northernbird
Junior Member
What is the name of your state? California.
Against better judgement, I bought a bmw '87 535is. After speaking with the seller on the phone I agreed to drive down and look at the car. He asked me to bring $500 in cash and $2200 in the form of a check. Thankfully the bank was closed that day, otherwise I would have stupidly plopped down $2700 right there and then.
I took the car around the block, while he sweet boasted about how great of a car this was. For some reason I really ate it up and decided to buy the car. This guy seemed like a really nice honest fellow, although he did have quite a few cars in his drive way. I would later find out that he(or his son)buy cars and resells them.
We went inside and got down to business. He showed me the title, which actually has a DIFFERENT name and residence on it than his - i later talked to the police about this and had them run the plates.the car isn't stolen.I signed the pink slip, handed him the check and $500 dollars in cash. He asked me why I was shaking, I told him I was a student and this was more money than I've ever had. He told me not to worry and once the check cleared, he would FEDEX ME THE TITLE.
I kid you not: 20 miles down the road, 3rd and 4th gear gave out. After this the transmission would not let me put it in either 3rd or 4th, even if stationary. I didn't mis-shift or do any fancy bull****. Its a new car to me, I'm not going to romp on it. I stopped in San Francisco(about halfway home)and called them. His wife answered and I explained what had hapened. She almost immediately started screaming at me, telling me that I had broken the car, I had shifted wrong. I hadn't. I've been driving stick since I had my permit. They say things like: 'It's a BMW, you can't just shift it, you have to ease it in." IWell I did EASE it in.
Here's where it get's REALLY sticky. I talked to my parents and they said to bring it home, and we'd cancel the check first thing in the morning. I also had to get a new bank account as I had left my check book there.
The whole situation is VERY bad. As it stands: They have my $500 and the title. I have the car but no title. I have nothing.
I talked to a BMW mechanic today and he quoted me around $3000 dollars for tranny plus labor. I don't have this kind of money
We're thinking about small claims court as the car was seriously misrepresented. We know they have the upper hand though.
What should I do? Is there anything I can do?
Thanks.
-NB
Against better judgement, I bought a bmw '87 535is. After speaking with the seller on the phone I agreed to drive down and look at the car. He asked me to bring $500 in cash and $2200 in the form of a check. Thankfully the bank was closed that day, otherwise I would have stupidly plopped down $2700 right there and then.
I took the car around the block, while he sweet boasted about how great of a car this was. For some reason I really ate it up and decided to buy the car. This guy seemed like a really nice honest fellow, although he did have quite a few cars in his drive way. I would later find out that he(or his son)buy cars and resells them.
We went inside and got down to business. He showed me the title, which actually has a DIFFERENT name and residence on it than his - i later talked to the police about this and had them run the plates.the car isn't stolen.I signed the pink slip, handed him the check and $500 dollars in cash. He asked me why I was shaking, I told him I was a student and this was more money than I've ever had. He told me not to worry and once the check cleared, he would FEDEX ME THE TITLE.
I kid you not: 20 miles down the road, 3rd and 4th gear gave out. After this the transmission would not let me put it in either 3rd or 4th, even if stationary. I didn't mis-shift or do any fancy bull****. Its a new car to me, I'm not going to romp on it. I stopped in San Francisco(about halfway home)and called them. His wife answered and I explained what had hapened. She almost immediately started screaming at me, telling me that I had broken the car, I had shifted wrong. I hadn't. I've been driving stick since I had my permit. They say things like: 'It's a BMW, you can't just shift it, you have to ease it in." IWell I did EASE it in.
Here's where it get's REALLY sticky. I talked to my parents and they said to bring it home, and we'd cancel the check first thing in the morning. I also had to get a new bank account as I had left my check book there.
The whole situation is VERY bad. As it stands: They have my $500 and the title. I have the car but no title. I have nothing.
I talked to a BMW mechanic today and he quoted me around $3000 dollars for tranny plus labor. I don't have this kind of money
We're thinking about small claims court as the car was seriously misrepresented. We know they have the upper hand though.
What should I do? Is there anything I can do?
Thanks.
-NB