Beware of this brazen scam when buying a used car!
Beware of scammers in the used car business. Some even hide a dangerous total write-off – as with this BMW M4!
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In hardly any other industry is so brazen lied like in Used car business. Every third one alone Tacho should manipulated experts estimate. (This is how you recognize odometer fraud!) Some black sheep even gamble with the lives of their customers, selling them sloppily repaired total losses – and hide it, as AUTO BILD reveals.-
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The case: A car dealer from Duisburg offered one highly motorized BMW M4 on (431 PS, current new price from 68,400 euros). What he hid: The former owner (25) had the car shortly before on the The Nürburgring went to scrap. Repair costs according to the expert: 42,180.29 euros! The spare parts alone would have cost over 35,000 euros. The insurance company (click here for the car insurance comparison) offered the total loss in a residual value exchange. It is called a total loss if the damage exceeds the residual value, i.e. a repair is not worthwhile. (There are serious used car offers with a guarantee!)-
There is no damage in the BMW M4 advertisement
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Autumn day on the Nürburgring: A severe front damage sealed the fate of the blue M4.
And now begins a strange story: A Car dealer from Duisburg buys the scrap car and pays an impressive 28,000 euros for it. A few weeks later the former owner discovers a BMW M4 on the Internet at the same dealer in Duisburg. Year of construction 2015, run around 120,000 kilometers, the rare “Yas Marina Blue metallic”, the white leather interior – can that be his? “Complete BMW checkbook maintained” it said in the advertisement – just nothing of a total write-off. The ex-owner calls the dealer and pretends to be interested. The seller tells of a re-import from the USA and damage that once occurred there. (Click here for the big AUTO BILD summer tire test)-
Tips for buying a car safely on the Internet
Take enough time
When buying a car, take sufficient time to view the car thoroughly and carefully check all functions.
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Expert reports from testing organizations
An expert appraisal can help: ADAC, TÜV, DEKRA and Co offer a used vehicle appraisal at many locations for around 100 euros. This tour is similar to the HU, but is not guaranteed. Nevertheless, it helps laypeople to obtain a rough assessment of the condition and value of the vehicle they have viewed. The auditors often discover defects that even the seller was not aware of!
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Anomalies should make one suspicious
In this specific case, there were broken parts in the trunk, the airbag lights did not go out, and further warnings appeared on the central display. You must be suspicious of these and similar abnormalities. If the provider cannot explain such discrepancies in a comprehensible manner, you should refrain from buying. Even a very low purchase price must make you suspicious.
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Ask questions and view the vehicle registration document
It often helps to contact the previous owner and ask about problems, etc. The data are noted in the vehicle registration document (“Registration Certificate Part II”). An honest seller should allow you to view this information and make contact. If you are denied this information, you have to keep your hands off!
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Safe car purchase initiative on the Internet
Forged vehicle documents, concealed vehicle history – the “Safer Car Buying Initiative on the Internet” offers tips on how to protect yourself against fraud when buying a car. The page www.sicherer-autokauf.de lists common scams from dubious dealers, gives tips on contract components and payment. There is a recommended used vehicle checklist from the ADAC available to download and tick off (“Gives imprecise answers to questions about previous accident damage”, “Constantly talks to you, distracts you”). The initiative includes car exchanges, ADAC and the police. —
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As a matter of fact the car comes from the USA. But there was only one there Theft damagesays the ex-owner who had the bumpers, rims and headlights stolen. The dealer withholds the total loss, demands for the car 39.900 Euro. AUTO BILD also calls the dealer. It tells the story of the re-import again. Question: Do you know what was damaged? Answer: “You don’t know when they come here.” He is therefore reluctant to sell US imports to private customers. (Buying a car: this is how you recognize fake advertisements!)-
Car dealer: “I’ll give you a great price”
We are further interested. The dealer says: “I can put you in the Purchase contract write that the one Engine failure has and I the not guaranteed sell, then I’ll make you one great price. “We ask several times:” Did the car have serious accident damage? “Answer:” No. ”
41.680 €
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BMW M4 Cabrio M Drivers P HiFi, Benzin
65.637 km
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317 kW (431 PS)
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09/2014 – –
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Benzin,
9.1 l/100km (komb.) CO2 213 g/km*
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48.790 €
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BMW M4 Coupé HK HiFi GSD, Benzin
64.212 km
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317 kW (431 PS)
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10/2016 – –
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Benzin,
8.3 l/100km (komb.) CO2 194 g/km*
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51.290 €
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BMW M4 Coupé Competition | M DriveLogic, Benzin
89.112 km
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331 kW (450 PS)
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01/2018 – –
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Benzin,
8.3 l/100km (komb.) CO2 194 g/km*
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57.990 €
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BMW M4 Coupe Competition MDKG NaviProf, Benzin
48.092 km
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331 kW (450 PS)
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04/2018 – –
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Benzin,
8.3 l/100km (komb.) CO2 194 g/km*
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57.990 €
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BMW M4 Coupe M Prof, Benzin
7.392 km
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317 kW (431 PS)
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07/2019 – –
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Benzin,
9.3 l/100km (komb.) CO2 213 g/km*
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58.470 €
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BMW M4 Coupe Competition Paket 19, Benzin
24.892 km
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331 kW (450 PS)
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04/2018 – –
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Benzin,
8.3 l/100km (komb.) CO2 194 g/km*
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58.470 €
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BMW M4 Competition M Driver s Pack 20, Benzin
31.101 km
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331 kW (450 PS)
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11/2017 – –
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Benzin,
8.3 l/100km (komb.) CO2 194 g/km*
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84453 Mühldorf am Inn, BMW & MINI VOGL e. K.
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57076 Siegen, Alfred Wahl GmbH & Co. KG I BMW / Renault Siegen
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34497 Korbach, Automobilgesellschaft Wahl mbH & Co. KG I BMW Korbach
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58119 Hagen, Procar Automobile GmbH Hagen
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48653 Coesfeld, AHAG Coesfeld GmbH
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44579 Castrop, Procar Automobile GmbH Castrop
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42117 Wuppertal, Procar Automobile GmbH Wuppertal
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The BMW M4 stood in the yard of a Duisburg car dealer – outwardly unharmed.
A few days later we are going to Duisburg. The blue M4 is in the yard, next to other highly motorized vehicles. There’s even a Bentley parked in the back corner. The dealer says that the BMW has unfortunately already been sold and that someone has just paid a deposit. We say we even have red license plates with us. “Do you want to take it with you right away?” The dealer gives us the key, says: “The airbag light is on somehow. I don’t know why that is either.Otherwise: In top shape – he shows us service entries, all of them at BMW. And an accident damage? He tells the story from the USA again.-
That is what lawyer Uwe Lenhart says about the case
“There could be particularly serious fraud”
“Vehicles with total write-offs have a lower value than accident-free cars. Anyone who sells a vehicle with accident damage and hides the accident is misleading the buyer about the true value of the vehicle on offer. The seller is liable to prosecution for fraud (StGB) Imprisonment of up to five years or a fine. This could be a particularly severe case: ‘In particularly severe cases, the penalty is imprisonment of six months to ten years. A particularly severe case is usually present if the perpetrator is a professional […] acts’ (Section 263, Paragraph 3, No. 1 StGB).
The proof required for fraud that the perpetrator acted intentionally, i.e. knowingly and willingly, is not always successful. In this case, however, this should not be a problem because of the insurance documents. Deceived buyers can demand the reversal of the purchase contract or the difference between the purchase price paid and the actual value of the accident vehicle as compensation. “
We compare them Chassis number of the BMW with that of the accident M4. They agree. Now we show the seller the Photos from the Nürburgring. He says he doesn’t know anything about it. He claims the car Bought as it is to have – and not in a residual value exchange. Insurance documents prove the opposite. From his point of view, says the seller, he didn’t do anything wrong. He had stated an accident damage. Allegedly the car is now going to France. Hopefully the buyer is aware that he is sitting in a 431-horsepower car that was recently a total write-off – and which apparently does not have airbags. The police are now investigating. (There are serious used car offers with a guarantee!)-
* Further information on the official fuel consumption and the official specific CO2 emissions and, if applicable, the power consumption of new cars can be found in the “Guide to Official Fuel Consumption”, which is available free of charge at all sales outlets and from “Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH” (www.dat.de).-
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65.637 km
317 kW (431 PS)
09/2014 – –
