Is this too cheap (what else to look out for)

[Eagerbeaver]

I have been offered an 05 plate 630 with 19000 miles for £18K as long as I can do the deal in the next week. The car is well specified in a good colour combination. The car looks and drives exactly as you'd expect.

I've done a HPI check, checked the documents, got proof of ID from the seller, confirmed vehicle identity etc. He has offered to refund the cost of a BMW inspection if they find any faults or will put them right before I buy the car. Everything checks out. The seller has been trying to sell for over a couple of months now and says he needs the money quickly and has been offered close to this figure from a local dealer.

The car appears to be too good to be true and I usually believe that if it looks too good, there's a catch.

Is there anything else I can do to check things out?

[roofer]

That is what they are being traded at, do a proper HPI check supplying all numbers, and you have some recourse if it goes tits up.

BMW can confirm its history in seconds.

[Eagerbeaver]

I've given all the numbers and got the full HPI report. Everything is checking out. I can't get the inspection done until Tuesday but I'm sure it is going to be OK.

The dealer sticker prices are still mid to high £20s for this kind of car so I'm amazed that this is what these are going for. It's not exactly a gas guzzler and looks a practical daily car.

[finmac]

Sign of the times - go for it!

[CommanderJameson]

Eagerbeaver said:

I've given all the numbers and got the full HPI report. Everything is checking out. I can't get the inspection done until Tuesday but I'm sure it is going to be OK.

The dealer sticker prices are still mid to high £20s for this kind of car so I'm amazed that this is what these are going for. It's not exactly a gas guzzler and looks a practical daily car.

I was just about to post "it's a thirsty beast" but decided to check first.

And bloody hell! 30MPG! That's positively sensible!

[Eagerbeaver]

CommanderJameson said:

I was just about to post "it's a thirsty beast" but decided to check first.

And bloody hell! 30MPG! That's positively sensible!

This is it - peoples perception is that it is a "thirsty beast" but it uses less fuel than many common saloons.

Mind you, it's mainly peoples perceptions which have generated the "credit crunch" which are helping push the prices of stuff like this down.

[CommanderJameson]

Eagerbeaver said:

CommanderJameson said:

I was just about to post "it's a thirsty beast" but decided to check first.

And bloody hell! 30MPG! That's positively sensible!

This is it - peoples perception is that it is a "thirsty beast" but it uses less fuel than many common saloons.

Mind you, it's mainly peoples perceptions which have generated the "credit crunch" which are helping push the prices of stuff like this down.

The 630i must surely be in the same running-costs bracket as my 528i - similar sized engine (so similar servicing costs) and fuel economy is about the same - so all I need to do is organise a large lump of dosh with which to buy one of the ugly-but-purposeful brutes.