Buying unseen from specialist dealer
Discussion
Anyone done this? Things I need to be aware of? Car in question is other side of the country and I know I like this particular car and dealer seems to have an excellent reputation everywhere I’ve checked but part of me thinks I must be mad given it’s not a cheap runaround! Is there any legal comeback if car doesn’t meet description?
funbobby said:
Is there any legal comeback if car doesn’t meet description?
Of course - the Consumer Rights Act applies as ever.But how much is this car, and how far "other side of the country" is it? The UK is not that large... You can do a return trip anywhere in a day if you want to.
Why not just put a holding deposit on the car and arrange to view. I expect the deposit would be refundable if there was something wrong with the car.
I would also be surprised if a dealer will sell and deliver a used car without you inspecting first due to distance selling regulations as I believe (I am sure something with more knowledge will confirm) you could send the car back if you were not happy with it within 14 days.
I would also be surprised if a dealer will sell and deliver a used car without you inspecting first due to distance selling regulations as I believe (I am sure something with more knowledge will confirm) you could send the car back if you were not happy with it within 14 days.
I did it myself roughly this time last year, pretty much exactly as your scenario; saw ad for car, came to a deal, transferred money, went to pick up car, happy as Larry. Is it the wisest way to buy a car? probably not for most people but it was for me, specialist, well known dealer and the car was exactly what I wanted. It could have been a bad move I suppose but it all worked out. What have you got your eye on BTW?
I’ve bought and even fully paid for a car sight unseen for a good few k from a private seller a 4hr plus drive away. Built up a good rapport with the seller beforehand, he provided enough info and photos to convince me it was a good’un and all went well. First time I physically set eyes on it was on the collection day!
funbobby said:
Apparently they do it quite a lot, redline specialist cars, they seem to have some pretty high end stock. unfortunately I’m not buying their top dollar stuff !
I bought a 6 month old TT from there back in early ‘09. Car was perfect...salesman wasn’t. When I arrived to collect the car, the salesman handed me a cheque to cover the outstanding finance on the car 😱, this was the first i’d heard about it having finance outstanding.
In the end, I politely refused, paid for the car and drove home. I did contact the previous owner who explained the situation, but the salesman left a seriously bad taste in my mouth. When originally viewing the car, I specifically asked him if there was any finance outstanding. I was pretty naive at the time, and it was 9 years ago, but just be careful, or as careful as you would be with any long distance purchase!
If you are not that fussy about a car's condition it might be ok. For me, I am overly fussy so it wouldn't work. I did try with a well known car importer as I wanted to import a fresh Honda Integra DC5. The most you get is a few grainy pictures, and we all know cars look way better in pictures than they do in the flesh. In the end I couldn't put down £10k on a car I had not even seen, let alone driven.
I've purchased 3 cars to date sight unseen, all cars were between £30-£45k and were from 1) a Specialist Dealer, 2) BMW main dealer (via a broker) and 3) private sale.
Had plenty of photos emailed beforehand and then paid holding deposit or set up finance beforehand. The private sale I took a bankers draft with me and we went to the bank and express cleared it there and then.
Maybe I've been lucky, but each time the process has been easy, straight forward and the cars were advertised honestly - and I am fussy when it comes to cars..
Only time I did have an issue was ironically from the BMW main dealer - the front screen was cracked in the corner, so refused to take the car, and returned a week later (they were taking my S5 in as part Ex anyway).
Looking further afield from where I live (Herts) has always enabled me to find a car a fair bit cheaper than locally, and I'd def do it again.
HTH.
Had plenty of photos emailed beforehand and then paid holding deposit or set up finance beforehand. The private sale I took a bankers draft with me and we went to the bank and express cleared it there and then.
Maybe I've been lucky, but each time the process has been easy, straight forward and the cars were advertised honestly - and I am fussy when it comes to cars..
Only time I did have an issue was ironically from the BMW main dealer - the front screen was cracked in the corner, so refused to take the car, and returned a week later (they were taking my S5 in as part Ex anyway).
Looking further afield from where I live (Herts) has always enabled me to find a car a fair bit cheaper than locally, and I'd def do it again.
HTH.
Living in NE Scotland and having very little time to fly around the UK and view potential cars at the time, I've bought cars unseen three times... I won't do it again.
1. BMW 123d from Vines BMW, after arriving at home it was clear that the rear quarter had been replaced and it was a slightly different shade of black to the rest of the car. So that got rejected and taken away.
2. BMW 123d from Woods BMW, replacement for the above dog and I couldn't be happier with the replacement. Fantastic car.
3. BMW 335i Touring from Birds Garage, a total Friday afternoon car, issue after issue and a 'specialist' who wasn't interested in fixing anything under their 'Gold Warranty' unless I fought for it and only then it was agreed, but without any urgency since I assume they realised that I was ~450 miles away and unlikely to arrive and cause a scene in person... as an example: I waited 3 months for a driveshaft replacement.
The 335i experience killed any future chance of a distance purchase stone dead for me. I will put down a deposit to secure a car subject to arranging a time to come and view the car and check it myself, but I will never 'buy blind' and wait for it to be delievered again.
1. BMW 123d from Vines BMW, after arriving at home it was clear that the rear quarter had been replaced and it was a slightly different shade of black to the rest of the car. So that got rejected and taken away.
2. BMW 123d from Woods BMW, replacement for the above dog and I couldn't be happier with the replacement. Fantastic car.
3. BMW 335i Touring from Birds Garage, a total Friday afternoon car, issue after issue and a 'specialist' who wasn't interested in fixing anything under their 'Gold Warranty' unless I fought for it and only then it was agreed, but without any urgency since I assume they realised that I was ~450 miles away and unlikely to arrive and cause a scene in person... as an example: I waited 3 months for a driveshaft replacement.
The 335i experience killed any future chance of a distance purchase stone dead for me. I will put down a deposit to secure a car subject to arranging a time to come and view the car and check it myself, but I will never 'buy blind' and wait for it to be delievered again.
This really isn't a big deal, done it several times.
- Agree a deal in principle with the dealer that you are both happy with providing the car is as described
- Pay a small holding deposit (usualy £250 is enough) which will be refunded if for any reason you aren't happy with the car
- Agree a time/date for the handover
- Get all of the above in writing (on email) so there's no room for misunderstanding/backtracking
- Finally use your common sense, if the dealer sounds a bit thick/desparate/dodgy go eslewhere.
This has alwasy worked fine for me, but even if it doesn't at worst you've lost £250 and some wasted travel time. Hardly the end of the world.
- Agree a deal in principle with the dealer that you are both happy with providing the car is as described
- Pay a small holding deposit (usualy £250 is enough) which will be refunded if for any reason you aren't happy with the car
- Agree a time/date for the handover
- Get all of the above in writing (on email) so there's no room for misunderstanding/backtracking
- Finally use your common sense, if the dealer sounds a bit thick/desparate/dodgy go eslewhere.
This has alwasy worked fine for me, but even if it doesn't at worst you've lost £250 and some wasted travel time. Hardly the end of the world.
I bought a BMW X5 last year from a BMW Dealer and it was an Approved Used Car, I didn't view it due to being in hospital but asked lots of questions, was sent pictures and a walk round video and the actual car was far removed from how it depicted/described by the dealer.
A 6 week battle ensued and at one point they were coming to collect the car and take it back, however the sales managed stepped in and managed to semi-recover their position to a point where the inconvenience of being without a car was outweighed by what they were offering to sort the issues.
I would NEVER do it again, I guess a lot of it is luck of the draw however I would have 'expected' a BMW main dealer to be a safe bet........
Si
A 6 week battle ensued and at one point they were coming to collect the car and take it back, however the sales managed stepped in and managed to semi-recover their position to a point where the inconvenience of being without a car was outweighed by what they were offering to sort the issues.
I would NEVER do it again, I guess a lot of it is luck of the draw however I would have 'expected' a BMW main dealer to be a safe bet........
Si
RS Grant said:
Living in NE Scotland and having very little time to fly around the UK and view potential cars at the time, I've bought cars unseen three times... I won't do it again.
1. BMW 123d from Vines BMW, after arriving at home it was clear that the rear quarter had been replaced and it was a slightly different shade of black to the rest of the car. So that got rejected and taken away.
2. BMW 123d from Woods BMW, replacement for the above dog and I couldn't be happier with the replacement. Fantastic car.
3. BMW 335i Touring from Birds Garage, a total Friday afternoon car, issue after issue and a 'specialist' who wasn't interested in fixing anything under their 'Gold Warranty' unless I fought for it and only then it was agreed, but without any urgency since I assume they realised that I was ~450 miles away and unlikely to arrive and cause a scene in person... as an example: I waited 3 months for a driveshaft replacement.
The 335i experience killed any future chance of a distance purchase stone dead for me. I will put down a deposit to secure a car subject to arranging a time to come and view the car and check it myself, but I will never 'buy blind' and wait for it to be delievered again.
Re. car number 3, would you have noticed issue after issue if you had viewed prior to purchasing (e.g. driveshaft issue), or is it more the fact that if you bought it from somewhere nearby it would be easier to get things sorted?1. BMW 123d from Vines BMW, after arriving at home it was clear that the rear quarter had been replaced and it was a slightly different shade of black to the rest of the car. So that got rejected and taken away.
2. BMW 123d from Woods BMW, replacement for the above dog and I couldn't be happier with the replacement. Fantastic car.
3. BMW 335i Touring from Birds Garage, a total Friday afternoon car, issue after issue and a 'specialist' who wasn't interested in fixing anything under their 'Gold Warranty' unless I fought for it and only then it was agreed, but without any urgency since I assume they realised that I was ~450 miles away and unlikely to arrive and cause a scene in person... as an example: I waited 3 months for a driveshaft replacement.
The 335i experience killed any future chance of a distance purchase stone dead for me. I will put down a deposit to secure a car subject to arranging a time to come and view the car and check it myself, but I will never 'buy blind' and wait for it to be delievered again.
Integroo said:
Re. car number 3, would you have noticed issue after issue if you had viewed prior to purchasing (e.g. driveshaft issue), or is it more the fact that if you bought it from somewhere nearby it would be easier to get things sorted?
- There was a sideskirt clip broken meaning it sat slightly proud of the car, their 'specialist car prep detailer' had burnt through parts of the shadowline window trims and swage line on bootlid with his machine polisher, the front and rear bumpers had been painted and were poor in places, the wheels were refurbed quickly (and not professionally) prior to my collection. They argued about this and apparently couldn't see any defects when I emailed them clear photos of what I was unhappy about, which resulted in no help from them at all and me getting BMW bodyshop to rectify all of these issues, apart from the wheels which I was switching anyway.- The plastic charge pipe was broken upon delivery because less than 500yds into the first drive and accelerating off a junction there was a 'pop' and it brought up an 'Engine Fault, Reduced Power' alert on the iDrive. Funny that the salesman hadn't noticed that, given that he had personally driven the car ~450 miles up the road to be delivered to me...?! This was a fight for weeks that eventually resulted in me researching and ordering an uprated metal replacement from the US... only after that arrived and I hassled them for a further few weeks, did I get reimbursed for that.
- The driveshaft went a few months after purchase, almost unheard of failure according to Mr Elevenerife at Birds.. who seemed to be in control of what did and didn't get submitted to the warranty company?! However, it was a failure into my ownership, so warranty/rectification issues aside, it would not have been apparent at point of sale.
- The gearbox stuck in 2nd gear when you were driving hard, paddles/gearstick were useless and you had to let the car roll back down the revs before the gearbox remembered what its role in life was. This would have been apparent if I'd viewed before sale and also had been able to gather any boost without the intake pipe popping off after purchase, which I couldn't do for weeks while I tried to get a replacement from the warranty company/waited for the part to come from the US.
- The car was apparently Hartge mapped (never felt [i[that[/i] quick) and would sometimes go from full boost in 3rd, slurr into 4th gear (being Steptronic rather than DCT) and lose all boost.. meaning that you again had to lift off and allow the car to come to its senses again. Other times it would hold boost fine in 4th gear. Again this would have been present at the time of test drive, should I have done so, or shortly after purchase and been able to hold boost and drive the car quickly.
I'm also extremely wary about dealing with specialists now because after I sold the 335i back to Birds Garage (who were unfortunately the highest bidder by some margin) they tried to screw me out of thousands for 'faults' they noticed after inspecting, paying and collecting the car in Edinburgh and driving it the ~450 miles home. I've got a whole email thread of emails back and forth where they forcefully try and bully me into taking the car back or paying them X thousand pounds to fix issues which only magically appeared once the car was again ~450 miles away from me, despite Mr Know-It-All inspecting the car before buying the car back from me and signing the invoice/sales contract. In my opinion they are/were a couple of absolute cowboys trading off the tuning arm's good name.
Edited by RS Grant on Monday 12th March 15:59
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