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Is this a scam or legitimate? My guess is definitely scam.

  • Yes, obviously.

    Votes: 56 91.8%
  • Nope, he's legit.

    Votes: 1 1.6%
  • Tough call.

    Votes: 4 6.6%

e46 m3 buy, is this a scam or real? Must see.

14540 Views 53 Replies 35 Participants Last post by  nickr519
7
Hi, my names nick and I'm new to the forum (although I have been browsing it for quite a while haha). I live in the Phoenix, AZ area and I have been in the market for an 6mt e46 m3 coupe for a little while. I have been scoping out the phoenix craigslist and have test driven a few m3's I have found (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB-Y1KpBFmU). Recently, I have made a shocking discovery on craigslist, one that I am ALMOST certain is too good to be true.

Someone was offering a quote unquote Clean 2003 M3 convertible... for 7500 dollars. Yes, $7500. Naturally, I sent him a shocked email, asking if it was really true. This is our conversation from that point on:

Him:

Hello there and thanks for your interest,
The car is in perfect working condition.It has no scratches on and hasn't been involved in an accident, no rust.
The motor runs very well.The car was always garaged and never been smoked in.The interior is very clean.Also I want you to know that the car is fully paid off, it's not under leasing or bank liabilities.I am sorry to sell the car for $7,500 but my wife has serious health problems and I need the money to save her life.My wife is very sick and I want to tell you that I am not selling this car for profit.I sell the car to help my wife.I hope to find a buyer as soon as possible.I attached some pics for you.If you have any further question please do not hesitate to ask in order to make this a successful deal.
Best Regards
2003 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE
Mileage: 34,351
Exterior Color: White
Interior Color: Grey
Transmission: 6 SPD MANUAL
Engine: 6 Cylinders
2003 BMW M3 Convertible, Soft Top, 6 Cylinder, Manual 6 Speed, Power Windows, Locks, Seats, Roof, Mirrors, A/C, Cruise Control, Anti-Lock brakes,
CD Player, Harmon-Kardon Sound System W/ Sub woofer, Keyless Entry, Alarm System, Fog Lights, Memory Seats, Bucket Seats, Driver/Passenger Air Bags,
2WD, 2 Doors, Rear Window Defroster, Wiper, Tinted Glass, 19" Alloy Wheels, Aluminum "M" Pedal Set, Rear Spoiler, Car Cover, Non-smoker. Mint condition!
All Original Manuals, Never Raced, Very Pampered, Rain Sensor, Xenon Lights,Navigation, 2 Sets of Tv's in the back
(This was followed by the pictures I have attached)

Me:

This car looks amazing! I showed my dad everything and he barely believes his eyes, similar to my reaction, and he wants me to follow up with you immediately. (I happen to be the car expert between the two of us). Is there any way you could take a picture of the placard located inside the door which contains the VIN number? My dad wanted to run a carfax like he has with all the other m3’s we’ve looked at together. By the way, my cell phone number is xxx-xxxx – feel free to contact me (Nick) if it is easier for you than using email. Also, where in the area are you located?

Him:

Hello there and thank you for comming back,
First off all I want to tell you the car is located in North Bergen, NJ.The sale price is $7,500.00 with shipping/handling included.
The car will be delivered to your address in no more than 5-6 working days.You will be given a 5 days inspection period from the day you receive the car at home.
I´ll like to use an eBay service, so we'll be both protected. No money first to me, i will receive money after you will receive the car.The transaction will be made under
eBay's buyer protection plan. Since this deal will be made using a THIRD PARTY to help us closing this deal, I prefer honnest buyers.
Please let me know if you have the funds available and wish to explain you the payment and shipping process.
Thank you
To view the CARFAX Vehicle History Report, please click the link below:
2003 BMW M3 (WBSBR93423PK03705)

Okay, so nearly everything he has said has pointed me in the scam direction for this. But i figured I would consult the fanatics for a little bit of help. Thanks in advance guys, ill keep it updated.

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ask him why he is selling it so low? Just cause you need the money for something doesn't mean you will sell it for A LOT less than what it worth. I can see if he is selling it 10% under Blue book value, but that is insane. If it's too good to be true, It usually is.
Thats exactly what I was thinking, I almost just ignored the ad. But, then I just felt like i needed to follow up because of the ridiculousness. And I sort of did, thats when he said that his wife was ill and he needed the money to save her life. That part rubbed me the wrong way, although that is unfortunate if it's true.
+1 walk away...just walk away
Yeah don't worry, that's my 99% for sure my decision. At this point, I just want to figure this mystery out.
did you even have to make this thread? its obviously a scam. But im not too far from north bergen tell him you have a relative in the area who will come pick it up for you
Sorry man , like I said I've been in the market for a while, I know bmws very well, and I know a scam when I see one. I just figured I'd post since I'm new and it would be better than "Hey i'm nick i like bmws and im awesome etc etc."

In any case, I'll tell him that I have a relative who will come look at the car and get back to you with what he says.
IF there is a scam, it is somewhere in the ebay service...that's for sure. If you really must get to the bottom of it, I suggest you go through how that service works with a FINE tooth comb. I guarantee the scam has something to do with ebay.
yeah it wouldn't surprise me at all, nor would it be the first time someone tried to scam me through ebay.

smells like a scam. Not sure if you get any legit assurances by going though ebay, you should ask him for more details on how intends to do the transaction.
Yeah I just asked, will post.

my gut feeling on this is that the car is stolen, yet not reported to the police. Say for example, he knows the owners are on vacation, so it must be sold before they get back. He sells it quick through phony documents, owner reports it stolen, seller takes off with the money, buyer gets screwed.
I thought about that too.. God what a horrible thing to be caught up in.
ask him for the address in bergen county NJ i live minutes away. Ill look at it for you.
Thanks man! Yeah I did that and told him that I won't deal through ebay, but i will fly down to nj and pay for it in cash if my "relative" (you or any other fanatic willing and close) checks out the car and it looks good. Haven't gotten a response yet, but no doubt he either a) won't respond or b) will make up some bs story as to why he has to deal through ebay and no one can see the car. I will keep the thread updated, but I don't have a doubt in my mind its a complete scam. Ahh craigslist, you never fail to entertain me.
Update.

Heres the latest email I received from him, after asking if someone could come look at the car.

Hello,
I would be glad to meet with you but my job is not offering me this chance..Because of my job I am traveling a lot and I can not stay home and expect to meet potential client.That is why I've choose the internet way to sell it.
If we decide to proceed with this transaction,i will have to contact ebay and provide them all the necessary information, so they can start the process right away.
I will be needing your full name and address for that.You will receive a notification from ebay shortly after that,with all the instructions to follow and the invoice as well.
Regarding the payment, you will be instructed to deposit the money to an eBay Bank account.They will hold and insure your money until receipt of the car in good condition.
As soon as i will have the confirmation from ebay that the funds have been deposited to their account, i will immediately start the shipping process. The car will be delivered to your address in no more than 5-6 working days.You will be given a 5 days inspection period from the day you receive the car at home. If you decide to hold the car, then you will have to authorize ebay to release the funds to me, and the transaction will be completed.If you will not be satisfied with the car, you will be able to send the car back through the same shipping company on my expence and your money will be return to you.Though i am sure you will love the car and will not want to return it.The car will be shipped crated by DAS Auto Shippers, this is a door to door delivery service not coast to coast so the car will arrive at your address, you won't have to worry about picking it up from a dock.I will send the car with all the papers and documents(clear title,bills of sale,car's manual).The clear title and the bill of sale will both be signed and they will be shipped together with the car.Also this car will arrive with all the documentations required for registration and 2x keys.If you wish to proceed with the purchase,please provide me your full name and shipping address so I can initiate the deal through ebay right away.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best Regards
________________________________________

This just continues to confuse me. I'm beginning to wonder if this eBay money holding thing he's talking about is actually legitimate. If it is, its almost like why wouldn't I buy it and in worst case scenario just back out like he described? :confused: But certainly this isn't the case. Its also worth mentioning that I'm pretty sure the ad is pulled from craigslist.
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OP, you are very lucky to have people who are willing to help you out and take a look at the car for you. Very freakin cool...I got all tingly inside

:bow:
+1. There are so many great fanatics on this board!

OP, this deal is extremely suspicious. If he's willing to sell at $7500 and the car is legit why wouldn't he just sell it to a local dealership? No dealership will turn down this kind of deal...
+1 You guys are awesome :bow:

And yes, it seems that if he needed to save his wife's life with this 7500 dollars he wouldn't **** around with posting an ad on a distant cl site when that option existed. :loco:
Since when does a K&N intake and Dinan software translate into 18whp? That's the biggest load of crap yet. :facepalm:


If you try to buy that $7500 M3, I got a nice 2005 Lambo I'll sell you for $12,500.
well that sucks because that means that K&N, which i always thought was a reputable company, is lying to anyone who views this page!
http://knfilters.com/search/product.aspx?Prod=57-1003

And oh that sounds good man, no one said I was buying this car either hah. I'm not in the market for a lambo, but thanks anyway for the sarcasm :)
The fact he keeps saying he wants to do it over the internet is a dead give away. Oh and his pathetic English lol.
yeah you'd think scammers would learn by this time to get some legitimate english going so they could convince at least someone?

Definately a scam.

This seller on buysell.com is using the same pictures as your seller...

http://www.buysell.com/root/detail/...23524/2003_BMW_M3_55282KM_Exterior_Color.aspx

...About the same price too!

Craigslist, kijiji, littered with these scammers.

I responded to an ad for a 4500 dollar 2003 M3 'vert. The story:
Divorced, selling the car
Out of country (in the UK)
Ebay motors sale.

his email was [email protected]

I asked for his ebay seller ID, and listing number. He could not provide either. As soon as someone tries to do business with you on eBay, outside of eBay. Forget about it. He was sending me fake ebay pages left and right. All of which had invalid domains (one's that did not correspond with ebay's site).
haha wouldn't surprise me if it was the same fool. this guy's name was "Fred Carter" with an email address [email protected] haha :facepalm:
I'm sure he would do the exact same thing to me but I just stopped responding. thread can be closed I guess.
great find by the way on those pictures parchedmosquito! thats the nail in the coffin for "Fred" hahaha. Reminds me of Microsoft phone techies mysteriously named "Bob."
If you like you can contact the Local Police Dep. in N.J., give them any detail and just wait for the results... I did it once here in Greece and after 38 h they had results. They caught 6 men from 24-32 years old and 12 more expensive cars...
I was wondering about that! I really want to burn this guy because people like him happen to tick me off, especially since I kind of lured him into it by acting interested. But considering that this car probably isn't even in New Jersey , would their local PD care enough to do something about it?
Typical craigslist scam, forward your e-mails to [email protected] and they will take action against the guy posting the ad's.
done. I hope they get back to me about it do you think they will?

Most definitely a scam. You should continue to act interested and insist on flying out to NJ to see the car in person with your dad and in good citizenship you're willing to pay $15,000 in cash just to help him out and his "wife".

Stupid scumbags need to get a real job. I feel sorry for the people who fall for these scams.

Keep us updated, Nick.
I reported him so I will post if anything happens to him. I would bet my left nut this guys in Eastern Europe.

Yes, not to beat a dead horse, but all car scams are typed up the same way...

If you want to have fun with it, have the police get involved since it is so local...but this is 100% scam...he can walk into the dealer, trade in, and get more money for the car...

It's only human nature to want to fall for these things...for something too good to be true...but yeah, scams.

There is currently a 06 Lambo G on cl too...asking $25K cause he's rich and doesn't need it anymore
Haha yeah don't worry I never fell for it I knew it was a scam from the second I saw it, nothing to good to be true is. And I do want to have fun with it, I fully plan on it :p
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