How to sell a car with known faults?

FL630

FL630

FL630

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Hertfordshire
Hi,

I'm thinking of selling my X-reg, 136,000 mile old BMW 320ci. It's a great car with a fantastic engine (still smooth as silk), but the lure of a Fiesta ST is too great.

I'd probably look to sell it for around £1000, as that seems the going rate on Autotrader, but it's got a few issues which I'm unsure how to approach when it comes to selling, they are:

1) the biggest one, the fan doesn't work. Or should I say, it works perfectly, just won't switch off. I just pull the fuse and put it back in if I'm in stationary traffic, has worked fine for 2 years. Might need a whole new fan to fix which is a big cost for an old car.

2) The aircon doesn't work, may need re-gassed but good chance it's leaking due to age so I haven't bothered to maintain it.

3) The drivers door doesn't always unlock with the key. It reliably locks 100% of the time, but normally I have to open with a key.

4) Reversing sensors are buggered, though I'm investigating this.

5) Small bit of rust near the boot and some bubbling on the NS front wheel arch.

Are these just things you assume when you buy/sell a 15 year old car? The dealer I bought it off didn't mention any of this so I found it all out through owning the car.

What's the best angle to sell it at? Ignore like all of the other "perfect" 3 series BMW's online or advertise it with warts and all?
 
I had a similar list of niggly faults when I sold my 330. Faulty sensors, locks etc.

I was honest in the advert about what was wrong so the buyer new exactly what they were getting in to. Also I was realistic with the price and it sold the same day as I listed it.
 
Advertise the car on Autotrader. Answer any questions asked of it honestly and truthfully. Allow potential buyers to inspect the car for themselves and buy it if they are satisfied.

It is a £995 BMW. Anyone who is expecting a £995 BMW to be in perfect condition and complete and full working order in every way possible is an idiot.
 
Looks like honesty may be the key here. I can always go lower if I set the price at where I think it should be. Good thing around my neck of the woods (East London) this car is likely to sell.

What's the best route to sell it via? Autotrader, Gumtree, eBay? I've never privately sold a car. Where did you sell yours Lee1101?
 
I used eBay for mine as it seems to have the biggest audience for cars at this sort of price. We agreed a price on eBay then I closed the listing once he had viewed the car and we sorted the rest out in person. If you accept a buy it now price on eBay you will have to pay additional fees etc.
 
You're under no obligation to divulge all/any of the problems.
'Buyer beware' basically, if they don't ask you don't have to tell them.

If you're being nice about it then tell them the list of problems. I'm not saying don't as most people will appreciate the info but you don't have to.
 
Drivers door will either be the GM5 module relays failing, or, the door actuator. Actuators are about £20-30 off eBay.

Replaced the Actuator on the other half's E46 316ti yesterday, it's about a 1hr job with a basic socket set.
 
paradigm said:
Drivers door will either be the GM5 module relays failing, or, the door actuator. Actuators are about £20-30 off eBay.

Replaced the Actuator on the other half's E46 316ti yesterday, it's about a 1hr job with a basic socket set.
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I'm thinking it is the GM5 module, as the previous owner pulled the fuel cap actuator out, obviously it was faulty. I'm not that worried about it, it never bothered me.

Thanks for the advice all, I'll be putting her up for sale in the coming weeks.
 
thezappa said:
You're under no obligation to divulge all/any of the problems.
'Buyer beware' basically, if they don't ask you don't have to tell them.

If you're being nice about it then tell them the list of problems. I'm not saying don't as most people will appreciate the info but you don't have to.
Click to expand...

You also have to be careful about implying anything about condition.

Even the most subtle sentence that it is okay, can be used against you. You will lose small claims court action.
 
I think your being to hard on it. Advertise it as mint for its age and price it top whack, then watch as an acme comes along and buys it.
 
muon said:
You also have to be careful about implying anything about condition.

Even the most subtle sentence that it is okay, can be used against you. You will lose small claims court action.
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Thats true which is why I said, if they don't ask you don't have to tell them.

From Galbraith's Building and Land Management Law for Students 6th ed. - M. Stockdale, et al., (B-H, 2011):

Since there must usually be a false statement, it follows that keeping silent cannot usually constitute misrepresentation. If I want to sell my secondhand car, and I say nothing at all about its condition or performance, it will be up to a prospective purchaser to enquire specifically about anything that concerns or worries him or her. This is part of a general principle in contract of ‘let the buyer beware’ (caveat emptor). I would be under no duty to point out faults and defects. Of course, if I am asked specific questions then I should answer honestly, otherwise my statements could amount to misrepresentation. There are some situations, however, where the law imposes a positive duty to speak. In these cases silence can constitute misrepresentation. These situations are:

(a) Where one party tells a half truth but remains silent about some fact which distorts the positive statement made. An example is where a prospective purchaser asked about the farms on an estate, enquiring whether all the farms were let. The vendor replied that they were (a positive statement) but failed to go on to say that all the tenant farmers had given notice to quit (silence distorting the positive representation) (Dimmock v. Hallett)....
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and so on.

I don't necessarily condone this and of course be careful of what you say, I'm just saying if you don't say anything they don't have much to come back at you with. :)
 
If that's all that's wrong with a £995, 136,000 mile 16 year old BMW, the new owner should be chuffed.

The fan issue is common, the rear parking sensors need a new sensor, the aircon probably needs a regas (at a cost of £0 if you go to Kwik Fit and it still doesn't work) and the locking issue probably isn't that griefy either.

Sounds like an enjoyable Sunday afternoon list of DIY jobs to me :p
 
Try to replace the fan cheaply from a breaker cos that's annoying as hell and should put off anyone. The rest just be honest - perfectly normal.
 
[TW]Fox;29585110 said:
It is a £995 BMW. Anyone who is expecting a £995 BMW to be in perfect condition and complete and full working order in every way possible is an idiot.
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Say no more :D
 
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