What do you think of this deal?

[pajamas95]

I've been shopping around for a while, and finally found this guy selling this 525i with about 90,000 original miles. He is getting back from Germany on 9/15, and I really want to get it then. Can any of you see anything wrong with this car? Blue book in excellent is $6100, so the price seems reasonable if it runs perfect.

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/4610857259.html

If I were to look at it, what are common issues to check out, and what should I look for as far as places where things can go bad. I'm obviously going to buy the carfax before even looking at it, but I'm not getting it yet as he might sell it to someone else before me.

Thanks!

[beshannon]

Can any of you see anything wrong with this car?

Not without a PDI and a Carfax to start, no.

[Sstamand87]

I wouldn't buy anything that close to book personally. But that being said, paying a shop you trust the 100 bucks or whatever the rate, is worth every dollar to know what you are getting

[slocar]

In my neck of the woods, that would be an extremely great deal.

I'd buy it in a heartbeat .. but then again it has everything I like in a e39: facelift headlights, celis tails, sport package, those wheels, manual trans ... yeah ... pretty much my favorite e39 setup there.

[BimmerBreaker]

I find better deals in LA every day, how could you have been shopping around for "a while" and a normal 525i at full retail price is the first "deal" you think you found?

and lol@blue book

it has everything I like in a e39: facelift headlights, celis tails, sport package, those wheels, manual trans ... yeah ... pretty much my favorite e39 setup there.

So its a facelift manual sport model. AKA pretty common.

[modular93fox]

Without a ppi.. Pre purchase inspection you could get a good deal on the car cause it needs a lot of work.. I recently gave a 7,800 estimate to a customer who just bought the car and it just broke down on him.. Less than 2 weeks. He did buy 2,100$ of the estimate but, That's just so he could drive it again.

[pajamas95]

I was thinking of offering $5500, and paying a good BMW mechanic the extra $500 to come take a look at it with me. I also mentioned that I was going to buy the carfax before looking at it as I have seen people get completely burned without one before. Also, I learned myself last March when I almost got a '03 330i sport w/ manual, but when I got the carfax, it had ~100k more miles on it (over his reported ~120k) and he was selling it for $3500. No Way!

As for finding better deals, I have been looking for a month a least, and this is the first I have found under 100k miles, in my price range, and in the combo I wanted (sport, manual, wheels, interior color). If you were to find something good in So Cal, let me know as I haven't found anything better within 100 miles of me.

[CMG]

Take it to a shop with owner and pay them $100 or so to check out everything on the car. While they are doing that go thru the receipts to check work and ask questions. Once ppi is done take the list and whittle down the price to the $4-5000 range.

[pajamas95]

Take it to a shop with owner and pay them $100 or so to check out everything on the car. While they are doing that go thru the receipts to check work and ask questions. Once ppi is done take the list and whittle down the price to the $4-5000 range.

Sounds like a good idea, and I found a good mechanic who said he should be able to do the full inspection for less than $100 if I bring it to him.