Trying to sell my car

tcdublin001

HI,
I could be mad but I reckon I've got a great car that I'm trying to sell. It a BMW Coupe and what with expanding family, I'm going to have to change to something with 4 doors.
So I put it on various carzone, adverts, cbg websites and I haven't had a single expression on interest....well apart from the chap from Kuala Lumper who offered me $2.5M for it.

So as I look at it, it's the cheapest car on each of those websites for cars of similar age and condition. It's in perfect nick, low mileage and I'm willing to negotiate....but no interest.

I'd appreciate someone having a look at it and telling me what I'm doing wrong :-)

I'm sure it's unethical to put a link to it here, but I'll PM to that anyone interested. A search for a grey 2004 BMW 318 on adverts.ie will find it though.

Cheers!

The Recliner

I think it is just that people don't have the cash or if they are buying it is the more sensible side of the market that is interesting them

I am having the same probalem with my Alfa GT at the moment

But there doesn't seem to be much movement in the second hand market at all

jethrothe2nd

A good clean and polish inside and out might make it look more attractive

murphyebass

jethrothe2nd wrote: »

A good clean and polish inside and out might make it look more attractive

+1.

It always amazes me when people are trying to shift a car and havent polished it for the photos at least.

Go to halfords and buy some cleaning products, give it a proper hoover, valet etc.

Plus I would imagine you'll need to drop that price. I have no examples right now but I'd be surprised if theres no better prices on a 6 year old BMW coupe online somwhere.

Lastly you didnt mention donedeal.ie I presume you have it on that too though as it seems to be the site thats selling most cars at the moment 2nd hand.

tcdublin001

Fair comments; I think I was too anxious to get it up on the websites, so just took whatever photos I had going. Garage has offered me €9k for it as a trade-in, so would sell for less than that.
I'll get it valeted and see how I get on with that. Thanks!

CountingCrows

Slight OT but I thought the clear indicators were introduced to E46 coupes in the start of '03?

matt-dublin

im interested, send on the link....

tcdublin001

Yep, it was 2003 alright, don't know when though.

matt-dublin

So I had a look at it there, mileage for the year is good but you've very little optional extras except for the ES Mtech front bumper and because of this youre a little high priced.

Currently im lookgin at 3 318ci Full msport with all optional extras and about70k miles for around the 10k mark.

In order to shift i think you will have to drop your price unfortunatly as i know many who would be looking to buy a ci will be looking for the msport one.

M

matt-dublin

CountingCrows wrote: »

Slight OT but I thought the clear indicators were introduced to E46 coupes in the start of '03?

the headlights were upgraded as part of the e46b facelift in the coups, but the clear indicators were another optional upgrade.

kasper

take the 2.5 million and cut your losses

Throw up the link so we can have a look

matt-dublin

http://www.adverts.ie/306222/cars/bmw-318-ci-2004-grey-petrol-only-53k-miles-18-alloys-nct/

A clean would do wonders, it looks quite manky. Doubt you'll see over €7500 for it to be honest.

Anan1

Honest opinion? It's filthy, looks very basic, and the backgrounds in the photos do it no favours at all. I'd get a full valet, take some nice photos, and drop the price substantially. Remember, the price you get for your car has very little to do with how you feel about the car.:)

Anan1

Anan1 wrote: »

Honest opinion? It's filthy, looks very basic, and the backgrounds in the photos do it no favours at all. I'd get a full valet, take some nice photos, and drop the price substantially. Remember, the price you get for your car has very little to do with how you feel about the car.:)

I wanted to say all that but it wouldn't have come out right

Alanstrainor

Yeah, the pictures aren't the best, the inside is really bad tbh! I'd almost immediately look elsewhere if i saw those pics. Seeing "really well looked after car." with those pics doesn't inspire confidence.

So clean it polish it, and re take the pictures. Have the pictures of the car at all angles. ie Front, front left, left, rear left, back, etc etc. And interior pictures after a valet.

Take the pictures somewhere open, and dry in daylight.

And it's too expensive imo.

Every little helps.

L-M

As said above the pictures are genuinely horrible and do absoultely nothing for the car. I wouldn't go too mad on dropping the price, at the end of the day it's 04, it's low mileage and has most things going it besides the basic seats. 318ci's are still making good money.

Get it cleaned up, take pictures some where else (no too fancy, just not where they are now) and bump up your ads.

CountingCrows

If you can change the lights from yellow to clear for reasonable money, I'd strongly advise you too.

Looking at the other 2004 listings in carzone, yours stands out as the oldest looking.

bazz26

No offence to the OP but that is a very basic spec'd car indeed imo considering the asking price. €9k gets you alot of car these days. Also the colour looks very dull and adds about 10 years to the car, the interior also needs a good valeting.

This is similarly priced (granted the mileage is higher but still average for the year), looks alot fresher and a more attractive buy imo:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201040199808768

The Recliner

Without wanting to hijack the thread, any suggestions as to what I could do for mine, I think the pictures look fairly well and the car is clean

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1605879

matt-dublin

Anan1 wrote: »

Honest opinion? It's filthy, looks very basic, and the backgrounds in the photos do it no favours at all. I'd get a full valet, take some nice photos, and drop the price substantially. Remember, the price you get for your car has very little to do with how you feel about the car.:)

says the man trying to sell a '94 merk for 2400 lids

Anan1

matt-dublin wrote: »

says the man trying to sell a '94 merk for 2400 lids

That car's not mine (used to be, though), so I don't get to choose the asking price.

matt-dublin

I think also everyon is forgetting as with houses, the car market is a buyers market.

Look @ it this way...

Budget coming up, everyone is going to get screwed on Mortgage interest relief, road tax, benifets, and higher rate income tax.

Car sales will take weeks if not months. Don't forget the banks aren't lending now either.

If you want to shift your cars quickly, you need to price aggressivly.

And as stated before price your car with the market, not on your personal valuation.

( a good rule of thumb, look at dealer sales and drop your price by 10-20%)

L-M

The Recliner wrote: »

Without wanting to hijack the thread, any suggestions as to what I could do for mine, I think the pictures look fairly well and the car is clean

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1605879

1.8 petrol? That's what is probably killing that car. Also it's a very limited market as you know yourself, massive price reductions won't sell that, you've to wait for the right buyer.

Sweet looking car none the less!

matt-dublin

matt-dublin wrote: »

says the man trying to sell a '94 merk for 2400 lids

Anan1 wrote: »

That car's not mine (used to be, though), so I don't get to choose the asking price.

Was looking at that some days back actually, recent pics may help

Anan1

RoverJames wrote: »

Was looking at that some days back actually, recent pics may help

The pics are current! Basically I sold it to a friend a few years ago, he's hardly used it and now he wants to sell. He took the pics and I put the ad up.

Anan1

Anan1 wrote: »

The pics are current!

Are they ?
Add went up on 23rd September, not a leaf to be seen in those trees nor a leaf on the ground. Not very mid Autumnal looking to me :pac:

sellerbarry

Totally agree. You would have to put on overalls getting into that.

tcdublin001

Thanks for the inputs guys. I appreciate the honest criticism...I'm going to spend the weekend in Halfords and putting a shine on that thing....
With a bit of look I'll be able to move it on after that!
Cheers!

Eoin

The Recliner wrote: »

Without wanting to hijack the thread, any suggestions as to what I could do for mine, I think the pictures look fairly well and the car is clean

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1605879

Lovely car, but (rarely enough for Ireland) the smallest engine in the range is not the most popular one - the 1.9JTD is going to be a lot more desirable to most people in the market for a GT.

There's still some work you can do on the advert though. Your photos could be better (more of them - esp some more interior shots, and better angles in the dry). You haven't mentioned the tax or NCT. And most importantly for most Alfa buyers, you haven't mentioned the service history. Also, it's classed as a coupe not a hatchback, despite being based on the 147 hatchback.

Great looking car though

The Recliner

Limerick man wrote: »

1.8 petrol? That's what is probably killing that car. Also it's a very limited market as you know yourself, massive price reductions won't sell that, you've to wait for the right buyer.

The 1.8 T.Spark is a lovely engine though, figured I might have to wait a while alright but I am in no rush

Sweet looking car none the less!

I think it looks well alright and I love the interior

eoin wrote: »

Lovely car, but (rarely enough for Ireland) the smallest engine in the range is not the most popular one - the 1.9JTD is going to be a lot more desirable to most people in the market for a GT.

People have gone diesel crazy alright, much prefer petrol myself which is why I got it, eventually someone out of the teeny tiny market for the petrol version will see it I guess

There's still some work you can do on the advert though. Your photos could be better (more of them - esp some more interior shots, and better angles in the dry). You haven't mentioned the tax or NCT. And most importantly for most Alfa buyers, you haven't mentioned the service history. Also, it's classed as a coupe not a hatchback, despite being based on the 147 hatchback.

I threw the Ad up quickly to see if there was interest, if I decide to leave it up I will spruce the Ad up to the standards listed above, I just used the defaults provided as I hadn't used DoneDeal before

Thanks

Great looking car though

The GT is a prety car alright

kaoshea

If your looking to sell your car drop into the belgard auctions or even have a look at there website belgardauctions.ie i know there is no fee to enter your car and they post it on all the websites plus they will clean your car inside and out.

playtimeover

eoin wrote: »

Lovely car, but (rarely enough for Ireland) the smallest engine in the range is not the most popular one - the 1.9JTD is going to be a lot more desirable to most people in the market for a GT.

There's still some work you can do on the advert though. Your photos could be better (more of them - esp some more interior shots, and better angles in the dry). You haven't mentioned the tax or NCT. And most importantly for most Alfa buyers, you haven't mentioned the service history. Also, it's classed as a coupe not a hatchback, despite being based on the 147 hatchback.

Great looking car though

Yes, I agree with you. The car looks so nice but there is a chance that it would be hijack because of being so good looking. :eek: