Found my X5 4.8 in a different city 9.5 hrs away

[driveslowly]

No local dealer is willing to get me my X5 which is in a different city 9.5 hours drive time. I called the dealer in Lubbock Texas and he agreed to do the trade and ship the car over the phone.

Does any one have experience doing this? I've always purchased cars at the dealer and don't know of my liabilities over the phone.

Your thoughts and feedback are greatly appreciated.

[UCrewX5]

Whatever you do, don't send money until you have inspected the vehicle and determine it is as represented.

[driveslowly]

Thanks UCrewX5! Have you had hands-on experience with this process?

I'm curious of all the negative aspects for doing a trade over the phone. When I send my car - will they want to offer less money? Do I sign the papers ahead of time so I can secure my financial liability?

Seems testy ....

[UCrewX5]

You are talking about a big-ticket purchase here, something you will likely have to live with for quite some time. Why not just drive your trade-in over, do the deal, and drive back your new X5?

I have bought and sold vehicles all over the country, but I've always done them face to face.

[rh71]

deal with the dealership in that city 9.5 hours away directly in this purchase.

http://www.carbuyingtips.com/carintro.html

[driveslowly]

Thanks rh71 and UCrewX5.

Actual drivetime to Lubbock is 12 hours... I will be dealing with that dealership directly and I'm curious if anyone has direct experience with purchasing cars over the phone.

I figure they need signatures and I will not be obliged to sign papers until I inspect the car after delivery. But I do wonder if they can change the trade price etc. and expect me to pay more once all paperwork is completed and I send them my car on the same truck that delivers the X5.

12 hour drive seems terribly long. I wouldn't mind paying for a little convenience. I'm motivated to make a move based on the low interest rate. Would laugh hard if BMW dropped it to 0.0% APR since the FED is looking at cutting the rate to 0.0% APR based on Eurpoean markets.

[vinuneuro]

Unless the car is brand new, go and do it in person. A plane ticket is a small cost compared to the vehicle. If the vehicle is used and not being sold by a BMW dealer, an alternate option is to have the dealer take the vehicle to BMW dealer local to them for a pre-purchase inspection.

[motordavid]

Not apples to apples but we bought our '02 Vette over the phone
and internet, bought our '03 CR-V over the internet and...
when we bought our '01 X5 way back in September 2001,
we bought it from a semi-local dlr who found the exact car
we wanted, 5 states away.

The selling dealer and I came to agreement on price, (including
a trade-in), and the selling dealer had it shipped from NC to
NJ and delivered to us...no sweat, no probs.

That was then...my guess is your local stlr simply refuses to
do that "search/reciprocity" angle because he is sitting on
inventory he doubts he can move before the next Ice Age.
Thus, he wants no part of a transfer sale that does not
move a unit off his floor plan.
My 2Cts...
GL,mD

[driveslowly]

Thanks vinuneuro. The car is Brand New with 30 miles but I can't fly since I want to trade my current car with less then 4K miles. A plane ticket is cheap and you are right .... but I will probably drive if I feel any suspicion.

The deal over the phone just sounds .... too good you know? Can it really be this easy?

[driveslowly]

You hit it on the nail motordavid.

I'm really glad I read your post b/c I feel slightly more comfortable about my potential over-the-phone trade.

All local dealers have vehicles in stock but not the 'exact' fit I want so I choose to reach out to the dealers that do.

Any advise you can give to limit my personal/financial liability? Need to finish reading RH71's link...