Purchasing from a private seller?

AllRounderWes

Hi guys, I'm thinking of treating myself to an early 21st birthday by buying a BMW 120d. So I've found "the one" and I'm due to contact the seller in the next few days, however, my initial concern is that the cars license plate has been blanked out on autotrader, so I'm unable to do any quick text-checks (I've read that these are not ideal but I'd still like to use them before bothering to contact the seller).

Other than that, everything appears to be fine with the car - several good quality pictures (including under the bonnet), perfect cosmetic condition, "59,000 miles on the clock, 1 owner, excellent condition, HPI clear with full report, full BMW service history, just been serviced by BMW, very well maintained" - everything you want to hear right?
The car is reasonably priced too, its not suspiciously low although I have noticed the price has gone down by about £200 in the last week - 10 days?

If it was a dealership selling the car perhaps I would feel slightly less weary but after reading up on some of the private seller stories I thought I should get some advice. So any explanations to why the seller would blank out the license plate? Also if/when I do go to view the car, what should I look out for in particular?

Much appreciated guys

Wes.

J.mathall

It's not uncommon to blank out number plates, any dubious character with a car the same model, make & colour could copy the plates and run through a few speed cameras or not pay for petrol etc.

If you are not sure my advice would be to take someone with you that has a bit of background with buying cars. I’ve bought five cars from private sellers but I did know what I was buying.

Mark

neilmcl

AllRounderWes wrote: »

So any explanations to why the seller would blank out the license plate?

Simple, it's to prevent car cloning. It's recommended to have your reg blanked out when selling online, nothing suspicious at all.

AllRounderWes

I see, that makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up fella's.

Any suggestions to what I should look out for when I view the car?

shaun_from_Africa

AllRounderWes wrote: »

Any suggestions to what I should look out for when I view the car?

Not being funny, but if you feel the need to ask that question then you really need to heed the advice offered by J.mathall and take someone along with you who knows about buying cars when you go to have a look.

Buellguy

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

Not being funny, but if you feel the need to ask that question then you really need to heed the advice offered by J.mathall and take someone along with you who knows about buying cars when you go to have a look.

+1 take someone with you, if you don't know anyone, maybe worth getting the old AA/RAC inspection done

AllRounderWes

I'm not completely clueless, I have a rough idea of what I should be looking out for but I wanted to get some external informed opinions in case there's something useful that I might have missed..

Thanks.

Hoof_Hearted

Or the plate may be blanked out because it's a clone and the seller doesn't want anybody to stumble on the number plate by chance and recognise it.

waynedance

neilmcl wrote: »

Simple, it's to prevent car cloning. It's recommended to have your reg blanked out when selling online, nothing suspicious at all.

Do these people drive around with there plates covered up?

emmell

Ring them up and ask for the reg no or chassis no so you can do your own Hpi check before you go..........or you can always do one when you get there.

Make sure the address on the reg doc is the same address you are viewing the car at.

ML.

bluesnake

A few tips, but not conclusive:
Look at http://www.reliabilityindex.com/ as this may show flaws in your model.

Test some from garages first, or drive a few on the same day to get a feel of that specific model,

Don't buy or look at it in the rain, dim light, street light, or night time. No sun, no purchase.

Take a torch, camera, phone and a few rags/tissue.
Tell the guy that if you buy the car, you want a photo of the him (current owner) with the car, and make sure it is a good clean shot of his face - "is this the droid you are looking for?"
Take a magnet that is not too powerful, with you wrapped in a cloth to stop the magnet from scratching the body - check for filler.
Be aware of body rust, chip marks and sprayed over chip marks. Look at it from various angles and take note of various reflections and look for pitted reflections (often a cheap respray over the bonnet).
Inspect corners around the bumpers. Bumper is not loose?
Make sure that one key opens all 5 doors and petrol cap, then lock them.
All doors can be opened and locked from the inside?
All windows go up and down, or left to right?
Glass/lights - no chips, scratches or cracks?
Lights - all work
Lights - none are loose
Has a legal spare wheel with air in it?
Done low mileage - how have the peddle rubbers worn?
All lights, wipers, interior and indicators working?
Wiper water ejecting and are blades ok?
Dashboard - all leds come on - non blanked/taped off? All go off too? Check manual if unsure-what no manual?
Heater working?
VERY little play in the steering wheel.
Wing mirror is secure and is adjustable.
Hard to check the rear window demister in summer!
MOT history mileage look similar to last years and less than on the speedo, but not too excessive.
Was the engine warm before you got there?
Tyre ware, and how much tread left?

Find out where the vin nos are for that model and that they all match up.
Gaps - the ones between doors, boots and bonnets - all should be same size, equidistant and symmetrical. noticeable gap tolerances could mean accident.
Look in the radiator expansion bottle, is there water in there and no oil layer?
Break & clutch fluids ok?

Dip stick - remove it, look at the oil height. Put the carcinogenic oil from the stick between your fingers and rub fingers together - if it feels like gritty baby oil, then they are probably metal engine bits in there.
Years ago, have heard of friends that rip spark plugs out and do compression tests, but never seen it mentioned in the last few decades?????
Hoses and pipes - any look split or corroded.

Oil water leaks on the floor beneath the engine?
You know you are going to have to crawl under to check for oil/water leaks (wetspots), rust and damage.
Also look for recently cleaned areas. If it is all gleaming ask yourself why is that spot gleaming?
Check water break and fuel hoses underneath and in the bonnet.
CV joint rubbers are ok?
Holes in exhaust?

These more technical ones hopefully people will fill out and add to
Starts from cold
car breaks in a straight line
hand break works

Wheel bearings ok?
Gears are smooth.
Reverse ok
Weird engine noise?
Corners ok.
Indicators cancel out both ways?
Emergency stop - stops abs working?
Suspension ok

If it is from a garage, ask to see the documents. These list the previous owner. Phone him up ask about how many miles the car has done, how long he had the car, what he used the car for and what his journey consisted of. Were there any safety issues, or problems mechanical and bodywise plus other faults just to be sure that it is a safe car. Ask him how much he thinks his car is worth too.

Hopefully people will add on to this and straighten the weaker areas covered.