Put my car up for sale, but just found out it's an import.
Discussion
I bought my car (2003 330ci) last May with very little service history; just a few receipts. I went for it solely on condition and spec. What I know is that it has 2 previous owners, with the second having bought it in 2005 from an independent dealer called Bensons.
At the time I did one of those text check HPI things just to check it wasn't stolen/written off and it came back clear.
I put it up for sale on a couple of forums last night and had a call about it this morning. The guy asked about the lack of history and why it had no service book. I said I'd give BMW a call on their premium rate info number and see what I could find out - i.e. what dealer visits it had in early life.
I gave them the registration and it didn't show, so they checked the VIN and informed me that the car was a German import, which I was not aware of.
Literally all they could tell me was that it was imported. Not when, where from, what dealer etc.
The car is right hand drive, so I have a feeling it was a money-saving exercise by the original buyer, or something to do with the spec. (it's pretty good) but since I'm selling it I feel like I need to find out the exact story.
Does anyone know the best way I can go about this? All I really need to know is which dealer imported the car. Also, will this affect my sale in any way? Will it put people off? Will I have to drop the price?
I don't know whether to be gutted/pissed off or not, because I don't know what the implications are.
At the time I did one of those text check HPI things just to check it wasn't stolen/written off and it came back clear.
I put it up for sale on a couple of forums last night and had a call about it this morning. The guy asked about the lack of history and why it had no service book. I said I'd give BMW a call on their premium rate info number and see what I could find out - i.e. what dealer visits it had in early life.
I gave them the registration and it didn't show, so they checked the VIN and informed me that the car was a German import, which I was not aware of.
Literally all they could tell me was that it was imported. Not when, where from, what dealer etc.
The car is right hand drive, so I have a feeling it was a money-saving exercise by the original buyer, or something to do with the spec. (it's pretty good) but since I'm selling it I feel like I need to find out the exact story.
Does anyone know the best way I can go about this? All I really need to know is which dealer imported the car. Also, will this affect my sale in any way? Will it put people off? Will I have to drop the price?
I don't know whether to be gutted/pissed off or not, because I don't know what the implications are.
Email BMW customer services in Germany, you'll probably be ok doing it in English. They should be able to tell you which dealer it was sold too. From that point, you can email or call the supplying dealer. They probably won't tell you the name of the individual it was sold to, but they might if it is a UK import agent or broker ?
Personally it wouldn't bother me ... they all came from Germany at some point, and with a car getting on for 10 years old I like you would buy more on condition than history.
Might be worth trying the BMW forums, as there may well have been a few key importers at the time ?
Personally it wouldn't bother me ... they all came from Germany at some point, and with a car getting on for 10 years old I like you would buy more on condition than history.
Might be worth trying the BMW forums, as there may well have been a few key importers at the time ?
Potentially uninsured know you're aware there's a difference between what you said on the proposal and whats come to light over the past few days. Worth checking into if you're driving around in it
As to whether it'd put me off, not really assuming I was aware of what I was getting into and could rebudget for it. I'd expect it a little cheaper than others for sale due to this, and would also be double checking on insurance rises because of it
As to whether it'd put me off, not really assuming I was aware of what I was getting into and could rebudget for it. I'd expect it a little cheaper than others for sale due to this, and would also be double checking on insurance rises because of it
Thanks for the replies. I feel more reassured.
I think I'll try an email to BMW Germany then. I did try to call them earlier but couldn't find a useful number.
Am I right in thinking it will cause an issue with insurance? Does the car need to be declared to them as an import? Like you say, it seems odd because they were all German originally, and with it being RHD it's obvious it was ordered for the UK.
I know what you're saying about the service history. I'm hoping I can track some if I find out which dealer it was bought at. I do have receipts for the last 3 services (2009/2010/2011) and it's booked for another next week.
I think I'll try an email to BMW Germany then. I did try to call them earlier but couldn't find a useful number.
Am I right in thinking it will cause an issue with insurance? Does the car need to be declared to them as an import? Like you say, it seems odd because they were all German originally, and with it being RHD it's obvious it was ordered for the UK.
I know what you're saying about the service history. I'm hoping I can track some if I find out which dealer it was bought at. I do have receipts for the last 3 services (2009/2010/2011) and it's booked for another next week.
I feel your pain! Traded in a TT for a Z4 a few years back now. All went well until the BMW garage came back to tell me the TT was a german import. Funny thing was when I purchased the car I had an all singing all dancing AA check, the guys actually came out to look at the car and check all the paperwork etc, when I came back to them stating they hadnt informed me of this, they told me to Foxtrot Oscar, "Its all in the T&C's".
BMW were ok about it - think they knocked off 500 notes and I put it down to experience. To you and I the car is identical, however there are implications of Insurance, just mention the word "import", and you'll know what I mean.
Apparently a lot of cars were driven back by Army members based in Germany, hence the sneaky "Imports", even though they all came from the same factory.
BMW were ok about it - think they knocked off 500 notes and I put it down to experience. To you and I the car is identical, however there are implications of Insurance, just mention the word "import", and you'll know what I mean.
Apparently a lot of cars were driven back by Army members based in Germany, hence the sneaky "Imports", even though they all came from the same factory.
I imagine that as the VIN didn't show any UK service history on BMW's system then unfortuantely there probably isn't any! My own car has had a few number plate changes yet the VIN gave me all the service info.
Assuming it was new at first UK registration then the fact that it was personally imported shouldn't matter value wise, it's not as though you have the benefit of BMW UK's warranty on an 8 or 9 year old car.
Assuming it was new at first UK registration then the fact that it was personally imported shouldn't matter value wise, it's not as though you have the benefit of BMW UK's warranty on an 8 or 9 year old car.
Lots of personal importing going on around that time, I did the same thing myself in 2003. If it was a personal import from new then technically you shouldn't even need to declare it an import, as it's never been registered anywhere else. Anyone out there with a 3 series that isn't an import? Probably pays to though , although I think that question is meant to catch imports from non-EU countries, you don't want to give insurance companies an escape route. Funny that there's BMW service history though. One explanation could be that it was low mileage and never needed a service within the two-year warranty that was standard for German sourced cars? Owner may have gone down the independent route straight away.
Thanks again for all the replies, very reassuring. I've emailed BMW Germany and I'm awaiting a call back from some international import specialist at Park Lane BMW.
On the next page, the "Date of first registration" and "Date of first registration in the UK" are both the same date - 01/05/2003.
Risotto said:
Every import I've owned or registered has said something along the lines of 'Vehicle was previously registered abroad' on the bottom of the V5C.
Isn't yours the same?
In the "Special Notes" section it says "Declared new at first registration".Isn't yours the same?
On the next page, the "Date of first registration" and "Date of first registration in the UK" are both the same date - 01/05/2003.
Lots of these imported cars are vehicles that have been bought directly from the manufacturer or foreign dealer by supermarket type outlets. One company Slough based does this for to obtain most of it new vehicle stock.
You only generally see an issue if you are trading in at a main dealer as they know then that you bought it at a bigger discount and will price the trade in accordingly.
You only generally see an issue if you are trading in at a main dealer as they know then that you bought it at a bigger discount and will price the trade in accordingly.
Park Lane BMW is the official UK dealer for the MOD and Diplomatic Service. Foreign-based civil servants or soldiers are advised to buy their BMWs through them. This ensures that the car is to UK-spec. It is not mandatory for them to do this and they could have sourced the car through a German dealer (this would have been cheaper). It would be worth confirming the car has option 0812 (this is GB Specification).
Risotto said:
Every import I've owned or registered has said something along the lines of 'Vehicle was previously registered abroad' on the bottom of the V5C.
Isn't yours the same?
It will only say this if it was actually registered abroad previously or someone cocked up at registering it in when it was new.Isn't yours the same?
My mum has a 2002 EU parallel import VW Golf and the V5 looks identical to any UK-dealer sourced car, "Declared new at first registration" etc.
To the OP - I wouldn't care at all if it was a parallel import, especially given it's age. It shouldn't have any impact to the value at this stage either.
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