Purchasing cars remotely
 

I have found a car I'm pretty interested in, but the issue is it is 29hrs away. I am considering having the dealership do a pre-purchase inspection, and if I'm happy with how everything looks, having the car transported to me. It's cheaper than flying there and driving it back, and way less time consuming.

Anyone have anything to comment on the subject?

Why don't you buy someone on the forum a bottle if their favourite to go look at it for you?

I did exactly this before I flew down to pick up my MB. But it was only a 6 hour drive back home :P

The thought has occurred to me. However, while a name or two has come to mind that are within 20min of the car, there isn't anyone on here I actually like, actively communicate with 1 on 1 that lives in the area. So I'd basically just be picking someone at random and asking them if they'd be down to go check out a car for me. Which seems kind of, idk.

For buying a car remotely, I want:

1) a good (probably fairly long) conversation with the seller on the phone, to try to get a sense of what kind of person he/she is.

2) lots of photos, a couple dozen at least, a hundred would be better. Taken in decent light, when the car is clean & dry, with a camera that doesn't suck, both overall shots and detail shots of everything relevant.

3) a carfax, duh

4) a pre-purchase inspection by a shop specializing in the particular area I'm concerned about.

--Ian

My miata was 18hours away, I flew out really cheaply, got a local shop to verify my evaluation, shouldn't have bought it, because the seller didn't budge on price at all. I should have paid 5000 AT MOST.

I should have said see ya later, flew home, and waited for another vehicle to come up.

It is very difficult to have leverage in a negotiation when you are not close to home, and/or in person.

Good luck.

I would have had all negotiating done before I flew out there, though in this instance I'm not even considering flying out there. lol



Pretty much in line with my thoughts.

I don't trust anyone to inspect cars for me. Because I am without a doubt the pickiest and most thorough/OCD person I've met and usually find 5x more things wrong with a car than even the pro's.

That said, it really depends on what kind of car we're talking about here.

Moar details?

Is it a rare sports car of sorts, or just a daily/family car?

I believe it is a specific BMW.

Daily, but I've had a bitch of a time finding exactly what I want.

2010, 335i, manual, sedan.

Guy had the turbos replaced 14k ago. (common factory issue to go wrong somewhere above 60-70k). HPFP was also replaced (another common issue).

Has sport+premium+iDrive+Logic7+xenon lights. 84k miles. New tires. All maintenance documented and done at the dealership.

It really ticks all the checkboxes and then some. Except for color, as it's Titanium silver. Not my favorite, but I think it still looks good.
And the fact it's across the country, and he wants a little more than I think it's worth, but I haven't gotten interested enough yet I've tried to talk him down yet. He's around 2k over kbb. But, he also seems to know he's got a rare setup and that a lot of people will probably pay a premium for it. These sedans in manual really are a pain to find.

flew from Iceland to Germany to pick up a car and then drove it all the way back. But I had others lined up to check out in case the car wasn't as advertised.

and a manual 335i sounds sweet

James Bond car that can cross ocean?

naah, ferry. but my point is that if you intend on making a trip out of it at least have something else to check out so you don't feel compelled to either buy or jump ship since you made the trip

Yeah, I have 0 intentions of driving it back. I'm either going to buy it remotely, or not at all. If anything, I'd spend the $500 on a round trip ticket and: fly out, buy it, get it on the carrier, and fly back.

But I'd be much more likely just to do it via a lot of pictures and a bmw inspection.

I'll fly out and drive it to you for the cost of gas and tickets. :)

Not even joking. Text me.

Nice car, I like the 135i coupes better. My friend had one with the full dual intake, intercooler, tune, full exhaust, the rear end from an automatic car, race pads, He daily drove it with R comps.

That car was pretty fun in the dry, to say the least.

Yeah, but have you ridden in that back of one? lol. I already have a fun two seater, I want something fun and comfortable to drive to work every day and what not. I'm not even looking at cars that don't have 4 doors.

^yeah, I don't have many friends, no kids, so I go for the coupes :) Just from a design standpoint, I like the 135i better. Not a family car though.

Plane tickets or speeding tickets? :)

--Ian

:fawk:

I found a super nice 335i here, 06 and only 60k miles. Price was right too. Turbo issues scared me away.

Yeah... the fact this guy has already had them replaced under warranty is super appealing to me.

Sounds like a very nice daily.
You'll need to start talking to him and relay your interest while working on that price.

2k over KBB is never good because unless a car is completely bottomed out (like 5k miata's, or 10k corvette's), it will never again be worth what KBB has it listed at, and you're starting 2k higher than that.

Another tip: for the most part, ONLY old school bmw's ever retain value or go up. Newer models like the one you want are going to keep dropping for a while still, they're not collector cars or uber rare enthusiast cars. So work on that price. Esp since you'd have to do some serious traveling to get it

I think I'm going to offer kbb private party Excellent, and that's the price. I've got a good argument to go down to that, but not much further. He's a real estate agent, so I'm not really looking to get in a haggle battle lol.

That would put the car at 15,360. Add 120 for an inspection, and 862 to have it brought to me.

I'm not really sure how much these are going to depreciate. Certainly less than a 328, but I'm sure still somewhat substantially in the next five years. It is a used BMW after all, so I'd say at least probably five grand.

Holy shit that's freaking cheap. the car price and shipping price!

you'll lose money, but you'll also get to enjoy a really nice car, and there's nothing wrong with that.
it already took it's biggest hit already too, so its not that bad.

Shit, now I'm kicking myself for passing on the one I was looking at for $14k. 6 speed too. Had no Idea they were rare.

Delivery date TBD, but she's mine.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1467249125

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1467249125

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1467249125

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1467249125

congrats man, car looks phenomenal.

Super clean!

Nice car!

very clean and sexy

Thanks! I'm pretty stoked for it to get here.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...6df0c8e5f1.png

:party:

Have you ever dealt with vehicle shippers? You're doing great if you get it the same week they say it'll get delivered.

We'll see. They still claim it'll be here tomorrow. I'm expecting it to be here Wednesday night.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...ddd4b69d6.jpeg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...8398de716.jpeg

Day #4 of BMW ownership: The serpentine belt has snapped.

Classic