5-series or 7-series - feasibility?

Cantab. · 13-11-2006 3:33pm #1

Thinking importing a 5- or 7-series BMW from the UK for private sale in Ireland. I wonder if someone would buy such an expensive car privately, or would they demand a dealer? I know the market for a 7-series is much smaller than that for a 5-series - might be better off just flogging the 5-series cars... It's a trade-off situation I guess, but would love to hear other people's opinions.

I can set up a company if necessary, and I can drive any EU car with my insurance policy. I also heard one can transfer a UK BMW warranty to an Irish BMW warranty?

JHMEG · 13-11-2006 5:46pm

First question is: Do you know enough about cars to be able to tell a good one from a cut-and-shut/clocked/crashed/stolen one?

Seth Brundle · 13-11-2006 5:46pm

How old/what model 5 or 7 series?
After VRT there may not be much in it for a buyers perspective as you will not be in a position to offer a warranty

Volvoboy · 13-11-2006 6:14pm

Would'nt recomend doing this unless you have a soild contact, most people want a run of the mill cars ( Nissan's Opel's and Toyota's ) because of the cost of fuel road tax, and this new legislation coming in to tax cars over 2lt would'nt make financial sense.

-VB-

junkyard · 13-11-2006 8:14pm

You'll probably buy a seven series BMW as cheap in Ireland as you will in the U.K. tbh as there isn't as much demand for them here secondhand. The seven is a fine car but its a bit of a barge compared to the five series. I've had various models of both the seven series and the five series and I prefer the five series.

Gatster · 13-11-2006 8:47pm

and this new legislation coming in to tax cars over 2lt would'nt make financial sense

Eh, what's this then? Googled it and can't find anything, is this a definite?

Tipsy Mac · 13-11-2006 8:54pm

Better off sticking too cars which are in big demand here, eg VW Golf, Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla to import, you will easily sell 3 or 4 of these cars in the space it will take to sell one BMW 5 or 7 Series.

junkyard · 13-11-2006 10:52pm

Tipsy Mac wrote:

Better off sticking too cars which are in big demand here, eg VW Golf, Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla to import, you will easily sell 3 or 4 of these cars in the space it will take to sell one BMW 5 or 7 Series.

The 5 series BMW sells well enough tbh as long as its the right model with the right spec.

bazz26 · 14-11-2006 12:24am

I would say there is more demand in Ireland for high spec 4 cylinder petrol/diesel BMW 3 Series' and Audi A4s. These sell for slightly more than a Mondeo in the UK. There are more to choose from and the margin might be better.

unkel · 14-11-2006 10:01am

bazz26 wrote:

I would say there is more demand in Ireland for high spec 4 cylinder petrol/diesel BMW 3 Series' and Audi A4s. These sell for slightly more than a Mondeo in the UK. There are more to choose from and the margin might be better.

Agreed. And BMW 3-series over 2 / 3 years old can have a very nice spec too compared to Irish cars, which used to be poverty spec until BMW bought back the distributorship

There's practically no demand for 7-series in Ireland new or second hand. As for the 5-series - it is a buyers market out there...

Fey! · 14-11-2006 11:11am

I'd stick with 3's or high spec 520's or 525's.

Also, I don't think you can transfer the BMW warranty from Britain to Ireland. I may, as ever, be wrong.

bazz26 · 14-11-2006 11:29am

Fey! wrote:

I'd stick with 3's or high spec 520's or 525's.

Also, I don't think you can transfer the BMW warranty from Britain to Ireland. I may, as ever, be wrong.

Afaik an EU directive introduced a couple of years ago means that the manufacturer's warranty is valid across all member states.

gafarrell · 14-11-2006 11:44am

Volvoboy wrote:

this new legislation coming in to tax cars over 2lt would'nt make financial sense

Do anybody have any more information on this. It's the first i heard of it. FFS we pay enough road tax as is..

bazz26 · 14-11-2006 11:50am

gafarrell wrote:

Do anybody have any more information on this. It's the first i heard of it. FFS we pay enough road tax as is..

I think he is thinking of VRT being @30% on cars with engines of 2.0 litre or greater as oppossed to 25% on cars with smaller engines.

Seth Brundle · 14-11-2006 1:02pm

bazz26 wrote:

I think he is thinking of VRT being @30% on cars with engines of 2.0 litre or greater as oppossed to 25% on cars with smaller engines.

its 30% on 1.9L upwards, not 2l
http://www.revenue.ie/services/bus_cust5.htm
(there is also a 22.5% rate for below 1.4L)

5-series or 7-series - feasibility?

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