Parallel import car BMW (HELP)

[Thaiyotakamli]

248k can get a high end 7 series....

 

or jaguar xf

7 series was quoted 340+k about 6 months ago... A8 about the same...

 

So maybe can get 2010 7 series

[Pitpot]

How did you derive that? If anything it should decrease your loan amount.

 

From this webbie, it quotes "Technically speaking, the buyer is using the new car loan to cover the outstanding loan amount of his old car, meaning, owner is taking up a higher loan, paying more interest in order to make this transaction, meaning... the so call "overtrade" is actually money coming out from your own "future" pocket."

 

Overtrade

 

How comes OT decrease loan amount then?

[Doosan]

Hi Bro

 

I am interested to get a 5 series BMW. Today I went down to UBI car mart to survey the price before purchase. Much to my surprise, some of the car dealer able to provide less $40K than what I checked from BMW direct agent and they told me the reason was due to it is ''Parallel import car BMW''.They told me there is not different in the car regardless or engine or specification and they mention they do have they own workshop for services that might costs only $200 rather than agent service $500. Anyone willing to share the different between as the price quite attractive to me.BMW Direct Agent: 248KParallel import BMW: 208KThank youRegardsDesmond

 

OT abit, last evening while watching CCTV news tat audi & bmw are recalling 1Os of thousands of cars on the maeket, including mini, tat some CPU to be replaced or some thing like tat,

[1fast1]

From this webbie, it quotes "Technically speaking, the buyer is using the new car loan to cover the outstanding loan amount of his old car, meaning, owner is taking up a higher loan, paying more interest in order to make this transaction, meaning... the so call "overtrade" is actually money coming out from your own "future" pocket."

 

Overtrade

 

How comes OT decrease loan amount then?

 

It won't. Overtrade is most commonly done to artificially inflate the dealer's buying price of your used car *and* the dealer's selling price of the new car to you. The dealer comes up with nothing extra out of his/her pocket. You end up with a bigger loan, but to a lot of people, that's OK because they can't afford the new car (or even to cover the negative equity on their old car) without that bigger loan. It's rolling over debt, making people dig themselves deeper into the red, and it's very dangerous financially. If only people realised these things.

[Pitpot]

It won't. Overtrade is most commonly done to artificially inflate the dealer's buying price of your used car *and* the dealer's selling price of the new car to you. The dealer comes up with nothing extra out of his/her pocket. You end up with a bigger loan, but to a lot of people, that's OK because they can't afford the new car (or even to cover the negative equity on their old car) without that bigger loan. It's rolling over debt, making people dig themselves deeper into the red, and it's very dangerous financially. If only people realised these things.

 

My thoughts as well upon reading the link...

[Mamamia]

Lots of good advice here. I had the same issue about agent vs PI. I checked for 2nd hand cars but wasnt convinced. It was the trade in value at PI was willing to give for my 2010 Mazda 6 that convinced me.

 

So just confirmed new Audi Q7 272hp S-Line with PI, difference in price between Premium Auto (PA) and PI was almost 75k. PA confirmed 20k adoption fee when I called to check if they would support a grey market import.

 

Let see how this experience goes.

 

Which model is this? I remember that PA does not adoption at all. Thats what Quek told me.

BTW, the Q7 has a lot of electronics which by having a VAGCOM doesnt mean you can solve all problems.

The constant factory updates and TSBs.... just make sure you are entitled to this. And whatever u do, dont lose the keys or even anyhow do reflash of the ECU...if the checksum screws up, you aint starting your car unless a full online reboot from factory.

 

And yes, I have a Q7 V8.

[ins1dious]

Which model is this? I remember that PA does not adoption at all. Thats what Quek told me.

BTW, the Q7 has a lot of electronics which by having a VAGCOM doesnt mean you can solve all problems.

The constant factory updates and TSBs.... just make sure you are entitled to this. And whatever u do, dont lose the keys or even anyhow do reflash of the ECU...if the checksum screws up, you aint starting your car unless a full online reboot from factory.

 

And yes, I have a Q7 V8.

 

ugh... I hope you're wrong about the adoption fee. I was informed about this over the phone by the salesman and also earlier when I went for a testdrive. Having said that... I'm keeping my fingers crossed about the whole warranty issue with the PI.

 

I went with a 3.0T 272hp. How do you find after service with PA? The salesman who attended me was honestly not very well informed about the car or the brand. I actually had to call 2 or 3 times a few days later to remind him that I as a customer, was waiting for him to quote/feedback! Didn't leave a good impression.

 

One of the reasons I was alright with a PI import on this model is that this generation was released in 2006/7. Most issues I felt, should have been ironed out by now so not expecting a major recall wherein I have to run behind the PI. Only update I'm planning is the reverse camera with vag.sg. This car comes with the parking plus but not the camera :angry: A 5 meter long, 2.5 ton behemoth without a camera is almost criminal. And I have 4 kids, so got to be safe

Edited January 18, 2012 by Habeebhashim

[SimonTan]

One question.

Does insurance company insure PI BMW and Audi?

If so, then when it comes to accidents and need the car computer to resets faults, etc, the insurance co will pay for the services from AD workshops? Will insurance co pays the 'adoption fee' to get the car computers reset properly?

 

 

[Sp4wn]

2 things - regarding the modifications, i know for a fact they dont really care since I modified my old 320 (still under warranty). had a cai, exhaust done up during warranty period ... and the guys at the fort rd servicing centre never gave me any issues ... (get to know the guys, treat them like your friends and stick to 1 tech ... this was abt 5 yrs ago though. dont know abt today since i switched to tan chong ... now im not even allowed to change the nuts on my rims ha ha.)

 

for the second thing, i would personally recommend PML. my friend's dad got a PI 5 series. air con broke down 4-5times. each time PI said repaired, but couldnt fix it. eventually, had to go to PML and get 'adopted' as well ... and they fixed it the first time round. now my friend's dad wont touch PI cars with a 10ft pole. in the long run, its a question of not only $, but whether you can do without your car for days/weeks ...

 

though for my money, if i was dropping 200k on a bmw, id try to get a used M5 (prev gen, v10) ...

[QwertyN]

6 series is good as well.. sexy & looks rather long ^^

[Alexxx]

if adoption fee of 20k and PML will take over the warranty, then its quite a no brainer that we should go PI? PI = 40k savings less 20k adoption = 20k savings and you can have pml honor ur warranty...

 

sounds too good to be true? check it out coz all beemers have at least 1 year or 2? cant remember interenational warranty anyway...

 

perhaps can check with bros who adopted

[Mamamia]

ugh... I hope you're wrong about the adoption fee. I was informed about this over the phone by the salesman and also earlier when I went for a testdrive. Having said that... I'm keeping my fingers crossed about the whole warranty issue with the PI.

 

I went with a 3.0T 272hp. How do you find after service with PA? The salesman who attended me was honestly not very well informed about the car or the brand. I actually had to call 2 or 3 times a few days later to remind him that I as a customer, was waiting for him to quote/feedback! Didn't leave a good impression.

 

One of the reasons I was alright with a PI import on this model is that this generation was released in 2006/7. Most issues I felt, should have been ironed out by now so not expecting a major recall wherein I have to run behind the PI. Only update I'm planning is the reverse camera with vag.sg. This car comes with the parking plus but not the camera :angry: A 5 meter long, 2.5 ton behemoth without a camera is almost criminal. And I have 4 kids, so got to be safe

 

 

Hmm...seems like what Quek told me doesnt tally. PA does not take adoption fee or adopted any PI cars...

 

Anyway, after sales is so so. I go to Vag.sg as I know most of the partners there...

 

 

And yes, I have no cameras but have park assist..once u get use to it, I think 5m long also sup sup water...no issues at all....8-)

[Shinigaimi]

One question.

Does insurance company insure PI BMW and Audi?

If so, then when it comes to accidents and need the car computer to resets faults, etc, the insurance co will pay for the services from AD workshops? Will insurance co pays the 'adoption fee' to get the car computers reset properly?

 

They do insure pi BMW & audi.

 

Have to go to their authorized workshop. Most are equipped to deal with it

 

 

[kaka57]

Hello all,

how was your experience with the parallel imported BMW?

I had a terrible experience

 

[Emils]

Hello all,

how was your experience with the parallel imported BMW?

I had a terrible experience

 

 

Do share what happened so that we can be on the guard too!

[Emils]

I realized that is how many of these dealers (including secondhand car dealers) work. They outsource the risk of maintaining the car to other companies/workshops so that they can focus on selling cars... Thing is, is there a black and white document stating that the warranty is by the company that sold you the car and not the workshop per se?

[Emils]

if the cost of repairs/replacement is less than the estimated legal fees, then not worthwhile I guess...

[Wolfverine]

Most of these PI agents move their business from one company to another by just winding down after a few years and then setup a different company to conduct their business again. That way, the liability is definitely limited...

 

Thus, unless it is a reputable and long standing PI, don't even go near! Even if it is a reputable/longstanding PI, unless they have the workshop with the right equipments and software, you might also have more headache - this is based on personal experience when I had a PI OOOO.