I've spoken to them this morning, and it looks like it's this clause on the initial quote which I missed that's the problem:

 

 

"Additional manufacturer charges may apply".

 

I guess that's game over for honoring the original price, and it's time to accept the new, lower priced, differently spec'd car.

 

On the bright side, my 330d, bless it, failed to start twice yesterday when out and about with friends, so the sooner something reliable is here, the better. 

I'd have thought technically that would need to be also covered in the contract terms.

I'd personally be getting onto BMW and using "I really don't want to cancel my order, but..." and see if you can avoid or reduce this amount.

Given you're dealing with BMW companies rather than an unrelated third party, I think they're pulling a crafty one.

That's not an additional manufacturer charge though - it's them changing the rental.

Anyway, I'd go back to BMW and see what they say, then if they refuse to budge, walk away.

I've tried that, they don't seem to be budging.

 

However, I want one of these cars, and as this funding will stop on all new leases, if I go elsewhere, it'll still be at the increased price, and I'll have to wait again. There's nothing in the conventional fuel price band that meets my wants, so they have me over a barrel (in so much as I'm confining myself to buying their car).

 

At least the alternative car is £17 a month cheaper, so it is a bit of a saving. (And I guess a parking camera/self parking is more useful than leather seats/dashboard, although this is self justification here...)

Have you double checked that lease prices are up from other dealers/brokers?

I did yesterday, and they're not updated yet, but they were a few weeks behind when they released a new raft of colour options. Plus the price doesn't actually increase until the 18th Dec., so I doubt they'll update their headline figures until they have to...

 

Hi all,

 

Bit of an odd one, and I was wondering if anyone here had any views at all.

 

I've recently signed up on a PCH for a new car, due to be delivered 14th January.

 

I had a phone call earlier today from the supplying dealer saying that the underwriter has cut/reduced funding for this car model for vehicles delivered after 31st Dec. 2015, and that my monthly payments would increase by £70p/m, should I stick with it. Or, they've got this stock car for £13p/m less, but without a leather interior/dash.

 

Now, my thoughts are, I've signed the contracted and posted it back, and I'm outside of my 14 day cooling off period, so I see it that we're both locked into this contract at the agreed price, even if the car isn't here yet. (Correct?)

 

In the contract, the only statements relating to price increases are these:

 

 

 

Edit - it chopped half my post off... :(

 

I don't think that the capital allowances are changing, (and they'd have advance knowledge if so...), so are they able to increase the price like this?

 

I'd have thought that the fact I'm outside of the cooling off period, and that the contracts are signed/returned means that we're locked in?

 

Cheers,

Joe

 

 

You have a contract.

£70 a month is a huge amount.

 

Tell them to honor the original price or give you the deposit back.

 

They can't change the terms of the contract on you without giving you the option to back out.

Any clause that says they can is IMHO an unfair contract clause.

They wouldn't be happy with a clause that says you can decide to pay less for a few months if you're having a bad month.

 

I would as above point out they can keep the car and you want all your money back.

It's not an additional manufacturer charge, it's them changing the price totally.

 

There is no way on earth that would stand up in court and if it was myself in your position, I'd be seriously considering court action.

What they're trying to pull off is a joke.

 

Did you go through BMW finance or another finance company?

Make sure you use your rights under the consumer credit act too.

 

The credit contract isn't valid any more as they've increased the amount to be borrowed without your agreement, so you can get out of it.

Get onto the finance company and tell them you have not agreed to an increase in the loan amount and have it noted on record ASAP.

Edited 14 December, 201510 yr by cheezemonkhai

Appreciate the reply - responded inline

 

You have a contract.

£70 a month is a huge amount.

 

Tell them to honor the original price or give you the deposit back.

I've not paid anything yet (thankfully)

 

They can't change the terms of the contract on you without giving you the option to back out.

The option to back out was offered. I guess they've effectively said 'you can back out, or, if you like, we have this alternative option that matches most of your requirements'

Any clause that says they can is IMHO an unfair contract clause.

They wouldn't be happy with a clause that says you can decide to pay less for a few months if you're having a bad month.

Agreed

 

I would as above point out they can keep the car and you want all your money back.

It's not an additional manufacturer charge, it's them changing the price totally.

What was my thoughts, but ever only having had a phone contract before, I'm not that clued up on terminology etc., (as should be apparent!)

 

There is no way on earth that would stand up in court and if it was myself in your position, I'd be seriously considering court action.

What they're trying to pull off is a joke.

 

Did you go through BMW finance or another finance company?

It's through FleetDrive, with whom BMW initiated contact.

Make sure you use your rights under the consumer credit act too.

 

The credit contract isn't valid any more as they've increased the amount to be borrowed without your agreement, so you can get out of it.

Get onto the finance company and tell them you have not agreed to an increase in the loan amount and have it noted on record ASAP.

 

I've just spoken to CAB, and they also think that I've got a strong case, and are going to pass details of this along to the advertising standards board etc.

 

I'll follow up with it later/tomorrow, but my concern is delaying this too long and ending up with nothing as I've missed the 18th Dec. cut off point (unless the consensus is that the price would be honored if I were victorious?)

I can't edit that post, but I rang the FCA on the way home too, and they also seemed to think that I should be able to enforce it, although they only have guidelines, rather than exacting rules...

And this adds merit to the cancelling and getting something else...

 

https://www.selectcontracts.co.uk/bmw-3_series-saloon-330e_m_sport_4dr_step_auto-73190-personal-car-leasing.html

 

(I was looking at a Golf GTE, but they're too expensive for what they are - over £450 a month!)

If you're keen in keeping the deal, might be worth asking on the MSE forums as well

I have asked over there already - you guys have been the most helpful of anywhere so far  

 

I think I'm going to pull the plug (given they've said I could) and go for the 330e PHEV. Better performance, enough battery range to do most of my driving (or very, very close to enough), and about £100 a month cheaper! I would have prefered a Golf GTE to the i3, but they're about £450 a month to lease!

Even though you're going for another BMW I'd keep that quiet and be brutally blunt why you walked away

I have asked over there already - you guys have been the most helpful of anywhere so far

I think I'm going to pull the plug (given they've said I could) and go for the 330e PHEV. Better performance, enough battery range to do most of my driving (or very, very close to enough), and about £100 a month cheaper! I would have prefered a Golf GTE to the i3, but they're about £450 a month to lease!

Have you considered the Mercedes C350e?

19miles electric only, 168mpg (apparently!)

Combined power 275bhp & 0-60 in 5.9s.

The spec is also very impressive.

Full air suspension, heated leather electric seats, sat nav etc, etc.

Seen this for only £218+vat on a 9+23 10k deal.

Sooooo cheap for a £37k car, I'm seriously looking at one as most of my miles are short urban trips where apparently it excels.

Oh & by the way, I would pursue this just for the hell of it anyway. I honestly don't think they could defend this is in a (small claims) court, & expect you just to roll over. As I said earlier, a guy on the VWROC site pushed hard after having a similar problem, the dealer caved after a bit of tough talking. Good luck

Edited 14 December, 201510 yr by 999pooch

Wow, they do have some spec on them! I can't help but be a bit of a BMW fan-boi though, I'm afraid. Plus the 19 miles is a bit of a pain with a 22-24 mile commute. (I know the 330e is only 25, at best, but still.) And I much prefer the styling of the 3 series, both inside and out.

 

They're defo food for thought though, so thanks.

 

FWIW, the 330e is 6.1 0-60 and 252bhp with 310lb/ft.

 

Regards pursuing it - I'd be interested to from a curiosity point of view, but, frankly, I don't have the energy or motivation to do so. I've had enough problems with my E30 (currently pending an engine rebuild) that I've no inclination to spend more time messing around with cars (even if it is from the warmth of a keyboard, and not fighting engine cranes!). 

Edited 14 December, 201510 yr by TriggerFish

Looking forward to seeing the pics and write up of this car.

Wow, they do have some spec on them! I can't help but be a bit of a BMW fan-boi though, I'm afraid. Plus the 19 miles is a bit of a pain with a 22-24 mile commute. (I know the 330e is only 25, at best, but still.) And I much prefer the styling of the 3 series, both inside and out.

They're defo food for thought though, so thanks.

FWIW, the 330e is 6.1 0-60 and 252bhp with 310lb/ft.

Regards pursuing it - I'd be interested to from a curiosity point of view, but, frankly, I don't have the energy or motivation to do so. I've had enough problems with my E30 (currently pending an engine rebuild) that I've no inclination to spend more time messing around with cars (even if it is from the warmth of a keyboard, and not fighting engine cranes!).

Don't know how much you've been quoted on the 330e, but I've now seen it at £167+vat 23+9, 2 year, 10k.

Seems ridiculously cheap

Don't know how much you've been quoted on the 330e, but I've now seen it at £167+vat 23+9, 2 year, 10k.

Seems ridiculously cheap

Where have you seen one this cheap?

Where have you seen one this cheap?

https://www.contracthireandleasing.com/car-leasing-companies/main-dealers/sytner-bmw/bmw/3-series/73559526/

Both Sytner & D-ick Lovett are doing the same deal.

Also noticed it's 8k per year, but still a great price

Edited- to allow the dealers name, D-ick Lovett to appear

Edited 18 December, 201510 yr by 999pooch

The only thing that makes me wonder when I look at the 330e spec (apart form the fact that anything called a 330 should be a 6 cylinder engine) is the fuel tank is only 40 litres. If the car isn't as economical as it claims (almost certainly) then a spirited drive might empty the tank rather quickly?

I'd need more like 15-20k a year :( The E30 should ease that a bit, once it's finally on the road. (I had it going for a month or two, and then the engine blew up in October!  )

 

I agree though - should be a 6. I guess though unless they introduce new model numbers then it's always going to be out of sync with the engine downsizing. The 320i with the same engine gets around 30-35mpg, according to fuelly, so it's more a cheap way into a 3 series than a good way to get decent MPG.

 

For now, this whole thing has been a blessing in disguise. I'm planning to buy a house, and there's a nice new build development near the local canal/farmland, and some of those are in budget (with help to buy), so ideally I'd get one of those sorted before getting a lease car (assuming my rough maths holds up and I can afford a mortgage and a car...). Given the 330e isn't out for a few months, then hopefully it'll all tie up fairly well. Plus I can see some reviews first, although given the success of the 3 series, and BMWs fairly good PHEV track record, I'm sure it'll drive fine regardless.