Not Affiliated (yet) Promising low mile example_Vienna, VA

[jblunceford]

I just talked to the dealer (Sammy) who has this car in Vienna, VA, just west of D.C. He said it came in through a dealership trade, etc. with no history, which is when i usually walk away, but this car looks super clean in ad, and more so in extra pics he sent. Miles are really good at 134k, and he states ODO IS working.."Sammy says" this one is in rare condition...I'm usually very suspect of dealers, but from what ive seen so far in his pics, old Sammy may be right on this one.

..(link below not live, plz c&p)....
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/d/vienna-1987-bmw-535i-auto-all-power/7711356080.html

Autochck states 1 Va owner car w bo rated issues. Obviously a garaged car. Beautiful lama interior, crack-free dash, everything is really clean underneath...good chance it's (at least.mostly) original single stage swartz. "Sammy says" it drives out fine...no feedback on a/c.

A couple of negatives....
Its an auto trans car...still wearing trx bottle caps, driver front fender has a top down impression dent. Can't tell from pic if it's creased or not...."Sammy says" he thought it would pop out (?)

Seems lately dealers have been asking more for less car than this... depending on things (deferred maintenance, wheels, fender dent, etc.) this one could make sense.

It's too far for me to view and easily work a deal. If anyone is in the area and especially hot on it, be my guest... if somebody just wants to look and report back, I'd like to have first shot at it based on the look over feedback. I suspect somebody is going to want this one.

Don't know how to post pics...pm or txt me and I'll share them and Sammy's cell. I told old Sammy somebody from tbe board may ring him up to view it..."Sammy says" to come on down...he likes bmw board guys to come look cause we know things ...let me know if anyone wants to check it out....thanks....JB

[Galahad]

Some of the photos:







Looks in really good condition, dash is great. Need pics of the underside.

[jblunceford]

I have several undercarriage, trunk, and additional interior pics....they are equal if not more impressive. Can anyone tell me how to attach images?

[BMWCCA2]

I have several undercarriage, trunk, and additional interior pics....they are equal if not more impressive. Can anyone tell me how to attach images?

The only way I know is to host them externally and include the file as an HTML [img]

[BMWCCA2]

I'm getting normal questionable vibes from someone trying to make a quick buck.

So far he has said it's a private sale. Then when I asked if the title was in his name he said it was in the name of his family dealership where he works. I asked for a picture of the title to determine how it was transferred. I have not received a reply.

He won't disclose the address or name of the "dealership".

He also told me the odometer is NOT working. Nor is the A/C.

Initially his replies were terse single-word, or single screen shots. I think he finds this too much effort and yet the car has been on CL for nine-days. That's an eternity in the DC market.

I'll keep playing the game and see what happens.

[jblunceford]

Yes, does sound off...It seems he or someone has access to the car because I had to bug him for the pictures, it took him a while to come up with them...only sent a littlewhileafterrequesting again yesterday afternoon...maybe he received from other person, but i do think it was real time, not old pics. Thanks for fleshing out.

[jblunceford]

Still no evidence of merchantable title after additional discussion today....trail has gone cold....moving on.

[Theotherotter]

Sounds like someone who is either trying to flip it without titling it in his own name, or is trying to run a scam using someone else's car, and that someone else is unaware of what's going on. Can you see the metadata of the photos he sent?

[BMWCCA2]

Sounds like someone who is either trying to flip it without titling it in his own name, or is trying to run a scam using someone else's car, and that someone else is unaware of what's going on. Can you see the metadata of the photos he sent?

Most likely a GMU student whose parents may actually own some sort of automotive enterprise in West Virginia, but what he sent as a "registration" has nothing to identify the car by VIN or even brand. Hard to say it that's his folks' shop or where they got it. It's more like a receipt for a business license. He's either really stupid or simply dishonest. He can't even supply pictures of documents that would be required to consummate any sale.

The additional pictures he sent of the car are very random with trash in the car and a sub tube tossed in the trunk with a TRX wheel without a tire as the spare, and the jack just tossed in the trunk after use.

[muleskinner]

I wish I had $10K to play with. I'd be all over this. I'd take my time and put $5 or $6K into it to replace the fender, add a set of decent wheels, get the AC working, and do a 5 speed swap. Rare color combo with pristine interior that will keep its value and then some. As far as questions about the title, I don't care. The guy is just inexperienced. I've bought a bunch of bimmers over the years from inexperienced sellers. I pay you cash, you give me transferrable title. No transferrable title, no cash. No ticky, no laundry. Simple. As a practical matter, many states, including GA, don't even require, or issue a title, for cars older than 25 years, just a bill of sale.

[BMWCCA2]

I wish I had $10K to play with. I'd be all over this. I'd take my time and put $5 or $6K into it to replace the fender, add a set of decent wheels, get the AC working, and do a 5 speed swap. Rare color combo with pristine interior that will keep its value and then some. As far as questions about the title, I don't care. The guy is just inexperienced. I've bought a bunch of bimmers over the years from inexperienced sellers. I pay you cash, you give me transferrable title. No transferrable title, no cash. No ticky, no laundry. Simple. As a practical matter, many states, including GA, don't even require, or issue a title, for cars older than 25 years, just a bill of sale.

Then go get it!
Lord knows I've tried to get him to simply prove that he owns the car and has the right to sell it.
That's not rocket science. I'm not even willing to drive the 4-hours round-trip it would take to see what kind of an idiot he is until he can at least show me that. What if his elderly neighbor died while he had her car to wash for her, or some such bullshit? But, please, go and take your chances. Believe me, if it was a stick, I'd likely have driven up there already. Just not that motivated right now.

[mac3b]

That's unfortunate about the seller. I'm looking around and will probably avoid this one. 13.5K is a few thousand too high given what it needs. This one sold for 15K on bat with similar spec (https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1987-bmw-535i-16/) and a 5-speed.

[BMWCCA2]

13.5K is a few thousand too high given what it needs. This one sold for 15K on bat with similar spec (https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1987-bmw-535i-16/) and a 5-speed.

Actually, the asking price in his ad was $11,500.

[mac3b]

that's hilarious. Maybe he thinks buyers on facebook have more money?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... _code=null

in case you dont have an fb account: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KP2PO9 ... sp=sharing

[BMWCCA2]

It's already been listed on FB for three-weeks. I think the CL ad came later. Now he's promised to send me a photo of the title but he's still copping quite an attitude. I could be spending this time screwing with Medicare Part-C robo-calls, instead!

[BMWCCA2]

The "seller" sent me photos of the title front and back. Original one-owner on front from MD. The assignment on the back shows sold to an auction in MD "for resale" but the signature of the seller isn't even close to the owner listed on the front. That was over a year ago and mileage was listed an true miles. There is no further transfer and nothing showing a new owner. It's all very sketchy but probably normal for fly-by-night flippers. Though the lack of provenance to the original owner on the title is a bit sketchy. I've conveyed my questions and suspicions to the "seller". Let's see if I ever hear back from him.

In my state, holding an open title (which is what this is) is a violation for a dealer or a citizen, supposedly. When I had my own store I would take every auction or trade title and go to the DMV and convert the transfer document to a "title for resale". Total cost was $10 and no tax. It was much cleaner and no one would be bugging the people who traded the car to me because there's no indication of a previous owner. Just a new, clean title in my dealership's name. How hard can it be to do that here?

Looks like the original owner died in June of 2022. That might explain someone else signing the title but generally when sold at auction to settle an estate, there is some indication of legal responsibility. In this case there is an illegible signature with what may be some three-letter legal title after, but no listing of "intestate" or by (printed name) for the owner's estate. I'm still thinking this title is sketchy. I'm not saying it couldn't be converted to a title in whatever state a buyer might register it, it's just not right.

[LarryM]

Great looking car from the pics. I have a soft spot for black E28s. This would look great with the set of 16” Style 29 wheels I’m saving for my next one. The sketchy title issue would probably present a problem getting it licensed here in CA.