Buying sight unseen

EVDreamer · 07-21-2021, 07:48 PM

Desperately needing to get "family" car with manual transmission without breaking the bank in this crazy tight market, I found a 2020 440i xdrive m sport with 20k miles. Called out of state SA and saw the car via FaceTime. Will have the option not to take delivery but I think it would be fine. Looks brilliant! Do you own one? Do you like it?

Thank you. (new to forum)

Wgosma · 07-21-2021, 07:56 PM

That Bimmer had better come with a rock solid warranty if you're really considering a blind purchase.

…Seriously, save yourself some pain and lots of money, buy a Subaru and call it a day.

kickthecan · 07-21-2021, 08:33 PM

Can't you just fly and test it out? The cost of flying might be a drop in the bucket vs the actual car price

Wookiee123 · 07-21-2021, 08:36 PM

I did a refundable down payment on a car 5 states away then flew to see it. I had the option of walking away with my money back if I didn't like the car.

Unfortunately, the car had two curbed wheels and a messed up front bumper. The dealer took money off the car (May 2021) to offset it claiming they didn't see it, but either way, I took the car home and paid to fix the items for less money than they took off.

Good overall experience, but be prepared for things that don't show up in videos well.

erickonphoenix · 07-21-2021, 08:42 PM

I've done it a few times on hard to find cars. Typically it's something I would be warranting my self anyways.

1. Get the carfax
2. Get lots of pics
3. Find a PPI guy local to the car and pay him to inspect it (you'd want to do that anyways)
4. If it all adds up to a good price I'd go for it with the stipulation you'll reject it if it isn't as advertised.
5. When it arrives look it over carefully and reject the delivery if there's any inconsistency.
6. If everything adds up, enjoy

tturedraider · 07-21-2021, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EVDreamer

Desperately needing to get "family" car with manual transmission without breaking the bank in this crazy tight market, I found a 2020 440i xdrive m sport with 20k miles. Called out of state SA and saw the car via FaceTime. Will have the option not to take delivery but I think it would be fine. Looks brilliant! Do you own one? Do you like it?

Thank you. (new to forum)

I think buying sight unseen is a bad idea. I also think the odds of being able to reject delivery and have the car shipped back to where it came from without significant financial consequences are very low.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kickthecan

Can't you just fly and test it out? The cost of flying might be a drop in the bucket vs the actual car price

I have purchased several cars by long distance, but only if I could travel there, see it in person, and make a decision of whether or not to go through with the transaction.

Is the car at an authorized BMW dealer? Is it a CPO?

EVDreamer · 07-21-2021, 09:52 PM

Thank you. Yes, I plan on going to see it at the BMW dealer next week. I put a deposit down. Not many photos. What is the best way to ask SA for a price adjustment if the wheels are curbed, etc. I saw few dings on the FT call but nothing big. Carfax says clean car- no accidents whatsoever. Car was driven by some BMW exec for 17 months.

Wgosma · 07-21-2021, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EVDreamer

What is the best way to ask SA for a price adjustment if the wheels are curbed, etc..

Want to be a serious negotiator and effective getting what you want? Be willing to walk away from the deal.

Wheels an issue: tell the Sales Manager to have a new set installed on the car or the deal is off - this is the kind of language car sales people understand, BMW or otherwise.

Good luck!

tturedraider · 07-24-2021, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EVDreamer

Thank you. Yes, I plan on going to see it at the BMW dealer next week. I put a deposit down. Not many photos. What is the best way to ask SA for a price adjustment if the wheels are curbed, etc. I saw few dings on the FT call but nothing big. Carfax says clean car- no accidents whatsoever. Car was driven by some BMW exec for 17 months.

Any update? Did you see the car? Make the deal?

tex2670 · 07-26-2021, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EVDreamer

Desperately needing to get "family" car with manual transmission without breaking the bank in this crazy tight market, I found a 2020 440i xdrive m sport with 20k miles. Called out of state SA and saw the car via FaceTime. Will have the option not to take delivery but I think it would be fine. Looks brilliant! Do you own one? Do you like it?

Thank you. (new to forum)

That's a "family" car?

M Smurf · 07-27-2021, 09:55 AM

I bought my current ride sight unseen and shipped to my front door. Had PPI done at local Indy close to dealer where the car was from. Non CPO. Easiest and best car experience I have ever had! I'd do it again no question.

MTTH · 07-27-2021, 10:11 AM

Currently buying aight unseen. Car looks good, only 7k miles. Comes in tomorrow so we'll see. 2018 440i GC, pretty much fully loaded w/ MPPSK.

adhrp · 07-27-2021, 10:36 AM

Bought my non-CPO 2012 328i several years ago without actually seeing/examining it (other than pics and dealer service records). It has 123,000 miles on it now and has been very reliable.

tex2670 · 07-29-2021, 07:24 AM

I did it for my current car; but I didn't have to travel to do it - the dealer was about 45 mins away. So if I got there, and the car wasn't in CPO condition, I would just demand my deposit back and walk away. Sure that's a little harder to do if you are traveling, but if it's a CPO, how bad could it be?

MTTH · 07-30-2021, 01:50 PM

Car came in, and it's mint. All the way from Colorado, I'm in NYC.

tturedraider · 07-30-2021, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreyTwoEight

Car came in, and it's mint. All the way from Colorado, I'm in NYC.

Congrats! Pics are now required.

MEN54 · 07-30-2021, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tturedraider

I think buying sight unseen is a bad idea. I also think the odds of being able to reject delivery and have the car shipped back to where it came from without significant financial consequences are very low.

I have purchased several cars by long distance, but only if I could travel there, see it in person, and make a decision of whether or not to go through with the transaction.

Is the car at an authorized BMW dealer? Is it a CPO?

Buying sight unsean is like an Arrange Marriage

vmaniqui · 07-30-2021, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Congrats! Pics are now required.

+1. pics or it didn't happen.

Psi5 · 07-30-2021, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreyTwoEight

Car came in, and it's mint. All the way from Colorado, I'm in NYC.

Terrific. Glad it worked out for you.

cfm56d7b · 07-30-2021, 04:41 PM

EVDreamer, any updates about car purchase plans?

MTTH · 07-30-2021, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psi5

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreyTwoEight

Car came in, and it's mint. All the way from Colorado, I'm in NYC.

Terrific. Glad it worked out for you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreyTwoEight

Car came in, and it's mint. All the way from Colorado, I'm in NYC.

Congrats! Pics are now required.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vmaniqui

Quote:

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Congrats! Pics are now required.

+1. pics or it didn't happen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psi5

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreyTwoEight

Car came in, and it's mint. All the way from Colorado, I'm in NYC.

Terrific. Glad it worked out for you.

Thanks everyone. I'll drop pics tomorrow after I get it fully cleaned. It's filthy after being on a truck for a couple days cross country. Here's a teaser though.

07-21-2021, 07:48 PM	#1
EVDreamer New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: DC iTrader: (0)	Buying sight unseen Desperately needing to get "family" car with manual transmission without breaking the bank in this crazy tight market, I found a 2020 440i xdrive m sport with 20k miles. Called out of state SA and saw the car via FaceTime. Will have the option not to take delivery but I think it would be fine. Looks brilliant! Do you own one? Do you like it? Thank you. (new to forum)
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07-21-2021, 07:56 PM	#2
Wgosma Lieutenant Colonel 806 Rep 1,903 Posts Drives: 2012 F25 X3 28i (N52) Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Northern Nevada iTrader: (0)	That Bimmer had better come with a rock solid warranty if you're really considering a blind purchase. …Seriously, save yourself some pain and lots of money, buy a Subaru and call it a day. Last edited by Wgosma; 07-21-2021 at 08:02 PM..
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07-21-2021, 08:33 PM	#3
kickthecan Private First Class 46 Rep 145 Posts Drives: E46 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: United States iTrader: (1)	Can't you just fly and test it out? The cost of flying might be a drop in the bucket vs the actual car price
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07-21-2021, 08:36 PM	#4
Wookiee123 Enlisted Member 8 Rep 35 Posts Drives: 2018 F31 Join Date: May 2021 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	I did a refundable down payment on a car 5 states away then flew to see it. I had the option of walking away with my money back if I didn't like the car. Unfortunately, the car had two curbed wheels and a messed up front bumper. The dealer took money off the car (May 2021) to offset it claiming they didn't see it, but either way, I took the car home and paid to fix the items for less money than they took off. Good overall experience, but be prepared for things that don't show up in videos well.
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07-21-2021, 08:42 PM	#5
erickonphoenix Lieutenant 1722 Rep 535 Posts Drives: 2014 Gray 328xi Touring Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Houston TX iTrader: (0)	I've done it a few times on hard to find cars. Typically it's something I would be warranting my self anyways. 1. Get the carfax 2. Get lots of pics 3. Find a PPI guy local to the car and pay him to inspect it (you'd want to do that anyways) 4. If it all adds up to a good price I'd go for it with the stipulation you'll reject it if it isn't as advertised. 5. When it arrives look it over carefully and reject the delivery if there's any inconsistency. 6. If everything adds up, enjoy __________________
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07-21-2021, 09:52 PM	#7
EVDreamer New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: DC iTrader: (0)	Thank you. Yes, I plan on going to see it at the BMW dealer next week. I put a deposit down. Not many photos. What is the best way to ask SA for a price adjustment if the wheels are curbed, etc. I saw few dings on the FT call but nothing big. Carfax says clean car- no accidents whatsoever. Car was driven by some BMW exec for 17 months.
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07-27-2021, 09:55 AM	#11
M Smurf Lieutenant 157 Rep 425 Posts Drives: 2013 328i M Sport Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Minneapolis, MN iTrader: (1)	I bought my current ride sight unseen and shipped to my front door. Had PPI done at local Indy close to dealer where the car was from. Non CPO. Easiest and best car experience I have ever had! I'd do it again no question. __________________ 2013 328i M Sport, Estoril Blue, Venetian Beige, Walnut trim, 8AT, Premium, Cold Weather, Lighting, Technology, Navigation, Driver Assistance, HK Sound
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07-27-2021, 10:11 AM	#12
MTTH Captain 233 Rep 738 Posts Drives: '11 328xi \|'18 440xi GranCoupe Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Staten Island, NYC iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00]	Currently buying aight unseen. Car looks good, only 7k miles. Comes in tomorrow so we'll see. 2018 440i GC, pretty much fully loaded w/ MPPSK. __________________ https://www.instagram.com/mtth.f36/
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07-27-2021, 10:36 AM	#13
adhrp Lieutenant Colonel 1266 Rep 1,590 Posts Drives: 2020 M550i (G30)/2021 X3 (G02) Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	Bought my non-CPO 2012 328i several years ago without actually seeing/examining it (other than pics and dealer service records). It has 123,000 miles on it now and has been very reliable. __________________ 2020 M550i (G30) \| Carbon Black/Black Nappa \| DHP \| DAP \| Executive \| Luxury Seating \| Park Asst \| Ceramic Controls \| Front/Rear Heated Seats \| 20" 668M wheels 2021 X3 (G02) \| Dark Graphite Metallic/Cognac \| Premium \| DAP \| Front/Rear Heated Seats Sold/Retired: 2012 328i (F30)
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07-29-2021, 07:24 AM	#14
tex2670 Brigadier General 2411 Rep 4,440 Posts Drives: '23 X1 28i xDrive Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Philly iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 328i xDrive [0.00] 2023 X1 xDrive 28i [0.00]	I did it for my current car; but I didn't have to travel to do it - the dealer was about 45 mins away. So if I got there, and the car wasn't in CPO condition, I would just demand my deposit back and walk away. Sure that's a little harder to do if you are traveling, but if it's a CPO, how bad could it be?
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07-30-2021, 01:50 PM	#15
MTTH Captain 233 Rep 738 Posts Drives: '11 328xi \|'18 440xi GranCoupe Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Staten Island, NYC iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00]	Car came in, and it's mint. All the way from Colorado, I'm in NYC. __________________ https://www.instagram.com/mtth.f36/
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07-30-2021, 04:41 PM	#20
cfm56d7b Lieutenant General 5876 Rep 10,249 Posts Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (2)	EVDreamer, any updates about car purchase plans?
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