M6 GC "Lemon" Value

[malcoll]

Good afternoon folks.... I am fairly new to this site, and looking at purchasing a 2014 M6 GC. Beautiful car, but it was branded as a "lemon" from California. I don't want to say what car it is....but I do want your thoughts on what does that branding do to the value?

I have history in other marques, I have a Dodge Viper and the branded title would bring the value down 10% to 20%.... is that similar in the BMW M6 world?

I appreciate any thoughts. I really like the car and I think the owner is definitely being "straight up" with me, I just don't know what value to really place on it!?

[M6-Coupe]

If a company like BMW is forced to buy back one of it's most expensive car like M6, then there should be a serious concern since they were not able to fix that right? I know they might offer a good price or warranty but just ask yourself this question before going forward:
Are you willing to start a game that your car spends most of her time sitting in service and whenever you take her in for service it ended up to 3-4 days in shop and at the end they say "everything is normal"???
And the same story again and again...!!!
This is the story of Lemon cars !

[malcoll]

I do understand the perspective, but I also know that California has some of the easiest lemon laws in the country (if not the easiest).... and the M6 I am considering has been owned by someone for the last few years with zero problems... so I'm not as concerned that it still has the problem....but I am wanting to make sure I am not over paying for it either..... I plan to keep this M6 GC for a long time (I ususally keep a car 6 or 7 years) but I don't want to be completely upside down from a value perspective (yes I know cars are a depreciating asset and the value will continue to decline).... So I am looking for any opinion, expert or otherwise, regarding value impact of the lemon status.... Thanks Again!

[mjposner]

Simple answer is why was it lemoned. That should be easy to find out. Its a 3 strikes law, and in many cases a heavy hitter with a lawyer can easily get rid of a car that may have some annoying but easy issue. Given its a 14, I assume it was lemoned years ago and ultimately it was either fixed or a squeak or rattle that no one else would give two s**ts about (my seat rattles if I press it all the way down (how I like to drive, dealer could not fix) so I just lifted seat 1/2" and the noise is gone.

[malcoll]

The reason it was lemoned has been fixed and no issues since..... I agree mechanically and aesthetically I have no concerns.... I just don't know what value to put on the M6 with the branded title......but thank you for your thoughts!

[mjposner]

I think the 10-20% mis about right, leaning towards the 20%. These cares depreciate like rocks as it is....

and

is this the car: https://jalopnik.com/at-49-750-does-...you-1797296208

[malcoll]

Much appreciated... .not the same car, I am looking at an M6 GC.... that one is a 650 GC.

Thanks

[Flying Ace]

I would discount 20% from average selling price, not even from list price.

As other said, these cars depreciate like a rock. a '14 M6 GC clears at about $60k retail today. $58k in auction.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by M6-Coupe

If a company like BMW is forced to buy back one of it's most expensive car like M6, then there should be a serious concern since they were not able to fix that right? I know they might offer a good price or warranty but just ask yourself this question before going forward:
Are you willing to start a game that your car spends most of her time sitting in service and whenever you take her in for service it ended up to 3-4 days in shop and at the end they say "everything is normal"???
And the same story again and again...!!!
This is the story of Lemon cars !

legitimate concerns that you laid out. But had it been other states, it may not have been lemoned. Same car, same issues, same attempt at fixes, just different rule related to titling of the asset.

Ultimately, you need to understand the state's lemon laws. Each state has a law that says if car is out of commission for x days a year within y days of purchase, then it can be a dealer buy back. It may be the dealer was too busy to fix it in time, it may mean there was a myrid of issues that needed to be fixed, it could also mean there are issues that cascade and effect each other and the dealer ran out of time fixing it.

OP - A title is like a nose. Everyone's got a good one in working order, but when you don't (lemon/salvage) it sure as hell going to stick out. You should count on resale taking a hit, unless you have the story straight and able to tell it to the right person.

Also remember, anything can lemon a car these days. It could be as trivial as a malfunctioning window switch that refuses to work after several attempts at troubleshooting. Sounds like you need to do some homework and figure out what the issues were. IMO, if it's anything powertrain or electrical related. Run, don't walk away. If it's powertrain and the work order says, they're replaced the entire unit, then I would take a hard look. If they just repaired the parts...then ehhh......

[upstate650]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

legitimate concerns that you laid out. But had it been other states, it may not have been lemoned. Same car, same issues, same attempt at fixes, just different rule related to titling of the asset.

Ultimately, you need to understand the state's lemon laws. Each state has a law that says if car is out of commission for x days a year within y days of purchase, then it can be a dealer buy back. It may be the dealer was too busy to fix it in time, it may mean there was a myrid of issues that needed to be fixed, it could also mean there are issues that cascade and effect each other and the dealer ran out of time fixing it.

OP - A title is like a nose. Everyone's got a good one in working order, but when you don't (lemon/salvage) it sure as hell going to stick out. You should count on resale taking a hit, unless you have the story straight and able to tell it to the right person.

Also remember, anything can lemon a car these days. It could be as trivial as a malfunctioning window switch that refuses to work after several attempts at troubleshooting. Sounds like you need to do some homework and figure out what the issues were. IMO, if it's anything powertrain or electrical related. Run, don't walk away. If it's powertrain and the work order says, they're replaced the entire unit, then I would take a hard look. If they just repaired the parts...then ehhh......

It could also happen because of part availability. Question #1 is why was it lemoned. I wouldn't be looking any further until I knew the answer to that question.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by upstate650

It could also happen because of part availability. Question #1 is why was it lemoned. I wouldn't be looking any further until I knew the answer to that question.

yep agreed.

[Msizzle]

why are you asking for suggestions but being so vague with the facts?? What happened to the car? How many miles/years since? I have seen a lambo get lemon lawed for squeaky brakes, and i have seen a maxima get lemon lawed for wind noise.