Buying a used 4.4i X5.. some questions.

thebigsadler · #1 08-19-2005, 09:45 AM

I hope this isn't too much of a "newbie-ish" thing to do, but I have been looking around a couple forums and I am trying to get a good idea of what I am getting for my money. I have been searching on autotrader and ebay for the past few weeks and have found a couple great X5's posted for sale.

Currently I am talking to a guy who wants $20,000.00 for a 2002 4.4i with 36,000 miles on the car. To me, it sounds almost too good to be true, because the same car has a private-party kelly blue book value of over $30,000.00. Of course he has given me some "rigga-ma-roll" about how he has relocated out of the country and couldn't take his SAV to the UK, etc etc. He wants to use escrow.com for the transaction, which I have used before and seems pretty foolproof; however, I don't want to even start something if it is just plain unrealistic.

This is going to be my daily driver as I have a fun weekend car that I have been pouring all my money into lately. I have heard a lot of great things about the 4.4i motor and about X5's in general. I am little concerned about the warranty running out on a car that is a couple years old, but I guess I can always buy an updated warranty through BMW correct?

Any advice and direction you can point me in would be great.

-jason

ML320 · #2 08-19-2005, 10:00 AM

It sounds too good to be true. Is the car local? Don't fall for the trick if it required you to send some $$$ first. If it is local car, test drive it or even pay to get a pre purchase inspection on it. As for warrant, you can always get extened warranty. I have mine coverd all the way to 100k warranty, bumpr to bumper, 0 deductible, cost me about $2k though but with a warrnty like this, it almost like driving a car with a brand new warranty. Good luck on your search.

thebigsadler · #3 08-19-2005, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ML320

It sounds too good to be true. Is the car local? Don't fall for the trick if it required you to send some $$$ first. If it is local car, test drive it or even pay to get a pre purchase inspection on it. As for warrant, you can always get extened warranty. I have mine coverd all the way to 100k warranty, bumpr to bumper, 0 deductible, cost me about $2k though but with a warrnty like this, it almost like driving a car with a brand new warranty. Good luck on your search.

He is not local, he is in texas I believe and is now living out of the country. Good to hear on the warranty, that is reassuring.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncx

That is a very old, but successful scam. Don't spend one more minute with that seller. You have been warned!

By the way, :welcome:

Well if I use escrow.com how is there any chance that I could get scammed, besides the truck getting delivered and something being wrong with it? From what I know from past experiences with escrow.com, you put the money in an escrow account, the vehicle gets shipped, I have 5 days to inspect the vehicle and once I submit approval on escrow.com the funds are released to the seller. If I refuse the vehicle, I have heard I have to eat the shipping charges to send the vehicle back.. but don't know much more than that.

So how do I avoid this scam, especially since the VIN checks out and it sounds like a decent deal (besides just moving on...)? Are there other ways to complete a transaction with a vehicle on auto trader that are more foolproof and will keep my money safe until I approve the car? Any other places to look to buy a car?

Thanks for the welcome..

Roc3b · #4 08-19-2005, 10:27 AM

Sounds like a total scam....thinking about the worst case scenario...and then what your recourse could be? Assume the worst and hope for the best.

There is a guy running that scam on ebay all the time trying to sell Escalades and Denalis. When I was searching for a truck on line for weeks I would always see the auctions using pictures of other peoples rigs from weeks before and always the same schtick "I have moved out of the country becuase the wife took a new job and I only need one vehicle" market is what is...most people have notes on thier stuff and very rarely sell at loss to get out of it. Think about what if you get in a jam.... would it keep you from getting your dream truck?

If it all looks very bad....move on! Don't get ripped off.

Oh yeah...one last thing....if there is a deposit..the escrow firm will not protect that part of the purchase. There is your biggest area of risk is the deposit...not mention if he is out of the country it is not a federal offense that can be enforced for intra state fraud.

thebigsadler · #5 08-19-2005, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roc3b

Sounds like a total scam....thinking about the worst case scenario...and then what your recourse could be? Assume the worst and hope for the best.

There is a guy running that scam on ebay all the time trying to sell Escalades and Denalis. When I was searching for a truck on line for weeks I would always see the auctions using pictures of other peoples rigs from weeks before and always the same schtick "I have moved out of the country becuase the wife took a new job and I only need one vehicle" market is what is...most people have notes on thier stuff and very rarely sell at loss to get out of it. Think about what if you get in a jam.... would it keep you from getting your dream truck?

If it all looks very bad....move on! Don't get ripped off.

I hear you. I definitely am not going to take any stupid risks.. I was just wondering if there was any way to further sniff out this sale and find out how to scam the scam artist

I will keep looking around. I supposedly have a friend who works for BMW, but haven't talked to him in forever. Might just have to go test drive a new X5 this weekend just to get a feel for it.

Roc3b · #6 08-19-2005, 10:40 AM

That is what I did....I drove a 05 then brought a low mile 01....both 4.4is and there is not noticeable difference in the handle or the feel.

I was going to buy an Escalade until my friend Jared, with an 00 X5 DINAN stage 3, threw me the keys to his rig and said don't come back untill you have a <woody>.

Caddy what?!?

I was back in 5 minutes flat.....buy one...but find the right one!

LeMansX5 · #7 08-19-2005, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebigsadler

He is not local, he is in texas I believe and is now living out of the country......

SCAM written all over...all the ingredients are there.

ncx · #8 08-19-2005, 10:03 AM

That is a very old, but successful scam. Don't spend one more minute with that seller. You have been warned!

By the way, :welcome:

BMW X5 · #9 08-19-2005, 10:10 AM

its impossible thats half the price of my 2002 4.4 granted its certified but that still doesnt warrant half price. ML where did you get extended warranty from? my X had its maintenance ran out 1month prior to my purchase, now i am still covered until 2008 by the CPO and for another year with the factory warranty. which one are you referring to?

sdogg888 · #10 08-19-2005, 10:41 AM

you live and u learn,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, but good luck