Re: [bmw] Test drove a 1997 BMW M3...

[Robert Chase <beostar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Agreed on the check engine light.  Make them "make it go away" before 
you even consider making a deal on the car.  Sending a couple of really 
lucky porters out to lunch in it should be able to "reset" the light if 
there is nothing wrong with the car as OBD II resets based on warm up 
cycles.  My brother recently had to rid himself of a 1996 Nissan Maxima 
because no one at the dealership nor any of the independant mechanics 
could figure out what was causing his check engine lights to come on.  
Remember OBD II started in 1996 and 1997 is only one year into the OBD 
II problems.  My brother's Maxima ate through about 2k worth of repairs 
before we traded it in on a Mercedes 300D for him.  There are probably 
some 96 and 97 vintage cars out there with mysterious problems due to 
OBDII learning curve. 
Additionally check their price on edmunds.com.  Right now is a buyers 
market in the used car area.  With all the zero percent financing on new 
cars used cars are getting a bit difficult to sell.  I would reccomend 
printing out the Edmunds price and giving them a "reasonable profit" on 
top of what the car is "worth".  Fax your offer directly to the sales 
manager with the stipulations that they correct the check engine 
problem.  Before you take delivery bring it to an autozone and have them 
scan it for codes (they do this for free) to make sure that they did not 
just pull the indicator bulb.  If it comes up with codes walk away.  You 
dont want to buy a car from people who are sleazy.

Good Luck.

Robert Chase


T S Perez wrote:


> I'd worry about that "check engine" light.
>
> Just resetting eh?  Why would a dealer not do that?  Why not as part of
> Inspection II?
>
> Also it seems a little beat up for a '97.
>
> Just my opinion.
> tsp
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mike Jones" <mike.mary@domain.elided>
> To: <bmw-digest@domain.elided>
> Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2004 4:23 PM
> Subject: [bmw] Test drove a 1997 BMW M3...
>
>
>  
>
> > Test drove a 1997 M3 coupe, 61,000 miles. Clean exterior, rear seat showed
> > sign of having a dog sit in the seat, i.e. some minor scratches.  Lots of
> > hair strewn throughout the car.
> >
> > Car is silver w/black interior, Vader seats. HK Stereo, BMW CD changer but
> > wasn't in the stock location.  Conical air filter, would really prefer the
> > stock airbox.
> >
> > Rate the exterior a 9 and the interior a 7.
> >
> > New or newer tires, Pilot sports.
> >
> > No front under-tray.
> >
> > Clutch engaged right at the floor - I recall the other M3's I drove
> > activating a bit farther up...
> >
> > Shifter knob comes right off the shifter. Shifting seemed vague, compared
> > to my Mustang.  Then again the Mustang shifter sits directly on the
> > transmission w/o any rubber isolation (after market shifter).
> >
> > The sales person said that the inspection II had just been done, the
> > inspection light showed 5 green lights, but the "check engine" light is
> > lit.  Sales person stated that they just had to reset the codes.  Car had
> > the earlier inspections done, according to the log book.
> >
> > No signs in the paperwork of any suspension work being done, i.e. RTAB's
> >    
> or
>  
>
> > RSM's.  Didn't notice any clunking or looseness in the rear.  Don't think
> > the car was tracked or autocrossed.
> >
> > Didn't smell smoke - but the lighter showed signs of being used...guess
> >    
> the
>  
>
> > pet smell was stronger than the smoking smell?
> >
> > Anyway, car is being sold on consignment at the local BMW/VW dealer and
> >    
> the
>  
>
> > asking price is $19,850. I was going to offer $18,850, seem fair?  Wife
> > would really prefer a sedan, but the sedans seem few and far between in
> >    
> the
>  
>
> > surrounding area.
> >
> > Thank you for your time in this matter.
> >
> > --==----==----==----==----==----==----==----==----==----==----==----==--
> > Best regards,
> > Mike                            mailto:mike.mary@domain.elided
> > --==----==----==----==----==----==----==----==----==----==----==----==--
> > --
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