Ex Launch Cars - Good deals or gamble?

[Davie_GLA]

I'm looking at a 58 plate 730d and it's listed as ex launch and has all the toys.

68k on the clock and in great condition. Are these cars treated a bit rougher than say general run of the mill cars?

[eybic]

Do you mean a demonstrator? A launch car could just be one of the first, a demonstrator on the other hand is a different beast.

[TooMany2cvs]

I'd expect a UK "launch car" of something like a cooking 7-series diesel to have been fairly nicely treated - it's probably been the road test car for Practical Barge or Devon Life or similar, not exactly Clarksoned to death and back.

But that was a decade ago. A lot of things can happen to a car in that time...

[WarrenB]

I think at with it going on for 10 years old however it was treated in the first few months of its life will have little effect on how it is now.

TooMany2cvs said:

...it's probably been the road test car for Practical Barge or Devon Life or similar, not exactly Clarksoned to death and back.

I read something in the paper a couple of years back about a chap who bought an ex BMW press fleet M3. Then he noticed it was the exact same car Jeremy Clarkson was powersliding round the TG Test Track. All of a sudden 'Clarkson has ruined my car'. Obviously not realising that being a press car pretty much every motoring journalist who had their hands on it will have given it a hard time.

Agree with the 7 series diesel though. Not the type of car that attracts hooligans and tyre smoke.

[Davie_GLA]

WarrenB said:

I read something in the paper a couple of years back about a chap who bought an ex BMW press fleet M3. Then he noticed it was the exact same car Jeremy Clarkson was powersliding round the TG Test Track. All of a sudden 'Clarkson has ruined my car'. Obviously not realising that being a press car pretty much every motoring journalist who had their hands on it will have given it a hard time.

Agree with the 7 series diesel though. Not the type of car that attracts hooligans and tyre smoke.

That's a fair point i guess. Hadn't really appreciated that over the course of it's live the launch term of it's life is largely insignificant. I'll revert to the "buy on condition" mantra.

Thanks

[Andehh]

Id go for it, will have been an early built car that will have then been half dismantled painted better, panel gaps improved, interior triple checked etc etc then reassembled meticulously.

Press / launch cars are usually the best built examples prior to how they are treated by the press.

[bracken78]

My sister used to own this mini from top gear for around 6 years until 2014 and it never gave her any problems other than routine services.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkjvzJhaR_c

[luckystrike]

Andehh said:

Id go for it, will have been an early built car that will have then been half dismantled painted better, panel gaps improved, interior triple checked etc etc then reassembled meticulously.

Press / launch cars are usually the best built examples prior to how they are treated by the press.

This man is correct. Although it’ll be an early car, once it’s come off the production line it will have been completely done over again by a press fleet operations department who will set, adjust or replace anything that isn’t perfect. Similarly any niggles or damage while in service as a press car will have been swiftly rectified.

Even before it came off the line it was probably earmarked as such a car and will have had someone keeping an eye on it during build to make sure it wasn’t a Friday afternoon special and no half-job harries worked on it.

[Ranger 6]

We had a 'launch' Mini Cooper S - from 2007 when they switched from supercharged to turbocharged. The chassis number was in the low 300s and it was one of the first batch built with loads of options. Not sure if it was a demo car, I can't be certain but think it was a one owner car when we bought it at 2 years old and 13k miles.

Turned out to be a terrible car - all sorts of issues with engine electrics, hose clips breaking and the biggest was the sunroof failure. We chopped it in for a new one which was the polar opposite and totally reliable over the 4 years we had it.

[Davie_GLA]

Think i'm going to go for it. Will report back.

[Davie_GLA]

Well, deal done. Pick it up Monday.

Options:

L812A National version England / Ireland

S1CBA CO2 package

S1CDA Brake Energy Regeneration

S229A Dynamic Drive

S255A Sports leather steering wheel

S2PAA Wheel bolt retainer

S2STA BMW LA wheel, multispoke 235

S2VHA Integral active steering

S302A Alarm system

S323A Soft-Close-Automatic doors

S3AGA Reversing camera

S403A Glass roof, electrical

S423A Floor mats, velours

S428A Warning triangle and first aid kit

S430A Interior/outside mirror with auto dip

S441A Smoker package

S459A Seat adjuster, electric, with memory

S494A Seat heating driver/passenger

S4B7A Fine woodgr. vers. 'Fineline' high-gloss

S4NBA Autom. climate control with 4-zone ctrl

S4URA Ambient interior lighting

S508A Park Distance Control (PDC)

S5ACA High-beam assistant

S5ADA Lane departure warning

S5DKA Side View Camera

S609A Navigation system Professional

S610A Head-up display

S612A BMW Assist

S615A Expanded BMW Online Information

S616A BMW Online

S620A Voice control

S633A Preparation, mobile phone, Business

S676A HiFi speaker system

S698A Area-Code 2 for DVD

S6AAA BMW TeleServices

S6ABA Control for Teleservices

S6FLA USB/Audio interface

S850A Dummy-SALAPA

S853A Language version English

S863A Retailer Directory Europe

S877A Delete cross-pattern operation

S880A On-board vehicle literature English

S8S2A Coding alarm signal

S8S3A Automatic locking when driving off

S8S8A Country-specific nav. system supply

S8SCA Telematics access request,country-spec.

S8SMA Car ident. number visible from outside

S8SPA Control unit COP

S999A Job order management "HEA"

S9AAA Outer skin protection

Edited by Davie_GLA on Thursday 23 August 17:42

[WarrenB]

Nice one! Post some pics when you get it!

Quite a hefty options list there!

Davie_GLA said:

S441A Smoker package

Unusual options to find on any car in the last 15 years or so

[TooMany2cvs]

Davie_GLA said:

Options:

L812A National version England / Ireland
S2PAA Wheel bolt retainer
S302A Alarm system
S423A Floor mats, velours
S428A Warning triangle and first aid kit
S850A Dummy-SALAPA
S853A Language version English
S863A Retailer Directory Europe
S877A Delete cross-pattern operation
S880A On-board vehicle literature English
S8S8A Country-specific nav. system supply
S8SMA Car ident. number visible from outside

There's a difference between a build list and "options".

[Davie_GLA]

TooMany2cvs said:

There's a difference between a build list and "options".

Can you ever possibly forgive me? Please?