Slightly bizarre Mini Cooper for auction at Blackbushe today. Looked nice enough, 51 reg and had done 50k miles. But...unless I mis-heard the auctioneer (quite possible!) it had only 2 service stamps! One at 5k and another at 50k...strange! The bidding still went to 8850 provisional but it left me thinking why anyone would not service their mini when it only costs another 100 quid for the 5 yr free servicing option?! Perhaps it was fully serviced and just missing the stamps but even still it just goes to show how strong the prices are for Mini's...
Was only there as a spectator today. Haven't been to many of the Friday auctions but looked packed out to me. Lots of provisional bids though.
|
|
Maybe it was reposessed? LOL.
|
|
|
Sounds like an owner kept the service book at home, for safe keeping, instead of in the glove box. It's service history will be on a central database - if the buyer isn't going to clock it (approaching phsycolgical customer resistance numbers here!
Still can't see the value in MINI, but people seem to like 'em!
VB
|
|
|
I was at blackbushe today- but in hall three. Yes it was packed. Poeple were parking all over the place in the traders car park again- cars were towed away on monday and wednesday. BCA were charging owners 150 to release the car. One trader just told them to keep it! Prices were high. A trader paid 3450 for an old shape corsa. Everyone in the hall tried to buy it. There were a few good deals, as always, but they were few and far between, and nothing i was interested in. There was a lexus ls400 on an M still looking tidy after 215k miles. A trader paid 2800 for a 85k mile v plate mondeo lx estate that didnt even have alloys. Again i thought too much. Did anyone see what the 94M BMW 530 touring made? I would of been interested, but a phone call confirmed no new engine, and it had lived in the north-west when it was young, so after advice from more knowledgeable people on this board i left well alone.
Why do none of the inchcap cars have warranted milleages etc?
|
It's not unheard of for contract hire cars to have a part-time speedo due to the ppm penalties charged if a car comes back over the agreed mileage. Typically done by small companies operating 2 or 3 vehicles, they are prepared to take the risk of extending the service periods, safe in the knowledge that the speedo will get reconnected or adjusted prior to the next service with the added backup of the contract-hire company paying for any mechanical failings if the gamble doesn't pay off.
Not common, but does happen, so perhaps Inchcape aren't prepared to risk warranting the miles.
|
|
A lot of the cars imported from europe were not given the TLC servicing option at £100. This could be the reason?
|
|
|
|
I think the inchcape cars will all be part-ex's that are unsuitable for retail so more trouble than it's worth to warrant the mileage. I occasionally go to their "no reserve" sale on Mondays just to see what cheapies are on offer. I heard the auctioneer say that there was quite a large offering planned for next Monday if anyone is interested...
|
I heard that too- something like 70 odd cars. If i can borrow a car ill be there.
I'm thinking of going to BCA enfield tomo am. Has anyone been- is it best avoided on a sat? I presume saturday means lots of private buyers like myself? I need a car by wednesday!
|
|
|
|
|
My Mrs's Mini popped up a clock like icon in the display which I took to mean the service was due. We took it in, and it was not the first service, but a time related inspection. They changed the brake fluid, washed it and picked me up from work in a nice 528 estate with sat nav, driven by a 50+ year old nutter. Well worth £100 for 5 years servicing / service.
p.s. The Mini has done about 11,000 miles in 2 years and the service indicator says it needs Inspection 1 at about 20k.
So back to the original post, it's conceivable that the car only has 2 stamps in 50k miles, but they should be at around 20k and 40k
|
|
|
