My first BMW (4 series GC) - was it repainted?
Discussion
Hello All,
(I am new here, recently moved to the UK and looking for a new car with the steering wheel on your side
).
I have found a 2016 4 Series Gran Coupe M Sport that seems in amazing state (about 44k miles), from a very large car dealer / car supermarket.
The only suspicious thing is that the side air vents (the ones behind the front wheels) are not in black or chrome, but of the same colour of the car.
Is it a sign of a cheap paint job or they can be ordered like that?
If I don't feel like trusting this car, I will continue my search. The only issue is that all the 4 series GC I find are ex rental/similar, so very often repainted or in bad shape. Any help or input is very appreciated.
Thanks
(I am new here, recently moved to the UK and looking for a new car with the steering wheel on your side
).I have found a 2016 4 Series Gran Coupe M Sport that seems in amazing state (about 44k miles), from a very large car dealer / car supermarket.
The only suspicious thing is that the side air vents (the ones behind the front wheels) are not in black or chrome, but of the same colour of the car.
Is it a sign of a cheap paint job or they can be ordered like that?
If I don't feel like trusting this car, I will continue my search. The only issue is that all the 4 series GC I find are ex rental/similar, so very often repainted or in bad shape. Any help or input is very appreciated.
Thanks
I doubt a car would have been repainted both sides, it’s possible it was specced like that or retrofitted. Looks like non-m sport models have painted vents anyway.
I wouldn’t automatically be put off about an ex rental. Vast majority of cars were rental/fleet cars. There’s not thousands of people trading in at <12 months old. It’s just picking out a good condition ex rental over one that’s been tatted up.
With a BMW the common things to look out for are the regs. Most rentals buy/lease direct from BMW so are likely to have reg starting with Y. Obviously someone could have purchased new from a Yorkshire dealer and BMW staff cars plus other fleets end up in dealers and supermarkets too.
I have seen a lot of rental BMWs with a Reg beginning with H too (not sure on the company though)
I wouldn’t automatically be put off about an ex rental. Vast majority of cars were rental/fleet cars. There’s not thousands of people trading in at <12 months old. It’s just picking out a good condition ex rental over one that’s been tatted up.
With a BMW the common things to look out for are the regs. Most rentals buy/lease direct from BMW so are likely to have reg starting with Y. Obviously someone could have purchased new from a Yorkshire dealer and BMW staff cars plus other fleets end up in dealers and supermarkets too.
I have seen a lot of rental BMWs with a Reg beginning with H too (not sure on the company though)
Thank you both, quite reassuring. I'll go to have a look at the car.
Anything in particular I should check? it is a 420d with auto (ZF8). An alternative is 420i, but 1k more.
One car I have recently seen had the brake calipers (not the discs) heavily rusted, maybe due to some acid used to clean the rims.
Most of them have the driver seat leather damaged (expected on sport seats).
I am particularly suspicious as my previous car (Audi A5), bought as "guaranteed" from Audi (non in the UK) was in a major accident and I only discovered when I replaced the bumpers.
One more thing... when you talk about regs beginning with H or Y, do you mean the first letter or the first letter after the numbers (sorry, I am not familiar with the system here)?
Anything in particular I should check? it is a 420d with auto (ZF8). An alternative is 420i, but 1k more.
One car I have recently seen had the brake calipers (not the discs) heavily rusted, maybe due to some acid used to clean the rims.
Most of them have the driver seat leather damaged (expected on sport seats).
I am particularly suspicious as my previous car (Audi A5), bought as "guaranteed" from Audi (non in the UK) was in a major accident and I only discovered when I replaced the bumpers.
One more thing... when you talk about regs beginning with H or Y, do you mean the first letter or the first letter after the numbers (sorry, I am not familiar with the system here)?
Edited by ReX83 on Thursday 28th March 11:44
ReX83 said:
One more thing... when you talk about regs beginning with H or Y, do you mean the first letter or the first letter after the numbers (sorry, I am not familiar with the system here)?
First letter, our reg system is currently the following format:Edited by ReX83 on Thursday 28th March 11:44
2 letters denoting where it was registered, 2 numbers showing it's year of registration (we're on 19 and in sept it'll be 69) then 3 random letters.
eybic said:
First letter, our reg system is currently the following format:
2 letters denoting where it was registered, 2 numbers showing it's year of registration (we're on 19 and in sept it'll be 69) then 3 random letters.
Great, thanks again. This one (420d) starts with R, another one I like (420i) starts with L.2 letters denoting where it was registered, 2 numbers showing it's year of registration (we're on 19 and in sept it'll be 69) then 3 random letters.
Thank you all for the input.
On a different note, would you prefer to go for an approved / official Bmw used car or it doesn't make a big difference?
So far my shortlist is between two 2016 (66 plate) 4 series M sport, auto, with approx the the same mileage (40k): one is 20i, solid white, one owner, asking price 19k. The other one is 20d, two owners, estoril blue, more optionals (electric seats, privacy glasses) and it is 1k less expensive.
I have already seen the white one and it was in perfect conditions but I think the asking price is slightly high.
I read that the 20d feels slightly more vigorous than the 20i. My use will be mainly during weekends and ideally on nice roads (I am looking at this now: https://www.admiral.com/magazine/guides/motor/best... Before I had a 1.8 TFSI on the A5, but it was "killed" but the terrible Multitronic.
What do you suggest?
Irrespective, I think I will get a 1 year warranty online, as it seems 50% cheaper than buying from the dealer.
On a different note, would you prefer to go for an approved / official Bmw used car or it doesn't make a big difference?
So far my shortlist is between two 2016 (66 plate) 4 series M sport, auto, with approx the the same mileage (40k): one is 20i, solid white, one owner, asking price 19k. The other one is 20d, two owners, estoril blue, more optionals (electric seats, privacy glasses) and it is 1k less expensive.
I have already seen the white one and it was in perfect conditions but I think the asking price is slightly high.
I read that the 20d feels slightly more vigorous than the 20i. My use will be mainly during weekends and ideally on nice roads (I am looking at this now: https://www.admiral.com/magazine/guides/motor/best... Before I had a 1.8 TFSI on the A5, but it was "killed" but the terrible Multitronic.
What do you suggest?
Irrespective, I think I will get a 1 year warranty online, as it seems 50% cheaper than buying from the dealer.
Edited by ReX83 on Thursday 28th March 16:23
ReX83 said:
Thank you all for the input.
On a different note, would you prefer to go for an approved / official Bmw used car or it doesn't make a big difference?
So far my shortlist is between two 2016 (66 plate) 4 series M sport, auto, with approx the the same mileage (40k): one is 20i, solid white, one owner, asking price 19k. The other one is 20d, two owners, estoril blue, more optionals (electric seats, privacy glasses) and it is 1k less expensive.
I have already seen the white one and it was in perfect conditions but I think the asking price is slightly high.
I read that the 20d feels slightly more vigorous than the 20i. My use will be mainly during weekends and ideally on nice roads (I am looking at this now: https://www.admiral.com/magazine/guides/motor/best... Before I had a 1.8 TFSI on the A5, but it was "killed" but the terrible Multitronic.
What do you suggest?
Irrespective, I think I will get a 1 year warranty online, as it seems 50% cheaper than buying from the dealer.
I'd buy a BMW Approved Used assuming the car I wanted was stocked by a BMW dealer and it wasn't unreasonably more than a well sorted alternative plus a self-purchased BMW Insured warranty, if indeed you want a warranty. On a different note, would you prefer to go for an approved / official Bmw used car or it doesn't make a big difference?
So far my shortlist is between two 2016 (66 plate) 4 series M sport, auto, with approx the the same mileage (40k): one is 20i, solid white, one owner, asking price 19k. The other one is 20d, two owners, estoril blue, more optionals (electric seats, privacy glasses) and it is 1k less expensive.
I have already seen the white one and it was in perfect conditions but I think the asking price is slightly high.
I read that the 20d feels slightly more vigorous than the 20i. My use will be mainly during weekends and ideally on nice roads (I am looking at this now: https://www.admiral.com/magazine/guides/motor/best... Before I had a 1.8 TFSI on the A5, but it was "killed" but the terrible Multitronic.
What do you suggest?
Irrespective, I think I will get a 1 year warranty online, as it seems 50% cheaper than buying from the dealer.
Edited by ReX83 on Thursday 28th March 16:23
I don't say every BMW AUC is perfect, but they, overall, cherry pick. Plus if there is an issue with AUC , you can have the backup of BMW UK. With A N Other dealer you may just have to rely on the law.
20d is much better than 20i, in the F generation cars I've driven including 420, coupe.
Whether you go for 20d or 20i should also depend on your usage. If you are only going to use at weekends and maybe for short journeys you would probably be better off with a petrol car.
I've got a 430d GC which is a fantastic car, but I do around 400 miles a week in it, mostly motorway. i bought mine at 6 months old as a BMW AUC. Personally I'd stick with main dealer but that's just me!
I've got a 430d GC which is a fantastic car, but I do around 400 miles a week in it, mostly motorway. i bought mine at 6 months old as a BMW AUC. Personally I'd stick with main dealer but that's just me!
"self-purchased BMW Insured warranty", I didn't know it was an option. Just called to get a quote and it is about 400 per year, not bad.
The interesting news is that both cars I liked are still under BMW warranty until September, strange this is not mentioned by the dealers (maybe because they want to sell their own warranty?).
I have looked for AUC on the BMW website, but they are either too far or more expensive (I underestimated how tricky is to shop for a car without having a car). I think I'll go and have a look at the 420d I like most to see if it is in good conditions.
The interesting news is that both cars I liked are still under BMW warranty until September, strange this is not mentioned by the dealers (maybe because they want to sell their own warranty?).
I have looked for AUC on the BMW website, but they are either too far or more expensive (I underestimated how tricky is to shop for a car without having a car). I think I'll go and have a look at the 420d I like most to see if it is in good conditions.
I bought it :-)!
After long wait and many cars seen, I've finally found a 420D GC automatic (Dec 2017).
Very happy about the drive, collection was 200 miles from home, so I already had a pleasure to test it carefully.
The ZF8 is way better than I expected and miles better than the Multitronic I had with my previous A5.
It has the new iDrive (I think it is version 6), so the resolution and the overall multimedia experience is "fresher" than other 420D/I I had previously seen.
I am already shopping for GPS trackers, dashcams, alarms and tech gadgets and changes/upgrades I can do via OBD or USB.
Any input is very appreciated!
After long wait and many cars seen, I've finally found a 420D GC automatic (Dec 2017).
Very happy about the drive, collection was 200 miles from home, so I already had a pleasure to test it carefully.
The ZF8 is way better than I expected and miles better than the Multitronic I had with my previous A5.
It has the new iDrive (I think it is version 6), so the resolution and the overall multimedia experience is "fresher" than other 420D/I I had previously seen.
I am already shopping for GPS trackers, dashcams, alarms and tech gadgets and changes/upgrades I can do via OBD or USB.
Any input is very appreciated!
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