Would you buy a ZHP with no maintenance history?

[tracerit]

Looking to pick up a 330Ci but there's no maintenance history. i'd be getting it through another forum member (another forum) and he said the auction company sent their people in to look at the car and it checks out enough for them to list it. I read about the 2000-4000rpm issue, how much would it be to fix this out of warranty? I'm not a very sporty driver, I don't even hit 4000rpm on my E36 M3 now. The ZHP has 88k miles.

Cooling system I'm not worreid about, i'm pretty sure it hasn't been fixed yet so I'll fix that within a month.

The brakes on the car are kind of shot and the broker is offering to fix the pads and rotors, but i'll probably ask if i can discount say $200 off to do it myself?


Anyways, I'm really excited but a little apprehensive because I have to make a decision by Sunday afternoon :/

[Johnmadd]

If its a mafia memberz , dhuuu Eeeettt

[tracerit]

oh wait, let me clarify. the car is from a dealer. the member who's brokering this is from e46fanatics/e90post (with +2000 posts). the only zhp mafia connection is me haha.

[L0veZHP]

If its a mafia memberz , dhuuu Eeeettt +1

[Hermes]

oh wait, let me clarify. the car is from a dealer. the member who's brokering this is from e46fanatics/e90post (with +2000 posts). the only zhp mafia connection is me haha.

post count on that site isn't anything special. I would have the car checked out first before you commit to anything. Is it his personal car or is he just a middleman?

[tracerit]

post count on that site isn't anything special. I would have the car checked out first before you commit to anything. Is it his personal car or is he just a middleman?

unfortunately that won't be possible as on monday at 8am the car will go to auction. The broker managed to contact the dealer to arrange an outside purchase. If I do decide, the car come from FL and pass through TX where he's located and he'll check the car out there. Then it'll come to its potential home for the next few years in CA :)

I'm thinking about having him put his money down to pick the car up, then if things check out at his shop in TX, i'll get it then.

[Hermes]

this sounds like a lot of work for a car that might not be so good. what info do you have on it so far?

[tracerit]

just 88k, 2 owners, theft reported at 3x,000 miles but clean title, no check engine lights, stock everything.

here are some pictures: http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=888124

[Hermes]

ok, OP has been a member for 7 years. I'm more willing to listen to an older member. pictures aren't that great but it looks like the bumper might have some fitment issues and the driver's side bolster seems like it might have some wear issues. neither are that big a deal. is $14 the price you agreed on?

[tracerit]

nice eyes. my friend mentioned the bumper as well. are you referring to the first picture? i always thought the e36/e46 had sagging bumper issues. yeah, i aksed about him getting pictures of the side bolster as well. we'll see how that pans out, if the dealership will comply.

$14,000 including shipping (which is around $750) and he wanted to make $1500 off this, so the real price of the car is like $11750?

[webster]

Honestly with theft reported I would not touch this one. lack of maintenance history doesnt help. You can find a better zhp out there...

[Hermes]

yeah, front bumper. $14 sounds like a decent price but gimme a minute to look around, there are probably better ones out there

You're in CA? what options exactly are you looking for (coupe/vert/sedan, 6mt/step, nav or not, ZCW, etc...) and what are cool but not required?

[tracerit]

I thought about that too. How does the theft change the value of the car? I was under the impression that any type of theft reported would result in a salvage title?

I was close to going with a few silver gray sedans off this forum, but i've always wanted the coupe. this one popped up and i'm afraid my impulsive urge to get it will kick in soon... :/ seeing webster's signature isn't helping either! haha

[tracerit]

here's my criteria:

1. coupe preferred, or sedan (with fold down seats if possible)
2. silver gray preferred 80% over silver
3. MUST be manual
4. <120k miles
5. black cube preferred over silver cube
6. no engine mods or exhaust mods
7. <$14000

[Hermes]

ok, a few choices from a quick search of autotrader. I wouldnt jump on that other one right now

http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/240/180/images/2011/11/17/310/741/23253956549.310741941.IM1.MAIN.565x421_A.565x377.j pg
Price $15,800 - Mileage 76,834
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=310741941

http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/240/180/images/2011/10/7/308/261/22593819993.308261862.IM1.MAIN.565x421_A.562x421.j pg
Price $16,500 - Mileage 62,200 (I WOULD CHECK OUT THIS ONE, 1 OWNER)
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=308261862

http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/240/180/images/2011/11/26/311/132/23407943667.311132076.IM1.MAIN.565x421_A.489x421.j pg
Price $16,549 - Mileage 69,030
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=311132076

http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/240/180/images/2011/11/22/308/244/23346576644.308244167.IM1.MAIN.565x421_A.562x421.j pg
Price $16,988 - Mileage 94,518
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=308244167

http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/240/180/images/2011/11/3/309/620/23034342061.309620997.IM1.MAIN.565x421_A.562x421.j pg
Price $16,990 - Mileage 75,511
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=309620997

http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/240/180/images/2011/10/17/302/813/22749489140.302813730.IM1.MAIN.565x421_A.565x318.j pg
Price $16,995 - Mileage 101,593
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=302813730

http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/240/180/images/2011/11/22/310/521/23337459981.310521102.IM1.MAIN.565x421_A.562x421.j pg
Price $19,000 - Mileage 67,624
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=310521102

there were others, but here is a quick selection of manual coupes in some shade of gray/silver. I think I saw some verts, I didn't look at sedans

[tracerit]

nice list. that one you mentioned looks great except the interior is gray :/ that mileage and price is perfect. those will just be significantly more than what i want to spend though (after tax)

makes me wonder if the one for $14,000 ($11750 sale price) is way too low for some reason?

[Hermes]

yeah, just to show you that there are others out there. I would keep looking for now, you'll find the right one eventually

the one you originally posted sounds about right for an auction car. It probably has issues that will need to be dealt with so that's why its gonna sell for that price

[tracerit]

auction cars are usually fixer uppers?

sigh... i'm bummed haha. i think i should get back in touch with a mafia member, minalmo, on his 330i...

really appreciate the help and insight!

[Hermes]

not always, but at that price range i would be willing to bet it is a project

I would also start out by looking in our for sale section, lots of good choices

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?8-BMW-330-ZHPs-For-Sale-%28vehicles-only%29

[cakM3]

Tracer,

I agree with JP that this is most likely a project car. If this is something you are looking at and understand that you will most likely put in more $$$ to sort out any issues that you identify after purchasing it then its really up to you. In my case, my ZHP did not have any maintenance history other than knowing that the previous owner was a BMW tech who I personally knew... Even so, this did not mean too much regarding maintenance history of my ZHP...

Since purchasing my ZHP I have put in about $4,600 into it. I knew first hand that I would be going into this with more money to sort out anything I will find and that my ZHP is a "project car". For me it's the challenge of getting everything sorted out to my standards...:) I still had a PPI done and found that mechanically, the car was in excellent shape. That's all I needed to know and got mine for under $12k.

So the point being if you are willing to tackle a project car then go for it :thumbsup

[Go Horns!]

What about this one? http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?4784-For-Sale-2004-BMW-330-ZHP-13-000-6MT

[tracerit]

i trust this guy/broker, i'm tentatively going to buy the car as long as he wins the auction. he has his own shop, so he's going to fix up what he can if anything needs fixing.

after all the replies from here, i'm prepared to put up about $1000 towards any fixes i need, probably cooling system and bushings/mounts. i'll try most things DIY.

i saw minalmo's car. i PMd him a few weeks ago but he was fixing up some things, not sure if he's still selling this week, he was last week though. I PMd him again last night but now i'm steering towards this coupe.

[Hermes]

Get him to flush and change all fluids, spark plugs, filters, bushings, coolant system, intake boots. Whatever he doesn't do just DIY. Oh, and have him charge the battery, it's probably been sitting for a while

[zj96sc]

with theft history and no records i'd walk away. there are plenty of other ZHPs out there.

BUT....if you're going for it, just be ready to replace basically anything at and before the car's mileage from the old school MX program. you can safely assume nothing has ever been done if you have no proof.

Oh, and get the RPMs up on your M3. That motor was built to have its legs stretched, not lug around at 2k RPM.

[aurelius]

after all the replies from here, i'm prepared to put up about $1000 towards any fixes i need...

You're probably looking at nearly a grand just for new tires, mounted and balanced, etc.

[midlandtech]

You're probably looking at nearly a grand just for new tires, mounted and balanced, etc.

I dropped nearly 3 grand in clutch, disa, window regulator trans fluid and filter and I still need brakes... Mine had a folder of maintenance records and my buddy at the local dealership ran its history... Not saying its not a good car but you might want to be prepared to drop a little more than a grand to put it where it needs to be... I will echo the others though in that I think there are better cars out there


~Steve
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[onepercent]

Buying from a private seller without a maintenance history, plan to put a lot of money into the car to fix it up. Think about it, people usually sell their cars when they decide the maintenance and repairs are just not worth it, and they're going to buy a new car. I was just chatting with a neighbor who bought an E46 M3 2 weeks ago. It had 101k miles and I took a look at it-- it needs tires, brakes, and suspension work-- no small money task on an M3, plus who knows if it needs a valve adjustment or whatever else that I couldn't see in a cursory check.

I would say that if you buy from a reputable dealer (especially a franchisee) you are more likely to get a good car that is up to date on maintenance. However, this is not a guarantee- far from it. Even reputable dealers sell bad cars, just not as many as unreputable dealers sell.

[Hermes]

this should have already happened by now. Tracer, did he get the car?

[tracerit]

i ended up getting the car! i know, i should've listened, but i found a buyer for my m3 willing to pay what I had in mind and didn't want to lose that. we'll see how this all turns out, but i do plan on keeping the car for two years so i'll be putting some maintenance in anyways.

should get here in about a week :)

[danewilson77]

Congrats.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[cakM3]

congrats tracer.

[johnrando]

i ended up getting the car! i know, i should've listened, but i found a buyer for my m3 willing to pay what I had in mind and didn't want to lose that. we'll see how this all turns out, but i do plan on keeping the car for two years so i'll be putting some maintenance in anyways.

should get here in about a week :)

Great. Keep us posted, I know you will.

[tracerit]

so this has been on my mind for a few days and the only reason why i haven't updated is because i'm ashamed to even be in this situation. but here goes, i should've listened to everyone's advice and not get that car due to the "seller" and the "no maintenance". long story ahead...

i agreed to buy the car on 11/28 at noon'ish. the seller is actually a broker and he won the auction. he wanted me to wire the money but at the bank the lady said it was better to get a cashier's check so i did that. i deposited it on 11/29 tuesday. unfortunately on monday the broker didn't have enough money in his business account, so he had to wait until wednesday to have my funds be available. during this whole time he's been in FL where the car is located.

on wednesday night i asked him what the status of the car is and he told me that he drove the car 1000miles from FL to TX (where his base of operations is)!!! he said because he didn't have the money to pay the auction house on monday, delivery deadline was on monday night and the next delivery was 12/9.. furious i coudln't do much because he already has my money. the problem now is that the car has been in TX since 12/1 getting fixed. apparently he had the interior upholstered and recently discovered an issue with the misfiring. He thought it was a VANOS solenoid issue so he got that part but that didn't fix it, so he's going to clean out the VANOS. hopefully today i'll have a final answer as to what's going on. he's selling it with a 30 day/1000 mile warranty on the car.

during this whole process i've requested pictures of the interior but he was always reluctant to send them, and when i did get one it was dark. no legal forms have been signed yet. we were going to wait for him to deliver the car with the forms signed on his end, then i sign, and send back to him. originally, he said the car was great and everything and i bought it, but ireally should've listened to myself because i knew he had never seen the car before and he only saw as much as i did (on the auction listing).

at this point, what should i do? he has my $14k and "my" car. i'm thinking about giving him an ultimatum, fix the car by this tuesday and ship it out or give me my money back. but he can easily just say no...

[kayger12]

I would be looking to cancel this deal pronto.

The big Boss has a legal background and I'm sure will be able to tell us if you have a leg to stand on.

He should see this in the next few hours.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

[wsmeyer]

Uggg. That situation would put a knot in anyone's stomach and I hope everything gets back on track ASAP. When you buy something from a stranger sight unseen it automatically creates a situation where any wrinkle in the process causes your blood pressure and doubt to sky rocket. I'm not sure how specific your original agreement was but it's quite possible that you sending a cashiers check instead of wiring the money created a problem that he couldn't immediately rectify and led to the initial delay in taking possession of the car.

With that being said, if this was me and there were things other than the delay that made me feel uneasy, I'd be calling Southwest and getting a flight out there tomorrow morning. I WOULD NOT give him an ultimatum or even tell him I was coming, if he is trying to scam you I think that would just make the situation worse. Once you see the car and talk to him in person you'll either feel much better and you can take pictures of the car and get proper paperwork signed, or call the police and start unraveling this mess. $400 or so isn't much at this point considering how much hassle it would be to get your 14K back if he vanishes.

On a side note, I'm certainly not a lawyer but hopefully the cashiers check says "for purchase of BMW VIN #...." or something? And you Google mapped the address you sent it to to make sure it's a business? And you Googled the guys name, business name?

William.

[Hermes]

I'd be calling Southwest and getting a flight out there tomorrow morning. I WOULD NOT give him an ultimatum or even tell him I was coming, if he is trying to scam you I think that would just make the situation worse. Once you see the car and talk to him in person you'll either feel much better and you can take pictures of the car and get proper paperwork signed, or call the police and start unraveling this mess. $400 or so isn't much at this point considering how much hassle it would be to get your 14K back if he vanishes.

+1

Sorry to hear that it turned out like this. Hopefully everything works out for you. Let us know if you need anything else. Also, where in Cali are you? There are quite a few of us all around the state.

JP

[tracerit]

supposedly the car is the only one in the shop today, lets wait and see. without telling him i've set tuesday as the last day to get things taken care of then i'm going to be more stern with him. i don't think he's a scammer, he's sold cars like this before, how many times, i don't know.

i did have the teller write the vin # on the check and got photocopies of the withdraw and deposit. oh and i'm in orange county.

[cakM3]

tracer,

sorry to hear about the problems you are going through! Hope it all works out for you...

[WOLFN8TR]

Is there any ZHP Mafia members located in Texas that could possibly assist this guy.
Isn't WEBSTER down in Houston TX?
Maybe do a drive by to see if the car actually exists.

I bet he tells ya he got everything fixed and now the car runs great. It will cost another $2,000 thou.

Good luck...

[aurelius]

Where in TX is this car?

[tracerit]

the car is in San Antonio. He's rebuilding the vanos tomorrow so ill have more information after that as today the dealer was closed. I've seen pics of the car and his own as well with his license plates, I highly doubt he's a scammer but the delay from what was promised is bothersome.

[kayger12]

I find the whole vanos thing a little strange.

Vanos typically has nothing to do with a misfire.

Can't see how, "cleaning" it or rebuilding it (can't imagine he's spending money on Beisan seals) is going to help anything.

Bad coil pack or bad camshaft position sensor I could see, but vanos? :dunno


Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

[aurelius]

OP: post the VIN or PM it to me and I'll see if it sold thru Manheim. If it did, I'll let you know what your boy paid.

[ryankokesh]

This place feels more and more like the real mafia every day...lol :pimp

[cakM3]

This place feels more and more like the real mafia every day...lol :pimp

:like

[jayjay_dee]

reading this thread made me cringe...

I hope everything turns out well asap, good luck OP!

[ryankokesh]

any update? Hoping for the best for you...

[tracerit]

it ended up being the vanos seals needing replacement. things are now fixed and he's bringing the car in for a software update and clearing of the codes through the dealer. the pessimist in me wonders if clearing the codes would mask the issue, or would the code pop up again if thigns werent fixed?

things seem good otherwise and we're set for delivery wednseday and i'll probably call in late for work (graveyards...) friday night to pick it up :)

quick question though, since i live in CA, would changing anything with teh VANOS require a smog check again? it passed prior to throwing the codes.

[danewilson77]

it ended up being the vanos seals needing replacement. things are now fixed and he's bringing the car in for a software update and clearing of the codes through the dealer. the pessimist in me wonders if clearing the codes would mask the issue, or would the code pop up again if thigns werent fixed?

things seem good otherwise and we're set for delivery wednseday and i'll probably call in late for work (graveyards...) friday night to pick it up :)

quick question though, since i live in CA, would changing anything with teh VANOS require a smog check again? it passed prior to throwing the codes.

No

[johnrando]

Glad to hear things are looking up, and Dane's right, no smog required just because of a vanos repair. Keep us posted.

[Hermes]

What seals did he put in? I hope the Beisan ones and not new stock ones...

[danewilson77]

What seals did he put in? I hope the Beisan ones and not new stock ones...

That would be the suck.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[aurelius]

Be sure your boy really truly is getting you the software update. Make him show proof. The car no doubt needs it and you'll avoid the whole 2800 rpm gremlin if it does indeed get updated.

[tracerit]

just sent him a text asking about the bfrand of the seals and update. if he did replace with OEM seals (most likely), would thye just need to be replaced sooner compared to Besians seals?

also for the software update, i'm not entirely sure he's doing the rpm fix, from what i've read through search, the DME would have to be sent to New Jersey?

[danewilson77]

just sent him a text asking about the bfrand of the seals and update. if he did replace with OEM seals (most likely), would thye just need to be replaced sooner compared to Besians seals?

also for the software update, i'm not entirely sure he's doing the rpm fix, from what i've read through search, the DME would have to be sent to New Jersey?

Those will be good for a while... Guessing 50 to 100k miles.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[WOLFN8TR]

Good to hear you will be driving your new ride soon. :applause2

[MrMaico]

What seals did he put in? I hope the Beisan ones and not new stock ones...

I didn't think BMW even sells Vanos piston seals? You'd have to buy the whole unit. Or has something changed?


just sent him a text asking about the bfrand of the seals and update. if he did replace with OEM seals (most likely), would thye just need to be replaced sooner compared to Besians seals?

also for the software update, i'm not entirely sure he's doing the rpm fix, from what i've read through search, the DME would have to be sent to New Jersey?

You're thinking of two different issues. The 4000 rpm power dip has always required the DME to be sent to Jersey but the 2800 rpm miss (more annoying IMO) is cured with a simple software update.

Hope everything turns out well for you.

Barry

[danewilson77]

I didn't think BMW even sells Vanos piston seals? You'd have to buy the whole unit. Or has something changed?

Nothing has changed....as far as I know. I always thought you had to have a refurbished unti installed which meant....same seals. Ima call the dealer later.

There's not even a P/N for the BMW seals....so I doubt it.

[tracerit]

an update. i STILL have not gotten the car yet. but the VANOS unit was a rebuilt one from BMW of San Antonio. As for the software, he said "because it was an 04, there were only module updates instead of system updates" and that the DME is v41.0 (is this the one with the rpm fix?)

now about me not having the car. The transportation is being handled by Adesa, an auction house company like Manheim.
-It was shipped out on Thursday night at 930p from Adesa San Antonio, TX supposed to go to Los Angeles. I assume it'd get to LA by Saturday night.
-Saturday night rolls around and he tells me it had to make a stop at Adesa in Mesa, AZ and it was scheduled for delivery by 4pm Sunday.
-Sunday 4pm my friend and I are waiting his call to leave to pick it up but he says the truck hasn't arrived yet. It got too late so we rescheduled for Monday.
-Monday morning he tells me the truck never left AZ as it's waiting for a truck from Adesa Colorado. The CO truck would arrive late Monday night. I wait and wait, then had to sleep early. I assume it would arrive by night, they pack everything, then ship out Monday night, and arrive Tuesday night at least for pickup.
-I wake up Tuesday, find out the truck arrived overnight but hasn't left yet. He calls Adesa AZ and they say they're loading and processing paper and will leave when it does. They've had since Saturday to coordinate and plan this shipment, four days!

SO now I wait, and wait. This truck as of now is still sitting in AZ. It is unfathomable that a logistics company would be off four days of their estimate and not have their shipment ready during that time. That or the car is secretly still in San Antonion getting fixed due to some undisclosed issue with the car. I confronted him about that and asked him to provide proof this transportation delay is true, he'll show this to me tomorrow when he's "at the office". I"m pretty sure his dealer account with Adesa is all done online and he conveniently leaves his computer there.

Frustration is mounting and my dad and friends keep asking me where my car is. They all think i'm getting scammed. It's embarrassing. I've ran out of excuses telling them "oh my friend is too busy to drive me to pick the car up (it's an hour away)." Am I being unreasonable and selfish thinking the transportation company doesn't know what the hell they're doing, if that's the case?

[imola red zhp]

Sorry you're going through this I would start documenting or keeping emails as you may need this later on. I would threaten to cancel deal or stop payment until you have possession of car or a set of keys showing his good faith. This is unreasonable especially if you dealing with a dealer. If its a dealer it his responsibility to get you the car on time if its the carriers fault then that's between the dealer or whoever hired the carrier then the carrier needs to reimburse you the cost per day it was late from estimated arrival. At least a $150 per day. Be firm its your money and there a lot of ZHP around.

sent from Dennis' Droid using tapatalk

[tracerit]

He's a broker but his address of operations shows up as a car lot that looks like a dealer according to Google Maps. THing is I've already paid the full amount. THere was never a set delivery date as after he brought the car to his shop, he had to fix the VANOS. I was only told i'd have the car in a week, he's been late two weeks now. I'll let him know tomorrow, if it's not in my driveway by 10pm Wednseday night i'll demand some compensation, that he'll have to get reimbursed through the Adesa transportation company.

It's funny how he wanted me to write him a good review from the beginning then as things went down hill, he stopped mentioning it. I figured I wasn't going to write a bad review and just let this slide, but the issue is so bad now I don't have any reason why i should NOT write a bad review. He is providing a 30 day limited warranty so I may wait to see how he handles any upcoming issues before writing something but I know if I don't do it now, i won't want to later.

[imola red zhp]

You have been dealing with the broker, from your story I am concerned about your situation. I hope he has sent you the bill of sale with the vin# after you paid. The broker should know better than to take full payment with a car that still need to be worked on. He should ve taken a deposit and awaited the results before committing to selling you the car.
I am not telling you what to do , but if it were me I d be all over this guy , enough to fly there and drive the car home or get a refund.
Let me know if you need help you can pm me.

sent from Dennis' Droid using tapatalk

[tracerit]

the bill of sale, his dealer/broker contract, and original FL title are being sent over along with the car. I was under the impression he was going to fedex it, but some reason he decided to send it with the car instead. i have signed nothing so far... we both anticipated this being a smooth transaction until the VANOS issue popped up. i'm going to wait until tomorrow to see where things stand. i've never purchased a car out of state or have had this type of issue before so i do admit i'm kind of taking this sitting down. i appreciate your response and if you don't mind, i'd like to discuss this publicly so others can learn from this situation as well :)

[imola red zhp]

No problem discussing. Im really concerned now. The dealer/broker should not have sent any of the paperwork with the car, because now the burden of proof is now with the carrier. The dealer/broker has entrusted the sale to be completed by the carrier. And since you have paid in full, and you have no signed agreement with either the dealer/broker, what is your proof you have a purchase agreement with this said dealer?

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[imola red zhp]

The real problem I see is that you have a carrier driving out there with your car and he has the bill of sale and the title (not good) . If you read the thread out of state purchase my concern was exactly this. The title means everything whoever is holding it owns the car!!. Worst case scenario is the carrier.can claim that its their car and the dealer can deny ever dealing with you and you have no proof. I hope this is not the case.
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[tracerit]

i've kept all communications through text to keep a record. he scanned a preliminary buyers contract with his signature and sent to me via email to sign but i told him that probably won't fly since the original needs original signatures. i have a copy of the cashiers check i sent him with VIN # in the notes. thinking about this, he really seems like an amateur... he said he's done this for a while and sold many cars. he's a year younger than me, 26, which i thought was kind of young to be in this business. finding out he didn't even have 14k in his account to cover the cost of the car was unsettling as well, but the business i'm in scrapping by as well. you're kinda scaring me but also showing me how i have to be much firmer with this guy.

[tracerit]

The real problem I see is that you have a carrier driving out there with your car and he has the bill of sale and the title (not good) . If you read the thread out of state purchase my concern was exactly this. The title means everything whoever is holding it owns the car!!. Worst case scenario is the carrier.can claim that its their car and the dealer can deny ever dealing with you and you have no proof. I hope this is not the case.
sent from Dennis' Droid using tapatalk

i expressed this exact same concern with him after he told me he sent it with the car after i told him to fedex it. looking back at my texts, he never responded to that :( well the only thing i'm holding onto now is that the transportation is being done by a large company, Adesa. I should also note that because of the delays he got Adesa to set up tow transport to my house on Adesa's dime. I'm thinking maybe I should just go there with my friend instead and rule out the tow truck guy jacking the car.

[imola red zhp]

I really don't want to scare you but this is reality. In this case since it started out honest enough , but the inexperience of the broker have put your purchase at great risk. I'm sorry to be so forward but I hate to see someone get taken advantage of. I really hope this not the case. I would and this is me get a hold of the broker and demand he locate the the carrier call him (dealer) and only deal with the dealer/broker let the dealer sweat it out since he's been paid already. Have him give you a date and time that you car will be delivered.
sent from Dennis' Droid using tapatalk

[imola red zhp]

Tracerit I'm no lawyer but I have with similar situations and have been successful in averting lawsuits and settling with dealers and banks over other car purchase and properties. I can gladly assist you if this does not turn out favorable to you. Please update and take care .

sent from Dennis' Droid using tapatalk

[tracerit]

will do! again i really appreciate your insight into this :)

i wont' know more until tomorrow evening. it sucks because i work graveyards so now i have all night to stew over this and nothing can be done haha.

[imola red zhp]

Just be calm and let things happen keep you mind off of it till you can contact them, I'm sorry to get you riled up over this, I think you ll be fine from you last post...
sent from Dennis' Droid using tapatalk

[danewilson77]

Damn....:shifty

[MrMaico]

I seem to remember when reading about people shipping bikes that the shippers often times weren't able to give exact dates when they would arrive. Probably all depends on how many other cars or bikes they were hauling. Also I wonder if the truck from Colo. may have been slowed by the big blizzard that went through the area the other day.

Fingers crossed everything works out ok for you. I'm sure it will.

[WOLFN8TR]

You have been dealing with the broker, from your story I am concerned about your situation. I hope he has sent you the bill of sale with the vin# after you paid. The broker should know better than to take full payment with a car that still need to be worked on. He should ve taken a deposit and awaited the results before committing to selling you the car.
I am not telling you what to do , but if it were me I'd be all over this guy, enough to fly there and drive the car home or get a refund.
The dealer/broker should not have sent any of the paperwork with the car, because now the burden of proof is now with the carrier. The dealer/broker has entrusted the sale to be completed by the carrier. And since you have paid in full, and you have no signed agreement with either the dealer/broker, what is your proof you have a purchase agreement with this said dealer? The real problem I see is that you have a carrier driving out there with your car and he has the bill of sale and the title (not good). If you read the thread out of state purchase my concern was exactly this. The title means everything whoever is holding it owns the car!!. Worst case scenario is the carrier can claim that its their car and the dealer can deny ever dealing with you and you have no proof. I hope this is not the case.

TRACERIT imola red zhp is right you are in a really bad situation bro. If it were me I would personally go get the car! Hopefully the broker put the legal documents in the car without the carrier knowing about them. The legal paper work should of been sent separately.

Where is the car located now? Good Luck.....

[tracerit]

he sent me a picture showing that it was indeed shipped out on thursday night 930pm from San Antonio TX, didn't get to Mesa, AZ until Sunday 3pm, 1000 miles in 66 hours, almost 20 mph taking into account the driver slept 8 hours. so it's been sitting in AZ for four days now. the truck from CO was slowed by weather, but it arrived on Monday night.

so my qualm is with this transportation company. apparently they wo'nt refund his money due to weather or conditions beyond their control. i don't have time to fly out since i'm sick and i've been hiding this from my parents :( i'm just glad the internet allows me to have some anonymity to hide my shame lol.

as for the title being in the car, i'm extremely worried about that now too. i realized it before but didn't know how serious it could be if the driver was devious and picked it up. going through the transportation company isn't too bad because they're going to log it out and log the car back in. it's the tow truck driver the transportation company assigned to transport from LA to my house. since the holidays are coming up, i'm kind of out of luck trying to find someone to drive me there to pick the car up, guess i'll have my first taxi ride in a few days.

[imola red zhp]

Understood, no shame, just looking out for you remember were family here, were here to help.
If I may , to me I am still on the dealer/brokers but for this. He's the one who hired the transport co. He is to provide safe and secure travel for your vehicle until you are satisfied when the call is delivered. Also he is liable since he admitted in your email that bill of sale and title are with transport co.
Given the weather is a factor here and there is nothing you can do about that , the transport co. should bBs contacted you as well as the dealer as to status of vehicle. Especially if there is a delay.
I understand that the transport will not give refund but the dealer should refund you something for such a lousy service on his part.
Also if he works for a company I would already contact his superiors on and advise them on his sending title with car and providing you with no solid receipt on this transaction. I would already put in writing that if the car is not delivered by Thursday night you want a full refund SERIOUS......
Again, this me but I would be calling everyone on this because you paid in full for this vehicle and you've been waiting and stressing out over this. I' d be calling the dealer every 30 minutes.
sent from Dennis' Droid using tapatalk

[tracerit]

i can scratch that worry with the title being stolen, he put my name on it and it's just waiting my signature. whew!

[WOLFN8TR]

Get your money back and buy this 2006 BMW 330CI ZHP 6sp for $11,650! And it's local for you to go look at.

BMW : 3-Series ZHP PACKAGE 2006 BMW 330CI 94K M3 6 SPEED LOADED DINAN BLACK ON BLACK ZHP 255 HP NAVIGATION

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=300640393818

[johnnyrad]

Tracerit I'm very cynical by nature, however reading this thread it sounds like the car will arrive. Granted your concerns and worry are legit, and I would be feeling the same if I was on your end. However, stop and think about it. The guy driving the transport vehicle, do you really think he's devious and is going to steal the car and sell it because he knows the title is in the car? I don't buy it..He's probably like most folks just trying to do his job and earn a buck, not swindle people because a foolish mistake was made by the seller shipping all the paperwork with the car. What's done is done, you can't change that. As long as you know the vehicle is on the truck on it's way, I would say the worrisome part is over and you will get it. Try to think positive and not let your mind race. Simple to say I know, but we all got your back bro.

[WOLFN8TR]

Hopefully Santa stops by your house with a ZHP!

Seriously thou if I wasn't busy with family for Xmas I would go get the car for you in Mesa AZ and drive it down to ya free of charge.

[MrMaico]

Get your money back and buy this 2006 BMW 330CI ZHP 6sp for $11,650! And it's local for you to go look at.

BMW : 3-Series ZHP PACKAGE 2006 BMW 330CI 94K M3 6 SPEED LOADED DINAN BLACK ON BLACK ZHP 255 HP NAVIGATION

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=300640393818

Salvage title though.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-BMW-330CI-94K-M3-6-SPEED-LOADED-DINAN-BLACK-BLACK-ZHP-255-HP-NAVIGATION-/300640393818?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item45ff905a5a

[danewilson77]

Hopefully Santa stops by your house with a ZHP!

Seriously thou if I wasn't busy with family for Xmas I would go get the car for you in Mesa AZ and drive it down to ya free of charge.

True friend^

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[tracerit]

UPdate. Car is STILL sitting in AZ... Apparently the broker spoke with his friend who's part of Adesa's Operations department and was told they laid off some drivers prior to the holidays and it's been getting busy for them. Who lays people off prior to the holidays? -_- Their solution is to now ship the cars via train from AZ to LA... That just sounds like a lot more work IMO and will complicate the situation much more. Won't know anything till tomorrow.

At this point, I've come to accept that there's nothing I can do except wait and see. I mentioned before I wasn't going to post any review/iTrader rating for this guy on the other forums but this situation and how he's handling (or not handling) it needs to be brought to the attention of potential customers of his. One thing that pissed me off was that when I told him if the car doesn't get here by Saturday, i'll need some type of compensation. He replied "Hope not from me I'm almost 1000 over out of my families Christmas fund". Hey buddy, you're a business, you eat your costs and I don't need to know your personal drama. LOoks like we'll be each others Grinches this Christmas.

While I would like to just tell him I want to cancel this deal, I haven't been able to find another Silver Gray coupe like this. If I do cancel, I'm sure he's going to fight it and not even refund the full $14,000 he already has from me.

[WOLFN8TR]

This is Unreal....Seems like one lie after another.

You have more patience then I do that's for sure. If it were me I would be on the road to AZ to get my ZHP.

[kayger12]

Ok, so here's what you need to do.

I don't trust this broker at all. I think he's full of shit.

I would cut him out and call Adesa directly. There customer number is 888-526-7326

At a minimum, you can verify the broker's BS story and get the information you need first hand.

Seems to me like this guy is just kicking the can down the road with one excuse after another.

I'd feel a lot better if I corroborated everything directly with Adesa.

[danewilson77]

Ok, so here's what you need to do.

I don't trust this broker at all. I think he's full of shit.

I would cut him out and call Adesa directly. There customer number is 888-526-7326

At a minimum, you can verify the broker's BS story and get the information you need first hand.

Seems to me like this guy is just kicking the can down the road with one excuse after another.

I'd feel a lot better if I corroborated everything directly with Adesa.

Shit just got real^

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[cakM3]

tracer.....all I can say is wow........hope this can be resolved soon.....

[imola red zhp]

Shit just got real^

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

Yes it did. (tracerit) PM me

[tracerit]

I'm just about to go to sleep, but wanted to update this with my plan of action to see what everyone's thoughts are. I"ve called Adesa already and because I'm not their customer, they would not be able to disclose any information with me, understandable. But my suspicion isn't so much with Adesa as I had the broker take a picture of the tracking history of my car from his Adesa online account. The story checks out so far. I'm just not too pleased with him now saying he won't compensate me for this delay. He's only compensated me $200 from two weeks ago due to the savings he would've saved going through Adesa instead of another transportation company. At that time, i wouldn't have been able to pick the car up for three days due to working three 12 hour graveyard shifts in a row, so I told him pocket me the $200 by using Adesa. THe other trucking company woudl deliver closer to my house than Adesa. I did not know Adesa would be this slow and was told both would arrive same time. I don't think he's fighting Adesa enough to get this car moved out of AZ since it's not his car.

When Saturday rolls around and I don't have the car in my driveway, I'm going to propose to him to either compensate me $100 each day the car is not delivered starting Saturday, then to Monday (skipping Sunday for CHristmas). If he refuses that I'll tell him I want 100% of the $14,000 I paid him four weeks ago back as I have not received anything other than frustration from this transaction. He will first give me some sob story about how he's put so much work into the car and we've gone so far, then say no, then say he'll give me ~$12,500 after his flights, time, etc. I'll just reply with $14,000 or we go to court. When I wake up, I"ll research more on how I can sue the broker (lives in TX, although car title is still FL). I should also note again, I originally agreed to buy the car when it had 88XXX miles. Now it has 90XXX miles since he drove it from FL to TX without my consent. I think that would help my cause in voiding such a deal.

Alright, gonna talk with Dennis over the phone, he's been helping me off the forums, thanks!

[webster]

ugh, sorry to hear of all this. can't say we didn't warn you, but we're not gonna rub salt in the wounds at this point. i agree with the line of thinking to cancel the whole deal outright. even if the car were to be delivered, lord knows what he put it through driving it across country. sounds like he got a nice little joyride out of it. man, i would be so pissed about that, that in and of itself would be enough for me to cancel the deal. i'm no lawyer but i would think you have a leg to stand on in court. good luck man. i think everyone on this board is a little "sick to the stomach" about this whole situation...we feel for ya

[cakM3]

...sounds like he got a nice little joyride out of it. man, i would be so pissed about that, that in and of itself would be enough for me to cancel the deal. i'm no lawyer but i would think you have a leg to stand on in court. good luck man. i think everyone on this board is a little "sick to the stomach" about this whole situation...we feel for ya

+1

[aurelius]

OP:

You won't get a refund. The seller is clearly running a shoestring operation (which is fine) and he has no control over the shipper.

More to the point, the seller very likely signed an agreement allowing the shipper to ship as they see fit. He can call them 100 times a day and nothing will change.

This is what you signed up for. The car will arrive. Drive it for a few weeks and see if any cleared fault codes reappear. Proceed accordingly.

[WOLFN8TR]

Did Santa bring you a ZHP?

[tracerit]

Santa brought me the ability to wait a two days, then he wants his present back. The broker replied on Saturday that the car was delivered via train to an LA station. But they were closed Saturday, Sunday and today. So tomorrow, it HAS to be the day that I get the car. There can not be a reason why I would have to wait past Tuesday.

Other good news, although he originally refused to compensate me for the delay, he spoke with the transport company who refunded him the $800 he paid, and that's now going to me, so i'm getting a total of $1000 returned to me.

Bad news, Dennis brought to my attention the additional wait I'll have to endure as I wait for the title and registration to kick in. So i won't be able to drive the car, "legally" haha.

[WOLFN8TR]

There is a Santa! Whats two more days after waiting a month, and money back! Keep us updated, photos of the delivery are a must!

[WOLFN8TR]

Santa brought me the ability to wait a two days, then he wants his present back. The broker replied on Saturday that the car was delivered via train to an LA station. But they were closed Saturday, Sunday and today. So tomorrow, it HAS to be the day that I get the car. There can not be a reason why I would have to wait past Tuesday.

Other good news, although he originally refused to compensate me for the delay, he spoke with the transport company who refunded him the $800 he paid, and that's now going to me, so i'm getting a total of $1000 returned to me.

Bad news, Dennis brought to my attention the additional wait I'll have to endure as I wait for the title and registration to kick in. So i won't be able to drive the car, "legally" haha.

Ok Man what's the deal? It's been two plus days and NO update....
Do you have the ZHP or not? Photos......

[tracerit]

i kinda figured i was only bitching so i decided to not update until i get the car, so no update, no...:mad

apparently the car did NOT arrive in LA by train on saturday, it arrived at the train station. the train station doesn't update with location. it arrived on monday and it's been sitting there being held up. i called today and the excuse is it's being held up by "1400 other cars" waiting to get off. 1400 cars is a lot... that was at morning, at evening it was half that. so tomorrow, this car should get here, but i've been telling myself that everyday now. i'm pissed. i can't do anything because i'm not the transport or acution company's customer, my broker is. he's my voice, and i don't think he's putting enough effort in. he has my money, the transport has his money, i don't have anything, no one cares about this except me.

at this point, i'm just keeping everything to myself because the end is near. i'll get my car, wait for my refund, then blow up on him, get his license number, dealership info, business info, etc, file a report with BBB and trash him on the other forums. i'm writing a letter to the auction company and explaining this frustration, how horrible their service is. they need to know someone's not happy. what sucks is no one is being accountable for this.

if i don't get the car tomorrow (friday), they'll be closed the weekend and open on monday, 2012. my car will be one year older... lol

[danewilson77]

Ugh.....this is absolutely ridiculous.

[llll1l1ll]

I feel really bad for you, Tracerit. I hope hope hope that you get your car by Tuesday, Jan. 2nd.

[WOLFN8TR]

Ugh.....this is absolutely ridiculous.

Ya unbelievable....:foottap

[tracerit]

last update of 2011 i suppose.... this whole fiasco will span three "months" and if i'm dramatic, two "years". basically i won't be getting the car until monday, or tuesday, or wednesday, etc. it's been sitting at the train station since monday. we don't even know if it's been trucked to the auction company yet. they had thursday to move ~800 cars, all yesterday, and now all of today. yet the car is still sitting there. i find this hard to believe. i haven't been this depressed over something since my first gf broke up with me.

this guy isn't putting in enough for me. he's not pushing the transport company. i always have to ask him for updates, remind him. i've been waiting for documents showing work was done on the VANOS, the brake pads being replaced, new spark plugs, etc. it's been a week since i asked him for those, still don't have those yet. he told me this morning it would be monday for pickup, i told him to call again and he then said the truck will deliver from the train station to auction house and it''ll be ready tonight. so i wait until an hour ago and i had to ask him what was going on otherwise he would've just not even update me. he says sorry, it's definitely going to be monday. i tell him call your friend who's in the operations dept with the auction company and have them push the car ahead. no one else is waiting for their car, only you. you would've thought he would've done that before me suggesting it, nope. that showed me he's not pushing enough.

is there anyway i can back out of this deal now? if not, i'm going to give him an ultimatum, if the car isn't on my driveway by monday night, you're going to go to your bank and wire me back $14,000 tuesday at 9am.

anyways, thanks for reading and be safe for new years!

[tracerit]

just an update but i ended up getting my money back a few days ago. now i'm back on the hunt! i think i found one but it has 120k miles on it.

[WOLFN8TR]

just an update but i ended up getting my money back a few days ago. now i'm back on the hunt! i think i found one but it has 120k miles on it.

Sweet!
Ok since we never seen a photo of the car lets see a photo of the returned funds!

[WOLFN8TR]

Check out this 2006 ZHP! You were gonna spend $14,000 on the other BMW. It's also in California!
This car is a "Salvage Title".....

2006 BMW 3 series -
Price: $14,500
Year: 2006
Make: BMW
Model: 3 series
Miles: 52500
VIN: WBABD53476PL18008
Phone #:619-210-5019
Engine: 6-Cylinder 3.0L
Color: GRAY

Description:
PERFORMANCE ZHP PACKAGE
PREMIUM ZPP PACKAGE
HARMAN KARTER PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM
NAVIGATION
SMOKERS PACKAGE
ADAPTIVE ZEON HEADLIGHTS
MOON ROOF
POWER FRONT SEATS
AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
INDASH CD PLAYER
CD PREPARATION for CD changer
RAIN SENSOR
AUTO HEADLIGHTS
M SERIES SPOILER
AUTO TRANS
BLUE TOOTH
HOMELINK

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574947307&toolid=10001&campid=5336776893&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Febaymotors%2F%3Fc md%3DViewItem%26_trksid%3Dp3984.m1438.l2649%26item %3D250962237008%26sspagename%3DSTRK%253AMEWAX%253A IT%23ht_6321wt_1167

[WOLFN8TR]

eBay purchased a history report for this vehicle so you don't need to buy one.
AutoCheck Vehicle History Report
POWERED BY
2006 BMW 3-Series 330Ci
Report Run Date: 2012-01-07 13:05:18.273 EST
Report Summary

Class: Upscale - Near Luxury
Engine: 3.0L I6 EFI
Country of Assembly: Germany
Vehicle Age: 6 year(s)
Calculated Owners: 1
VIN: WBABD53476PL18008
Year: 2006
Make: BMW
Model: 3-Series 330Ci
Style/Body: Coupe 2D

This vehicle does not qualify for Buyback Protection
Unfortunately, this vehicle does not qualify for our Buyback Protection program.
About Buyback Protection

AccidentCheck
Reported accidents: 1

Title and ProblemCheck
Major title or other problem(s) reported

OdometerCheck
Your vehicle checks out!
Last Reported Odometer Reading: 51,590

Vehicle Use and EventCheck
Specific vehicle use(s) or events reported
View Full History

AccidentCheck
Not all accidents / issues are reported to AutoCheck.

Information Reported! AutoCheck shows accidents reported to AutoCheck for this 2006 BMW 3-Series 330Ci (WBABD53476PL18008). Below you will find the date and location reported for the accident. Not all accidents or damage events are reported to AutoCheck.

Accidents Reported on This Vehicle

Accident No. Reported Date Location
1 07/12/2011 FULLERTON, CA
Reported accidents or damage events are a result of vehicle collisions or other non-collision incidents such as vandalism or theft. Not all accidents or damage events are reported to AutoCheck.

Title and ProblemCheck
Problem Reported! AutoCheck's database for this 2006 BMW 3-Series 330Ci (WBABD53476PL18008) shows a negative title(s) or other problems. When reported to AutoCheck, these events can indicate serious past damage or other significant problems, and disqualifies the vehicle for AutoCheck Buyback Protection. Check the Vehicle Use and EventCheck for reported accidents.

1 Problem(s) Reported: 15 Title/Problem areas checked:
No abandoned title record
No damaged title or major damage incident record
No fire damaged title record
No grey market title record
No hail damage title record
No insurance loss title or probable total loss record
No junk or scrapped title record
No manufacturer buyback/lemon title record
No odometer problem title record
No rebuilt/rebuildable title record
Salvage title or salvage auction record(s)
No water damaged title record
No NHTSA crash test record
No frame/unibody damage record
No recycling facility record
OdometerCheck
Your Vehicle Checks Out! AutoCheck examined the reported odometer readings reported to AutoCheck for this 2006 BMW 3-Series 330Ci (WBABD53476PL18008) and no indication of an odometer rollback or tampering was found. AutoCheck uses business rules to determine if reported odometer readings are significantly less than previously reported values. Not all reported odometer readings are used. Title and auction events also report odometer tampering or breakage.

0 Problem(s) Reported: Mileage Date Reported
3 03/31/2006
51,590 09/13/2011
Vehicle Use and EventCheck
Information Reported! AutoCheck shows additional vehicle uses or events reported to AutoCheck for this 2006 BMW 3-Series 330Ci (WBABD53476PL18008). This includes reported vehicle uses such as rental or lease, and events such as whether the vehicle has been reported to have had a loan/lien or a duplicate title issued. Other events show if the vehicle has a reported accident and how many calculated accidents or if it has been reported stolen or repossessed. It is recommended to have pre-owned vehicles inspected by a third party prior to purchase.

1 Event(s) Reported: 6 Vehicle uses checked:
Fleet, rental and/or lease use record(s)
No taxi use record
No police use record
No government use record
No livery use record
No driver education record
1 Event(s) Reported: 9 Vehicle events checked:
1 Accident record(s) reported through accident data sources
No corrected title record
No duplicate title record
No emission/safety inspection record
No loan/lien record
No fire damage incident record
No repossessed record
No theft record
No storm area registration/title record
Full History
Below are the historical events for this vehicle listed in chronological order. Any discrepancies will be in bold text.

Report Run Date 2012-01-07 13:05:18.273 EST

Vehicle: 2006 BMW 3-Series 330Ci (WBABD53476PL18008)

Event date Location Odometer reading Data Source Details
03/31/2006 CA
3
Motor Vehicle Dept. ODOMETER READING FROM DMV
04/19/2006 CHINO HILLS, CA
Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
04/28/2006 CHINO HILLS, CA
Motor Vehicle Dept. TITLE
04/02/2008 CHINO HILLS, CA
Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
07/12/2011 FULLERTON, CA
Police Report ACCIDENT REPORTED (Case #:1107204)
09/13/2011 CA
51,590
Motor Vehicle Dept. TITLE (Leased Vehicle)
SALVAGE

[WOLFN8TR]

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574947307&toolid=10001&campid=5336776893&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Febaymotors%2F2005-BMW-330Ci-ZHP-PACKAGE-NAVIGATION-RARE-FIND-MUST-SEE-IMMACULATE-%2F250966884173%3Fpt%3DUS_Cars_Trucks%26hash%3Dite m3a6ecabf4d

[MrMaico]

just an update but i ended up getting my money back a few days ago. now i'm back on the hunt! i think i found one but it has 120k miles on it.

Good to hear. I was afraid he would make things difficult when you tried getting your money back. For me personally, there is just no way I could buy a car without seeing it in person first.

[Hermes]

just an update but i ended up getting my money back a few days ago. now i'm back on the hunt! i think i found one but it has 120k miles on it.


Good to hear. I was afraid he would make things difficult if you tried getting your money back. For me personally, there is just no way I could buy a car without seeing it in person first.

+1 - great news after what you went through with this car

[imola red zhp]

Great news, i'm sure that's a big relief off your shoulders, I'm sure you'll be more careful this time.

[az3579]

Salvage brings the value way down, which I would think is a good negotiating point if you're interested in the car.
You'd have to worry about whether the repairs were done correctly, were the parts used good quality, etc. A lot of this stuff you won't find out 'till years down the road.
That's one reason I made it a point that I'd buy a car with 0 accidents involving replacement parts. It's not the fact that a car's been fixed, it's whether it's been fixed correctly.

[tracerit]

wolf, thanks for the links however i'm set on silver gray coupe and 6mt. have to admit after this whole fiasco i was going to just find an 09 civic si locally but after seeing that combination zhp on the freeway (pulled over by cops lol) i shamed myself for even thinking going back to a 4cyl.

some would think i would never buy a car sight unseen ever again, but even though i'm in socal, there are barely any silver grays 6mt in this area for < $14000. all my friends and family just don't understand a ZHP isn't just your run of the mill BMW 3.

i'm going to post in a new thread, let this downer of a thread die haha

[imola red zhp]

Irwin maybe you could just write a summary of your experience. So that others can learn what to do and not. Refer to the out of state thread on what PPI and how to handle shipping and paperwork of car. I wrote a checklist of how too's when dealing without of state purchases....

sent from Dennis' Droid using tapatalk

[johnrando]

So glad you got your money back. I was wondering how things turned out. jr

[danewilson77]

just an update but i ended up getting my money back a few days ago. now i'm back on the hunt! i think i found one but it has 120k miles on it.

Great. So what ever happened to the car?

[WOLFN8TR]

Great. So what ever happened to the car?

Ya where is the car? Let me guess it was never where he said it was.

[tracerit]

i never followed up with the guy. last i heard was the train company shipped the car back to him. i'm going to run an autocheck in a few weeks to see if someone bought it or not.

[Crickett]

Holy $#!@@ what a mess! I'm so glad you decided to bail on such a nasty situation.

So the car's heading back to San Antonio, huh? Perhaps I could go take a peek at it & see what you saved yourself from!

[jreyes19]

thats good you decided against it, :)

[tracerit]

looks like he listed it locally for $2500 more than what i had originally "bought" it for: http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/2813835226.html

[danewilson77]

looks like he listed it locally for $2500 more than what i had originally "bought" it for: http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/2813835226.html

What a noob.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[Crickett]

looks like he listed it locally for $2500 more than what i had originally "bought" it for: http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/2813835226.html

Now I'm really tempted to go give it a look-see. :biggrin

[tracerit]

Now I'm really tempted to go give it a look-see. :biggrin

haha, you'll have plenty of time. I don't see it getting sold at that price. Those are pictures taken by the auction company and with the old mileage.