BCA Auctions

gazman1996

i was hoping to go to the bmw auction in nottingham tomorrow
looking for a bmw 320 sport
never been before so i do not know if there is a baragin to be had
read somewhere recently that the cars usually go for aroung the trade in value you would get with a dealer, is that right?
please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

harveybobbles

the BMW sale tomorrow will be full of BMW dealers all after the same stuff so they always end up paying more than what its worth.

But also too many private buyers at auction houses at the minute thinking they're getting a good deal and pushing the prices up...

gazman1996

does that mean it is not worth going and should i just buy from the dealer i am just wondering what sort of deal you get at an auction

nomoneytoday

Are you mechanical minded to check a car for possible faults at short notice?

The cars are sold pretty much "as is". How much is a dealer comeback worth to you? That should determine whether an auction is good value as well as a good price

Any

Agree with No money today.
Unless you can tell from the sound of the engine as it is driven on the auction spot, then you can buy a lemon. However if you are a mechanic, you can pick cheap deals, as you know how to repair fault so it's only time issue and if you can hear the fault others can as well and are unlikely to bid..

JonathanA

gazman

There can be good priced cars at auction, but there are also others that sell for way more than their value. If you have never been to an auction before, don't let that put you off, but my advice would be to go a few times before you actually purchase a car. You need to get a feel for how they work, understand their terms and conditions of trade and start to get a feel for the things to look for.

It is easy enough to look at tyres and bodywork whilst you are there, but not so easy to get a feel for the mechanicals of the car, since they are usually locked until just before they go into the ring, so limited opportunity to inspect. Once in the ring, then you only have the length of time of bidding to decide, and many private buyers get carried away and feel they must have the car at any cost - that is where they can become expensive. You also need to add in the indemnity fees and buyers premium to the final hammer price - again that needs to be factored in.

You need to listen carefully to the auctioneers description of the car, as what they say is binding.

I've bought many vehicles at auction and - up to now - haven't been caught out, but that is probably more by good luck than good judgement! The cars I've bought tend to be ex lease with service histories.

harveybobbles is right, there are a lot of private buyers at auctions currently thinking they can pick up a cheap car - and some do - but you also need to take into account that used prices have been getting stronger recently, so prices at auction are not now as depressed as they were in the last quarter of last year.

Go for the experience, even if you don't end up buying a car. One final point. Are you fixed on a BMW 320 Sport? If so, check how many of that type of car are there before you go, otherwise you may have a wasted journey.

Good luck.

gazman1996

jonathan very helpful as all of you have been, great information which i will take on board, thanks gary