On July 3 I made an offer on a 1993 325is BMW with 93k miles. I was told by the owner of this business this car was in "excellent condition" with only minor scratches. The vehicle was inspected, tuned, met all safety levels and should I, once purchased, have any problems, just to let him know and he would take care of it.
I should have known the moment this man said, "I am a man of my word and am selling this car to you even though I've had other offers. I would not and can not sell you a car that is not in excellent condition." I informed this business that I was in need of a good vehicle in order to drive cross country back home to California from Florida due to an elderly, ailing parent. He assured me under no uncertain terms this vehicle was in travel condition.
I made the 500 mile drive to Miami with a business associate and once there, the vehicle was "not". I was told he had taken it to the mechanic for a final inspection. I waited 2 hours for his return to find the tail lights didn't work, the fog lamps had no power and they didnt' have time to detail it. It was filty. I insisted they take care of the items before I left with the car.
In front of my witness and two other couples doing transactions, this seller: Frank Vargas of A Car Sales aka APlus Car Sales, Inc. Said, " I give you my word again, this car is one of my best. It is inspected, and in excellent shape. No transmission problems, no driving problems. It's been professionally lowered, low profile tires, $4k wheels as you can see. But, since I am a man of my word, should you have any problems, you call me and I will take care of it. I want to do good business.
On the drive home, the tail lights failed. Within 300 miles away from his shop, now closed after hours, the car began to overheat during an evening drive at low speeds on the highway as I was getting use to its handling.
I called him the next day to inform him and to ask for the custom wheel lock he had forgotten to give to me in our close of business.
He assured me the car was fine and he had no trouble with it. He said he didn't understand why the lights failed or the car overheated and assured me he had absent-mindedly left the wheel lock at the mechanic and would ship it out to me. I also told him the 6 CD player/changer was not in the trunk as promised... And he said he had it but pulled it to work on the lights. That too, would be shipped out.
The next day I took it to BMW for another inspection and found none of the fluid levels where met, the oil had not been changed in God knows how long, an oil cooler line was rigged to look like a full lenght hose but was hand cut beyond the hose seperator to "look" complete, and above all... The Guibo joint, (Front Flex Disc at the front of the driveshaft was in pieces). The mechanic told me, "This car is not only going to fail the drive back to Miami for any dealer repair, it sure as heck isn't going to make it back to California. You need to contact this guy and give him a piece of your mind and get these matters taken care of".
Okay. I did. I got a couple of mechanic estimates and opinions, called the dealer and got the run around. I was told "You must have done something to the car on the way back! I am a man of my word! I will not pay for anything, you are telling me it will cost over 300. For repairs to the driveshaft? I will not pay it"
I had to get a third party involved. Oh, the dealer sent the $330. To be exact in the form of a money order only when threatened by my associate that was my witness that day of the transaction. But, in return the seller flatly refused to send the CD player already paid for in the deal, refused to ship the wheel lock nor take any emails, phone calls or letters to this incident.
During all of this, I informed the seller I had emails from him stated what "excellent condition" this car was in for the trip cross country, how he left voice mail messages on my home phone to the same effect (of which he screamed at me: "You have no right to record my phone calls!" I informed him: "Then you shouldn't have left any voice mail messages you idiot!"
I've had the car for a month. It's up for sale as we speak. My journey home to Calif. To assist my only living parent in her late 80's is delayed. Upon further inspection, of which has been reported to NHTSA are faulty rear seatbelts (unknown at the time as no one was riding in the rear of the car until 2 weeks later and the seatbeats are stuck), the U-joints are damaged, the wiring in this car has been rigged beyond anyone able to make sense of it, and we found this car has been in a major head on collision with further inspection by another body shop. The dash has been replaced among other things. The TCM lights comes on the dash which regulates the hydraulic shift mechanisms, once on the car will not shift out of first gear, yet when you unlock the gas cap, the light goes off and the car shifts gears.
My mechanice: " I've never heard of this before. The TCM is a computer chip that tends to fail from time to time. But to unlock the gas cap? I never would have seen such faulty wiring had I not seen this car".
Oh, it's a looker. Black, professionally lowered, custom Vault wheels (new) and low profile tires (worth $4500) No tears on the interior (oh, but one week later the entire headliner fell off, just started peeling away at the overhead and sagging), Tan interior and... Well... It's a nice 30k car to look at sitting in my driveway. It can't be driven at highway speeds, it shakes, shimmies and rattles.
As for Frank Vargas at A Plus Cars. He refuses to deal. He was contacted 6 times for the mere wheel lock... Each time the story changed. 1: I forgot it at the mechanic and will ship it out. 2: The mechanic said he misplaced it. 3: I will buy another one (you can't idiot, you need to break the current ones and put on new locks!) 4: I have the wheel lock, let me confirm you mailing address 5: What do you mean? The mechanic told me again he put it in the car. 6: I don't have to send you anything.
Nice business man, uh?
He is still selling cars. He is still getting back replies from others I've contacted as to doing business with him. He did the same to others with transactions of BMW, to other types of vehicles. People are furious with him. I am furious with him.
This man lied more than once to me and my associates. He failed to follow through with "his word" and to do good business.
Due to all of this, a car that is not worth the tires it sits on, I am sickened with the process it's going to take me to sell and re-assume another vehicle to make it 3,000 cross county home to California.
I have all documents to attest to this and the situation. Witnesses to boot.
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