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I've been trying to sell my car for around 5 weeks now. My only other experience of private selling was my van, which went really quickly.
This is what I'm selling:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201235483654892/usedcars?atcide=emgm6&logcode=emf
Price seems to fit in with everything else available (comparing on Autotrader, eBay and Pistonheads), full MOT, just serviced - but basically no interest whatsoever 🙁
Is it just a price thing or have I made an arse of something, somewhere?
Any input appreciated (possibly ;))
For me personally I would have highlighted the FSH (BMW or independant?) and not just copied a list of features from somewhere. I got bored after the first couple of features which if you are looking for this kind of car you know will be on it anyway.
My mates GF not long since bought a black 118d (55 plate) with 130k (FSH), etc.
£3k she paid.
It's the colour. Red is not popular at the moment - you may need to drop the price to reflect that.
Good luck with it.
fair enough, but as it's 3 years older with an extra 90,000 on the clock it's not really relevant.
Mister P, I was thinking about trying to make the description stand out but didn't think people really paid much attention to them
thanks Geoffj, thought that could be an issue too. Unfortunately Mrs Legend is a big fan, I always thought it was nowt exciting.
Surprised that no one's popped up to say something about it being "a useless BMW that barely holds a bike in the back"!
Make it easy for people......state what the mpg figues are. Last pic shows engine light on - I'd change that.
Remove two owners as well. Might put some people off.
Your advert is just a list of features. There is no description of the condition of the car, I find an honest description draws the reader in. i.e. excellent condition but couple of minor scuffs to nearside alloys, mark on passenger seat, and scuff on rear bumper. Two new tyres etc. I tend to mention everything that I feel is relevant, one car sold within a couple of days, the other sold within two weeks.
you need pictures of the missus in a matching bikini posing with it...
in all seriousness...have you got it advertised anywhere else? ie Pistonheads, trade it, gum tree etc.
If it is not selling its because of the price. You can wait and try and get what you want or drop the price and attract more attention.
Selling cars is all bout the price.
Probably should have had it in fro £7,995
In reality you might have to drop under £7k to sell it quickly
andyl - Member
you need pictures of the missus in a matching bikini posing with it...
Mrs Legend says
😉Get ****ed
Last pic shows engine light on
That's only because the ignition is on. Better to have had taken the photo with the engine running.
My mates GF not long since bought a black 118d (55 plate) with 130k (FSH), etc.
£3k she paid.
My neighbour recently bought a horse. For a different price.
But that's not really relevant either 😉
legend - Member
fair enough, but as it's 3 years older with an extra 90,000 on the clock it's not really relevant.
Yours looks in better nick but but black is a more saleable colour.
The one i'm on about was bought off the boss who was offered £3k trade price so he offered it to her instead.
To break it down, hers was cheap at £3k, yours is too dear at £8750 (imo)
Good luck with it tho.
Try it now 🙂
Not in a rush to sell, would be nice to see it go though.
Will try and change out the instrument cluster photo if that'll help
As said, probably the least popular colour for BMWs. It's one of the few colours you can get without spending loads on paint, hence it looks like the base-spec car that it is, which can put off the aspirational types who buy the 1-series.
Clear out the default text that AT gives you - use the space to tell us things like when it was last MOTed (consider getting a fresh one if more than a few months ago) and highlight the good things it has.
Take photos with the wheels straight, and start it up before the dash shot - it's a really minor thing, but some people might not know what those warning lights mean and think it's got some fault. The passengers seat looks stained - if it isn't, get a better photo, if it is, clean it properly.
And sorry to say, but it's overpriced IMO. Plenty of similar age/mileage cars to choose from at less money, mostly from dealers who are compelled to give some sort of warranty and gives some reassurance. Private sales always have to be lower to reflect that. I'd be putting the asking price under £8k.
Take a Drive into the country if you can and take some pictures with a nice backdrop, red is a harsh colour in urban areas.
The passengers seat looks stained
dammit good spot! that's actually just damp spots from the seat being cleaned, didn't realise until now - doh!
Starsh, also a good point. Hopefully get a sunny day to do that
Location not handy maybe?
But probably too dear.
Take pictures of it on a nice lane, under a tree; for some reason cars reflecting a tree give me the horn.
To break it down, hers was cheap at £3k, yours is too dear at £8750 (imo]
I'd buy the OPs for £8750 rather than one with 130k for £3k myself, certainly don't think that was implicit based on what you said.
Clear out the default text that AT gives you - use the space to tell us things like when it was last MOTed (consider getting a fresh one if more than a few months ago) and highlight the good things it has.
+1.
Do I need to read a wall of text to find out it's got such highlights as "colour-coded bumpers" when I can see from in the pictures anyway? Looks alright but the description tells me absolutely nothing about the car. Wouldn't put me off viewing it per sé (if I was after such a thing), but it wouldn't leap to the top of my list either.
It's £9,000 for anyone that gets a semi
Probably not helpful but we looked at the one series when we bought our last car 6 months ago. In the end decided the focus was better all round, in terms of price, cost of ownership, size. I think one series are overpriced for what they are. Suppose it is the badge.
+1 for focus.
I had a '59 1.6 tdci whick was outstanding on fuel v enjoyment; zetec so a few toys, great...until some **** stole it off my drive and torched it 4 hours later.
I'm over it, really I am...
As said, the colour.
You say only 40k miles, but that is still only average miles, nothing special.
Es spec gets you the essentials and is good vaue new but second hand, buyers expect leather etc.
It's worth saying again
It's the price.
I'll even shout
IT'S THE.PRICE.
Ahhh that's better.
You could always say it comes with a free moon.
Two other points, the current bad state of thefts of BMW's across the ranges as the central locking can be jammed remotely easily and new keys coded in situ and then stolen.
Secondly I belive that there is an inherrent issue with BMW diesels around the age of yours with inlet manifolds failing and dropping bits and pieces into combustion chambers (according top a chap at work who was going to be buying one until he read on some motoring forum re this issue).
Red paint pigment is prone to fading and so has to be properly looked after/polished and UV protector applied.
Finally price...........
I tried everything to sell a 58 plate 118d ES a couple of months ago. I couldn't understand why no one was interested in a small, very efficient diesel - I thought they'd be in high demand, especially with £30/yr road tax. Mine had full BM service history, just serviced, just MOT'd etc. I tried dropping the price, new photos, jazzing up the text. Nowt worked. In the end I'd part-ex'd it. I lost a few quid going down the part-ex route, but not as much as I thought. That car was the worst I've ever owned for depreciation though and I still don't understand why...
I think you are being too personal in your ad. Stick to the important points- how many times serviced (main dealer?) - when was the last service and when is the next due.
These are key -especially with premium brand costs.
Things like mpg, people make assumptions anyway. Just say 'good condition' etc. Don't bother with marks and scuffs. You can manage expectations on a viewing/they can take a view and knock you down a hundred etc on that.
On the colour, BMW's DO suit red IMO- most colours dont however it will take slightly longer to sell as its not a safe colour like black/grey. Personally I'd prefer a Beemer in red.
Take more pics- good res and be patient IMO.
Is it HPI clear?
Were are you based and can the car be viewed in another location? I had trouble selling my girlfriends car in Chester changed the advert to Stafford (were my parents are) next to the M6 and it sold the next day to someone who was not searching a wide area. The buyer wasn't concerned, against advice, from buying the car from somewhere other than the registered address.
I don't think its the advert at all, its the price range, anytime I have had to sell a car at that kind of money its been difficult & ended up having to sell at a fair bit less or PX (again for less).
On the flipside of that if I was looking at 8k cars at dealers then I would expect something similar from a private seller for about 1k less.
Interesting point Tinsy, was actually thinking that I would be unlikely to buy an £8k car privately myself, so would many others feel the same?
It's HPI clear and based in Glasgow so should be near enough potential buyers.
The the Focus posters: only Octavias are allowed to be recommended on this forum 😉 plus my last car was a Focus so I'm quite aware of the pros and cons (only pro for the Focus is room in the back imo)
Some things in the ad' really grated with me, if you labour a point too much people think it's bull. And yet your approach on this thread has almost sold me the car!
I'd simplify the text. The marks aren't worth mentioning but you mention them. Give the mileage with a FSH to prove it and people know what to expect without being told. As posted above, don't give the mpg.
If you do want personalise the ad' and appear open and honest (which is what I assume you're trying to do in the original text and failing),then jsutify an attractive price. "I've tired advertising this car at near book price based on mileage and condition, and had absolutely no response. I can only assume the book price is too high or people don't like the colour so I've reduced it by £1500".
Fix the ding in the bonnet and get the wheels refurbed.
Basically, as others have said it's the price, the colour and the wheels (although the last two are my personal opinion about BMWs)
This on for example:
Black
2009
37000 miles
£7,590
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201238485408282/sort/default/usedcars/maximum-age/up_to_4_years_old/price-from/6000/price-to/9000/maximum-mileage/up_to_80000_miles/fuel-type/diesel/model/1_series/make/bmw/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/radius/1500/postcode/ng146ea/page/1?logcode=p
I'd say yours it about the right money if you were a dealer.
Why I wouldn't buy that if I was in the market for a low milage 118d
1- colour
2- FSH, by who? If its BMW mention it.
3- The ad is pretty rubbish
4- The damage, get it fixed
5, the biggy. Price. Whatever the 'book' says, if I search on 118d <40k miles I get SE & sport models avaliable with lower milage. So it seems overpriced significantly in comparison.
njee20 - MemberI'd buy the OPs for £8750 rather than one with 130k for £3k myself, certainly don't think that was implicit based on what you said.
Do they depreciate that quickly and by that much?
If you want to sell it.......put it on ebay on a nine day sale starting at £1. (putting a reserve on ruins this method)
If you think I'm being silly....I'm not! This is how it works. People see it and think, Wow, I can pick up a right bargain here and start watching it, so put in some silly bids and it starts from there.
Over the course of the nine days people get really interested in it and start to think about owning it and by the time the auction finishes they are literally fighting over it.
Ive sold two cars like this....my Missus thought I was mad when I put our XC90 on, but got £500 more than I reckoned was the going price. Same with the other car, getting £1k more than had been offered.
You gotta have bollocks though! 🙂
4- The damage, get it fixed
No I wouldn't.
Why? Private sales- its an unspoken (benefit) and rule that the advertised price is only the advertised price. You turn up and find something to knock the seller down on OR simply say 'look I've only got this in the budget, or would you take, I would offer'..
The items simply give a name to the reason to knock down the price and they are only superficial.
If the OP fixed them. Someone would still turn up and offer hundreds less ontop of the cost of repair/loss to the OP.
Its a 4-5yr old car. The sort of person who buys privately has the mindset that it wont be concours at upto 5yrs old.
A bloody good professional valet is a must though.
Interesting point Tinsy, was actually thinking that I would be unlikely to buy an £8k car privately myself, so would many others feel the same?
Dealers offer finance. You don't.
I've sold the majority of the cars that I've owned privately. I've found that no matter what price you put up you'll always get people calling/texting chancing their arm on price. I found what really did pull was a good service history - detailed. As most 'FSH' are lies when advertised and/or the car hasn't been serviced for two years etc etc...its the key facts on the ad not mpg etc etc.
Don't mention the 'damage'. It'd put anyone off viewing, but probably wouldn't put everyone off buying once they're there.
No I wouldn't.
I wasn't going to anyway 😉 The 'damage' on the bonnet is so bad that I didn't even notice until weeks after buying it and the light was shining in a certain way, and the wheels are so lightly marked that it's just not worth it.
Re the price: doing a search fairly local to where it is the price seems on the mark (colour allowing of course), older ones for a bit less and never for a bit more (looking at private ads only, dealers are consistently higher). That £7.5k one is an odd ball, definitely an SE interior or an ES with enough options ticked that it would cost more than an SE - must be stolen 😉
As exciting as that eBay route would be, I do actually need to see the cash at the end of it so a bit too risky for this one. Should at least get it on there as a classified though
Yep 'damage' can be a worrier. People think you mention it as its an issue- i.e. 'is he downplaying a problem'- i.e. damage is repair/damaged bonnet/bigger/gouge etc?
Being paranoid but if its mentioned on an ad its normal an issue more than cosmetic...
Yeah just tweaked the ad again (takes a few hours to update the live version). Need to get into the mindset that this sort of ad is just to get people looking at the car rather than buying it off the strength of the advert.
Well worth the money for a classified add on eBay I rekon, lots cheaper than Autotrader (last I tried it was anyhow). Its just finding the buyer with his finances in place, it does happen but its still hard in this price range.
FWIW, I really like the red, it looks a nice car to me.
use Pistonheads..
as for price - it is worth what someone is willing to pay...
Red is a bad colour for a BMW though
Put simply its expensive that will shift with a 7 at the front of it
Average mileage on a 58 is 40k (parkers guide)
To shift a car you need to be in the top 4 - 6 cars in the listing for the age
Finally on pics put up a nice back ground when taking pictures ie Grass banks etc etc it all helps.
Good luck selling it 🙂
Always price.
The car is in very good condition with no significant blemishes including all 4 wheels.
Does that mean I get all 4 wheels with the car or all four wheels don't have significant blemishes 🙂
As others have said, price, background, some of the pictures and tell me the key information.
Ad updated to simple say that 4 wheels are included in the price 😉
*slips on a brown overcoat and pulls on his roll-up.
This would attract me: (providing this is true!)
BMW 118d ES - Facelift model. 40,000 genuine miles. HPI clear. Up to date service record; BMWSH & 1 Independent. 12 Month's MOT, X months tax and plenty of old receipts. Excellent condition inside & out. Great drive, engine pulls strong, gearbox/steering tight and true. Very economical; X MPG on a motorway run. Recent set of rear tyres & plenty of life in front. Equipped with number of factory fitted refinements including air con, cd player, Auto Start-Stop, Regenerative Braking, Air Vent Control. Top clunge magnet. (optional) £8,750
Whats BMSH? 2 or 3 stamps? Does 1 of those inc. the inspection stamp?
My last expensive car had full Subaru history; 5 main dealer stamps in 5 years with itemised printout receipts of the services carried out. This was detailed in the sellers ad and a real draw for me as a calmer that the car had no expense spared.
"Up to date service record" is meant to infer it's had manufacturer services. Still, feel free to suggest alternative wording!
Aye and did it not fall apart on you as well hora ...... Your the fussiest man ive ever seen when it comes to cars viewing everything with suspision and you still end up buying shit heaps.
feel free to suggest alternative wording!
want to look like a **** and also stand out from the other ****s in a BMW then buy mine as it is red and makes you more visibly a ****.
Do that on EBAY
HTH
Only one of the Subarus and a Focus did! The rest were through abuse 😆
upto date says to me serviced recently.
"4yrs old 40k, serviced at 1k BMW Manchester, 14k BMW Manchester, 28k BMW Manchester and 40k BMW specialist" gives a buyer great info in a one sentance snapshot.
If its had 2 services intotal in 40k youd waste alot of calls or visits when they ask.Best to be upfront/transparent on the info that counts IMO.
If the stamp isnt a BMW Indie specialist on such a young car.....be prepared to take a price hit IMO
I'd get some larger photos uploaded they are really tiny so hard to really see much detail.
The ad' reads fine now, if there's still no response it's down to price and where you are advertising.
Orange Lad - Member
I'd get some larger photos uploaded they are really tiny so hard to really see much detail.
That's an Autotrader issue (thought it was just me) sometimes they open large (as they should I used my SLR) but sometimes just stay thumbnail sized 👿
Thanks Edukator, we'll see how it goes
My tuppence (from east Scotland) is that autotrader has had its day and is no longer useful for a private seller with poor potential buyer uptake compared to cost. I've had much better results via ebay then sticking up free ads on pistonheads, gumtree etc.
My last truck sold via ebay to someone from london for a grand more than id been offered in scotland (£9k sale)
It's about £1500 too expensive.
A newer (58 plate), better car (118d SE), with less owners (only 1), in a nicer colour (Black), in a more convenient location for most, is £1000 [b]LESS[/b] than yours.
Yours in an ES = bottom of the range, not a great colour, and isn't the engine of choice (that being the 120d)
A newer (58 plate), better car (118d SE), with less owners (only 1), in a nicer colour (Black), in a more convenient location for most, is £1000 LESS than yours.
Just read that ad, & it looks like that owner is struggling to sell it too. 'Re-advertised due to timewasters'...
I don't think he wants to hear that its too expensice 😀
price is obvious/easy, but if I didn't at least try and sort out the details in the ad I'd just be throwing money away!
Now on eBay and PH, so if it still doesn't get interest then the price will of course be dropped.
Out of interst, how many views per week have people been getting on AutoTrader when they've been selling?
doubler........ buy my car!
NEVER put that line on an ad- a negative and also can make people think there was a reason why someone saw the car and didn't buy..Re-advertised due to timewasters