Reply With QuoteI would be wary, they are linked to We Buy Any Car.
Hi gents, I need to replace my current pickup with a more economical estate car, and currently a 2021 BMW 520d MHT (48V mild hybrid) is topping the list. Cinch have (what looks like) a decent car at a sane price, so a twofer question -
Anyone bought via Cinch have tales, good or bad, to tell?
Any thoughts or experiences of recent(ish) BMWs in general, and MHTs in particular?
The usual review sources have the usual mixed bag of responses, suggesting both have the usual random factor (like a tractor...) of reliability, but that seems to be true of every possible option...
Thanks.
I would be wary, they are linked to We Buy Any Car.
I would be wary, they are linked to Rylan Clark.....
I see this as positive, WBAC sell the crap / less popular stuff through BCA, with the nicer stock getting sold through Cinch. Seeks a strong bus8ness model.Originally Posted by watchcollector1
Why be wary of WBAC?
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Because of the way they do business. They're hardly a shining example of customer service.
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Chance your arm with a BMW dealer, easy to see who has your spec, express and interest and they will chase you down. Not a particularly interesting process , the sales folk are just doing a job rather than engaging with a potential customer, ticking boxes, being monitored etc, but , I just bought one of two which met my requirements and had a really bland experience, but, the car is fine, 5 months old and like new,.
What don’t you like about the way they do business?
Excellent.
To answer the OPs question, back in the day (90s) there was a large warehouse based car shop down in Wales called Empress car sales. Many of our customers purchased cars from them and most were dreadful. One guys wheel fell off on the M4 coming back, another drove back with the handbrake partially seized on which cooked the hub etc. Since then many come and gone but they've all been the same. They buy ex fleet cars, spend as little as possible on them and flog them for maximum profit. A lad i used to work with did a stint with a local one a few years ago and he said that they were finding faults when checking them over but the management would in a lot of cases just ignore the problems. From my experience of these type of car sales places over the years i wouldn't touch any of them with a barge pole.
Was that Empress in Ledbury?
Cheers..
Jase
And if it was, what have they got to do with Cinch?
Trustpilot reviews look ok.
When I’ve looked, many of the cars seem w/o regular service so manufacturers guarantee will be dubious.
Maybe unique to EVs where owners just don’t bother.
I know someone who bought a Mini Clubman from Cinch. They agreed to service it prior to the sale (it was due a service) but the engine seized a few months later. When the garage looked at it the oil was like sludge - clearly it hadn't been serviced. Even with an independent report and a report by the local BMW dealer they wouldn't look at it and kept dragging their feet. It took to raising a court action and serving it on them to get a resolution.
So Cinch just polish them up and knock them out, and hope warranty will cover anything that goes wrong? Sounds like the standard 2nd hand car dealer MO to me?
I've sold to WBAC twice, both positive experiences.
If it's **** UPX you're looking at, it seems a decent car. Clear MOT history and full BMW main dealer service history up to June this year.
I bought one from Cazoo a couple of years ago.
They claimed it the 1000 point inspection had been completed on the car and it was perfect and ready to go.
On the drive back it was apparent the break pads needed replacing.
Called up straight away and they told me to take it to the nearest quick fit and they would replace.
Ended up with 4 new break pads and front and rear discs all completed that day and paid for direct by Cazoo.
Great after service but shows they’re not even checking the cars over before throwing them out.
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Tbh can’t remember but they weren’t far from the bridge
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Paid him less for a car that he over represented, would be my guess.
Strong reviews online, but if you need a fast sale, don’t expect the highest price. They absorb the risk of people trying to sell them dud cars, so it is a numbers game.
WBAC were 80%+ 5* reviews, there is always the odd one bad transaction or things go wrong, some delays, but on the whole they are a sound outfit.
Besides, OP asked about a different division of the parent company; the side they buy from.
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I had a similar experience with Cazoo. Positive.
Bought a BMW and took it straight to a specialist for a once over. All the bits they highlighted as needing to be sorted (including a battery which was a bit of a job) Cazoo paid for without argument.
I then had it serviced despite being told it has just one and its been a peach, at my cost of course.
Regardless of "recently serviced", I would always do a standard oil service just to be sure.
As stated above, it's not in these companies interests to sell lemons to the public. It's more hassle and cost than it's worth.
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Regards recent ish BMWs. Mine's a 2016 M135 and it's been faultless.
Regards MHT ... Not for me but each to their own.
I'm sticking with Petrol (gasoline) all the while I can. Less things to go wrong!
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It is indeed. My main misgiving is I can't actually get them to ship the car to their nearest site so I can give it a once-over myself - their business model is "buy it, bring it back if you don't like it" - as a reactionary old fart this rankles with me...
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Thanks, everyone, for sharing your thoughts
I got my current 2019 320d M-Sport from them nearly 3y ago. I was after a low mileage example that wasn’t white, and it was the only decent looking option I could find anywhere (including BMW) at the time for a fair price. Just over 11k mileage from one owner.
As soon as it was delivered I got my local Indie BMW specialist to give it the once-over and do an oil service, and he could find nothing of concern. I’ve had the oil changed and a general check annually since.
I’ve had just one issue: this spring I started to get some random strange electrical faults, especially after the car had sat for a week or so unused, and I suspected a dodgy battery. The local indie agreed and swapped the battery and all has been fine since: I suspect the first owner had left the car sitting for long periods, which isn’t good for battery longevity.
I’m frankly sceptical of 18k/2-year service intervals and I wasn’t ever going to be reliant on non-BMW servicing from Cinch, and I’d certainly get any future purchase from a non-BMW source checked properly immediately on purchase. However, I have had overall a positive experience and I would consider buying from them in the future.
I've sold three cars to WBAC over the past ten years (a Lexus, a Maserati, and an S-Max). They have been excellent every time - fair, fast, and absolutely zero hassle.
They don't muck you about, unlike dealers and private buyers.
So clever my foot fell off.
My parents bought from Cinch and had an excellent experience. IMO they provided a detailed and accurate description and it wouldn’t be in their interest to do otherwise given their no-quibbles return policy.
Buy with confidence (well as much as with any other seller)
Inevitably this has gone slightly differently than originally envisaged.
I couldn't overcome my prejudice against buying a car blind, and having rattled around an assortment of non-franchised sellers (learning along the way to avoid at all possible costs 'S James Prestige' in Essendine - the ultimate gilded turd...), I've just paid 4K over my budget for a 3-series, not a 5-series, and from a BMW main dealer no less. A first in all senses. I love the car, my wife LOVES the car, the price was fair if not a bargain, and it feels a bit of a result - so far...
Anyone want to buy a low-miles Toyota Hilux?
I share your view, they have been great when we have wanted to move things on. When I have done a px, the dealer has used them as the guide price.
As you say, much prefer them to private buyers, the risks of some scam or tyre kickers / wannabe pilots.
Only time they got it wrong / get it wrong is something like my old Z4M, luckily the specialist I was dealing with for my wife’s car knew that he wasn’t getting it for the WBAC price of £4k at the time.
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Cracking colour that! Looks fantastic.Inevitably this has gone slightly differently than originally envisaged.
I couldn't overcome my prejudice against buying a car blind, and having rattled around an assortment of non-franchised sellers (learning along the way to avoid at all possible costs 'S James Prestige' in Essendine - the ultimate gilded turd...), I've just paid 4K over my budget for a 3-series, not a 5-series, and from a BMW main dealer no less. A first in all senses. I love the car, my wife LOVES the car, the price was fair if not a bargain, and it feels a bit of a result - so far...
Anyone want to buy a low-miles Toyota Hilux?
If I gained a Hilux, I’d lose a wife lol.
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Must admit the colour was a nice bonus - I was rather resigned to the vastly commoner white/grey/black that seem to proliferate in fun-free Britain.
As for the Hilux, you must first spend time looking at adverts for old Land Rovers - after a few weeks of that she'll positively welcome a Hilux...
Guess how I know this...
Haha she’s had me browsing old school defenders for years. If I went now, I’d hear how much cheaper they were years ago.Must admit the colour was a nice bonus - I was rather resigned to the vastly commoner white/grey/black that seem to proliferate in fun-free Britain.
As for the Hilux, you must first spend time looking at adverts for old Land Rovers - after a few weeks of that she'll positively welcome a Hilux...
Guess how I know this...
BMW do manage some lovely blues, enjoy the new car; will feel so luxurious I bet.
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Got to admit, that looks nice. Proper metallic blue with nice wheels, none of that primer - dull grey and black wheels nonsense that seems fashionable thesedays. Enjoy.
Thinking about parting with my beloved Jag XF next year, can' t decide what to buy but it' ll have to be something pleasing on the eye in a 'proper' colour, that rules out a lot of the recent stuff.
Cheers all
I hear their pink is to die for.
Probably swimming against the tide of popular opinion, but I`ve always liked the Jaguar XE and a post 2019 facelift model (petrol, not diesel) could well be on the shopping list. I detest SUVs and seeing as my car is parked under my window I need something that pleases me when it's in my eye-line, that might seem flipant and somewhat irrational but it's true, I`ve always liked cars that (to me) look nice. A white or primer-grey box on wheels would turn my stomach every time I had to look at it.
However, just given the XF a blast this evening along some quietish fast roads, 3 litre diesel still does the business for me and it'll be a sad day when it has to go. Car's barely worth £3K according to the quick on-line valuations which seems v. little, so I`m tempted to keep it a while longer.
Friend of mine bought a ford Kuga from cinch, 7 months later the engine blew. That'll be fine he thought having bought a warranty at the same time only they thought different and said they wouldn't pay for the new engine ford said it needed they'd only pay for a rebuild ford said was impossible, so now the car is scrap and he's having to battle a nameless faceless responsibility shirking organisation for some compensation that seems further away each day.
Not sure what his first mistake was, cinch, the Kuga or not researching either.
Stunning colour - is it Portimao Blue as I have the saloon in that colour and absolutely love looking at it and driving it!Inevitably this has gone slightly differently than originally envisaged.
I couldn't overcome my prejudice against buying a car blind, and having rattled around an assortment of non-franchised sellers (learning along the way to avoid at all possible costs 'S James Prestige' in Essendine - the ultimate gilded turd...), I've just paid 4K over my budget for a 3-series, not a 5-series, and from a BMW main dealer no less. A first in all senses. I love the car, my wife LOVES the car, the price was fair if not a bargain, and it feels a bit of a result - so far...
Anyone want to buy a low-miles Toyota Hilux?
Excuse me?! You have no idea if I've even used WBAC (which I haven't), so don't go around making baseless statements.
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Excuse me?! You have no idea if I've even used WBAC (which I haven't), so don't go around making baseless statements.
My wife would love a Hilux, I wouldn’t love the fuel bills!
My brother in law has one and seems to fill it up every day.
It was a guess, not a statement. Get over yourself.
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This isn't the BP. I don't expect to be accused of misrepresenting a non existent car sale, merely because I expressed an opinion about a company.
Maybe think before you post next time.
Again get over yourself.
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You seem to mention the primer thing every time there is a car thread.
Cars that do a flat grey colour generally with black accents do not have your age group as their target market.
You are a dinosaur.
The car manufacturers clearly know their target market, and heaven forbid it may have been based on primary market research with potential buyers.
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I am five years younger than Paul and like flat grey on most cars.
I even have it on a bike.
But they still look shit. Kings new clothes syndrome, might be fashionable in some eyes but so were jeans with rips in the knees. Can' t polish a turd, and thats what these grey cars look like.
And how about those cars with a silly noisy exhaust that sound like its trying to clear its throat on over- run, heard a few of those in central London last weekend.........what's that all about?
Methinks perhaps Hoody owns a grey primer car............prove me wrong?
One of the tricks to spot imperfections when wet - flatting a car prior to applying colour coat is to spray water on the primer and look down the side of the car, this reveals ripples and high spots. The wet grey primer looks exactly like these shitty modern things.
Maybe the owners are so impatient to get the car delivered, they can' t wait for it to be painted in topcoat so they take it in primer?
Yip
Have owned about 5 flat colour cars.
Still got one on a KIA but that's the daughter's now
Last edited by Hood; 11th December 2024 at 01:42.
The noise you mention is probably dump valves, usually fitted to cars like a Focus RS or something Japanese the boy racers like. I do agree, they sound rubbish and rather ridiculous.
Colour is clearly down to personal taste. If we all liked the same it would be boring. I seem to keep going for metallic blacks, even though they are a bugger to keep clean.
So clever my foot fell off.
Never owned a metallic black but its a colour that works well on most cars. Dark metallic blue or red is my favourite, always looks class, suits big or smaller cars in all shapes and sizes. Metallic dark grey' s a good choice too. Bright red' s good on small and sports cars, doesn' t work well on big ones. No matter how hard I try I just cannot see the appeal of primer grey.
Wifey' s nagging me to get a small car, just been out with her in mine, was tempted to make the cheeky mare walk home..........that would' ve been a poor decision!
I’ve had one black car, never again. Dust seems visible on it within hours of a wash!
They look great when just washed but doesn't last long.
Took me years to eventually go with a red car (after over 30 cars) but as I suspected I didn't really get on with the colour and it was back to safe havens of black ,grey ,silver and blue.
Horses for courses. I think dump valves sound amazing. Also the turbos that sound like a pigeon. Yum.
Overrun pops and bangs ... I'm less keen on that, unless it's from the back of lambo or a Ferrari!
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I had a Honda civic in primer grey with a sparkle effect i was never keen on it but constantly had people asking what colour it was as they loved it
Not keen on primer grey either, I think it will date very quickly.
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