19 Oct 06
The first stop always ought to be your friendly local BMW dealer.
Why? First of all, there is the safety net of buying a BMW-approved used car: BMW has one of the most comprehensive warranties of any manufacturer. It costs you more, of course, but that is the price for peace of mind.
Private buys can also be a good idea, provided you are careful. Sorry to be a snob, but you can tell a lot about the seller and car from the house and garage. Even if you do find a properly ramped and stamped low-mile model, you still have to watch out for outstanding finance agreements and a 4Car HPI check will help you there.
Don't forget the auction hall. The Coupe has been an incredibly popular company car and batches come through the better class of auction and a fully warranted example with guaranteed mileage is the smart way to buy at wholesale auction prices. There is a good network of independent BMW sales specialists.
The secret of a good buy is making sure that the price is lower than you would pay at a BMW dealer and that the model for sale is not something a main agent would have rejected on the grounds of an iffy history, massive mileage, or prohibitive refurbishment costs.
