Buying a BMW out of State

[beesadave]

I think I have found my first BMW but it is about 7 or so states away. I can't get out there to inspect so I'm trying to arrange an inspection by a reputable dealer in the area. I have no idea how to make the transfer of funds so that both myself and the seller are protected. I plan to have the bike shipped to me and think I can handle that part. Any advice on payment and title transfer procedures would be appreciated.
David in Florida

[dan_forker]

I don't know that there is a good way to take care of the title and funds exhcange. I am in Kansas and last year bought a 1200rt in California. Luckily the seller was a really straight up guy.

We tried to arrange payment through his bank with a sight draft so his bank would have the money and release to him only when he presented an executed clear title. Unfortunately he banked at a large conglomerate bank and neither he nor I could find a bank officer that had a clue about sight drafts.

I ended up sending certified funds with the trucking company that was picking up the bike with instructions to deliver the funds when they had a clear exectuted title. That worked, but the transportation company was a client of mine here in Kansas so I had a friend at the California end of the deal.

Maybe you could arrange to send funds to the dealer and authorize them to release the funds when they have a good title to send you. I imagine they aren't going to want to do that without a charge since they are outside the loop on the sale and don't have a commission coming nor any reason to think they will be doing business with you in the future.

Hope this helps. If your Bank has a bank in the sellers area you might be able to make the sight draft thing work.



Dan Forker

[Motorwerk]

Try here - https://www.escrow.com/index.asp. Used them to purchase a bike out of state. Worked well for me and the seller.

As far as title transfer, that can vary by the sellers and buyers state requirements. Some require an inspection others not as well as other requirements. I would check with the BMV for your state's requirements.

[JKERSH1]

Try here - [URL="https://www.escrow.com/index.asp"]
As far as title transfer, that can vary by the sellers and buyers state requirements. Some require an inspection others not as well as other requirements. I would check with the BMV for your state's requirements.

I've bought two out of state bikes and there's a certain level of trust required for each party.

Definitely check your DMV, here is AZ it's the title transfer requirements of the seller's state that rule, so e.g. you buy in a state that doesn't require a notarized title, it's not required to be notarized here either despite the fact that notarized titles are the AZ requirement.

[SilverRT]

I just sold my RT to an out-of-state person (IL to MA). I set up a staged sale with the title the last item mailed after the purchaser approved the condition of the RT. All money transfers were made electronic bank to bank and I confirmed the via the internet (takes one day to show confirmation).

These are the steps:

1. Purchaser signs agreement and returns then sends first deposit (10-20%)
2. Purchaser lines up shipper, I took pictures and e-mailed pictures and loading docs.
3. Purchaser sends second deposit (60-70%) while BMW is on truck.
4. Upon delivery, purchaser pays balance and after I confirmed the sale and then sent the signed title.

I also always do a background check on the seller or purchaser via one of the interent services.

This still requires some trust but it does spread out the risk and I hold the title until the end (when I'm the seller).:deal

[kcallstate]

Wow - I am just too damned trusting. I bought my last two RT's from out of state and found them both on the IBMWR.ORG marketplace site. After several conversations,emails and faxes, I flew from Rhode Island to South Dakota the first time and rode my '05 1150RT home... then flew out to Kansas last October and rode home my '06 RT. Both deals and both bikes were flawless. Maybe I was just plain lucky! I sold the '05 1150RT the same way.

If you can, fly there and ride it before you hand over the final payment and then have the best shake-down ride you can have on your way home!

[PGlaves]

Wow - I am just too damned trusting. I bought my last two RT's from out of state and found them both on the IBMWR.ORG marketplace site. After several conversations,emails and faxes, I flew from Rhode Island to South Dakota the first time and rode my '05 1150RT home... then flew out to Kansas last October and rode home my '06 RT. Both deals and both bikes were flawless. Maybe I was just plain lucky! I sold the '05 1150RT the same way.

If you can, fly there and ride it before you hand over the final payment and then have the best shake-down ride you can have on your way home!

But his problem, as stated, was that he can't get there to check it out. So he has two problems:

1. Condition of the bike; and,
2. Flow of funds, paperwork, title.

1 can be solved by having a trusted source inspect the condition of the motorcycle. 2 can be solved with an escrow service.

And, then there is arranging the shipping of the bike, which becomes problem 3 only if 1 says it is in good condition and 2 the escrow of the $$$ and title takes place.

All told, I'd rather go see the bike and pay for it and ride it or tow it home. But he started by saying he can't do that.

[aaaaaa]

The owners news has a good article on ebay. Ebay provides an escrow service and a somewhat reliable comsumer base. It's becoming more mainstream to buy vehicles sight unseen. I sold a couple airheads on ebay to people that didn't see the bikes. In Feb I bought my '04 GS that way. Lots of digital pictures can give a good idea of the condition. Mileages are usually verified by the occasional state inspection. So what could go wrong? Either trust the seller or escrow the money. As far as anything else goes.. only time will tell if the trans input splines will fail. BTW did I mention how easy it is to sync the TB's when the bike has no tupperware(GS:kiss RT)
robert '00R1100RT '04R1150GS '05ST1300

[Belquar]

My transaction went sort like this...

I live in Jersey. My folks live in Virginia.

I found a bike in Texas. I liked what I saw. The guy was a MOA member and an adventure rider. There were some folks here on the forum who were willing to go take a look at the bike for me.

I felt good about the transaction. No one went and looked at the bike...I saw recent photos and liked what I saw.

My Dad was travelling on business and was changing planes in DFW. I called him up and asked him if he wanted to ride home instead of flying. He said sure. I called the guy up and said I wanted to do the deal right away. He said he couldn't until monies were paid. We did a wire transfer of half the funds and my Dad got of the plane. Checked out the bike. We tranferred the rest. I overnighted my gear to my Dad at his hotel and the next morning he started riding the bike home for me. Worked out pretty good.

Only bad thing....there was a plug in the tire and the tire blew after about 100 miles. That was pretty crappy. The guy swears he thought they were new tires. We got the both tires changed and were back on the road.

Pops rode 1500 miles in two days in the pouring rain to bring my new ride to his house. Next time I went to visit them, I picked up my new bike. Worked out great. I love the bike and am happy with the sale.

I would recommend if I were you contacting a forum member in the area or use the anon book and get someone to go take a look at the bike. If it is good to go...and you are satisfied...make the deal.

It sounds like a perfect opportunity to take a little vacation ride.

Or see if the owner will take it to the local dealer and you pay to have the bike looked over/inspected and then make the deal base on that.

Lots of possibilities. Where is the bike? Where are you....Pay me, maybe I could test drive the bike to Florida for you. My sister lives in Boca she would love a visitor. :ha

[RiverRat280]

When I bought my bike I lived in Wisconsin and bought it from North Carolina and it went like this.
Contacted a good BMW dealer close to seller and had him take the bike to said dealer for inspection, I payed the dealer to inspect bike and tell me of any issues mechanical or cosmetic. I decided to buy the bike so talked to the dealer and they said they could do the paperwork for a small fee. Sent check to dealer, seller came to dealer with title, dealer checked over title then gave check to seller and mailed title to me. Bike stayed at dealer and I had a transport company ( Haulbikes.com) pick it up from the dealer and they dropped it off at my doorstep.
It was a safe way to check the bike that its ok and do the money and title transfer without any concern of the seller cheating you.