Buying/Selling, what do you use?

[02rsxpilot]

Hey all, just a simple question. Where did you go to find your 1er (or where are you looking) and conversely, if you've sold a 1er, where/how did you do it?

I unfortunately will be parting ways with my 135i after two years, and would like to make sure I'm getting it out there to the best audiences. The 1er isn't exactly a Tacoma that will sell on CL within 24 hours, so looking for a little insight from you all. The majority of what I see out there is dealers that probably got them on trade-in. Not helpful when I want to private party this if at all possible.

[weeeee]

I got mine CPO from the dealer. How many miles on your front control arms?

[tvo9]

You can try carsforsale.com
Put an ads on CL, just in case.
Good luck!

[02rsxpilot]

Originally Posted by weeeee

I got mine CPO from the dealer. How many miles on your front control arms?

Had them installed in February/March, so maybe 5,000 miles.

[ShocknAwe]

I used AutoTrader after finding jack squat through the dealer network. That was years ago though. Not sure if AT is still a good resource.

[tvmendoza]

I bought mine from Craigslist, it had the best price by several thousands and I think the seller got a good deal too.

[Josh (PA)]

I find selling on the forums (here, the fest, bimmerforums, etc) to be your best bet. The people browsing those forums are enthusiasts looking for specific cars. Since CL is free, it's always a good idea to pop an ad on there as well. My recommendation as a seller is to start with the forums first before using any pay sites. If you don't get any action try cars.com or autotrader.

As a buyer I go the same route, set up auto searches on cars ans autotrader and check the forums for sale sections daily.

[MightyMouseTech]

The only site I check in the U.S. Is cars.com

[MaicoJr]

Give more info because i am actually looking to buy one.

[02rsxpilot]

Great feedback all, appreciate the insights. I've currently got a craigslist, cars.com, and cargurus.com ad running. And of course I've mentioned it in the California section of the forums.

The one thing about trying to sell on a forum is the majority of the audience you are reaching already own that car.

[ChiBimmer]

A lot of autotrader searches. I was very picky about certain features like M sport package and no iDrive among other things. Searched CL too.

Found one out in the sticks at Chevy, Hyundai, RV dealer. Not exactly BMW country.

[02rsxpilot]

Originally Posted by ChiBimmer

A lot of autotrader searches. I was very picky about certain features like M sport package and no iDrive among other things. Searched CL too.

Found one out in the sticks at Chevy, Hyundai, RV dealer. Not exactly BMW country.

The one thing I don't understand about AutoTrader is why they are about the only site left on the internet that still wants $25 for a basic listing.

[gregthegr8]

I'd actually highly recommend ebay, too. When I sold my last car a couple years ago, I used autotrader and was getting tons of missed calls/communications, and hardly any response. Once i moved to craigslist, tons of action immediately, albeit with the crazies of course. ebay had a free classified listing, too, which actually generated the best people I thought, so I was a little upset I didn't try that out until a week before my new car arrived.

[02rsxpilot]

Thanks Greg, I'll definitely look in to that. I know there is (or was) a classifieds on eBay and then eBay motors auctions. I feel like I looked a while back and eBay classifieds might have been discontinued, but not sure.

[gregthegr8]

I haven't put one up in 2 years, but i think it's up to you how you want to do it, but I think both appear in the ebay motors section. I'd just have it replicate the same info, price, and pics as your CL or other ones and not do an auction format. Should be free to do the listing that way too, or at least used to.

Seems most the diligent people these days end up looking at all of the above. Oh, check out listingallcars.com as well. No clue how that works in terms of paying as a seller to list there, but it's quite useful as a buyer for sure. May not add much, if anything though as a seller if you're already listed all those other places, but thought I'd throw that out there as well.

[mr.fabulous]

I found my car (500 miles away) on AutoTrader

[iminhell1]

I'm on the hunt and I'm not much of an internet guy, or I should say I'm not willing to search for hours through a bunch of different sites. I look through Autotrader, Cars and Ebay regularly. Those are the big ones that advertise on TV and radio and virtually anyone looking for a car knows about.
I can't figure Craigslist out at all. If I knew how to look nation wide I might use it. But the little I've looked through, it's too cumbersome and cluttered with shit. Plus the pictures are too small and shitty (besides the fact people need to take current ones with a better camera).

I obviously also look here, but I only found this site by accident. Glad I did though. Have learned quite a bit and found some things I never would have asked about the cars.

[02rsxpilot]

Originally Posted by iminhell1

I obviously also look here, but I only found this site by accident. Glad I did though. Have learned quite a bit and found some things I never would have asked about the cars.

Forums--great information, usually blown completely out of proportion.

[02rsxpilot]

Car has been up for three weeks. Been to a weekend auto fair, on CL, cars.com, cargurus.com, and last week bit the bullet and put it on AutoTrader. I've had four spams and absolutely zero legit interest. Car gets a fair number of views but no bites. With it already $1K+ below KBB, I'm not sure what the heck to do. About to start shopping it to dealers I guess... I swear the first person that drove this thing would buy it. Show me another car with this kind of performance for this kind of money!

[mr.fabulous]

It's a niche car, be patient!

(and I know that doesn't help, hang in there)

[dtwyim]

Bought brand new from dealer.

Sold on kijiji with all records meticulously kept.

[gregthegr8]

By the way, I don't think your CL ad has any pictures, or if it did, they aren't working. Might want to look into that.