Buying sight unseen

firehot99 · 03-29-2010, 12:14 PM

Can't find the deal I want locally so I'm considering buying my 335i in California where most of the good deals seem to be.

I'm going CPO'd for added peace of mind but is there anything else I could do remotely to make sure I'm not getting a lemon?

bsamoul · 03-29-2010, 12:31 PM

buying sight unseen is always a good idea.

not.

nogard13 · 03-29-2010, 01:26 PM

I would be nervous about purchasing a car that I cannot drive first. There are just some things you can't see in a picture.

If you have a few days, take off on Friday night and fly to wherever you're going to pick up this car (if you call the dealer, they will pick you up at the nearest airport). Then test drive the car and make a decision.

I recently did this myself. I live in Durham, NC and was looking for a CPO that wasn't more than a day's drive from my house. I found a 2006 325i CPO with 47K miles for $20,000 on the BMW website (it was listed for $22,000, I talked them down to $20,000) with Sports Package, Premium Package, Xenons, Rear Parking Distance sensors, Heated Seats, Fold Down Rear Seats, and Sat Prep and I jumped on it. I flew down to Birmingham, AL a few days later and the dealer picked me up from the airport and drove me to the dealership. I test drove the car, found it to be satisfactory, and agreed to purchase it. The whole process would've taken 2 hours had I not had to wait around for their "seat" guy to fix a rip in the passenger seat leather (it was so small that nobody had noticed it, but I found it by wetting my hand and rubbing the seat (wears and tears will show darker than the regular leather)). I was home with my new car that evening.

sleepyx637 · 03-29-2010, 01:33 PM

if you're set on buying it unseen, maybe you can post in the california forum and see if anyone is willing to test the car for you. where's it located at?

phistyle · 03-29-2010, 01:35 PM

I bought my car out of state and only seen pictures of it and it has been flawless so far...

bsv2316 · 03-29-2010, 01:38 PM

pay for a 3rd party inspection service.

a professional will drive the car for you...

i used these people...in addition to driving it for me, they did a 150 point check and took like 40 additional pictures...

http://www.autoinspectionservices.net/

edit: i think it was $150

Chriztofor · 03-29-2010, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darcspeed

Can't find the deal I want locally so I'm considering buying my 335i in California where most of the good deals seem to be.

I'm going CPO'd for added peace of mind but is there anything else I could do remotely to make sure I'm not getting a lemon?

Are you sure you want a 335 with all the unresolved fuel pump issues? http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=333519 Who cares that it has an extended warranty, do you really want to be in the shop at least once a year for a fuel pump?! Good luck.

jopa489 · 03-29-2010, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chriztofor

Are you sure you want a 335 with all the unresolved fuel pump issues? http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=333519 Who cares that it has an extended warranty, do you really want to be in the shop at least once a year for a fuel pump?! Good luck.

As long as BMW will suck up the cost of replacing them for 10 years or 120k miles, it shouldn't matter much to most.

cotmfk · 03-29-2010, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepyx637

if you're set on buying it unseen, maybe you can post in the california forum and see if anyone is willing to test the car for you. where's it located at?

This.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsv2316

pay for a 3rd party inspection service.

a professional will drive the car for you...

i used these people...in addition to driving it for me, they did a 150 point check and took like 40 additional pictures...

http://www.autoinspectionservices.net/

edit: i think it was $150

Or this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chriztofor

Are you sure you want a 335 with all the unresolved fuel pump issues? http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=333519 Who cares that it has an extended warranty, do you really want to be in the shop at least once a year for a fuel pump?! Good luck.

Most people do not have repeated (or any) HPFP.

kugasman · 03-29-2010, 10:23 PM

I flew out of state to buy my car (KC to Dayton) I was very nervous as I am very particular about the details. The dealer will probably try to rush you through the purhcase in case you try to back out. As with any purchase you have to be willing to walk away if the car isn't what you want. Good luck and I hope it all works out.

firehot99 · 03-30-2010, 07:46 AM

Thanks for the advice guys! I'm aware of all the potential 335i mechanical issues but with the money I'm saving on this deal I can put up with them.

I took your advice bsv2316 and hired a nearby independent BMW mechanic to take a look at it, and he gave it a thumbs up.

If all goes well I'll be signing papers later today and then will probably not get any sleep while it's on the truck for the next few days getting shipped over.

03-29-2010, 12:14 PM	#1
firehot99 New Member 0 Rep 26 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	Buying sight unseen Can't find the deal I want locally so I'm considering buying my 335i in California where most of the good deals seem to be. I'm going CPO'd for added peace of mind but is there anything else I could do remotely to make sure I'm not getting a lemon?
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03-29-2010, 12:31 PM	#2
bsamoul Major General 165 Rep 7,433 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Walnut Creek, California iTrader: (2)	buying sight unseen is always a good idea. not. __________________ -Brian 2X 2006 BMW 325i [Electric Red & Mystic Blue] \| ZPP \| V1 \| Rear Fogs \| M3 Lip Spoiler \| EAS RemoteKey \| BMS Powerbox \| Projector90 Headlights w/ LED AE \| LED plate lights \| OEM Blacklines http://www.tech-shine.com
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03-29-2010, 01:26 PM	#3
nogard13 Second Lieutenant 34 Rep 221 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Durham iTrader: (0)	I would be nervous about purchasing a car that I cannot drive first. There are just some things you can't see in a picture. If you have a few days, take off on Friday night and fly to wherever you're going to pick up this car (if you call the dealer, they will pick you up at the nearest airport). Then test drive the car and make a decision. I recently did this myself. I live in Durham, NC and was looking for a CPO that wasn't more than a day's drive from my house. I found a 2006 325i CPO with 47K miles for $20,000 on the BMW website (it was listed for $22,000, I talked them down to $20,000) with Sports Package, Premium Package, Xenons, Rear Parking Distance sensors, Heated Seats, Fold Down Rear Seats, and Sat Prep and I jumped on it. I flew down to Birmingham, AL a few days later and the dealer picked me up from the airport and drove me to the dealership. I test drove the car, found it to be satisfactory, and agreed to purchase it. The whole process would've taken 2 hours had I not had to wait around for their "seat" guy to fix a rip in the passenger seat leather (it was so small that nobody had noticed it, but I found it by wetting my hand and rubbing the seat (wears and tears will show darker than the regular leather)). I was home with my new car that evening.
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03-29-2010, 01:33 PM	#4
sleepyx637 Captain 19 Rep 952 Posts Drives: '09 E92 335i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: LA iTrader: (0)	if you're set on buying it unseen, maybe you can post in the california forum and see if anyone is willing to test the car for you. where's it located at?
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03-29-2010, 01:35 PM	#5
phistyle Lieutenant 19 Rep 562 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW e92 335i Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (1)	I bought my car out of state and only seen pictures of it and it has been flawless so far...
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03-29-2010, 01:38 PM	#6
bsv2316 Private 7 Rep 71 Posts Drives: e92 335i Montego Saddle Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: The 865 iTrader: (0)	pay for a 3rd party inspection service. a professional will drive the car for you... i used these people...in addition to driving it for me, they did a 150 point check and took like 40 additional pictures... http://www.autoinspectionservices.net/ edit: i think it was $150
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03-29-2010, 10:23 PM	#10
kugasman Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 202 Posts Drives: 2011 X5 35d Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X5 35d [0.00]	I flew out of state to buy my car (KC to Dayton) I was very nervous as I am very particular about the details. The dealer will probably try to rush you through the purhcase in case you try to back out. As with any purchase you have to be willing to walk away if the car isn't what you want. Good luck and I hope it all works out.
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03-30-2010, 07:46 AM	#11
firehot99 New Member 0 Rep 26 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the advice guys! I'm aware of all the potential 335i mechanical issues but with the money I'm saving on this deal I can put up with them. I took your advice bsv2316 and hired a nearby independent BMW mechanic to take a look at it, and he gave it a thumbs up. If all goes well I'll be signing papers later today and then will probably not get any sleep while it's on the truck for the next few days getting shipped over.
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