Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: SMD on 18 November 2019, 12:27:31

Title: Selling an expensive car
Post by: SMD on 18 November 2019, 12:27:31
So I recently bought a 2017 BMW 340i. Waited a long time for one with the right spec so when this one came up on the BMW used approved site, I put a deposit down and bought it without test driving it.

On the way home after a while I noticed my lower back was hurting but I just assumed (and hoped) I'll play about with seat positions and it'll be fine. I have owned it around a month or so I'm still not comfortable, from as little as 20 mins drive.

So I have decided to sell it. This car is £20k+ so I wanted to ask how you would deal with potential buyers wanting test drives?

Payment I guess would be back transfer only but is it reversible?

Title: Re: Selling an expensive car
Post by: STEMO on 18 November 2019, 12:30:57
If you still like the car, why not try and get some sort of seat padding or the like?
Title: Re: Selling an expensive car
Post by: henryd on 18 November 2019, 12:31:31
Bank transfer is fine,once in your acc it can't be retrieved without your say so,as for test drives< I wouldn't let anyone drive that value car without proof of fully comp cover
Title: Re: Selling an expensive car
Post by: STEMO on 18 November 2019, 12:33:58
Bank transfer is fine,once in your acc it can't be retrieved without your say so,as for test drives< I wouldn't let anyone drive that value car without proof of fully comp cover
Esp in London. There are more weirdos, wasters and gangsters per square mile than most places on earth.
Title: Re: Selling an expensive car
Post by: Viral_Jim on 18 November 2019, 13:00:46
So I recently bought a 2017 BMW 340i. Waited a long time for one with the right spec so when this one came up on the BMW used approved site, I put a deposit down and bought it without test driving it.

On the way home after a while I noticed my lower back was hurting but I just assumed (and hoped) I'll play about with seat positions and it'll be fine. I have owned it around a month or so I'm still not comfortable, from as little as 20 mins drive.

So I have decided to sell it. This car is £20k+ so I wanted to ask how you would deal with potential buyers wanting test drives?

Payment I guess would be back transfer only but is it reversible?

My thoughts (for what they're worth).

I owned an M140i for about 2 months before BMW bought it back due to an untraceable fault. These have identical front seats to the F3x M-sports, mine used to give me hip pain after about 90mins of driving, but the boggo SE spec 320i's I got as hire cars never did.

Assuming your's is an M-sport, try and get a ride in an SE or Luxury spec car 3series. If the seats suit you, I'd be tempted to wait for a set to show up on ebay that match yours (colour/electric/heated) and then swap them out. This will:

a)be less hassle
b)be less expensive
c) involve talking to fewer wierdos

Than selling the car. If you like the rest of the vehicle why let the seats put you off? Plus if its a keeper then you can flog your uncomfy seats and probably come out ahead on the deal.  :y
Title: Re: Selling an expensive car
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 18 November 2019, 13:07:52
So I recently bought a 2017 BMW 340i. Waited a long time for one with the right spec so when this one came up on the BMW used approved site, I put a deposit down and bought it without test driving it.

On the way home after a while I noticed my lower back was hurting but I just assumed (and hoped) I'll play about with seat positions and it'll be fine. I have owned it around a month or so I'm still not comfortable, from as little as 20 mins drive.

So I have decided to sell it. This car is £20k+ so I wanted to ask how you would deal with potential buyers wanting test drives?

Payment I guess would be back transfer only but is it reversible?


Back in the mists of time when i was young and foolish I bought and sold all my cars privately. I didn't have a lot of problems but then the cars were not worth much.

These days I P/X through a main dealer.

It may be worth trying WBAC if you don't mind taking a few quid less than it is worth. :y
Title: Re: Selling an expensive car
Post by: aaronjb on 18 November 2019, 13:29:31
It may be worth trying WBAC if you don't mind taking a few quid less than it is worth. :y

In the case of the last car I took to WBAC (~£17k if you were to buy one from a dealer, ~£16k private), about £1500 less than the private sale rate. And you only have to deal with one weirdo, who won't want to test-drive it. They do make you wait four days for the money after you've given them the car, though, unless you pay them £100..
Title: Re: Selling an expensive car
Post by: tunnie on 18 November 2019, 13:35:46
I'd look to part exchange it, for something you find as a replacement and take the hit. At that value, I would be a bit concerned with 3rd party cash/bank transfer type deals. Did you buy from BMW? I'd go back there and be honest and see what they can do.

I drive everyday in the 'Daddy Bus', yet still car sharing due to personal circumstances at the moment. But the blessing is that I don't have to travel in 2018 BMW M140i, with MSports seats and M-Sport ride.

My feelings are well known here as to the M140i's ride and comfort. In fact I've never been in any BMW 1,2,3,4,5 that I think has rode well or been comfy.
Title: Re: Selling an expensive car
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 18 November 2019, 13:41:10
Is it leased or on HP? Both will differently affect disposal...
Title: Re: Selling an expensive car
Post by: SMD on 18 November 2019, 16:59:01
Its a weird one, padding in the lumber region gives me a back ache. All the cars I have owned have given me some pain and after turning lumber support fully off I feel comfy. Problem with German manufactures is that they make you pay extra for it and most people don't spec them.

I don't want to swap out seats, I think that would put a lot of buyers off in the future.

I would try selling privately first before WBAC or trading in it, see how that goes. Although I can see the benefits of doing so. BMW, Merc, Audis do see to attract a certain breed of drivers. There will certainly be plenty of tyre kickers and test pilots.

I paid cash for the car. I have been looking at the C43 AMG coupe but they are still ridiculously expensive so will wait a bit

As for test drives, surely fully comp only covers driving other cars TP only. So great for third party but not so for me
Title: Re: Selling an expensive car
Post by: STEMO on 18 November 2019, 17:15:09
Its a weird one, padding in the lumber region gives me a back ache. All the cars I have owned have given me some pain and after turning lumber support fully off I feel comfy. Problem with German manufactures is that they make you pay extra for it and most people don't spec them.

I don't want to swap out seats, I think that would put a lot of buyers off in the future.

I would try selling privately first before WBAC or trading in it, see how that goes. Although I can see the benefits of doing so. BMW, Merc, Audis do see to attract a certain breed of drivers. There will certainly be plenty of tyre kickers and test pilots.

I paid cash for the car. I have been looking at the C43 AMG coupe but they are still ridiculously expensive so will wait a bit

As for test drives, surely fully comp only covers driving other cars TP only. So great for third party but not so for me
Be honest and firm. 'You can ride as a passenger with me in the driving seat, or you can take out fully comp day insurance, and I still ride in the car. No solo test drives'. A genuinely interested buyer will understand.
Title: Re: Selling an expensive car
Post by: YZ250 on 18 November 2019, 17:19:44
....................
My feelings are well known here as to the M140i's ride and comfort. In fact I've never been in any BMW 1,2,3,4,5 that I think has rode well or been comfy.

I have a bmw 4 series M Sport running on 19's and an Audi A6 Avant S Line Black Edition running on 20's. The beemer is definitely sportier but the Audi is more comfortable. In fact, after spending 17 years driving my 3.2 Omega I would say the A6 is pretty close to the Omega comfort. Obviously electric seats make for infinite adjustment so that helps.
Title: Re: Selling an expensive car
Post by: Andy B on 18 November 2019, 17:38:39
...... BMW, Merc, Audis do see to attract a certain breed of drivers. .....
??? ??? ??? :P
 ;) ;)
Title: Re: Selling an expensive car
Post by: YZ250 on 18 November 2019, 17:46:43
...... BMW, Merc, Audis do see to attract a certain breed of drivers. .....
??? ??? ??? :P
 ;) ;)

You qualify for one but I qualify for the other two, so double  :P :P  to him.  ;D
Title: Re: Selling an expensive car
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 18 November 2019, 18:31:57
Find a BMW specialist/Main Dealer with something suitable in stock and swap it for something you've actually sat in :y
Title: Re: Selling an expensive car
Post by: SMD on 19 November 2019, 09:04:42
I guess I need to read the small print about what day insurance covers. Would it be unreasonable if I asked for a refundable deposit if day insurance doesn't cover fault claims?

Mine has electric seats too which is quite rare on the 3 series. This was one of my criteria because of my back. I agree, the Omegas are supremely comfortable  :'(

Sorry to offend any BMW/Merc/Audi drivers  :P  but a lot of them are knobs. I'm turning into one  :-[
Title: Re: Selling an expensive car
Post by: deviator on 19 November 2019, 12:25:00
With regards insurance, I'd specify they most have full insurance and have a laptop ready for them to setup a day policy, at their expense, in front of me. You get the peace of mind of knowing it's protected and if they do buy the car, knock the £30-40 off the price as a sweetener.
Title: Re: Selling an expensive car
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 19 November 2019, 12:27:08
Also, you can register the change of keeper online, which is instant along with the email acknowledgement  :y