User 4221

I stopped by E&H motors (Ebay seller xnfl) today to check out the S4 that was sold on ebay recently (The one that overheats in 15mins. )

As I arrived, the S4 was being loaded on a flatbed for delivery so I didn't get to see it.

However, they did have about 4 other 928 cars. All low mileage and all later model 87+. I took a close look at two in particular.

White with black interior S4 - Don't know year
39,xxx miles
The mileage is called into question on this car as the engine was filthy and there were many, many rock chips and touch-up areas. If the mileage is true, then it has been an extremely hard 39k miles


Black with black interior S4 - Don't know year
63,xxx miles
Light nose damage .... Hood not aligned and front left fender has body filler under paint. BTW, the paint looked really nice.

I commented to a sales lady that they have a nice selection of cars on ebay and inquired if they found them locally. I received a vague answer that they find them from all over the US and they were the largest 928 seller around.

I asked the sales lady the selling price on the White car and was told that they sell exclusively through ebay. They don't divulge selling prices.
I then asked to see the engine. The sales lady hesitantly said OK. As I popped the hood, the manager, I assume, yelled from his office that the car was sold. A hint to close the hood. I did see the engine and it was filthy.

I didn't bother to ask the real story.... Was it sold or still for sale?


The upshot: I walked away feeling I needed to be deloused. If you see a car they are selling, be sure to do all your homework. I'm sure the cars are OK, but I wouldn't trust these folks as far as I could throw 'em.


I hope this helps any shoppers.

The view expressed are solely my own.

Scott

Brendan

Thanks Scott, I have always wondered about that seller. They always seem to have low mileage lookers.

aaron3

I agree with you assessment of that vendor. Our home office is located near that dealership and I have stopped in more than once. I'm not sure what it was but the dealership is very cold.

My feeling is that they have a very good detail shop somewhere, which makes the cars look nice. Good lighting in the shop for pictures too.

Someone that only sells on E-bay makes me wonder....someone with so many low mileage cars makes me wonder more..

bcdavis

When I was looking for my car, I found several 928s with fresh paint jobs, that looked BEAUTIFUL on the outside, but underneath were leaks, and rusty brakes, and all kinds of horrors. So buyer beware. Especially when it comes to used car dealers. Some have their own paint shops, and they take some of those POS beaters out there, and repaint them, and sometimes even clean up under the hood. But under the shine, is a nasty beast... PPI is the way to go, or do a really thorough poking around...

Wild Bill

Scott,
Glad you got a chance to drop by to check out these folks. They may indeed be one of the largest sellers of 928s in the country, but it is pretty apparent their practices are deceptive. Amazing how some dealers can polish a turd to fine shine to make a sale. Others, like these people, use the miracle of Ebay to work their smoke and mirrors magic. Must admit I've been tempted by some of their auctions... And they somehow manage to to get great feed back. Smooth operators, specializing in buyers that don't look too closely at the goods!

Regards,
Bill

Champagne

I bought my baby from these guys and when all is said and done, I find myself very lucky. The old girl is a diamond.
But the car was nowhere close to how it was described. My situation at the time forced me to buy the car sight unseen, so I was prepared to take full responsibility for any problem. But it turned out that the description was so far from the truth that the seller actually refunded part of the money to me.
I would not buy another car from them without a very, very thorough PPI.
Like many eBay sellers, these guys descriptions can't be trusted.

Paul

Drewster67

Speaking of "mileage". How is it possiblee to roll back an electronic odometer?. Not that I have one nor would I ever do such a thing. I thought those pods were encrypted to prevent mileage tampering?.

V-Fib

If I remember correctly, not too long ago there was a device being sold on Ebay that could do the trick. It was outrageous though at something like $1500.00+.



Anthony Tate
79/928 Silver Metallic

Cobey

Maybe remove the low milage odo from a wrecked 928 and swap it one from the "looker" they are about to put on sale?

Drewster67

Is that legal?

LexKY928

Electronic Odometers are really not that hard to alter. If I remember correctly, the data is stored on a PROM, and Proms can be reprogrammed once you figure out the manufactures data structure. Mid 80's GM cars with digital Odo's were very simple to modify(there was no protection of the chip at all), if someone wanted to risk a HEFTY fine to make a few hundred, or a few thousand extra bucks. Besides, a Carfax report almost always will show any discrepancies. Just my 2 cents.

Ron




Disclaimer....My knowledge of this subject is purely educational, I never altered the mileage on any "living" car. Only parts cars that were never sold, only stripped and crushed.

V-Fib

It's probably one of those things you can legally own, but not legally use. Kinda like some of the gun laws. You can own the bayonet, but you can't attach it to the rifle (it makes it much too dangerous).



Anthony Tate
79/928 Silver Metallic

Old & New

Lex, "Thou protesth too much, me think".

Sooo... do you own a dealership???

Lagavulin

Aw man, that's easy. Just jack the rear of the car up, and run the car in reverse; make sure you have a full tank of gas though. Saw it on 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'.

sweanders

I looked at 11 928's before I bought the one I have now and only one seemed to be in good condition enough for me to buy it but it got sold before I could get it. All 8 other that were sold at dealerships or had been sold by one within two years were not very good at all, except for the looks of some.

I decided pretty early to not buy a car from a dealer or buy a car that had visited a dealer within the last five years or so. I guess the strategy worked out fine.