Hi All

I am miserably thinking about selling my VRS petrol saloon in favour of a diesel estate version or even a diesel superb (!). I need a bit of advice with regard mods that have been done and what they will likely do to the price. I have never had a car with any mods on, and bought this one on spec from a BMW dealer who had taken it in trade, and to be fair I don't think they knew too much about it either. I didn't know it wasn't standard when I bought it, it was an impulse buy on how pretty it was! Will the mods kill the value, or increase it at all?

The basic car is a good spec one - it is a white VRS Saloon, 10 plate DSG Petrol. 50,000 miles and ridiculously full skoda history including DSG oil change at 40,000. I don't know enough about spec to be sure on what is standard and what are extras, but it has privacy glass, full leather, heated seats, bluetooth, Columbus/Nav, Maxidot etc.

However, the bits I think have been changed are: aftermarket graphite dark grey wheels, professionally installed DAB and ipod unit, colour coded white front grille, some kind of splitter lip on the front bumper, and from the paperwork I have it shows a bluefin stage2 remap with sports downpipes and the associated engine mounts. I only really know about details past that as I spoke to the previous owner from finding his details on paperwork with the car and ringing him on spec.

To me, as someone who has only ever had standard cars, it is hard to make head or tail of what kind of price I should advertise it at if I go ahead. I absolutely love the car, so if I was going to lose lots of money on it it would be another good reason to keep it, but if it was worth reasonable money, I should probably do the decent thing and get the cheaper to run diesel.

Can anyone advise me? I don't expect you to be able to pluck figures from out of the air, but any guidance or experience with what mods do to values would be really appreciated. I literally have no idea what I would put it up for, what to expect, or whether I should advertise it through autotrader / ebay etc or if there are any niche sales sites that might suit it better?

I have tried to link a photo below, not sure if it will work.

Thanks in advance.

I think the problem with modified cars is that they have an 'image' of being done by youngsters for reasons of thrashing it, traffic lights grand prix's etc etc, in some cases that is correct, but, many people do it as they like to take a good car and make it better in there opinion, personally I prefer everything stock.

 

Obviously the things like Columbus, heated seats etc can all be put down as standard modifications, things such as the DAB/Bluetooth, window tints these are standard aftermarket fit items etc, the 'problem' shall we say comes in the shape of exhausts, front bumper spoiler, alloys etc these are the items which make certain people think that it has been 'souped up' etc shall;l we say.

 

the remap is a lot more common now a days than they once were, and many insurers see it as a 'green' modification to improve mpg etc so they are fine.

 

Personally, if it was me, I would try and get a set of OEM alloys and pop them on, take the spoiler thing off and see how you go, then sell the aftermarket alloys on e38 or on here or something, and get the money back for the OEM alloys.

 

I think, like many buyers will want, will be a car that looks as standard as possible, that will attract the most buyer, and will probably attract the fairest price, modified cars, rightly or wrongly, might invite people trying there luck trying to knock the price down??

 

Regardless your car looks ace, and love it, but having owned the same car but on an 11 plate, I fully understand why you want to change to something more economic!

 

Thanks very much for the advice - I was concerned that may be the case.  In fact I spoke to the last owner, and as far as I can tell he was an older owner and just very much an enthusiast - definitely not a boy racer.  But I agree, if I see a modified car for sale I have always given it a wide berth assuming it has been done by kids in a garage with questionable standards!  

 

I have all the receipts for work which might help, but the concern will be getting people to look that much into it.  I might start looking around for some standard wheels, it seems like a good idea.  

 

The shame was I actually bought the car intending to LPG it for economy - I have had several LPG cars, but didn't realise the direct injection make up of the car means there aren't any LPG systems for it.  I didn't tell the wife...  I get around 30mpg, but the diesels should be so much more frugal...

Most of the mods are in relation to appearance only.

The stage 2 map with downpipes may actually be seen by many as a positive. It's a gorgeous looking car too.

I'd stick it on at market value or even slightly above and see how you get on - you might be surprised.

Try advertising on here and on an enthusiasts' site - try PistonHeads. Think you'd be surprised at the interest!

Worth giving it a go before spending cash on wheels etc!

Good luck with it either way!

Be honest about the car and clarify your reasons for doing the modifications. List the car eloquently and you may be surprised by who you attract. From your post you can tell you are intellectual and that alone will be on your side should a prospective buyer ring and enquire about the car.

If I read a listing and was curious about it's modifications I would ring and speak to the owner and hope they were as honest as possible.

Did you pay a premium to BMW for the car as a result of the modifications? How much would you say you have spent modifying the car yourself?

As you know modifications are a personal touch and when researched well enough can improve a car from standard but not everyone understands. What I'm getting at here is, look to list it at book price as aposed to what you think it is worth to regain what you have spent on it. Only my opinion but others will differ I'm sure!

Edited 11 February, 201412 yr by billywhiz040480

The problem may be one of insurance for many potential buyers.

The only thing I did to the car was to add the DAB unit, everything else was before I bought it - as I say, I took the risk of buying it on spec from the dealer, and hadn't researched the car much, so was pretty clueless.   The dealer either didn't recognise or didn't mention the mods.  

 

Everything I know about it was from doing some digging with previous owners after I had taken delivery.  From what I can tell everything has been professionally and properly done, and the car is absolutely fantastic to drive (much better than I had expected to be honest) so from an ownership point of view, and other than the cost of a turbo petrol car to run,  it has been a real bonus.  It's just a worry should I sell it.

 

Piston Heads and an honest rundown of what I know seems a good idea.  I think if someone gets as far as coming and looking at it they should be pretty impressed.  Got to be worth an advert before I go changing wheels maybe.

 

Thanks again for all your opinions.  

The only thing I did to the car was to add the DAB unit, everything else was before I bought it - as I say, I took the risk of buying it on spec from the dealer, and hadn't researched the car much, so was pretty clueless.   The dealer either didn't recognise or didn't mention the mods.  

 

 

 

That's a pretty big risk to take, being absolutely clueless

It was a pretty well known car on here, Oobster's one if I'm not mistaken? If so it was very well looked after and modified properly.

 

Best advice - upgrade to Freedom on here and advertise it as is. You're more likely to find an enthusiast here, than you are on Autotrader.

 

Value wise - ignore the extra equipment and additions, they very rarely make back any money. And as you say, you bought it without really realising it was any different to a stock vRS. So check current values on Parkers/Glass's etc and go from there.

 

Best of luck.

(oh, and it's a hatchback - not a saloon!!)

That's a pretty big risk to take, being absolutely clueless

Yep.  Agreed.  It was 250 miles away and I didn't want to travel, but did want the car.  There were caveats involved if it arrived faulty.

It was a pretty well known car on here, Oobster's one if I'm not mistaken? If so it was very well looked after and modified properly.

 

Best advice - upgrade to Freedom on here and advertise it as is. You're more likely to find an enthusiast here, than you are on Autotrader.

 

Value wise - ignore the extra equipment and additions, they very rarely make back any money. And as you say, you bought it without really realising it was any different to a stock vRS. So check current values on Parkers/Glass's etc and go from there.

 

Best of luck.

(oh, and it's a hatchback - not a saloon!!)

 

 

It is, of course, a hatchback...  

 

Actually I was wondering if the previous, previous owner or someone might recognise it on here - is Oobster a current member, I will try to make contact?  It would make sense, it feels well looked after - thanks for the heads up

Actually I just found a thread with Oobster's old car - very similar, but not the same one...shame

Sorry about that - made a leap with a white, petrol, DSG hatch that had been tweaked

It's only slightly modified and all very well done. It looks stunning. Wouldn't put me off from buying it. I'd sell it as is. As Wardy says try advertising it on here. I'm sure you'll have no problems selling it.

It's not the mods that would put me off,it's the 30mpg

It's not the mods that would put me off,it's the 30mpg

For the pace (and space), 30 mpg is very good.

Most cars which do more than 30 mpg and have similar performance are a lot more expensive (the diesel vRS, or the vRD as it should be called, is quite a bit slower and less responsive).

It's not the mods that would put me off,it's the 30mpg

 

Good input Dodders....I'm pretty sure no one buys a vRS for the mpg....in the same way no one would buy a 1.4 Octavia if they enjoy driving.

Good summary.

 

And the 1.4 owner might enjoy driving, just at a slower pace

Or be like me.  Buy it for the great performance and driving when in the car, spend all the time out of the car hitting myself with willow branches because my wallet says I should have gone diesel!  To be fair, the pace is blistering, and I have had a few M cars etc.  30mpg is pretty good for what it can do, just bad for my bank account...

If you're going to sell the car and have to find more money to buy a DERV, that money will likely buy you a lot of petrol.

I get between 26 and 31 mpg to a tank, I'm still sure that I wouldn't yet have recouped the extra cost of buying a TDI vRS and getting the better mpgs

To be honest the TDi depending on where and how you are driving it is not that "great" on fuel. Around town mine gets mid 30's and on a run if I'm very good 46+ to 52 at best.

 

Shame its not an Estate otherwise I'd be tempted in doing a swap!

1.4 owner would have paid thousands less and still earns thousands whilst driving it as a taxi.I would like a vrs as a taxi but when you're doing taxi mileage mpg and running costs has to be taken into account.

Good input Dodders....I'm pretty sure no one buys a vRS for the mpg....in the same way no one would buy a 1.4 Octavia if they enjoy driving.

Ha ha ha

To be honest the TDi depending on where and how you are driving it is not that "great" on fuel. Around town mine gets mid 30's and on a run if I'm very good 46+ to 52 at best.

 

Shame its not an Estate otherwise I'd be tempted in doing a swap!

 Shame!

 

I always think there should be a good car swap site, take some of the misery out of buying and selling.  It would keep a lot of flighty people happy...