[baz57]

I have just found out my 330d SE was previously owned my Enterprise Rent A Car! I bought in August this year, the car was 9 months old with 10k miles on the clock. No problems, a good car, I cant fault it after 2k miles and 3 months driving.
Heres the thing, I was told by the dealer (Blue Bell BMW at Crewe) that the car was from BMW themselves. This I accepted. What I think the salesman meant was, it was probably leased to Enterprise by BMW, went back to them and passed on to the dealership.
I thought nothing of the cars past, noticing the V5 had the previous owner as ERAC Ltd. I should have checked - this was Enterprise car hire. Oops.
So I feel a little miffed, I assumed ERAC ltd was a company, like any other, the car used as a short term lease vehicle.
The only niggles are the tyre wear - when bought, at 10k miles - 6mm tread on the fronts, but 3mm on the rears! Hmmmm. Has every one day hirer burnt rubber into the road, in my pride and joy? Or is this tyre wear reasonable?
Anyway, I hope this helps others, thinking of buying from BMW dealers to be aware of another (slight) pitfall.
Oh, the Bluetooth seldom connects to my Nokia or HTC, but that will wait until the next routine service.
Thats better, mini rant over!!

[rich1068]

Hey baz, everyone knows rentals are the fastest cars on the road

[phil200tdi]

It's not the erac customers you need to worry about, it's their delivery drivers!

I worked for them once upon a time, its a miracle I never lost my licence!

[moar]

Nothing handles like a rental car

[MEGA]

Rear tyre wear is for the exact reasons you've stated.

I imagine the clutch will go earlier than average too.

Not ideal, it has to be said.

But 10k miles isn't enough to shag a car for life.

My E90 was a previous BMW demo car ( YK plated ) or leaser too. The clutch did go at 61k which was slightly early: But no other issues to give away what might have been a hard early life.

Like you; I didn't worry too much about the car's past until after I'd bought it!

[simples]

Originally Posted by phil200tdi

It's not the erac customers you need to worry about, it's their delivery drivers!

I worked for them once upon a time, its a miracle I never lost my licence!

lol reminds of a time when i used to work the night shift at a well know rental company. we used spin the shit out the cars going round the forecourt chasing each other until my mate who worked there as well smashed into the another rental car whilst chasing one of the other staff in a rental, left it out in the road and told the management it was a hit and run.

good ol days.
sweet as..

[baz57]

Originally Posted by MEGA

Rear tyre wear is for the exact reasons you've stated.

I imagine the clutch will go earlier than average too.

Not ideal, it has to be said.

But 10k miles isn't enough to shag a car for life.

My E90 was a previous BMW demo car ( YK plated ) or leaser too. The clutch did go at 61k which was slightly early: But no other issues to give away what might have been a hard early life.

Like you; I didn't worry too much about the car's past until after I'd bought it!

Tyres wear faster on front wheel drive cars, I presume the same of rear wheel drive cars?
The car has an auto box. Seems to change smoothly, especially at speed.

[MEGA]

RWD = Slidey slidey around corners = rear tyres go quicker!

But outside of hooligan antics.. The driven wheel will always wear faster though, yes.

[mowflow]

Driven wheels will wear faster and I suppose 3mm left after 10k miles doesn't really suggest that the car has been ragged. That is however assuming these are the original tyres. It could have been absolutely thrashed from day one and this is it's second or even third set

[chris_s1]

It might not have been a regular rental car, Enterprise do longer term rentals to businesses, like a short term leases and other fleet solutions I believe.
Would be very unusual to see a 330d as a renter. I get hire cars at least once a month when I travel and I have loads of 320s/318s but never seen a 330 available. Anything bigger than a 320 is usually a 5 series as they class that as the next group up

[baz57]

Originally Posted by chris_s1

It might not have been a regular rental car, Enterprise do longer term rentals to businesses, like a short term leases and other fleet solutions I believe.
Would be very unusual to see a 330d as a renter. I get hire cars at least once a month when I travel and I have loads of 320s/318s but never seen a 330 available. Anything bigger than a 320 is usually a 5 series as they class that as the next group up

This makes sense.
Strange, up until I found out the cars history, I have been more than happy with it! Getting 42+ mpg, comfort (SE ride better for an old geezer like me) and that easy pulling power (torque not female).
Next time I buy a BMW, im taking a minimum of 3 forum members with me!!

[chris_s1]

It may also just have been somebody that worked for Enterprise and had it as a company car!

I wouldn't sweat it, you wouldn't be worrying if it was some reputable sounding company name on there, but the reality is most company cars are thrashed from day 1.

[rs939]

Also you have car clubs like zipcar, Street car etc... they have 3's on the fleet and people keep swapping the alloys on the new cars for their knackered ones as the cars are parked at the side of the road people don't check. So it is possible someone has taken good rears from yours and put on a used set as it was going back to BMW from Enterprise.

[ChubbsBmth]

Originally Posted by baz57

Next time I buy a BMW, im taking a minimum of 3 forum members with me!!

Ha ha great quote!

[baz57]

Originally Posted by chris_s1

It may also just have been somebody that worked for Enterprise and had it as a company car!

I wouldn't sweat it, you wouldn't be worrying if it was some reputable sounding company name on there, but the reality is most company cars are thrashed from day 1.

Ok Chris, you're in! The first of 3 forum members booked in advance to check out my next car.... Your responsibilities start with "history"!

[dxb335d]

I wouldn't worry about it!!

[edowen]

Most of it has been covered - bit annoying, but nothing you can really do about it.

Take this as a lesson - you can tell when most car sales people are lying - their lips are moving.

Dont take ANYTHING a car salesman tells you for granted. Ever.

[acerboo]

this proves that buying from a dealer is not always best, iw ould prefer a 1 owner car from a private seller, you can access the owner does he care about the car is it garaged does he thrash the arse off it from cold or allow a few miles for the engine to warm up has he kept it clean etc once its in the hands of a dealer you have no idea at all of how its been treated from new and this can affect the longevity and future reliability of the car. look at the computer and see when the brake pads and discs are due for change this will tell you a lot about how hard its been driven

[Baby Dave]

I would be straight back at the dealers asking for a refund. They have clearly taken the piss out of you. If they had stated that it was an ex rental would you have bought it, or would you have just walked or asked for more cash to be knocked off. Rental cars are thrashed that's why they don't put Avis on the v5 it's some fancy company name

[AlanYoro35i]

Originally Posted by MEGA

But 10k miles isn't enough to shag a car for life.

if that 10k miles were as a rental..give me it to drive for 100 miles and i'll do stuff that i never done in my own car...let alone 10k miles

[dopper99]

If it bothers you that much write to the rental car company and ask how it was rented out. Was it long term to someone who might have looked after it for a bit or was it on short term rentals where every Tom and Dick has ragged it.

[MEGA]

Originally Posted by Baby Dave

I would be straight back at the dealers asking for a refund. They have clearly taken the piss out of you. If they had stated that it was an ex rental would you have bought it, or would you have just walked or asked for more cash to be knocked off. Rental cars are thrashed that's why they don't put Avis on the v5 it's some fancy company name

Unless the car is not fit for purpose then he doesn't have this right though. And even if it was; you really need to open proceedings within 28 days.

Although I do think this would be an overreaction anyway.