Why doesn’t my car sell?

[A930Rocket]

Take a look at the ad for the 2003 M3 I am selling on Craigslist and Facebook marketplace and let me know why you think it doesn’t sell. Obviously the M3 isn’t for everybody and the SMG transmission has a bad rap.

I’ve had no response from Craigslist and I’ve had about 12 people on Facebook marketplace ask if it’s available. Both ads are identical.

https://charleston.craigslist.org/cto/d/picayune-2003-bmw-m3/7436624978.html

[stomachmonkey]

140k on the clock

Interest in a vehicle drops precipitously as mileage goes up.

I personally wont look at or consider anything above 75k and a 75k vehicle to me is a throw away that I'm not paying $17 for.

Generally

I think for the general public anything north of 100k is scary to them.

[Roswell]

Beautiful car. For me, SMG is a deal killer...

[LWJ]

Looks absolutely great. No stories or excuses. That is the sort of car I always buy.

I like to use a bit of a "narrative" in my ads. Tell a story. Why you fell in love. How it was your baby. How your scheming wife is divorcing you and you are forced to sell...

(well, maybe that is a little over the top, but you get the idea)

Tell about the clean carfax, never hit, not tracked, and similar - if true.

And then there is price. Research the heck out of it. I am not in the market for an M3. I don't know the market. Price it so that it is perfect for that ONE buyer. It only takes one. I will confess that I have been buying and selling all sorts of junk recently. You make money on the buy, but the sell really is helped out with a compelling story.

As for the miles? An enthusiast can see through those. How many of us have ancient porsches? I had a high miles E36 way back. Well maintained cars are a bargain. Maybe, because you are SO confident in the car, you offer to pay for a PPI with full price?

Sell it!!!

[ninelevenick]

You are selling a vehicle that appeals to enthusiasts. Manual transmissions are preferred over the SMG. Though 140k miles is not low, it not really high. However, with a higher mileage vehicle, people want more details. Chronicle the maintenance, the joy it has brought you, the love you put into it. Your ad looks like all the other Joe Sellers out there who don't take the time to write a proper, compelling advertisement. People buy from people, and buyers want that warm fuzzy feeling that they trust the seller. I also think you asking $3-4k too much.

[greglepore]

The SMG has a bad rep, but its not a bad rap necessarily. They fail, and when they do its expensive.
But I think the big problem is the vanilla nature of the ad along with the mileage. Folks that would even consider an e46 with 140k need to know why its not a ticking time bomb-enthusiast owned, all the niggles taken care of yada. 17.5 for a car with a poor reliability rep requires that to be defused.

[Steve Carlton]

Put it on CarGurus and Autotrader. You should get much better results.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Take a look at the ad for the 2003 M3 I am selling on Craigslist and Facebook marketplace and let me know why you think it doesn’t sell. Obviously the M3 isn’t for everybody and the SMG transmission has a bad rap.

I’ve had no response from Craigslist and I’ve had about 12 people on Facebook marketplace ask if it’s available. Both ads are identical.

https://charleston.craigslist.org/cto/d/picayune-2003-bmw-m3/7436624978.html

It’s too expensive.

Also after this thread you should remove the last line in the ad...

[herr_oberst]

Needs better photos

[Norm K]

Originally Posted by Alan A

It’s too expensive.

^^^ This

The reason for something (almost anything, in fact) not selling ... is price. We often don't want to hear that, but it is almost universally true. There is a price at which your car will sell - finding a number that makes sense for you and prospective buyers is the challenge.

_

[gprsh924]

I love that car. But if its worth $17,500 with 140k on the clock, then I am giddy to see what my dad's '04 will pull in with only 60k miles.

[dewolf]

Change the black rims back to the original finish. The black does nothing for the car.

[Deschodt]

My guess ? It's the grey interior and Horse Dildo shifter.

Also you don't mention the big gotchas:
- subframe cracks addressed (they exist even if not visible)
- VANOS done ?
- Rod bearings done ?

Price? I disagree... Have you guys followed the M3 market ? Red or brown interior + manual and welded chassis - he'd get 25 all day

I jest, I jest, but my similar 2003 cab is going to get a manual conversion next week... $4300. Then shocks (me). then I'll chase down the $%$#%$# squeaks in the top... Those cars have fantastic engines but that grey interior is heinous - I know, I have one... +1 on black rims making wheels invisible - finally put it on a real website, craiglist is for crackpots looking for deals and trade for their coat hangers collection, and also more details

[JackDidley]

Tyler Hoover would buy it.

[Arizona_928]

Looks like it's bc of the slush box....


Standard trans swap and get 25k, or lower price.

[stevej37]

[QUOTE=Deschodt;11592808]My guess ? It's the grey interior and Horse Dildo shifter.


Lol...I saw that also.

[matthewb0051]

As already said:

Wheel color and shifter, put 'em back to factory. I think people get turned off by PO's upgrades, especially if they are just cosmetic. Boy racer touches convey the notion that a boy racer drove the thing to within an inch of its life.

[asphaltgambler]

I would agree to the above post. It's like smashing your new girlfriend for the first time, you flip her over to 'take it home', and you see a tattoo with another guys name there in BIG letters

[zakthor]

I made an ad like that once. Didn't get any hits in 2 weeks. I was being honest and fair, didn't want to make it look fancy like a cheezy dealer. But the wife wants garage space back, she's like WTF. She Looks at ad: my pictures are terrible.

Makes me go take good pictures at sunset. A-and she says they suck too. I work my very hardest and take the bestest pictures I can, tripod, long exposures, lots of angles. She picks out the best ones, ad goes up on sunday and car is sold on monday.

So... I'm not a bmw fan, I think the photos make the car's color feel depressing. That car is from an era after I thought bmw were cool, so I'm not a good judge but: find another site for your photos and take them at a better time of day. Before sunrise? Storms in distance? Dramatic light? Bring out some gold, some mist, cool clouds in background... mountains, a winding road? Dew on green grass? Inspire a dream and imagination, cool and contented, a neat car in a lovely place.

Your pictures are high contrast taken at noon. It is too bright, too hot, bright pavement, no trees, I don't want to be there. I see your pictures I want to bury my head in the closet and escape that light.

[pavulon]

It only needs an LS7 and tremec transplant to sell...but you'd also be much less likely to have it listed.