The intricacies of the BMW dealer network
Discussion
I'm currently looking for a used z4, nothing too expensive, max 15k, but it's a lot of money for me and so I'm being quite picky about the spec I want.
I finally managed to find one on the BMW approved dealer network site that fit the bill perfectly (only it happens to be at a garage about 250 miles away) so I popped into my local dealer today to find out a little more about it in the blind hope that it wouldn't be an issue buying the car through him.
Turns out I was wrong! The dealer that has it in London won't sell it to my dealer to sell it on to me.
Now this is obviously a common practice, and I understand that there are different dealer groups within the network, but surely if someone wants to buy a specific car within a marque network, there should be some way of everyone greasing the wheels and using it to their advantage, no?!
Anyway, it appears the only way of me getting the car that fits the bill is to buy it form the dealership that is 250 miles away, which means I need to put a deposit on it without seeing it to take it off the market, or I need to travel down there to see it with the hope that it wont be sold before I get there. I also have a part-ex to add into the mix which obviously makes things harder!!
Do all manufactures work like this?! Excuse my ignorance but this is my first foray into the main dealer car network to buy a car and I'm obviously a little naive!!
I finally managed to find one on the BMW approved dealer network site that fit the bill perfectly (only it happens to be at a garage about 250 miles away) so I popped into my local dealer today to find out a little more about it in the blind hope that it wouldn't be an issue buying the car through him.
Turns out I was wrong! The dealer that has it in London won't sell it to my dealer to sell it on to me.
Now this is obviously a common practice, and I understand that there are different dealer groups within the network, but surely if someone wants to buy a specific car within a marque network, there should be some way of everyone greasing the wheels and using it to their advantage, no?!
Anyway, it appears the only way of me getting the car that fits the bill is to buy it form the dealership that is 250 miles away, which means I need to put a deposit on it without seeing it to take it off the market, or I need to travel down there to see it with the hope that it wont be sold before I get there. I also have a part-ex to add into the mix which obviously makes things harder!!
Do all manufactures work like this?! Excuse my ignorance but this is my first foray into the main dealer car network to buy a car and I'm obviously a little naive!!
richterswil said:
Yep - pretty common. They are franchise businesses.
First time I saw my 535d was the day I picked it up having already committed to buy it. I had a part ex for that deal too.
It just seems weird, I would have a thought a car sold is a car sold, but hey ho!First time I saw my 535d was the day I picked it up having already committed to buy it. I had a part ex for that deal too.
How did the part ex work for you then? Had you already agreed a ball park price over the phone or was it all done on the day?
If you haven't seen the car in the flesh, you can put your deposit down to secure the car dependant on your visual inspection. If you don't like it / something is wrong, you get your deposit back. I did that when working in canada, put a deposit on a z4 and picked it up when i got home. you are covered by distance selling legislation, so the dealer should be truthful to you about the condition.
TomE said:
richterswil said:
Yep - pretty common. They are franchise businesses.
First time I saw my 535d was the day I picked it up having already committed to buy it. I had a part ex for that deal too.
It just seems weird, I would have a thought a car sold is a car sold, but hey ho!First time I saw my 535d was the day I picked it up having already committed to buy it. I had a part ex for that deal too.
How did the part ex work for you then? Had you already agreed a ball park price over the phone or was it all done on the day?
Bought my Porsche unseen too.
mattpullen64 said:
If you haven't seen the car in the flesh, you can put your deposit down to secure the car dependant on your visual inspection. If you don't like it / something is wrong, you get your deposit back. I did that when working in canada, put a deposit on a z4 and picked it up when i got home. you are covered by distance selling legislation, so the dealer should be truthful to you about the condition.
It's pretty common here too. I've just bought my 650 without seeing it (but having driven others) and that deposit is subject to the car being to an acceptable standard. I had a long chat with them regarding the sort of thing I would expect/be looking for and they have assured me I wont be disappointed. If anything, the only downside is that you need to have the determination to actually walk away if you are not 100% happy. I've done it before for a car and it was hard to do after the build up and excitement.
Edit: What dealer is it in London?
Edited by fivesixseven8 on Sunday 11th April 06:59
richterswil said:
part ex figures were all agreed before collecting the car. Just required honesty from all parties re condition etc of the cars. Very straightforward.
Bought my Porsche unseen too.
How do you deal with any little niggles then? Presumably I couldn't go to my local dealer to get them sorted out, have you had to go back to the supplying dealer in the past?Bought my Porsche unseen too.
fivesixseven8 said:
mattpullen64 said:
If you haven't seen the car in the flesh, you can put your deposit down to secure the car dependant on your visual inspection. If you don't like it / something is wrong, you get your deposit back. I did that when working in canada, put a deposit on a z4 and picked it up when i got home. you are covered by distance selling legislation, so the dealer should be truthful to you about the condition.
It's pretty common here too. I've just bought my 650 without seeing it (but having driven others) and that deposit is subject to the car being to an acceptable standard. I had a long chat with them regarding the sort of thing I would expect/be looking for and they have assured me I wont be disappointed. If anything, the only downside is that you need to have the determination to actually walk away if you are not 100% happy. I've done it before for a car and it was hard to do after the build up and excitement.
Edit: What dealer is it in London?
As fivesixseven8 says, I suppose it comes down to determination to walk away if I have committed to making the journey down and everything isn't as I expect, it would no doubt be difficult though!!
Also I guess I lose the bargining ability of getting the next service thrown in etc etc if it isnt a local dealer.
Its currently at Park Lane BMW, so right in the centre of London, no doubt a nightmare to get to!!
Ideally sterling Grey with ellipsoid wheels - I would have thought it was quite a popular combination but it appears not!
There are more phoenix yellow ones about than there are sterling grey at the moment.
Other than the colour/wheel combination I would just like heated seats and possibly xenons, obviously anything else it has (prof carver etc) is a bonus but I've heard things can be cheaply retrofitted to the earlier ones as all the wiring is already there.
So I don't think I'm asking for the moon on a stick or anything!!
There are more phoenix yellow ones about than there are sterling grey at the moment.
Other than the colour/wheel combination I would just like heated seats and possibly xenons, obviously anything else it has (prof carver etc) is a bonus but I've heard things can be cheaply retrofitted to the earlier ones as all the wiring is already there.
So I don't think I'm asking for the moon on a stick or anything!!
AFAIK the only 'easy' retrofit will be Cruise control - plug and play.
Whilst the wiring can often be there, fitting things like Nav or bluetooth I believe is a right pain in the arse due to the wiring having to go through the transmission tunnel bit.
Any reason you're going for dealer instead of a private (but BMW warrantied) car?
Whilst the wiring can often be there, fitting things like Nav or bluetooth I believe is a right pain in the arse due to the wiring having to go through the transmission tunnel bit.
Any reason you're going for dealer instead of a private (but BMW warrantied) car?
Within the BMW network its who you know, not what. But yes its a very common practice, it usually went like this:
"hi just calling from ***** seen you have blah blah car on your stock, I have a customer here that would be interested in it, is it still around?"
"sorry mate, took a deposit his morning"
Knew they were lying, but we would do the same
"hi just calling from ***** seen you have blah blah car on your stock, I have a customer here that would be interested in it, is it still around?"
"sorry mate, took a deposit his morning"
Knew they were lying, but we would do the same
TomE said:
Its currently at Park Lane BMW, so right in the centre of London, no doubt a nightmare to get to!!
Isn't BMW Park Lane owned by BMW-GB rather than being a franchise dealer as such...??Could be a reason?
I'd just go and see the car....don't see what the problem is tbh, I've trawlled all over the country in years past looking at cars because I was after something specific. It's just something you have to be prepared to do if you want something that badly.
TomE said:
richterswil said:
part ex figures were all agreed before collecting the car. Just required honesty from all parties re condition etc of the cars. Very straightforward.
Bought my Porsche unseen too.
How do you deal with any little niggles then? Presumably I couldn't go to my local dealer to get them sorted out, have you had to go back to the supplying dealer in the past?Bought my Porsche unseen too.
Sometimes helps to have everything agreed in an email - not for legal reasons or anything like that but just so both parties know where they are and what has been agreed.
For minor stuff you might need to go back to the dealer I suppose but for anything bigger the warranty should come in for an AUC vehicle.
richterswil said:
TomE said:
richterswil said:
part ex figures were all agreed before collecting the car. Just required honesty from all parties re condition etc of the cars. Very straightforward.
Bought my Porsche unseen too.
How do you deal with any little niggles then? Presumably I couldn't go to my local dealer to get them sorted out, have you had to go back to the supplying dealer in the past?Bought my Porsche unseen too.
Sometimes helps to have everything agreed in an email - not for legal reasons or anything like that but just so both parties know where they are and what has been agreed.
For minor stuff you might need to go back to the dealer I suppose but for anything bigger the warranty should come in for an AUC vehicle.
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