Buying a car in another state

Skippy989 · 08-28-2014, 03:37 PM

Hello,

I am looking for advice on buying an M3 out of state, sight unseen other than pictures.

I have a couple in mind, both are CPO and both are being sold by BMW dealerships. Given that they have a CPO warranty is it a good bet that these cars are what they appear to be?

Thanks

quicktwinturbo · 08-28-2014, 03:45 PM

CPO is a good insurance but does not guarantee the condition of the cars. However, if something is wrong with the car, warranty will cover it. You should ask someone to check the car in person for you.

NOLA BJC · 08-28-2014, 04:06 PM

Agree.. I recently was in the market and traveled to ATL and Houston to look at a few units. Took me a little less than 90 days to find the best deal and best unit in my opinion.

The only way to buy used is CPO or someone that you personally know that did not abuse the car. There were vast differences in my search in all CPO's I saw- regardless of the miles- you had to physically see the imperfections that are inherit with a used unit.

An example- I found the exact car I had to get rid of 2 years ago in ATL- 2011 E92 comp pckge < 15K miles. Great deal for $48.5K. I flew out to look at three units in the area and saved this car for last and was very disappointed as it was full of blemishes inside and out.

The unit i found was a 2011 AW E92 MT (which was a must for me). Fully loaded up except I had to sacrifice the comp pckg. less than 22K miles. I got this unit for $47.3K. CPO through 5/2017. I am quite pleased but it took a lot of patience and sacrifice to go and physically see all the cars (> 12 total)

Best of Luck!

kscarrol · 08-28-2014, 04:11 PM

Agree with both replies, nothing replaces actually seeing the car in person.

Great looking car NOLA! I'll have to look for you around Magazine St...

Flying Ace · 08-28-2014, 04:20 PM

CPO and BMW dealership as the seller only will provide you a reasonable assumption that the car mechanically is sound.

If you care about exterior/interior blemishes, you should inspect the car in person. Chips, touchup, dents, subpar paint respray, and other stuff can only be seen by your eyeball (or by a trusted agent), and is near impossible to see through pictures.

A few people have reached out to M3post forum members to stop by and do a eyeball inspection. Perhaps you can request this on the forum?

good luck

NOLA BJC · 08-28-2014, 04:46 PM

Thank you KS.. Uptown baby! Who Dat!

fuddman · 08-28-2014, 05:21 PM

I'm selling one which might be in your parameters. See it here

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1028307

Skippy989 · 08-28-2014, 05:45 PM

Thanks for the replies.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuddman

I'm selling one which might be in your parameters. See it here

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1028307

Nice car, but not exactly what I am looking for. This will be my second E92 M3, my previous car was manual so I am going for DCT this time.

I have a friend stopping by one of the dealerships, he is not really an M3 guy but at least he can look it over and drive it then give me his impressions.

If I did decide to buy this particular car I would fly there and drive it home. I don't think I would actually buy it without seeing it for myself. I'm just trying to get an idea if its worth the trip before I go there and make a final decision.

The car I am most interested it is in Bayshore, NY. If someone who knows these cars well is willing to take a good look at it I would be willing to pay for their time within reason.

CSBM5 · 08-28-2014, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quicktwinturbo

CPO is a good insurance but does not guarantee the condition of the cars. However, if something is wrong with the car, warranty will cover it. You should ask someone to check the car in person for you.

CPO will only cover the items specified in the CPO coverage spec. Read that carefully to understand the many things that are not covered -- it is far from the new car warranty in terms of coverage.

D@AP · 08-28-2014, 06:52 PM

I agree with most of the other comments, there's not much that can replace seeing the car yourself. If you have a friend or can reach out to members that are local to help you check it out for you, since they will also have a basic idea of what to look for.

DemolitionJim · 08-28-2014, 08:25 PM

i had mine shipped up from st. louis to chicago with only seeing pics. put both dealers in contact with each other and had the car in my possession the next week.

the selling dealer also offered to take detailed pictures, as well as document before and after condition of the car during the shipping process, plus they took care of the shipping cost as well.

david1504 · 08-29-2014, 09:07 AM

I just got a m3 fully loaded from out of state this summer, it was fully loaded and i liked it so i pulled the trigger. Overall bmw cpo cars are pretty good, but you have to at least let them send you detailed pics and the cpo report(the report usually has some stuff you cannot see in pics), and of course it is best to let someone nearby to check it for you. There will be minor things that you will miss for sure(mine had a scratch on the back of the passenger seat) , but i would say cpo is you best bet buying out of state.

08-28-2014, 03:37 PM	#1
Skippy989 Private 6 Rep 51 Posts Drives: M3 Coupe 6MT E92 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Home iTrader: (0)	Buying a car in another state - Is CPO a good bet? Hello, I am looking for advice on buying an M3 out of state, sight unseen other than pictures. I have a couple in mind, both are CPO and both are being sold by BMW dealerships. Given that they have a CPO warranty is it a good bet that these cars are what they appear to be? Thanks
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08-28-2014, 03:45 PM	#2
quicktwinturbo Lieutenant 33 Rep 547 Posts Drives: Limited Ed Toyota Camry Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: IL, AL, ATL, SC iTrader: (2)	CPO is a good insurance but does not guarantee the condition of the cars. However, if something is wrong with the car, warranty will cover it. You should ask someone to check the car in person for you.
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08-28-2014, 04:06 PM	#3
NOLA BJC Fotch it to me Ella! 5 Rep 31 Posts Drives: 2019 540i Msport Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NOLA iTrader: (0)	Agree.. I recently was in the market and traveled to ATL and Houston to look at a few units. Took me a little less than 90 days to find the best deal and best unit in my opinion. The only way to buy used is CPO or someone that you personally know that did not abuse the car. There were vast differences in my search in all CPO's I saw- regardless of the miles- you had to physically see the imperfections that are inherit with a used unit. An example- I found the exact car I had to get rid of 2 years ago in ATL- 2011 E92 comp pckge < 15K miles. Great deal for $48.5K. I flew out to look at three units in the area and saved this car for last and was very disappointed as it was full of blemishes inside and out. The unit i found was a 2011 AW E92 MT (which was a must for me). Fully loaded up except I had to sacrifice the comp pckg. less than 22K miles. I got this unit for $47.3K. CPO through 5/2017. I am quite pleased but it took a lot of patience and sacrifice to go and physically see all the cars (> 12 total) Best of Luck! Attached Images
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08-28-2014, 04:11 PM	#4
kscarrol Brigadier General 8908 Rep 4,107 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 M40i, 1974 2002 Tii Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Greenville, SC iTrader: (0)	Agree with both replies, nothing replaces actually seeing the car in person. Great looking car NOLA! I'll have to look for you around Magazine St... __________________ 2021 X3 M40i 1974 2002tii, Inka, 5 sp manual BMWCCA # 327475
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08-28-2014, 04:20 PM	#5
Flying Ace Lieutenant General 4985 Rep 11,891 Posts Drives: G05 45e, 997.1 & 991.1 GT3s Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: SF, CA iTrader: (5)	CPO and BMW dealership as the seller only will provide you a reasonable assumption that the car mechanically is sound. If you care about exterior/interior blemishes, you should inspect the car in person. Chips, touchup, dents, subpar paint respray, and other stuff can only be seen by your eyeball (or by a trusted agent), and is near impossible to see through pictures. A few people have reached out to M3post forum members to stop by and do a eyeball inspection. Perhaps you can request this on the forum? good luck
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08-28-2014, 04:46 PM	#6
NOLA BJC Fotch it to me Ella! 5 Rep 31 Posts Drives: 2019 540i Msport Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NOLA iTrader: (0)	Thank you KS.. Uptown baby! Who Dat!
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08-28-2014, 05:21 PM	#7
fuddman Major 354 Rep 1,405 Posts Drives: 528-maybe Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: California iTrader: (0)	I'm selling one which might be in your parameters. See it here http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1028307
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08-28-2014, 06:52 PM	#10
D@AP Banned 24 Rep 225 Posts Drives: 09 Audi R8 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Alhambra, CA iTrader: (0)	I agree with most of the other comments, there's not much that can replace seeing the car yourself. If you have a friend or can reach out to members that are local to help you check it out for you, since they will also have a basic idea of what to look for.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-28-2014, 08:25 PM	#11
DemolitionJim Lieutenant 52 Rep 418 Posts Drives: E92 MW M3 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Chicago Burbs iTrader: (5)	i had mine shipped up from st. louis to chicago with only seeing pics. put both dealers in contact with each other and had the car in my possession the next week. the selling dealer also offered to take detailed pictures, as well as document before and after condition of the car during the shipping process, plus they took care of the shipping cost as well.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-29-2014, 09:07 AM	#12
david1504 Private 17 Rep 94 Posts Drives: 2011 SG ZCP m3 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: GA iTrader: (0)	I just got a m3 fully loaded from out of state this summer, it was fully loaded and i liked it so i pulled the trigger. Overall bmw cpo cars are pretty good, but you have to at least let them send you detailed pics and the cpo report(the report usually has some stuff you cannot see in pics), and of course it is best to let someone nearby to check it for you. There will be minor things that you will miss for sure(mine had a scratch on the back of the passenger seat) , but i would say cpo is you best bet buying out of state.
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