Here Are 8 Things To Look For If You Want To Buy A Pre-Owned Luxury Car
It's everything you love about a brand new car, at a nicer price. :D
Published for BMW, 06 Sep 2019, 04:10 PM
1. Check out the infotainment system, especially the centre screen and make sure all functions are still running smoothly.
Most luxury cars come with a canggih central command system, which can include touchscreens, touchpads and control knobs. However, like a smartphone, these systems may develop issues when abused. The screens can also be worn out and become less sensitive with rough usage.
The best thing to keep in mind when testing out these systems is to see how smoothly each menu transitions to another. The more responsive, the better condition it's in!
2. Check for minor wear and tear, like scratches, dents, and bumps. More importantly, scuffs and scratches on the rims can make a great car look bad! Sometimes, they can be really hard to notice.
Though this won't affect the performance of your car, it sure does affect the value. Especially for pre-owned luxury cars, you'll want to make sure they are in tip top condition.
So, take your time to inspect the car and look out for little scratches and bumps here and there. If the previous owner took great care of it, then the interior and exterior condition of the car should be in perfectly good shape as well.
3. Check the service record of the car you're interested in getting.
A car that's regularly serviced is a car well-maintained!
Looking through the service record of a used car is the best way to determine whether it was well maintained throughout its previous ownership. If all servicing dates occur consistently every 10,000 km or every year (whichever comes first), then you're set.
Another good thing to look out for is a record of accidents, if any. You might have to pry a little to get hold of this.
When you're at the BMW Premium Selection Fair, you won't have to bother with any of this. That's because all cars on display will have approved vehicle and service histories. This allows you to buy with confidence!
4. Don't be shy, try out EVERYTHING when you decide to test drive a car.
It's even better if the dealership has its own test-drive circuit! If they don't, you can always test the brakes, the acceleration, and the steering while test-driving on public roads.
Of course, don't go breaking any laws in the process, okay?
5. Whatever you do, stay AWAY from modified cars.
People like modifying their cars because it provides a little bit of 'personality' to their vehicle and in some cases, it even improves performance. While this is fine if you plan on keeping your car forever, it isn't so great when you're buying one secondhand.
Modified cars tend to have questionable service records and reliability, and it can be hard to determine how much maintenance actually costs. This can be a real headache, especially when something goes wrong and you're in need of emergency assistance.
While most car workshops know how to fix luxury vehicles of all kinds, modifications to these cars can slow down the maintenance process, since it's hard to determine just what changes have been made prior to buying the car.
6. Pop the hood open and take a look at the engine. Give it a thorough search.
Make sure the engine is turned off and is cool to the touch, then try to look out for any fluid leaks, rust, or corrosion. It would also help to look at the condition of the belts and piping. A frayed belt or cracked rubber pipe means potential trouble!
Also note that some luxury carmakers like BMW use turbocharged engines. This means that you'll also have to keep an eye out on how well these specialist parts are functioning. Any fluids in the engine should not be mixing with each other, as they all have their own purpose in keeping the engine running smoothly and efficiently.
7. Make sure the tread on all four tyres are even.
If one or more tyres look like they've got some extra wear, that could be caused by one or more of the following:
1. Poor wheel alignment
2. Steering issues
3. Structural damage to the car
4. Worn suspension
8. Check out the mileage on the car. Use this little formula to determine whether a car has decent or really bad mileage.
On average, a car will drive about 20,000 km each year. To figure out whether the luxury car you're looking at has low or high mileage, divide the number on the odometer by the age of the car.
Often times, this isn't 100% foolproof. Mileage can potentially be tampered with, so it's good to have a second-level reference like a service booklet so that all scheduled dates and mileage can be verified.
If the car has good mileage, the next thing you should consider is its age. When a luxury car is more than six years old, that's when you need to pay a little more attention to the wear and tear of the vehicle.
If you’re in the market for a pre-owned luxury vehicle, then you definitely need to check out BMW Premium Selection.
Offering the finest range of secondhand BMW cars, each vehicle is carefully selected and comprehensively examined for quality.
You'll also get to enjoy a tonne of benefits, such as:
1. 360º technical and optical checks
2. Minimum 12 months BPS warranty
3. Three months or 5,000km free maintenance
4. BMW Privileges
5. BMW Roadside Assistance
6. Attractive financing from BMW Financial Services
Wanna see the cars up close? Mark your calendars for the long weekend and head over to the largest BMW Premium Selection Fair from 13 to 15 September 2019!
Take advantage of these special offers* at the BMW Premium Selection Fair:
1. Complimentary 1-Year BMW Comprehensive Motor Insurance
2. Seven attractive lucky draw items, i.e. BMW and MINI lifestyle items
3. Complimentary BMW Advanced Car Eye
Click here to RSVP now.
*Terms and conditions apply.
Make the most of your long weekend!
BMW Premium Selection Fair
Date: 13 to 15 September 2019
Time: 10am to 7pm
With models ranging from the BMW 3 Series, the BMW X5 Hybrid, and the BMW 7 Series, there's definitely going to be something that catches your eye. Click here to RSVP now.
Once you've registered, head over to one of these locations during the weekend to enjoy the selection fair: