2nd hand BMW rip off

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planta

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Ola … some sharing and lesson to be learned especially for the first time car buyers. A friend’s brother just bought an E36 318 1996 from a 2nd hand dealer in Klang Valley at rm38k. He is a fresh graduate and it is his 1st time buying a car. When he viewed the car, he was infatuated with the dashboard and seats which are really nice but the dealer did not allow him to test drive the car. Relying on his own instinct, he bought the car and like after a week....All 4 absorbers + lower arm + joints - kong. Transmission … needs to be removed and serviced. The engine idling is erratic due to problematic air mass flow meter. The engine is leaking at several places. Under the engine cover, it was a sad picture – pure black. The remedy??? You guys can guess la.Moral of the story… when you buy a any car, not just a BMW, insist on a test drive and make sure you bring someone who knows a thing or two. Don’t get rip off and learn about tips in buying a 2nd hand car.Some say, a car is like a wife but remember .... a 2nd wife. Therefore, you must test drive the 2nd wife before you sign.... planta
 
The best defence is to be informed.

Market practice is to allow a test drive as well as workshop check. Negotiate to ensure transaction is confirmed subject to an ok from a workshop of your choice.

Car dealers can spot an inexperienced car buyer easily. Unscrupulous ones will move to take advantage of them.

That's where a community like this where information and experience are shared is a useful tool to educate the first-time buyer.

Best of luck to your friend.
 
And maybe you should reveal which 2nd hand car dealer so that we can avoid it like a plague.
 
If you're an inexperience, best to get .... insist to have the car inspected at a bmw workshop
 
Even second hand car get at least 1 month warranty from dealers.

If not, do tell the name of the company..
 
I test drive everything before commit.. :D :hint:

Few facts I gathered during UDM shopping trip:

1. Normally no warranty for continental car but U can test drive, inspect, drive it to a workshop but u have to okay with the price, loan term, subject to the outcome of the workshop diagnosis la.

2. When u open the engine oil cover, 8/10 UDM is black black wan la due to the 25k km service interval.

3. The dealer will not keep the service history of the car for whatever reason. And yes, odometer can be tempered with.

4. 99% of the advertisement u see in Classified (paper or magazine) are all dealers.

5. Used car is afterall used car, u can't expect everything in tip top condition and ready to let u use for the next 2 years without hiccups.

6. Unlike Japanese car, its impossible to inspect a UDM's under carriage without lifting up the car to inspect for leaky absorber, sambung kereta sign, worn bush and joint, leaky components. Must get it to a workshop.

Now u know why I haven't got my UDM yet.. :D

The fact is dealer also takut because too many cases where the prospect just drive away the car, even with the salesman inside. What can he/she do?

So those who advertise in newspaper and sell ur UDM by urself, be extra careful. It can happen to U!
 
Moral of story is....

never fall in love at first sight for anything...esp cars!
 
Jules;264081 said:
Moral of story is....

never fall in love at first sight for anything...esp cars!

Yaaa, you conclude it perfectly.

Me nowdays, even buying durian also i ask the seller to "open" all (the durian la) and up to certain extend i'll bring my own container if they doesn't have. If they don't want to do this, i just walk away
 
This guy did not go back and claim for the damages as there was no guarantee agreement in the first place. The fact that the dealer did not allow for a test drive means something la but unfortunately he did not catch it.

I pity that he has to bear all the cost. Obviously, you expect some repair when buying a pre own car but it has to be reasonable la. In this case, the moment he drove the car out... it was already in a terrible condition.

I do not know the name of the dealer but I would think revealing it would do more harm than good. Thus let's take this incident as a lesson in general for everyone.

planta
 
ICEman63;264024 said:
Unlike a girlfriend..always test them first...:top:

Errr test the girlfren or the car:smokin: Buying a 2nd hand car without testing??:burnout:
 
Without experience, soon to be UDM owners wont be able to tell whats wrong with the car.

Reliable workshop checks is most important. I will insist 2 workshops
 
best just bring along a friend/someone u know who has experience of owning the particular model of car that u're surveying , least you'd have someone who knows how to spot a 'clean' car when he sees one.

should always ask for a test drive. its sad that the mentioned victim bought the car over instinct instead of a real world feel of the running car.

like its been said , get a seasoned mechanic to look at it or bring it over to the workshop.

:rock:
 
wow, I'm fresh graduate too, and nearly bought a crap. thank god this web exist at that time, give me a lot of information. Thanks to all members

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