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I'm not a fan of the red interior.
Anyway... me, [MENTION=2677]kidcrash603[/MENTION] and [MENTION=2563]CatchnZees[/MENTION] went to NJ yesterday to look at a 535xi. It was priced about 3k below book. Pictures looked good and carfax showed some rear end accident damage from 2010 or so. I got the warranty history and found all of the common failures have already been taken care of. I even convinced them to bring it to their sister dealer (a BMW dealer) for a pre-purchase inspection. Mechanically the car passed the PPI. They noted that the wheels were slightly bent and that it needed tires. On paper, this car was good.
We got to the dealer earlier than expected and they were still detailing it. No big deal. We waited and they brought the car around. From 10' away, this thing looked great. Aside from the puddles of tire shine on the tires, wheels, and engine bay, and the mounds of wax built up under the trunk handle, we found some chips and scratches. Again, not a huge deal but enough that I probably would have had the bumpers refinished. The edges of the doors were rough. Not scratches or small dings, but like paint ground away on the very edge (seam) on almost every door right about waist high.
Joe and I took it for a drive. It felt solid, handled and accelerated nice. We did notice that after a hard acceleration, there was a pungent sulfur smell in the car. Could be a few things. First thought, the cats. That would suck as I'm told that for OEM, I'd be looking at about 3k. Other possibility is an injector running a little richer than the rest. That wouldn't be too bad, it's not a big job. And it could also just be bad fuel. Overall the road test was good.
Then there was the trunk. Oh that #!#!#!#!ing trunk. I opened the trunk to check the spare wheel well for water (a common problem). Found the mounting stud for the spare tire was not attached to the car, but was just laying on top of the tire. Not a huge deal I suppose. Pulled the tire out and checked the electronics for water (they usually get relocated because of the water problem). They were dry and the wheel well looked clean. Put that all back together and looked around. Found some #!#!#!#!ty body work on the trunk lid. Sags/runs in the paint, not a great job on the seam, etc. Again, from a few feet away, looked fine.
This is where we found the final problem.
The mother #!#!#!#!ing trunk wouldn't close! That's when the salesman came over.
Salesman: Everything look good?
Me: For the most part, except the trunk won't close.
Salesman: What do you mean?
Me: Just like it sounds. It. Won't. Close.
Salesman: Well it was closed when you got here.
Anyway, they took it over to BMW to check it out. The salesman asked me to start the paperwork while we waited.
My response: Nope. (Steve and Joe kinda died laughing at this point)
So the car came back and the salesman came over to us. He said it needs a latch and they got the trunk closed. He said the latch costs about $160 so he will discount the car by $160.
REALLY? THAT'S ALL YOU'RE GOING TO OFFER?
I told him that there were a LOT of problems that for the right price, I could live with. His price is not the right price. I told him I'd do 12k (he's at a little below 14). He said the price is already at wholesale value. I grab my jacket and he asks me to wait. He goes and talks to his manager and comes back to tell me that we are too far apart on price. He doesn't even counter offer.
I tell wish him good luck getting rid of it and we leave.
It was still a fun trip though. We went to Mohegan Sun for dinner and drinks. Me and Joe each lost $20 to the slots, Steve won $45. Then we came home.
And they lived happily ever after.
Anyway... me, [MENTION=2677]kidcrash603[/MENTION] and [MENTION=2563]CatchnZees[/MENTION] went to NJ yesterday to look at a 535xi. It was priced about 3k below book. Pictures looked good and carfax showed some rear end accident damage from 2010 or so. I got the warranty history and found all of the common failures have already been taken care of. I even convinced them to bring it to their sister dealer (a BMW dealer) for a pre-purchase inspection. Mechanically the car passed the PPI. They noted that the wheels were slightly bent and that it needed tires. On paper, this car was good.
We got to the dealer earlier than expected and they were still detailing it. No big deal. We waited and they brought the car around. From 10' away, this thing looked great. Aside from the puddles of tire shine on the tires, wheels, and engine bay, and the mounds of wax built up under the trunk handle, we found some chips and scratches. Again, not a huge deal but enough that I probably would have had the bumpers refinished. The edges of the doors were rough. Not scratches or small dings, but like paint ground away on the very edge (seam) on almost every door right about waist high.
Joe and I took it for a drive. It felt solid, handled and accelerated nice. We did notice that after a hard acceleration, there was a pungent sulfur smell in the car. Could be a few things. First thought, the cats. That would suck as I'm told that for OEM, I'd be looking at about 3k. Other possibility is an injector running a little richer than the rest. That wouldn't be too bad, it's not a big job. And it could also just be bad fuel. Overall the road test was good.
Then there was the trunk. Oh that #!#!#!#!ing trunk. I opened the trunk to check the spare wheel well for water (a common problem). Found the mounting stud for the spare tire was not attached to the car, but was just laying on top of the tire. Not a huge deal I suppose. Pulled the tire out and checked the electronics for water (they usually get relocated because of the water problem). They were dry and the wheel well looked clean. Put that all back together and looked around. Found some #!#!#!#!ty body work on the trunk lid. Sags/runs in the paint, not a great job on the seam, etc. Again, from a few feet away, looked fine.
This is where we found the final problem.
The mother #!#!#!#!ing trunk wouldn't close! That's when the salesman came over.
Salesman: Everything look good?
Me: For the most part, except the trunk won't close.
Salesman: What do you mean?
Me: Just like it sounds. It. Won't. Close.
Salesman: Well it was closed when you got here.
Anyway, they took it over to BMW to check it out. The salesman asked me to start the paperwork while we waited.
My response: Nope. (Steve and Joe kinda died laughing at this point)
So the car came back and the salesman came over to us. He said it needs a latch and they got the trunk closed. He said the latch costs about $160 so he will discount the car by $160.
REALLY? THAT'S ALL YOU'RE GOING TO OFFER?
I told him that there were a LOT of problems that for the right price, I could live with. His price is not the right price. I told him I'd do 12k (he's at a little below 14). He said the price is already at wholesale value. I grab my jacket and he asks me to wait. He goes and talks to his manager and comes back to tell me that we are too far apart on price. He doesn't even counter offer.
I tell wish him good luck getting rid of it and we leave.
It was still a fun trip though. We went to Mohegan Sun for dinner and drinks. Me and Joe each lost $20 to the slots, Steve won $45. Then we came home.
And they lived happily ever after.
Drunk Crew Member #003
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