Tax Exempt?

Spipov

Hi everyone. Looking at buying a car (have a previous thread - unrelated though its the same dealer).


Did a motorcheck last night and something curious came up:

its a bmw 520i e60.

apparently there was some left side bodywork done (deep scratches) that the dealer has gotten sorted - i couldnt see anything, but he was the first to point that out - so in a way that was good. However he said when doing the bodywork, they probably knocked off the airbag light, and he would have that cleared pre delivery service and checks - which will make sure everything is sorted (i asked about tyres, as i thought they didnt look healthy) and he said if the guys in the service place (i need to ask him where) deem it necessary, they will change it as well.


Motorcheck does not show any discrepancies or write offs. The one thing that i am not sure about is:


it was first registered in 2004. it remained with one owner for 5 years and something. Motorcheck tells me its usage was "TAX EXEMPT" and it showed discrepancies in the road tax for the period 2008 - 2010 (where the tax exempt was shown). Motorcheck did not tell me anything prior to 2008. Anybody knows what kind of usage Tax exempt means??

When it was bought by the 2nd owner in 2010 - it became private, and remained so until it was bought by the dealer (who i am buying from hopefully).

I am finding it incredibly hard to get a pre purchase inspection done quickly and my normal mechanic is too far and busy at the minute to have a look at the car.

I might have to bring a friend with me, but he wouldnt be able to put the car on ramp, and also would not have the diagnostics for a beemer.

I like the car, its very low miles for the age, and its in great condition. Quiet, no knocks, no smells and smooth drive. But im just worried as i cant get my normal mechanic to see it.


Thanks for letting me know. I need to think about putting a deposit on it today. Cars like that (ive been seeing 6 since saturday) have been sold in really quick flashes.

MuppetCheck

Disabled driver?

banie01

Would you not use the AA's vehicle inpection service? Or similar?
I know if I was dropping money on car with some evidence of previous damage and had concerns I'd be getting at least that done if my regular mechanic wasn't available.

PS, forgot to add regarding the tax exempt period, maybe a disabled driver?Or state owned/Diplomatic perhaps?

Spipov

banie01 wrote: »

Would you not use the AA's vehicle inpection service? Or similar?
I know if I was dropping money on car with some evidence of previous damage and had concerns I'd be getting at least that done if my regular mechanic wasn't available.

PS, forgot to add regarding the tax exempt period, maybe a disabled driver?Or state owned/Diplomatic perhaps?

thanks. i sent them a request for a quote. 299 euros and takes 3 hours. will have to see if its worth it, and to argue the case with the dealer about leaving the car for 3 hours.

didnt notice much in terms of the car being a disabled driver's car, apart from being automatic! - the engine bay is pristine though, so im thinking it hasnt been used much, therefore leading to possibly a diplomatic or state owned - wonder if thats a good thing. i assume it is, except if it was a gardai car - which it wasnt (being a bog standard bmw).


thanks. ill see with the dealer and the AA.

colm_mcm

The whole bodywork/airbag light situation is what would worry me.

Spipov

colm_mcm wrote: »

The whole bodywork/airbag light situation is what would worry me.

yep. thats what has been bugging me overnight. a lot. and today still. it could be true - he did point that straight away to me, even though i had not noticed anything looking at the car first.

he also did immediately say about the airbag light. so in a way, its not as if he is hiding anything from his side. i dont know from before he got it though. He also said it would be sorted before being sold. (but sorted to what extent).


argh. ill talk to him later, and ask about AA coming over - i dont know though if he'll take a refundable deposit until i get this booked. hopefully the aa can get this done asap.

mickdw

colm_mcm wrote: »

The whole bodywork/airbag light situation is what would worry me.

Yes me too.
As regards disabled use, most carsxwould just have had the swivel seat fitted and that would have been removed at this stage so id sayvthat is the likely answer.

Spipov

mickdw wrote: »

Yes me too.
As regards disabled use, most carsxwould just have had the swivel seat fitted and that would have been removed at this stage so id sayvthat is the likely answer.

if a disabled driver, would the max engine capacity not be 2L? i know passengers allowed to 4000, but it would hardly be a bmw would it?

Viper_JB

Spipov wrote: »

if a disabled driver, would the max engine capacity not be 2L? i know passengers allowed to 4000, but it would hardly be a bmw would it?

I bought my 535d from a disabled driver that was tax exempt, I don't think there's any limit on engine size for it.

Xpro

Spipov wrote: »

thanks. i sent them a request for a quote. 299 euros and takes 3 hours. will have to see if its worth it, and to argue the case with the dealer about leaving the car for 3 hours.

didnt notice much in terms of the car being a disabled driver's car, apart from being automatic! - the engine bay is pristine though, so im thinking it hasnt been used much, therefore leading to possibly a diplomatic or state owned - wonder if thats a good thing. i assume it is, except if it was a gardai car - which it wasnt (being a bog standard bmw).


thanks. ill see with the dealer and the AA.

AA will spend 3 hours and then charge you 300€ and tell you not to buy the car.

In my opinion their reports are exaggerated and ridiculous.

Get a good mechanic that will do it for a fraction of the price that AA charge.

The king of bitches

Couldn't agree more. They will not recommend you buy unless the car is in a dealers.

dollybird2

The 2l limit on a vehicle for a disabled driver only applies in cases where you can claim VRT back on the vehicle.

I would think that Tax exempt would be for a disabled driver. This doesn't necessarily mean that there was a swivel seat installed btw.

Airbag issue would be more of a concern to me, even with the seller's honesty.

Spipov

I need to update this:

the dealer has been incredible to deal with:

he held onto the car for 2 days - and didnt need a deposit - and let me bring it to my mechanic. He had the car serviced before and had the airbag light checked and sorted.

Mechanic said airbag light was a non issue - that was fine

however, i and the mechanic noticed the heater was making blowing sounds, and to me it was incredibly annoying. Apparently it might need a new heater motor - and its a big job.

Couple of little leaks that would not be a problem sorting out. Otherwise it was a great car.


Went back to the dealer:

He immediately proposed to fix everything and have the car sorted for the next week. However, i had come to realise i was punching above my waist, it was slightly over budget, and having put the money aside to buy it, the wife and i were already struggling. Also, it was in a colour i wasnt keen on.

Dealer was really nice, i offered to pay for the petrol and time and he would hear none of it.

he proposed a year younger car, for 1k more, but i explained i couldnt afford that.

We parted ways with a handshake and i am going to keep an eye on his website, hadnt met such a nice guy before.

Lawless2k12

What's the website address just to have a gander at a few of the cars?

Spipov

Right, hopefully final update.

After seeing a number of 520is - most of them muck that were too expensive, i started dreaming about the car above. Apart of that heater thing, the car had clean bill of health from my mechanic, who is a bmw indy specialist (people might know who, as i often use his name - probably more than the lord..)


Anyway - the night before i was going to call the dealer and say i was going to buy it (paycheck had come in, so i had a little bit of cash to play with), he dropped the price by 500.

Obviously i then had a chat with him the next day, and he said he'd fix the leaks, but not the motor, as it was working fine and even my wife didnt find it too much of a nuisance when the radio was on.

I think i can get it done at a later stage, as there were no other cars with this kind of spec and mileage and well kept.

In the end he gave me a good tradein price, as my e39 was getting no calls from donedeal, and i picked up the new 520 yesterday, leaks repaired and he put in 20 euros petrol.

He was great to deal with, and i will recommend him to anyone who asks - if the company's name comes up.

mathepac

Spipov wrote: »

... didnt notice much in terms of the car being a disabled driver's car, apart from being automatic! - ...

It might have been for a disabled passenger in which case the only change might have been fitment of a special seat, replaced at sale-time / trade in.

Spipov

mathepac wrote: »

It might have been for a disabled passenger in which case the only change might have been fitment of a special seat, replaced at sale-time / trade in.

i was on the motortax site yesterday, and put in a digit more in it (2 instead of 1) at the end, and it came out with the same car but BMW / OTHER while mine was BMW/520.

funny coincidence eh?