Advice for Selling BMW with Warning Lights

chasis on 30/10/2019 - 22:55
Last edited 31/10/2019 - 08:38 by 1 other user

Hi All,

My girlfriend has a 10 year old BMW that has been expensive to maintain. She has just purchased a new Corolla as I think she wants the absolute opposite of the BMW.

So we are looking to sell her BMW privately and would love some advice. The trouble is that there are some warning lights on the dash:

  1. Light indicating that its time for a service. I've done minor servicing on it (oil change, oil filter, air filter) but I don't have the tool to reset the service light on the computer.

  2. A engine light - I have used a friend's OBD reader and it says its a low oxygen/fuel mix. Online forums says this is often due to an old/faulty oxygen sensor.

  3. The handbrake light sometimes comes on when you do a sharp left turn. It goes off again when the car ignition is turned off and wont come on until you do another sharp left turn. When this happens the indicator wont automatically turn off after a turn and you need to turn it off manually. I assume this is also a sensor problem or an electronics problem, but would like to hear input if anyone has ideas.

We obviously want to get the best price possible and not invest anymore money into the car. I honestly believe it is a safe care and that there is nothing seriously wrong with it, but if I were a buyer I may be scared off by the christmas tree of warning lights. Can anyone offer advise? ie. Should I try and fix anything else first or just try and explain all the issues to buyer? Do I warn people in the ad about the lights?

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

EDIT: Forgot to mention just got another year of rego. So it got a quick once over by the mechanic. (not that he spent long on it).

Automotive

Comments

  • pegaxs on 30/10/2019 - 23:18
    +17

    Please, all the people that get of this forum and tout Euro vehicles as prestigious and well made, just read the first sentence here, it sums up BMW ownership in a nutshell.

    1: reset the service light yourself. There will be plenty of guide on how to do it on Google/YouTube.

    2: 99% sure it’s a upstream or downstream O2 sensor, oooooor, a dead catalytic converter. Yoinks, more money down the BMW pit of infinite endlessness.

    • spackbace on 30/10/2019 - 23:25
      +5

      But John Cardigan says…

      • pegaxs on 30/10/2019 - 23:28
        +13

        3: WTF, your BMW has turn signals? That work? Must be a 7 series with them kinda luxury features. Don’t worry about it, BMW drivers don’t use indicators, so that isn’t a problem. And are you sure it’s the “hand brake” light and not a brake fluid level low or worn brake pad sensor light?

        And don’t listen to @pegaxs. He just hates Euro cars. Don’t know why, I read somewhere that he owns a Fiat.

        • spackbace on 30/10/2019 - 23:29
          +6

          I read somewhere that he owns a Fiat.

          It's true… poor bastard

          • [Deactivated] on 31/10/2019 - 07:33
            +2

            @spackbace: Yes, why would anyone want to drive a chrysler?

    • blonky on 31/10/2019 - 11:31
      -1

      Depending on the model you may be able to reset the service light using a paperclip by shorting the correct pins in the OBD plug - just don't short the wrong ones

  • SnoozeAndLose on 30/10/2019 - 23:22

    How do you believe the car is safe?

    Did you get to the car mechanic?

    Just waste of time before you get the car check up

  • spackbace on 30/10/2019 - 23:24
    +3

    How old is the beemer? What do you think it's worth?

    Might be worth just offloading for cheap to the dealer or something. Any of those issues will scream alarm bells to prospective buyers, especially a CEL

    • pegaxs on 30/10/2019 - 23:34

      How old is the beemer?

      Nek minnit…

      My girlfriend has a 10 year old BMW

  • brendanm on 30/10/2019 - 23:46
    +3

    The "handbrake light" is actually the low brake fluid warning light. Your brake fluid is low. The "air fuel ratio" code could be anything from an O2 sensor, to a cat, an intake leak, pcv leak etc etc. Especially hard to say without knowing model and engine.

    As pegaxs has stated, service light is easily turned off, though I don't think you should do that if you haven't even checked the brake fluid.

    Noone is going to pay good money for a BMW with warning lights on, this is the sort of car I buy for cents on the dollar, as what people think is an "easy fix" generally isn't, and as they have obviously neglected the car, a tonne of other things need doing as well.

    Model, engine, location?

  • p1 ama on 31/10/2019 - 00:18
    +14

    We obviously want to get the best price possible and not invest anymore money into the car. I honestly believe it is a safe care and that there is nothing seriously wrong with it

    Let's be honest here, you're getting rid of it because it's a money pit and that there are issues. How can you, in the same breath, say that there are no issues?

    but if I were a buyer I may be scared off by the christmas tree of warning lights. Can anyone offer advise? ie. Should I try and fix anything else first or just try and explain all the issues to buyer? Do I warn people in the ad about the lights?

    You have a couple of options:

    1) Be honest, just say you don't actually really know what the issues are.

    2) Be a used car salesman - everything is okay, everything's a cheap fix, nothing to see here…etc.

    3) Fix the issues for cheap and then try to get a bit of a better price

    4) Try to find someone who knows a bit about cars and can fix it up for cheap and offload it to them

    At the end of the day, it's up to you in terms of what you want to do and how honest you want to be. There's a reason why BMW's (and Euro cars in general) depreciate like crazy after the first few years. It's because these sorts of issues prop up and they're actually very difficult to fix and/or recurring. I'd just start by jumping onto Carsales, seeing what prices your specific make/model are going for and then starting from there.

  • HardlyCharly on 31/10/2019 - 00:46
    +2

    It's an old BMW, with warning lights, do not expect much from it whether you fix everything or not. But it would be a lot easier to sell with everything fixed.

  • holdenmg on 31/10/2019 - 03:28
    +1

    Why UPS drivers don’t turn left and you probably shouldn’t either
    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/why-ups-drivers-d…

    • [Deactivated] on 31/10/2019 - 11:45
      +1

      Have absolutely no idea what that article has to do with the OP's issue….but it's a great article. Thanks for posting.

      • holdenmg on 31/10/2019 - 12:11
        -1

        Further to 3. (above) if the OP says:

        "The handbrake light sometimes comes on when you do a sharp left turn. It goes off again when the car ignition is turned off and wont come on until you do another sharp left turn."

        I'm suggesting they should avoid left turns or sell to someone that can drive right.

  • Bourb on 31/10/2019 - 05:02
    +2

    I had a similar problem when selling my last car, warning light that stayed on.

    Turned out that the car needed new Oxygen Sensors in the exhaust.

    Paid the $1200 to replace them , and then had no problems selling the car for a good price.

    Just bite the bullet, take the car to a mechanic to sort out the problems, and then sell the car with a clear conscience.

  • Euphemistic on 31/10/2019 - 05:27
    +1

    3 options. You work out which one is best for you, no one in the internet can do that for you.

    1. Advertise as is for lowest price on any listing site. Be honest with issues up front in the ad.
    2. DIY repair, or try to mask the issues for long enough they don’t occur on a test drive. Google bmw forums etc to work out what to do. Sell at a reduced price to move it quickly so the issues don’t show up again.
    3. Fix it properly and sell for best price. This could cost more than the extra price you will get.
  • TheMindsetTraveller on 31/10/2019 - 06:59

    IF in another life I ended up being a mechanic, I'd be a european model specialist.

    • Euphemistic on 31/10/2019 - 08:15
      +9

      Plenty of work there, but would you be able to deal with all the owners?

    • [Deactivated] on 31/10/2019 - 21:05

      Next life, I would be a European model a la ….ok, I don't know any European models :(

      Edit: One of them Although no one really stands out.

  • [Deactivated] on 31/10/2019 - 07:31
    +2

    the green flashing light is your indicator, use it and the world will thank you.

  • Bid Sniper on 31/10/2019 - 08:26
    +5

    "FS: BMW, 10 years old, dashboard is celebrating Christmas early"

  • slow on 31/10/2019 - 08:47
    +2

    I can already see the next post in 2 months time

    I bought a 10 year old BMW that seemed in perfect condition. 2 weeks after buying it all these warning lights came on, and my mechanic says it will cost $x to fix. The people I bought it from said it was in perfect condition, and they had to idea of the issues, and refuse to give me my money back…..

    • Euphemistic on 31/10/2019 - 09:12
      +4

      When I got it home I noticed there was black tape over the lights on the dash.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 31/10/2019 - 08:58
    +3

    Is it a low spec 3 series? If so, just sell it as is. It's not worth much. You'll get some wise potential buyers so you'll just have to wait for an uninformed one willing to part with their cash.

    Anything better than this go and get it fixed, get the RWC and then you can demand a decent price.

    Do I warn people in the ad about the lights?

    No you don't. If they ask however - you should tell the truth. Lying is the only situation that can potentially bite you financially later.

    • [Deactivated] on 31/10/2019 - 09:32
      +2

      Applies to poverty model of any 5, 3, 1 series.

      Same suggestion as zeggie - unless you're trying your luck at selling to a numpty, the car isn't worth much. Haggling with anyone who knows the slightest about cars would yield a few hundred bucks more.

      Not worth the effort or the ethical compromise. Just get rid of it.

      • [Deactivated] on 31/10/2019 - 21:11

        Nek minnit , "Numpty" posts on OZB asking if he can report OP for fraud.

    • Switchblade88 on 31/10/2019 - 10:39
      +1

      the only situation that can potentially bite you financially later

      As is buying a BMW 10 years ago

    • chasis on 31/10/2019 - 14:16

      Got a RWC a few weeks ago.

  • GG57 on 31/10/2019 - 10:11

    Don't you need to provide a roadworthy certificate or similar in NSW to sell a car?

    • pegaxs on 31/10/2019 - 11:03
      +2

      Nope, because cars here need to have one every year, regardless (unless the vehicle is under 5 years of age), unlike Vic, where the only time a vehicle is checked for road worthy is at change of ownership.

  • mini2 on 31/10/2019 - 14:07
    +1

    If it's the oxygen sensor then figure out their part numbers through the likes of realoem.com, figure out the OE equivalent part numbers then order them off Rock Auto or eBay or wherever that's convenient. Find a mechanic to slap it on, clear fault code…done. Your friend's OBD reader should be able to clear the service light?

    • chasis on 31/10/2019 - 14:18

      I'll have to have a read about it. I thought the Obd readers literally just read and wouldn't allow any modification.

      I don't know much about the OB computers though.

      • [Deactivated] on 31/10/2019 - 15:59

        Unless you buy OEM replacement, the coms can still throw fault codes albeit for different issues. You can replace the oxygen sensor with a cheap third party replacement and find yourself battling with fault codes for parts error.

        … then you buy a defeat system to shut the code down.

        At that point, you'd wish you didn't sink in anymore money.

      • mini2 on 31/10/2019 - 16:13
        +1

        If you want something slightly more definitive, go to Supercheap get them to scan it for $10 or something. Their Bosch kit is pretty close to the dealer level. Usually, when a sensor reads high or low, it's likely the sensor is buggered. Your biggest risk would be getting the wrong parts.

        Even better, pop into a BMW dealership, tell them the last 7 characters of the VIN, tell them you need x and they spit out a quote and usually, there's the part number. It starts with BM in their inventory. That eliminates the risk of an incorrect part being purchased but doesn't quite overcome misdiagnosing the issue.

        • pegaxs on 31/10/2019 - 21:01
          +1

          tell them the last 7 characters of the VIN

          Well, TIL… (I even worked for BMW, albeit for a very short time…)

          As digits 10-11 are unique to each factory, and digits 12-17 will never be repeated by the same factory, the last seven digits of a VIN are enough to uniquely identify a BMW.

    • wannagrababargain on 01/11/2019 - 09:37

      The generic OBD readers will not show you the BMW specific codes, they will only show you the OBD "P" codes. The BMW codes are more specific. Also the BMW ECUs of that vintage record an Engine Freeze Frame at the moment that the fault was detected. This can be valuable for a BMW dealer/mechanic to help further diagnose based on the conditions in the engine that lead to the fault. For O2/Emissions control codes the BMW check engine light will stay lit even if the original fault condition is no longer present. These O2 sensor/emissions control codes often start out intermittently in BMWs. The first course of action is to clear the code and see if it comes back…and try to sell it before it pops up again :)

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