Advice needed - UK

I'm selling my friends M3 on eBay. I received an email from a user
registered in the US.

"I want to bid on your car and buy it this week.Please let me know it's full
history (any accidents,how many owners,any finance).Is it HPI clear?Where it
was serviced?Please let me know the VIN number and the VRM in order to run
my own HPI check prior placing my bid. I am sorry for all this questions but
I have to make sure about everything before proceeding further. A fast reply
will be highly appreciated as I want to buy it ASAP, "

I replied with the information with the exception of the VIN number also
pointing out that the car was in the UK, My friend is reluctant to give out
the VIN number in case it can be used for fraudulent purposes.

His reply

"This is my wife`s account and she is from United States. Right now I`m in
Spain with business. To make a complete Hpi check they require the VIN # as
well. I`ll be in the Uk tomorrow but I want to make the Hpi check to proceed
further."

I dont see any deal with giving him the VIN , On my car the VIN is visible
but still my friend dosent want to. To be honest by now i getting ****ed of
with all the fannying around . If it was me I would have given him the
VIN and moved.

Whats the groups view ?

Mike Cook wrote:
> I'm selling my friends M3 on eBay. I received an email from a user
> registered in the US.
>
> "I want to bid on your car and buy it this week.Please let me know it's full
> history (any accidents,how many owners,any finance).Is it HPI clear?Where it
> was serviced?Please let me know the VIN number and the VRM in order to run
> my own HPI check prior placing my bid. I am sorry for all this questions but
> I have to make sure about everything before proceeding further. A fast reply
> will be highly appreciated as I want to buy it ASAP, "
>
> I replied with the information with the exception of the VIN number also
> pointing out that the car was in the UK, My friend is reluctant to give out
> the VIN number in case it can be used for fraudulent purposes.
>
> His reply
>
> "This is my wife`s account and she is from United States. Right now I`m in
> Spain with business. To make a complete Hpi check they require the VIN # as
> well. I`ll be in the Uk tomorrow but I want to make the Hpi check to proceed
> further."
>
> I dont see any deal with giving him the VIN , On my car the VIN is visible
> but still my friend dosent want to. To be honest by now i getting ****ed of
> with all the fannying around . If it was me I would have given him the
> VIN and moved.
>
> Whats the groups view ?

I'm not sure what somebody could do with the VIN other than check to see
if there are any reports about the car. Your friend is being overly
paranoid. It's about the same as trying to conceal your license plate
number. Everybody can see it as all they have to do is look at the dash
through the windshield, at least that's where it is in the U.S. I'm not
sure what anybody could do with a VIN that would be fraudulent unless it
were to claim it was the number on a different car.

--
Elvis is dead, and I'm not feeling too good myself.

Mike Cook wrote:
> I'm selling my friends M3 on eBay. I received an email from a user
> registered in the US.
>
> "I want to bid on your car and buy it this week.Please let me know it's full
> history (any accidents,how many owners,any finance).Is it HPI clear?Where it
> was serviced?Please let me know the VIN number and the VRM in order to run
> my own HPI check prior placing my bid. I am sorry for all this questions but
> I have to make sure about everything before proceeding further. A fast reply
> will be highly appreciated as I want to buy it ASAP, "
>
> I replied with the information with the exception of the VIN number also
> pointing out that the car was in the UK, My friend is reluctant to give out
> the VIN number in case it can be used for fraudulent purposes.
>
> His reply
>
> "This is my wife`s account and she is from United States. Right now I`m in
> Spain with business. To make a complete Hpi check they require the VIN # as
> well. I`ll be in the Uk tomorrow but I want to make the Hpi check to proceed
> further."
>
> I dont see any deal with giving him the VIN , On my car the VIN is visible
> but still my friend dosent want to. To be honest by now i getting ****ed of
> with all the fannying around . If it was me I would have given him the
> VIN and moved.
>
> Whats the groups view ?

VIN number should be given. I would never consider buying a car if the
buyer would not reveal the VIN. How would one determine whether the car
was stolen or totalled without running the VIN?

You can't do anything fraudulent with that information. Check eBay.
Almost every listing provides the VIN. If someone did figure out a way
to use VINs fraudulently there would be an endless supply there.


--
-Fred W

"Mike Cook" > wrote in message
...
> I'm selling my friends M3 on eBay. I received an email from a user
> registered in the US.
>
> "I want to bid on your car and buy it this week.Please let me know it's
> full history (any accidents,how many owners,any finance).Is it HPI
> clear?Where it was serviced?Please let me know the VIN number and the VRM
> in order to run my own HPI check prior placing my bid. I am sorry for all
> this questions but I have to make sure about everything before proceeding
> further. A fast reply will be highly appreciated as I want to buy it ASAP,
> "
>
> I replied with the information with the exception of the VIN number also
> pointing out that the car was in the UK, My friend is reluctant to give
> out the VIN number in case it can be used for fraudulent purposes.
>
> His reply
>
> "This is my wife`s account and she is from United States. Right now I`m in
> Spain with business. To make a complete Hpi check they require the VIN #
> as well. I`ll be in the Uk tomorrow but I want to make the Hpi check to
> proceed further."
>
> I dont see any deal with giving him the VIN , On my car the VIN is visible
> but still my friend dosent want to. To be honest by now i getting ****ed
> of with all the fannying around . If it was me I would have given him the
> VIN and moved.
>
> Whats the groups view ?
>
>
>
>
>

stay well clear and don't give your address.............the very very
slightest mention of Spain and I would run a mile...........na 100 miles.

dj

OhNo wrote:
> "Mike Cook" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I'm selling my friends M3 on eBay. I received an email from a user
>> registered in the US.
>>
>> "I want to bid on your car and buy it this week.Please let me know it's
>> full history (any accidents,how many owners,any finance).Is it HPI
>> clear?Where it was serviced?Please let me know the VIN number and the VRM
>> in order to run my own HPI check prior placing my bid. I am sorry for all
>> this questions but I have to make sure about everything before proceeding
>> further. A fast reply will be highly appreciated as I want to buy it ASAP,
>> "
>>
>> I replied with the information with the exception of the VIN number also
>> pointing out that the car was in the UK, My friend is reluctant to give
>> out the VIN number in case it can be used for fraudulent purposes.
>>
>> His reply
>>
>> "This is my wife`s account and she is from United States. Right now I`m in
>> Spain with business. To make a complete Hpi check they require the VIN #
>> as well. I`ll be in the Uk tomorrow but I want to make the Hpi check to
>> proceed further."
>>
>> I dont see any deal with giving him the VIN , On my car the VIN is visible
>> but still my friend dosent want to. To be honest by now i getting ****ed
>> of with all the fannying around . If it was me I would have given him the
>> VIN and moved.
>>
>> Whats the groups view ?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> stay well clear and don't give your address.............the very very
> slightest mention of Spain and I would run a mile...........na 100 miles.

Is Spain the equivalent of Nigeria now?

"Rex B" > wrote in message
...
>
> OhNo wrote:
>> "Mike Cook" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> I'm selling my friends M3 on eBay. I received an email from a user
>>> registered in the US.
>>>
>>> "I want to bid on your car and buy it this week.Please let me know it's
>>> full history (any accidents,how many owners,any finance).Is it HPI
>>> clear?Where it was serviced?Please let me know the VIN number and the
>>> VRM in order to run my own HPI check prior placing my bid. I am sorry
>>> for all this questions but I have to make sure about everything before
>>> proceeding further. A fast reply will be highly appreciated as I want to
>>> buy it ASAP, "
>>>
>>> I replied with the information with the exception of the VIN number also
>>> pointing out that the car was in the UK, My friend is reluctant to give
>>> out the VIN number in case it can be used for fraudulent purposes.
>>>
>>> His reply
>>>
>>> "This is my wife`s account and she is from United States. Right now I`m
>>> in Spain with business. To make a complete Hpi check they require the
>>> VIN # as well. I`ll be in the Uk tomorrow but I want to make the Hpi
>>> check to proceed further."
>>>
>>> I dont see any deal with giving him the VIN , On my car the VIN is
>>> visible but still my friend dosent want to. To be honest by now i
>>> getting ****ed of with all the fannying around . If it was me I would
>>> have given him the
>>> VIN and moved.
>>>
>>> Whats the groups view ?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> stay well clear and don't give your address.............the very very
>> slightest mention of Spain and I would run a mile...........na 100 miles.
>
> Is Spain the equivalent of Nigeria now?

Yes.............this phrase is used in abundance on ebay as the answer to
Ask Seller a Question "I am currently in Spain, either on business or
holiday etc"

"OhNo" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Rex B" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> OhNo wrote:
>>> "Mike Cook" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> I'm selling my friends M3 on eBay. I received an email from a user
>>>> registered in the US.
>>>>
>>>> "I want to bid on your car and buy it this week.Please let me know it's
>>>> full history (any accidents,how many owners,any finance).Is it HPI
>>>> clear?Where it was serviced?Please let me know the VIN number and the
>>>> VRM in order to run my own HPI check prior placing my bid. I am sorry
>>>> for all this questions but I have to make sure about everything before
>>>> proceeding further. A fast reply will be highly appreciated as I want
>>>> to buy it ASAP, "
>>>>
>>>> I replied with the information with the exception of the VIN number
>>>> also pointing out that the car was in the UK, My friend is reluctant to
>>>> give out the VIN number in case it can be used for fraudulent purposes.
>>>>
>>>> His reply
>>>>
>>>> "This is my wife`s account and she is from United States. Right now I`m
>>>> in Spain with business. To make a complete Hpi check they require the
>>>> VIN # as well. I`ll be in the Uk tomorrow but I want to make the Hpi
>>>> check to proceed further."
>>>>
>>>> I dont see any deal with giving him the VIN , On my car the VIN is
>>>> visible but still my friend dosent want to. To be honest by now i
>>>> getting ****ed of with all the fannying around . If it was me I would
>>>> have given him the
>>>> VIN and moved.
>>>>
>>>> Whats the groups view ?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> stay well clear and don't give your address.............the very very
>>> slightest mention of Spain and I would run a mile...........na 100
>>> miles.
>>
>> Is Spain the equivalent of Nigeria now?
>
> Yes.............this phrase is used in abundance on ebay as the answer to
> Ask Seller a Question "I am currently in Spain, either on business or
> holiday etc"

isn't it possible to obtain a new key / remote control etc with the vin
number and registration details etc. its not difficult to forge a V5
document.
the all he needs is your address and bingo...
I'm by no means a paranoid person myself, i just bought my latest 318i E36
on ebay.had to travel about 200 miles to collect it, but i would never
consider buying or selling cars on ebay to oversea's parties.
and as the previous poster has mentioned, spain would be setting off alarm
bells to me, esspecially if the guy is a businessman in america, using his
wifes account, and doing business in spain...
why would he want a right hand drive beemer in the us anyway?
steer clear if you ask me...
steve.


>
>

"Mike Cook" > wrote in message
...
> I'm selling my friends M3 on eBay. I received an email from a user
> registered in the US.
>
> "I want to bid on your car and buy it this week.Please let me know it's
> full history (any accidents,how many owners,any finance).Is it HPI
> clear?Where it was serviced?Please let me know the VIN number and the VRM
> in order to run my own HPI check prior placing my bid. I am sorry for all
> this questions but I have to make sure about everything before proceeding
> further. A fast reply will be highly appreciated as I want to buy it ASAP,
> "
>
> I replied with the information with the exception of the VIN number also
> pointing out that the car was in the UK, My friend is reluctant to give
> out the VIN number in case it can be used for fraudulent purposes.
>
> His reply
>
> "This is my wife`s account and she is from United States. Right now I`m in
> Spain with business. To make a complete Hpi check they require the VIN #
> as well. I`ll be in the Uk tomorrow but I want to make the Hpi check to
> proceed further."
>
> I dont see any deal with giving him the VIN , On my car the VIN is visible
> but still my friend dosent want to. To be honest by now i getting ****ed
> of with all the fannying around . If it was me I would have given him the
> VIN and moved.
>
> Whats the groups view ?
>
>
>
>
>


I had the same thing once selling a motor bike.. the guy wanted to know what
the chassis number was, electronic serial number... were I lived...
everything. He was very bullish about it, he came from abroad and claimed he
wanted to make sure it was what I was stating in the ad.

But basically I checked his IP out, and discovered he wasn't abroad, and if
I had given him the electronic serial number he could of ordered a key for
around £70.. and came around one night and stole my bike, then valued at
around £10k !!


It's hard trying to distinguish whose honest and whose not.... do you have
the item number as I'm in the market for a M3 !

>>I dont see any deal with giving him the VIN , On my car the VIN is visible
>>but still my friend dosent want to. To be honest by now i getting ****ed
>>of with all the fannying around . If it was me I would have given him the
>>VIN and moved.
>>
>>Whats the groups view ?

>
> I had the same thing once selling a motor bike.. the guy wanted to know what
> the chassis number was, electronic serial number... were I lived...
> everything. He was very bullish about it, he came from abroad and claimed he
> wanted to make sure it was what I was stating in the ad.
>
> But basically I checked his IP out, and discovered he wasn't abroad, and if
> I had given him the electronic serial number he could of ordered a key for
> around £70.. and came around one night and stole my bike, then valued at
> around £10k !!

To order a key, you'd need proof of ownership. I can read the VIN off
any BMW on the street (actually, that may not be true for all models).
Either way, I'd be surprised if I could order a key based purely on that.


> It's hard trying to distinguish whose honest and whose not.... do you have
> the item number as I'm in the market for a M3 !

"Emma Ward" <senninha1@ sad.btinternet.com> wrote in message
...
>
> "Mike Cook" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I'm selling my friends M3 on eBay. I received an email from a user
>> registered in the US.
I'm in the market for a M3 !
>
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