Buying a Used Car From Private Seller - Advice Guide

fivetide

If it is a BMW you want, worth checking on www.bimmerforums.co.uk for buyers guides, top tips etc. You might even see a car on there for sale. Easy enough to search the posters name then and see what issues they've had with the car.

5t.

andygb

Titewad wrote: »

Great to hear that there are honest transactions performed out there. Which checklist did your son use? The one on whatcar was a good guide that I used when selling the last car

I bought both my BMWs through Autotrader, and enjoyed every minute of them. Maybe I was lucky, but I did look thoroughly at all the documentation, engine/chassis numbers, previous MOTs (check the mileage, see that it runs sensibly), and I had an RAC inspection done on the second one (which ended up being sold to a mate with 165K miles on it - and he is happy as Larry to this day).

Titewad

Thanks all. Found some good advice on the bimmer fouums (thanks fivetide)
"If they guy doesn't let you try the car even with him driving it then I would honestly walk, I would also ask to see the car when its cold before you go to meet the person, if the car is warm when you get there, there could be issues with the car. Test all the electrics, check the door seals everything, spend a good time looking at the body work too, it could save you some money if you find minor faults that are easy to replace."