

[Turbo-Dan]

Hi all,

Long time lurker and finally have something worthwhile to post.

Me and my wife went looking for a car at the weekend and stumbled upon an M4 we wanted in the carpark, unprepared, not advertised yet and traded in the day before, we had a look and test drive and put a deposit on it subject to preparation.

Unfortunately it flagged for previous tuning and potential decat, it didn’t seem any faster or louder than our previous m4 but as a result of that the dealer won’t sell us it, no ifs, not buts, it’s going to BCA.. honestly I’m not all that fussed if it’s previously had a tune on or is currently tuned, and I want to buy it as the spec is quite a hard thing to come by.

I’m wondering how I go about getting a bid in as a private individual, or if anyone can assist?

Dealer has told me which BCA it is going to and will be calling to let me know when it goes. I’ve pleaded with the dealer to allow a trade sale but as much as much as they want to help, they won’t budge.

I’ve seen the full workshop report, so know fully what I’m in for.

Thanks all.

[Dog Biscuit]

What about speaking to a local trader to buy on your behalf for a backhander?

[Turbo-Dan]

I had thought about that, the most local trader to me isn’t trustworthy (from experience) and i can’t really think of any others small enough to not want to stock it that would help.

[UKsandman]

https://carauctionbuyingservice.co.uk/about-us/

[Turbo-Dan]

This is exactly what I had been looking for! Thank you.

Have you / anyone else used them before? Would be very grateful to hear people’s experiences.

[bennno]

Turbo-Dan said:

This is exactly what I had been looking for! Thank you.

Have you / anyone else used them before? Would be very grateful to hear people s experiences.

Looks like they will charge you from £295 to £795 to let you bid on a car, you pay their fees whether you win it or not.

Their fees will be on top of the auction house fees.

Once brought their tc’s will exclude any ability to return the vehicle. You bid you must pay, no returns.

Tread carefully, few similar services went bust….. it’s easy enough to get bca or Mannheim membership.

[Turbo-Dan]

I didn’t see that fees were payable regardless.. that is risky. How does one go about getting a BCA account without being a trader or having a company? It’s a specific car that is going to BCA that I want to buy, I have had a good amount of time inspecting it already, driven and seen workshop reports. It’s not something that I will be able to find again..

[Dimebars]

Are you expecting to pick it up for a knock-down price because auction?

If so, I fear you'll be sorely disappointed

[paul_c123]

How serious are you? Like, do you have cash (as in, immediately available funds for the full amount including likely fees) in your bank account?

[bennno]

Dimebars said:

Are you expecting to pick it up for a knock-down price because auction?

If so, I fear you'll be sorely disappointed

Very much so, half the cars there are way over priced versus private purchase and / or even against some trade sold cars.

The days of bargains are long gone with online sales…..

What’s the reg and I’ll share the detail on the car, including its guide price when it appears.

[Batdad]

bennno said:

Looks like they will charge you from £295 to £795 to let you bid on a car, you pay their fees whether you win it or not.

Their fees will be on top of the auction house fees.

Once brought their tc s will exclude any ability to return the vehicle. You bid you must pay, no returns.

Tread carefully, few similar services went bust .. it s easy enough to get bca or Mannheim membership.

I looked at becoming a "trader" to give myself access to Manheim auction stock. Unfortunately they need proof of insurance (far trading or whatever) and when I got quotes they were easily into 4 figures.

[bennno]

[Deerfoot]

9 owners on that 2015 car?

That's quite impressive.

[bennno]

Deerfoot said:

9 owners on that 2015 car?

That's quite impressive.

Many cars at auction for a reason, personally I’d only touch ex lease / ex Mercedes / ex bmw mini

Anything from other dealers I’d view with suspicion, all the largely undriven Wbac rubbish ends up at auction….

[paul_c123]

All WBAC cars (except the non runners) are driven from the WBAC site to the nearest BCA Auction Centre.

[PovertyPrince]

What makes it special out of interest?

The dealer won’t sell it to you because they won’t accept the liability on a modified car - that’s fair.

By the time it’s been though BCA the yard lads will have ragged it about all week and it’ll have a dodgy repair after they’ve knocked it a few times. Wouldn’t bother.

[bennno]

paul_c123 said:

All WBAC cars (except the non runners) are driven from the WBAC site to the nearest BCA Auction Centre.

Not sure I believe that, it’s circa 200 miles from the branch nearest us to the closest bca auction centre, so they’d be using a transporter.

[paul_c123]

bennno said:

Not sure I believe that, it s circa 200 miles from the branch nearest us to the closest bca auction centre, so they d be using a transporter.

How far to the next nearest WBAC location? Sometimes the cars are relayed around, never seen a WBAC car on a transporter though. Anyway, until the OP returns we'll never know if his desired M4 is still at the dealer, in the BCA system, or already been bought by another.

[Dog Biscuit]

There's all sorts of potential failure modes on the M4....I certainly wouldnt be buying one from a no comeback auction.

Turbo oil leaks, crank hub failure, rod bearings - a remapped one from an auction you say? I'd think again

[Wills2]

I think issues on the S55 are over blown I did over 90,000 miles in mine with not a single issue, however it was standard I wouldn't be buying a remapped decatted one from an auction as running the powertrain out of spec is when the issues like spun crank hubs can materialise.