What could be wrong with this car?

[dooosuk]

Didn't expect my offer to be accepted so have ended up with this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Just need a car to pootle around in so not bothered about lack of performance.

However,
- when I offered I didn't realise it was a trader (past selling history seems to indicate they are)
- after a phone call to BMW it turns out it hasn't seen a dealer since Dec2006 so potentially no history for the last 4 years
- it was in an auction which ended on 1st March where someone bid £2950 bit didn't meet the reserve price...why has the buyer just let it go so cheap...this time there were 5 other offers besides mine (3 turned down, 2 the seller counter offered but obviously came to nothing)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2003-BMW-320I-SE-GREY-FULL-L...


Alarms are starting to ring, but on the face of the pictures it seems a straight enough car.

So, what could potentially be wrong with it?

Cheers

[Hot Potatoes]

Nothing on the face of it. I assume you carried out an Hpi check?

Seems he just wanted to sell before he went away for two weeks as indicated at the bottom of the advert.

You could probably sell that on for a profit anyway even if you don't like it!

[dooosuk]

Going to HPI it this afternoon.

Hoping it's OK then...I haven't heard back from BMW yet about the 13 dealer visits in the first 3 to 4 years of its life.

[carcrazypop]

dooosuk said:

Going to HPI it this afternoon.

Hoping it's OK then...I haven't heard back from BMW yet about the 13 dealer visits in the first 3 to 4 years of its life.

I've seen cars on Ebay which are Cat/D or C and the description does'nt mention this fact.

I now always do the HPI check BEFORE bidding, better safe than sorry.

[dooosuk]

If the HPI comes back bad, then I'll pull out of the sale on the grounds that the advert wasn't correct.

Just spoke to the guy. Said a Polish friend bought it in Nov 2010 and has since gone back to Poland. He has details of the garage he bought it from though. Best get checking the finance!

[dooosuk]

HPI has come back ok.

- Not recorded as currently stolen.
- Not at high risk of fraud or theft.
- No finance agreement found.
- No insurance write-off details found.

Was a HSBC car by the sounds of it and that seems to ring true for 10kmile services looking at the mileage details on the HPI check.

Only 1 previous owner though which seems strange and the following reg changes:

Plate Change Details

This car has previously held the following number plates

VRM Date Changed
J16BOT 01/11/2010
OY03VOC 24/05/2007

Keeper Change Details

Number of previous keepers = 1
Most recent keeper change = 15/05/2007


Sounds like the polish guy who bought it hasn't had it registered in his name yet.


Anything else to be wary of?

Thanks

[dooosuk]

Well I went to pick it up and walked away. Rattling suspension on anything but smooth road, cut out when coasting to a roundabout. Service due in 1500miles.

It'll be back on Ebay tonight/tomorrow I'm guessing.

Bodywork and interior are clean though.

[gizlaroc]

So what was the mileage when it was last seen at BMW, I am guessing around 104k.

Seriously, 13 dealer visits in the first 4 years and then no history for the next 5 years, I bet that is a 200,000+ car.

[dooosuk]

Last mileage when BMW saw it Dec2006 was around 72k miles....was a HSBC car up until this point I think hence regular 10k services + any remedial work I guess.

Anyway...I'm best off out of it I think.

[Slurms]

Yeah missing SH and dubious suspension probably means it's been to the moon and back, only recently it's "forgotten" some of those miles

[Jw Vw]

gizlaroc said:

So what was the mileage when it was last seen at BMW, I am guessing around 104k.

Seriously, 13 dealer visits in the first 4 years and then no history for the next 5 years, I bet that is a 200,000+ car.

Glad OP walked away that car sounds 100% like it's been clocked! 13 dealer visits then no history in 5 years it must be a 200-250k motor on it's last legs!

[rtv]

^^^^ What that guy said! Sounds like you might have dodged a bullet there mate!