[NovaCreed]

Hello,

I've had some trouble finding my desired configuration in the current M240i market, new and used. I wanted a manual RWD in white, or black, and was thinking about custom ordering for a lease.

There is one car however that fits the exact configuration I wanted, at a local dealer near me for $39,000 and 40,000 miles. With a trade in and maybe some negotiating I could probably get a decent deal. The only issue is, the selling party is an "auto service" dealership that sells used cars. Upon looking at the carfax, I found that it was used as a corporate fleet vehicle for about a year, and then sold to a person who switched registrations 3 times in the course of 1 year between Florida and Tennessee. It was then sold to wholesale inc. and then sold at an auction to the current dealership.

My question is: is it worrisome to see that a vehicle was sold at an auction? Why is it being sold at a used car dealership, if it's 2 years old and under warranty, shouldn't it be sold as CPO or at least at a regular dealership?

If I were to buy it I would go through a pre purchase inspection, but that might not necessarily show any problems. Am I overthinking? It's still under warranty so if something were to go wrong, it shouldn't be a big deal, but the fact that it was moved around the country so much, sold at 2 different used dealerships and at auction, as well as having 2 owners in 2 years, makes me suspicious.

Any thoughts or insights would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time!

[cooolone2]

Fleet vehicle... Not worth my time, because there's no chance it got any TLC. Why you chasing this? There will be another somewhere, lol

[PDM5]

Yeah it's going to be a bit tough as it took over 6 months to find mine, but they are out there. There should be plenty with "clean" records for you to choose from.

Are you referring to a car at Chantilly Auto Sales? I tried them when I was looking and I didn't have the best experience. When I contacted them via email and online through their website, I got zero response. So I went to the actual site and while the guy was nice, the car sold the day before so he gave me his card and told me to give him a call the next week as he would likely have another 240 by that point. So I gave him a call and left a voicemail and never heard a word . . . I'm sure others have had a better time and maybe mine was just a one-off, but they for sure get most if not all of their vehicles via auction, which is not to say it's a bad thing. If you do go, the door to the office is on the opposite side of where the gps will tell you to go. It's among a bazillion other used car dealership type places, so you have to make sure you're at the right spot. Parking there is horrible as there are no spaces.

Shameless plug, but I have a 2017 Mineral White m240i with a manual transmission and ~35,6XX miles for sale in the for sale section. It's both CPO until Dec 22 and has the maintenance plan until 100k or Dec 2023. I'm also local in NoVA. Only looking to sell to get into a 2 seater mid engine car. I have both a winter and summer set of wheels as well.

[leftoverture]

I would have to see the Carfax to properly interpret it for you, but many cars go through auto auction. A fleet vehicle can be many things, from a corporate executive car to a corporate lease. Often fleet vehicles get maintenance that precisely follows the factory recommendations. The "owner" switching registrations between Florida and Tenn is almost certainly clerical records from someone who owned in one state and registered in another, not an unusual thing really. Or it could be a dealer moving the vehicle from one store to anther. Nothing you stated is necessarily reason for specific concern, but like I said, I would need to see the actual Carfax to interpret it clearly.

With that said, sounds like PDM5 has the car you want so maybe best to start there. Always helps when you can buy from an owner you can get to know!

[4Hockey4]

What year is that ? I was going to order a brand new car, and with 10% off sticker + rebate for 2020, was at $42.9K before T&T. (no leather option)

The one at Chantilly Auto only has 12K miles, and is priced about $4-5K too high, but nice ride. Auction no biggie IMO, 2 owners is IMO.

[NovaCreed]

Thank you to everyone, these replies have been really helpful.

For those asking, you're completely right it's the Chantilly auto sales. This is the link to the autotrader that has the carfax included it it.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ckType=listing

Awesome that someone reached out with their own vehicle, I'd trust someone from this forum with a CPO much more than a used dealership trying to flip a car. Thanks again to everyone who pitched in.
More comments and insights will be much appreciated!

[leftoverture]

That is an interesting ownership history. My guess is the car was sold to the second owner from a dealer in Illinois. Maybe bought on line. So you get entries from both the IL and FL recording the transaction. Looks like the buyer lives in TN but his finance company is in FL which is why you have 3 states reporting. Don't see this often but it is not all that unusual. What would concern me most is the 2nd owner has it for 1.5 years and then inexplicably it shows up at a wholesale lot heading to auction. This may indicate a reposession that hasn't fully reported yet. Nothing here to scare you off but it should have your senses heightened and a prepurchase inspection would be very wise.

[MarcoZandrini]

Even Kelly Blue Book sez the price is high!

[4Hockey4]

CPO, same mileage, and thousands less. I think BMW will ship from dealer to dealer for $300. (well 1.5 years ago)Black/carbon front and mirrors, nice ride But also an example of how over priced Chantilly one is, and I'd offer 33K or less for this one. Nice options with headlights

https://www.bmwusa.com/certified-pre...2J5C54JVB27803

[MikeT]

$39K is crazy high for 40k miles. Should be low $30s.

[NewWorldOrder]

Originally Posted by NovaCreed

Hello,

I've had some trouble finding my desired configuration in the current M240i market, new and used. I wanted a manual RWD in white, or black, and was thinking about custom ordering for a lease.

There is one car however that fits the exact configuration I wanted, at a local dealer near me for $39,000 and 40,000 miles. With a trade in and maybe some negotiating I could probably get a decent deal. The only issue is, the selling party is an "auto service" dealership that sells used cars. Upon looking at the carfax, I found that it was used as a corporate fleet vehicle for about a year, and then sold to a person who switched registrations 3 times in the course of 1 year between Florida and Tennessee. It was then sold to wholesale inc. and then sold at an auction to the current dealership.

My question is: is it worrisome to see that a vehicle was sold at an auction? Why is it being sold at a used car dealership, if it's 2 years old and under warranty, shouldn't it be sold as CPO or at least at a regular dealership?

If I were to buy it I would go through a pre purchase inspection, but that might not necessarily show any problems. Am I overthinking? It's still under warranty so if something were to go wrong, it shouldn't be a big deal, but the fact that it was moved around the country so much, sold at 2 different used dealerships and at auction, as well as having 2 owners in 2 years, makes me suspicious.

Any thoughts or insights would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time!

Run! That's so overpriced. I have an m240ix vert auto with every option other than the safety ones. It only had 7k on the odometer, and I got it for around what you're going to pay.

[helloelectro]

I bought my 18 in 2019 with 7k miles on it at a dealer with a full bmw warranty for around 40k. That price is way high. I'd keep looking.

For what it's worth I'm in TX and searched country wide and ended up buying at Gwinnett Place in GA. They were competitive and willing to beat offers and helped me search.

Paid $800 to have it delivered.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by helloelectro

I bought my 18 in 2019 with 7k miles on it at a dealer with a full bmw warranty for around 40k.

I bought my built-in-May, 2017 in June of 2018 with 164 miles on it at a dealer with a full BMW warranty for $39,264.

There are always deals out there if you're patient and can find them. I found mine through a fellow 2addicts.com member.

[helloelectro]

Originally Posted by dradernh

I bought my built-in-May 2017 in June of 2018 with 164 miles on it at a dealer with a full BMW warranty for $39,264.

Maybe I bought it in 18. Lol. Either way $40k for 40k miles on the car is outrageous.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by helloelectro

Either way $40k for 40k miles on the car is outrageous.

There's no question about that, is there.

[helloelectro]

OP: do some googling for these types of formulas. You'd be surprised what the car is really worth


https://www.carbuyingtips.com/new-ca...ar-pricing.htm

[Maynard]

And what are the odds that if you blow something really expensive, whatever dealership you try to orphan-warranty with tells you the warranty was voided by some previous non-factory servicing, parts, or failure to get routine maintenance? Just one more caution against this one, especially at those prices.

[pmcmtnbkr]

I bought my m235i with just over 30k from a car lot that specializes in oddball higher end cars. I was able to see the entire history and the fact that it was bought at auction. Original a TX car with 6spd manual cold weather package, black leather interior, dark tinted windows and gray exterior it was a trade in at a Fl dealership from the original owner sat on their lot 6 months and was auctioned off to the dealer i bought it from. Post purchases inspection by bmw found only minor scratches to the underside of the front bumper. So I wouldnt worry so much about the auction in the car facts report. As long as the car passes a pre purchase inspection but the price seams a bit high

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by NovaCreed

Upon looking at the carfax, I found that it was used as a corporate fleet vehicle for about a year, and then sold to a person who switched registrations 3 times in the course of 1 year between Florida and Tennessee. It was then sold to wholesale inc. and then sold at an auction to the current dealership.

I found the following piece informative when I first came across it a few years ago. It's a lemon law attorney's look at Carfax, lemon laws, title-branding of lemon cars, and how lemons can be title-washed via auctions: https://oppositelock.kinja.com/how-c...mon-1653942445.

[734jeant]

Originally Posted by NovaCreed

Awesome that someone reached out with their own vehicle, I'd trust someone from this forum with a CPO much more than a used dealership trying to flip a car. !

So did you buy his car? Inquiring minds want to know.

[NovaCreed]

Originally Posted by 734jeant

So did you buy his car? Inquiring minds want to know.

Haha we're in talks and setting up a PPI.