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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ OT: The M3 ripoff story

Posted by: yarin Jun 15 2003, 01:14 AM

Very long story, but well worth the read if you have time.
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e21/forum.php?postid=3378984
follow up: http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e21/forum.php?postid=3378984

All of a sudden I feel very educated and informed after passing on this "mint" looking 914 earlier today: http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=2741 Full story on page 2 with pics.

Posted by: GWN7 Jun 15 2003, 03:37 AM

Great story on the BMW. Very interesting reading.

Posted by: anthony Jun 15 2003, 10:04 AM

He saw all the danger signs and chose to ignore them and got burned. I don't understand why someone would spend that kind of money to fly 3000 miles to buy a 12 year old car. They aren't that rare. He could have drove to LA and found lots of those BMWs.

Posted by: Bruce Allert Jun 15 2003, 11:26 AM

I've had 3 similar episodes but, in my case, I listen to an inner voice that says yea or nay. (it says other things too but we won't go there!)
I flew to a southern Oregon town fully prepared to buy my 1st 914. Held conversations with the owner via email & phone. Even had 2 conversations with the mechanic that did all the work. Checked to make sure he was in the yellow pages and checked with the BBB for any complaints against him... he was legit. Said the car was as perfect as the owner described.
Bought the one way ticket. Was picked up by the owner in the 914. First thing I noticed was the interior was cold. Owners responce; oh ya, I forgot to mention it didn't have a heater cause it wouldn't fit with the carb set up. Once back at his house I looked it over and kept telling myself, "it's not so bad, I can fix that." Then I drove it. The tranny shifted like it had frozen molasses for oil. He said it was set up that way for better shifting.
As I drove a thick fog rolled it to the poiint that I couldn't get over 20 MPH. Just couldn't see. Between the little voice saying run away and the dense fog I took it as an omen and went back to the airport, rented a car for the 6 hour drive back (it was cheaper than another one way ticket).
3 hours into the drive my wife calls and says she found a 914 on the internet in Albany. Gave me the phone # and I went to look at it. It'd been stored for 10 years but was all there. Just needed a few items & cleaning up.
The rest is history cause the little voice said this is a good one.
That's how I got Punkin.
Thanks "Lil Voice"
bruce

Posted by: Aaron Cox Jun 15 2003, 01:31 PM

tha guy's a bonehead! he chose to nuy something he knew woulfnt be a good buy! and the "letz get you liquored up before we look at the car" story, just a bonehead!

Posted by: kdfoust Jun 15 2003, 01:38 PM

Wow. I think a visit by a couple of guidos might be the only way to get satisfaction...

In 2000 there was an ebay scam based in FL where a guy (or guys) were taking pictures of Mercedes S class cars that were parked in lots and "selling" them on ebay. Thinks about that: they photograph a mint car that's just sitting in a parking lot and then auction it on ebay. Ballsy for sure. They ripped off a number of people for substantial security deposits and a somewhat lower number for the complete purchase prices along with costly airfare and hotel stays.

I guess there's damn near an inifinite variety of scams and scammers out there.

Good luck,
Kevin