new buyer....

[scaramanga]

Hi all,

Fantastic site, been lurking for a while but now registered and hoping to be a CSL owner in the near future. Been looking for a black car and saw the following at Hexagon in London:
http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/auc/car_details/0,,1260_159980112__,00.html?currentCh=WBSBL96020JC 98035

Registration is MC53CMY but has been on previous plates in the past.

Few questions -
a) does anyone know this particular car ?
b) has 5 owners - should that put me off (subject to viewing of course)?
c) car has pirellis on the rear and falkens on the front - should that be worrying ?

Thanks to all for any feedback.

[DazBlackCSL]

Hi Mate,

Welcome to the site ;) good to see you've decided to go to the dark side :smokin:, mine had 5 owners and 35k on it when I purchased it a few years ago, car has been sound so wouldn't let that put you off.

Most important thing is condition and inspection etc and if you want some toys AP's etc depending on what you intend to do with it, if it's just a garage queen like some on here then best to get a simple poverty spec example :whistle:

Have not come across that car, might be worth doing a search on here with that plate and see what comes up :thumbs:

Good luck with your search and just ignore Dunc :hahaha:

Daz

[portlandgrey]

As Daz said, buy on condition, mine has 76k & looks & feels half that.

[scaramanga]

Thanks for the quick feedback chaps. ive read through the buying guide, are there any specific things i should look for ? Should i take any comfort from the fact that its being sold by a main dealer ?

[Yanto]

Thanks for the quick feedback chaps. ive read through the buying guide, are there any specific things i should look for ? Should i take any comfort from the fact that its being sold by a main dealer ?

No comment....

:smt043

[Yanto]

On a serious note.....

Dealers differ in reputation and knowledge of these cars - they are now 6-7 years old and I get the sense that there are many that have lost interest in older models, moving onto sales / servicing of E92 etc..

Hexagon I dont know, though previously heard that they are on the pricey side (all anecdotal !)

Keep an eye out on here, PH, PGT for sellers...I went the route of a previous enthusiast owned car whose service history checked out OK - I tracked the last 3 owners via forums to ask questions around cars history. The BMW warranty debate will run, but I choose to have one for peace of mind. Since there were only 422 bought to UK, there is a good chance that someone will know something about a car for sale..

Dont be scared off by multiple owners, tracked cars (both within reason) or modest upgrades - brakes and possible exhaust for example - all quite common. Just look for a good maintenance / service records.

HTH & Good luck :thumbs:

[mole]

Should i take any comfort from the fact that its being sold by a main dealer ?

About the only good thing about that is that I assume it will come with an AUC warranty....:whistle:

[Yanto]

Actually, just bothered to look at the advert and it seems a good price for the mileage....

WTF do I know !!

Please ignore everything I have written in this thread :hahaha::hahaha:

[scaramanga]

As i suspected re the dealers. Yes, AUC warranty is a benefit but doesn't help if the car is a lemon to begin with...

Are there any recommendations for independent inspections in the london area ? Or don't suppose anyone on the site would be willing to come down (for a fee of course) and take a look/drive ?

[scaramanga]

Actually, just bothered to look at the advert and it seems a good price for the mileage....

WTF do I know !!

Please ignore everything I have written in this thread :hahaha::hahaha:

Yup - seemed cheap to me considering mileage, Hexagon (who are usually expensive) and that its a black car with all the options.

I don't believe in free (or nearly free) lunches! guess the # owners accounts for the good price ?

Yanto - i work in docklands so if i end up buying it will have to catch up with you for a view...

[Yanto]

http://www.technosport.co.uk/

Try these guys mate - quite near to the dealer I think...some positive noise about them but havent tried them yet myself.

PM Scrubberamit on here - he knows them..

[Yanto]

Yeah - no probs..live and work Docklands - a few of us are in the locale.

Happy to share my extremely limited experience !! Others on here are much more knowledgeable than I !

[DuncanR]

Good luck with your search and just ignore Dunc :hahaha:

Daz

Most do Dazza !:birdman:;)

[glendog74]

Most do Dazza !:birdman:;)

I don't mate - how could i! :goodman:

[Silver Bullet]

Scaramanga have you got three nipples?::blalalala::if so wheres nik knack!

[scaramanga]

Scaramanga have you got three nipples?::blalalala::if so wheres nik knack!


(un)fortunately not mate... nor do i have a golden pistol.... but nik nak is a legend !!!!!

going to check out the CSL at hexagon tomorrow so am desperately hoping it checks out!!!!

Wish me luck.....

[_Nathan_]

As Daz said, buy on condition, mine has 76k & looks & feels half that.

Mine has 42k and feels twice that :smt055

[Silver Bullet]

(un)fortunately not mate... nor do i have a golden pistol.... but nik nak is a legend !!!!!

going to check out the CSL at hexagon tomorrow so am desperately hoping it checks out!!!!

Wish me luck.....
:hahaha:Good luck fella;)

[scaramanga]

Went to have a look today with a friend who kindly spared the afternoon to see it with me. Quite disappointed I must admit. Main disappointment was with Hexagon, gave me such a bad vibe I was put off.

The car was not at all ready for viewing. Front bumper out of alignment and hadn't been painted properly in part (large section near the drivers side was still matte and needed repainting). Small screw sticking out of one of the rear tyres (admittedly this came out and didn't cause any air leaks). The salesman tried to convince me that the AUC scheme only features a 6m MOT (or to avoid putting it through an MOT) despite the sticker on the car and the BMw homepage suggesting AUCs all come with 12m MOT.

Apparently the front end had been resprayed in 2008 but took awhile to get the info out of them. Passenger side wing shows clear evidence of the respray below the crease on the wing.

One of the rear alloys had a reasonable gash / kerb graze and had clearly ben refurb'd leaving visible signs of an uneven surface (corrosion that had been painted over?).

One of the carbon splitters was slightly chipped, the CSL badges on the wings needed replacing. Passenger seat back had a couple of small tears in the vinyl/leather. Upon test drive we didnt notice a meaningful difference in noise/power when the sport button was pressed, but I guess this would be a warranty item post sale ?

Apparently the Falken tyres on the front were installed by the previous owner but looked quite new. Would have expected matching tyres to be put on a car of this type (from a main dealer) but maybe I'm just being fussy.

Overall, it just felt as though there had been no attention to detail when the car was prepped. Bumper was in shocking condition for a car reserved for sale.

Anyway, just some personal observations based on my viewing today.

[Yanto]

Sorry to hear :bigcry:

Now try here http://www.cslregister.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4585

Good luck with the search :thumbs:

[scaramanga]

Lol. Sent Scott a MSG earlier - am waiting for a call back

[glendog74]

Doesn't sound too good mate - that wouldn't fill me with confidence about the car or Hexagon either.

I have to admit that in the past i have read about many instances of poor customer service experiences at Hexagon. I think their sales staff are well known to be dis-interested in what the customer wants and show minimal interest in lowering their already top-end of the market prices for often sub-standard prepped cars...

When buying a car like the CSL you are very right to be anal about car condition when looking at prospective purchases - in particular from main dealerships. There is simply no excuse in my book for a sub-standard car to be offered at a main dealer.

My advice would be to take your time and look elsewhere. There are plenty of very good private sale cars that come up for sale - many with full BMW warranty still running. Often those cars are known on this forum as they are owned by enthusiasts. They are of course also cheaper than the over-inflated dealership prices... :thumbs:

Just my 2p worth :whistle:

[Yanto]

For once....I endorse Robs advice :hahaha::hahaha:;)

[glendog74]

For once....I endorse Robs advice :hahaha::hahaha:;)

Cheeky monkey! :smt052

[scaramanga]

Couldn't agree with you more. The csl is a v special car and clearly one for enthusiasts. Hexagon's lack of attention to detail or willingness to resolve genuine issues is seriously disapponting.

[scaramanga]

Just noticed Hexagon have increased the price to 31,995.

Assume they've now realised what it means to be an Approved Used Car.

If anyone else is considering buying from them I'd be very careful.

[scaramanga]

After a few delays due to being away for work, finally picked up my long-awaited CSL on friday. Cheeks beginning to hurt from grinning constantly for 72 hrs.

Will get some pics up during the week. Didn't find a black car, but the SG is totally growing on me and the car is absolutely immaculate / faultless.

The only negative so far is that it makes my 993 feel suddenly a lot less sharp!

I usually change cars too often, but this one is definitely a keeper...

[Bealo]

Good to hear you have got a car and are enjoying it :thumbs:

I have only just got online after a few days away from the internet and i was going to say that i might be persuaded to sell my if the price was right.