Cars for sale, no one seems interested in selling them?

[Pizzaeatingking]

I'm on the hunt for my 3 series replacement, I want an E90 M3 so relatively rare these days (well, any days tbh). I've found a few advertised that look interesting but some people seem to be really against writing a proper advert. These cars are most likely going to be enthusiasts buying them now so a little detail would be really helpful when trying to sell one. Numerous adverts are basic, minimal information and a handful of poor pictures. When you ask for details it's like you're surprising them or putting them out.

One in particular I wanted some more information on, it's at a dealer around 3 hours away from me. I asked on their website and got no reply, asked on Instagram, I wanted some detail on it's history and if any big jobs were done so nothing unexpected. Reply was 'good history, rod bearings done, come and have a look'. Great, so I'll drive all the way down without any proper info.

Very frustrating!

[Huzzah]

I'd phone them to explain the distance, get a feel for the car/dealer and look like a serious punter.

[Discombobulate]

Pizzaeatingking said:

I'm on the hunt for my 3 series replacement, I want an E90 M3 so relatively rare these days (well, any days tbh). I've found a few advertised that look interesting but some people seem to be really against writing a proper advert. These cars are most likely going to be enthusiasts buying them now so a little detail would be really helpful when trying to sell one. Numerous adverts are basic, minimal information and a handful of poor pictures. When you ask for details it's like you're surprising them or putting them out.

One in particular I wanted some more information on, it's at a dealer around 3 hours away from me. I asked on their website and got no reply, asked on Instagram, I wanted some detail on it's history and if any big jobs were done so nothing unexpected. Reply was 'good history, rod bearings done, come and have a look'. Great, so I'll drive all the way down without any proper info.

Very frustrating!

If you are serious I would pick up the phone. They get so many emails and messages on Twitter/ Instagram / Facebook / WhatsApp etc from tyre kickers sellers struggle to sort the wheat from the chaff. Easier to do on the phone - and quicker. You can always ask them to confirm any important details in an email after the conversation if you want a record.
Just been through this on eBay selling a 2CV. What a nightmare. Everything from "is it manual or auto mate?" to "can you send me the dates (and mileage) of every service since it was new" only to disappear into the ether and never be heard of again. And guess who I sold it too? The only person who turned up to view it.

[golfer19]

M3 Cutters for sale section would be a good start.
Usually a better standard of car for sale.

[Skyedriver]

OP, think you have problems, try living north Scotland, everything is a long way away. Have to work mostly with photos and rely on description being accurate and true.

[ZX10R NIN]

Pizzaeatingking said:

I'm on the hunt for my 3 series replacement, I want an E90 M3 so relatively rare these days (well, any days tbh). I've found a few advertised that look interesting but some people seem to be really against writing a proper advert. These cars are most likely going to be enthusiasts buying them now so a little detail would be really helpful when trying to sell one. Numerous adverts are basic, minimal information and a handful of poor pictures. When you ask for details it's like you're surprising them or putting them out.

One in particular I wanted some more information on, it's at a dealer around 3 hours away from me. I asked on their website and got no reply, asked on Instagram, I wanted some detail on it's history and if any big jobs were done so nothing unexpected. Reply was 'good history, rod bearings done, come and have a look'. Great, so I'll drive all the way down without any proper info.

Very frustrating!

Ringing & speaking to someone normally makes all the difference, it's a much speedier way to get the information you're looking for.

[Mr Tidy]

golfer19 said:

M3 Cutters for sale section would be a good start.
Usually a better standard of car for sale.

That's where I would be heading too. Maybe post a Wanted advert on there if you don't see anything you fancy?

[Billy_Rosewood]

Many aren't that better over the phone tbh.. They'll tell you the car has everything you ask, until you turn up and they can't find the history, or turns out it doesn't have any documentation but the dealer knows the car well somehow.

[ZX10R NIN]

Billy_Rosewood said:

Many aren't that better over the phone tbh.. They'll tell you the car has everything you ask, until you turn up and they can't find the history, or turns out it doesn't have any documentation but the dealer knows the car well somehow.

That's why I ask for proof to be sent to me first, if they don't send it I don't go to look at it.

[LunarOne]

Skyedriver said:

OP, think you have problems, try living north Scotland, everything is a long way away. Have to work mostly with photos and rely on description being accurate and true.

On the other hand, once you've bought the car and got it home, you then have the north of Scotland to drive it in!

[rscott]

I'm trying to spend up to about £4k on a common or garden 4/5 door mid size vehicle (Focus/Civic/Mégane, etc) as a shopping/ commute car, to save using my Z4 for that. Also not long had a kneecap replacement and the Z4 isn't the most comfortable while I'm still recovering.

Went to look at a Mégane, advertised as full service history, with all done on time...

That was the case, until the last service in 2019, 35,000 miles ago. It was 30,000 miles past the recommended timing belt change interval.

Or the Civic, which I was told had full dealer history and no issues at all . Dealer explained he wasn't at the address on Auto trader any more (moved out a year ago) and could I pop round his house instead. Went to drive the car and couldn't believe the banging noises coming from underneath.
Got back to be told it was just the drop links and they would be fixed if I bought it . Service history stopped 5 years and 40k ago, but he had an arrangement with a garage for the mechanic to do any servicing cash in hand outside normal hours, so would get the oil changed.

I know I can't expect much for this budget, but be honest in the advertising - if it's a partial history, say so. If there's a 12" tear in the passenger seat, don't put the service book on top of it when you take photos.

[Pizzaeatingking]

Funnily enough I did try ringing after the website enquiry but got not answer. The site actually said if you'd like a copy of the service history drop us a message, hence the attempt to email/message them. I'd rather see the paperwork myself for the reasons others mentioned above but if they're not bothering to respond to punters who email then I'd suggest not allowing that as a method of contact.

[Belle427]

You see very few well written adverts these days even with enthusiast cars, dont know if its people being generally lazy.
I will admit to getting wound up by all the questions asked that are already in the advert, which makes you wonder if its wort spending the time doing it.
Im a bit old school and prefer to answer the questions face to face but its just the world we live in now.

[cliffords]

I posted this before, I got told a car had a new clean MOT . When challenged at the dealer ,as I looked it up on line and it had advisories the reply was .
It's a brand new MOT no oily marks or dirt on the certificate. Clean !

[Alickadoo]

Only 5 on AT, so, as you say, pretty rare.

I would be nervous about buying a car 3 hours drive away, 6 hours driving if there are any problems. Can't you widen your requirements a bit?

[Billy_Rosewood]

ZX10R NIN said:

Billy_Rosewood said:

Many aren't that better over the phone tbh.. They'll tell you the car has everything you ask, until you turn up and they can't find the history, or turns out it doesn't have any documentation but the dealer knows the car well somehow.

That's why I ask for proof to be sent to me first, if they don't send it I don't go to look at it.

It's a bit tricky when the car you are looking at is rare and ticks all the boxes but the dealer refuses or cba. Not always easy to walk away, but I fully agree with the sentiment.

Specialists are good at this, but if you're buying something less "specialist" it becomes a chore

[rscott]

Belle427 said:

You see very few well written adverts these days even with enthusiast cars, dont know if its people being generally lazy.
I will admit to getting wound up by all the questions asked that are already in the advert, which makes you wonder if its wort spending the time doing it.
Im a bit old school and prefer to answer the questions face to face but its just the world we live in now.

Adverts on AT seem to either have 1 or two lines - date of registration and a one/two word description - or a load of ChatGpt generated waffle.

[paul_c123]

Dealers are getting wise to buyers not looking at the car any more, and relying on CRA2015 together with the wording of the advert to reject a car or whatever. The Auto Trader fills in the spec and performance/fuel economy anyway, so there's not really much more to say except a bit of vague waffle and something about the dealer, opening hours, etc.

A decent car will sell itself, so it doesn't need flowery rubbish in the advert.

[Panamax]

My experience of selling cars is that the more questions an "interested buyer" asks, the less likely they are to buy the car so there's not much point wasting time on them.

Serious buyers turn up to look at the car in person.

Equally, when I'm buying a car I limit my interest to sensible travel distance so I don't have to take chances on an "unseen" purchase or spend a large amount of time and money on wasted trips.

[Pizzaeatingking]

Alickadoo said:

Only 5 on AT, so, as you say, pretty rare.

I would be nervous about buying a car 3 hours drive away, 6 hours driving if there are any problems. Can't you widen your requirements a bit?

I've ruled that one out now, if they don't respond now they'd be even worse if I needed them after buying it!