Attention Ladies and gentelmen....

Who has purchased a Mini Cooper on EBay? What has been your experience...did the transaction meet or exceed your expectations...and what have been the pitfalls of buying a Mini on EBay?

Thanks

 

We found our MINI on E-Bay! The seller was less than 10 miles away. The seller retracted his AD and we did it privately. Change your search parameters from ending soonest to closest distance.

My take is that you really need to see any MINI in person before shelling any money out!!

E-Bay was exceptionally good to us. We love our MINI.

 

I AGREE! i was totally hoodwinked in an auto sale. not only was out the non refundable deposit but the airfare to get out there.

boo hoo! anyway i would say you absolutely have to see it to buy it.

 

I found my MINI on ebay, but completed the transaction off.
I made a low bid on a car at a MINI dealer (Crown - Richmond, VA) which did not meet the reserve. They gave me a second chance offer, and we negotiated lower after that.
The dealer sent me the maintenance history, which inadvertantly gave me the original owner's name. I tracked him down and got the low-down on the car - enough so that I felt comfortable with the purchase, sight unseen. The fact that it was at a dealership helped as well, and I exchanged messages with some NAMmers who knew the car/driver.
I'm quite surprised with myself (that I was willing to do it) but all has worked out well. I flew to VA, and drove home. That was three years ago.

Bought another car (for the wife) from Utah on Craigslist in '03. Again, put some trust in the seller (gave them credibilty points for being a nice Mormon couple) and that has been an excellent vehicle as well.

 

I pal of mine bought his 06 Boxster sight unseen but he hired a local dude to inspect it and serve as an escrow agent, which I thought was pretty smart. What got him was the shipping. The paint was messed up and there was some finger pointing going on. If you ship it get lots of pix before it leaves, lots.

 

I got mine off of eBay. > $7K off MSRP for a 2007 MCS with 7,700 miles. Had all the options I wanted except cold weather package. Just do a carfax and call Mini to verify the warranty. The seller's handle is mr.benzo. You can check out my transaction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...445741Goodluck!

 

What I have seen/observed on Ebay is that all or most of the Minis are on the East coast. So what and where do Mini owners on the West coast and in particular the Northwest list their Mini's???

 

I have been on Ebay for about 7 years - My dealings have been 99% positive - However, on a big ticket item like a car - do all your homework - check the feedback, get the lic number / vin - get sellers full name and check with Local PD - you just might learn something. Unless it was a car I just Had to have - I would shy away from it - but thats me... good luck..