Best place to buy a used BMW?

Head_The_Ball

Crazystar wrote: »

I am planning to buy a used BMW X3 (4-5 years old, looking to spend round 15k) ASAP and appreciate if someone can suggest which is the best reliable place to buy? I am based in Guildford and can travel upto 50-60 miles.

Thanks in Advance
Crazy

For a £15k purchase I would go to a BMW main dealer although I cannot be certain they will sell cars that are 4 to 5 years old.

We bought a nearly new 1 Series from Vines of Guildford last year. We received excellent service from them.

They have access to many used BMWs in the UK. If there is a suitable car in stock elsewhere, they can probably arrange for it to be brought to Guildford for you to test drive.

Ring them up and see what they can offer you.

Tothepoint.

gilberto wrote: »

My brother in law recently purchased a brand new 430i and let me tell you these cars aren't for the faint hearted. The 430i, even being a mid-spec'd engine in the range, does 0-60 in under 5.5 seconds. Never mind the 440i...
In under 6 months he has had several repairs fixed under warranties which has totalled over £7000. You need deep pockets to run these cars outside of a proper AUC main dealer warranty.

Go back to the caravan club.

motorguy

Tothepoint. wrote: »

What has a warranty got to do with your legal rights?

A lot.


The dealer is only obliged to warrant the condition of the car - that is to say, it is free from faults at the time of sale. Granted, for the first six months its up to him to prove it wasn't there at the time of sale, but still, that's the principal.


A warranty is on top of your statutory rights. A GOOD warranty will cover wear and tear, and cover things that weren't faults at the time of sale. For example, if your air con has been working for 9 months, and then fails, its going to be hard to pin that on the dealer under your statutory rights, however it "would" be covered under a BMW approved used 1 year warranty.

Tothepoint.

motorguy wrote: »

A lot.


The dealer is only obliged to warrant the condition of the car - that is to say, it is free from faults at the time of sale. Granted, for the first six months its up to him to prove it wasn't there at the time of sale, but still, that's the principal.


A warranty is on top of your statutory rights. A GOOD warranty will cover wear and tear, and cover things that weren't faults at the time of sale. For example, if your air con has been working for 9 months, and then fails, its going to be hard to pin that on the dealer under your statutory rights, however it "would" be covered under a BMW approved used 1 year warranty.

Exactly, a warranty has nothing to do with you're legal rights. Warranty or not you still have the protection of the law.

motorguy

Tothepoint. wrote: »

Exactly, a warranty has nothing to do with you're legal rights. Warranty or not you still have the protection of the law.

You still have "some" protection of the law - and only IF the dealer you've bought it from complies.


Big difference.

Tothepoint.

motorguy wrote: »

You still have "some" protection of the law - and only IF the dealer you've bought it from complies.


Big difference.

Does a warranty remove your statutory rights? No.

motorguy

Tothepoint. wrote: »

Does a warranty remove your statutory rights? No.

Correct - but I don't think anyone was saying otherwise?


A warranty is in addition to your statutory rights, not instead of.

motorguy

gilberto wrote: »

In any case I wouldn't touch a BMW without a proper AUC main dealer warranty with a barge pole. Given their high complexity and performance, BMWs are generally unreliable and VERY expensive to fix when it goes wrong - and it will.
They are a dream to drive, but you need deep pockets to run one...

I wouldn't say they are unreliable. However as any car reaches mid life onwards, then it can be prone to failiures. Failures, particularly on a car like a BMW can cost £,£££s very easily.

Tothepoint.

motorguy wrote: »

Correct - but I don't think anyone was saying otherwise?


A warranty is in addition to your statutory rights, not instead of.

I know, but not everyone appears to understand.

mr_accountant wrote: »

Buy from main dealer you have more rights, expensive yes but also piece of mind, these cars are very complex

motorguy

Tothepoint. wrote: »

I know, but not everyone appears to understand.

He didn't say they they were "instead of"?


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