"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll)
03/03/2014 at 11:21 • Filed to: None
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"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll)
03/03/2014 at 11:21 • Filed to: None | 1
| 7 |
With Vladimirs newest folly, the prices for a barrel of dinosaur juice are already rising. This shouldn't affect prices at the pump for weeks to come, but it usually does within hours. Magic! So it doesn't take a magic 8-ball to predict that prices won't be falling in next couple days/weeks/months.
MoparKetchup
> Klaus Schmoll
03/03/2014 at 11:29 |
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BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion
> Klaus Schmoll
03/03/2014 at 11:39 |
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Glad I just filled up Saturday. I can go a full two weeks before I reach half a tank again if I'm, uh... careful. I'll keep an eye out on prices though, current value is 3,65 reais per liter, let's see where it goes from there.
duurtlang
> Klaus Schmoll
03/03/2014 at 12:46 |
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Great advice, but as I fill up once every week it won't do me much good.
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duurtlang
> Klaus Schmoll
03/04/2014 at 14:07 |
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Hi Klaus, it's off topic but could I ask you for some German inside info? I'm meaning to contact a German used car dealer about a BMW E30 Touring they have in stock but I don't want to throw them off with horrible grammar in the first email. My German is... rusty.
How do I ask in proper but simple German if a car has a valid inspection? How do I ask if they know when certain maintenance (timing belt (Steuerkette?) + water pump mainly) has been done. How do I ask if they can name other possible issues with the car? And do you think it's proper to ask such a dealer for some detailed pictures of notorious rust prone areas? One last simple question; what's a proper way to end such an email?
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Klaus Schmoll
> duurtlang
03/04/2014 at 15:49 |
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O.K. First of all, if you have something in writing already, I'd be happy to proofread and correct it. (k.s.bla@gmx.de but notify me via oppo first this is a bogus account I never check) If not, let's get something in writing together.
- valid inspection: Hat das Auto noch TÜV, wenn ja wie lange?
- Timing things: Steuerkette is a timing chain, Zahnriemen is a timing belt. I don't know which engine you are talking about, so with my little knowledge of older BMWs it could have a chain or a belt. Wann wurde der Zahmriemen gewechselt? Wurden dabei auch die Wasserpumpe und die Spannrollen (tensioners) gewechselt? (Some cheapass dealers tend not to do the tensioners as well, they only are a few €s, but if they weren't changed as well it makes the whole timing belt job useless.)
- Other issues: Sind Ihnen irgendwelche Probleme mit dem Auto bekannt? Fährt es einwandfrei? (Does it run and drive O.K.?)
- Further pictures: I think that you can give it a try. Should tell you what kind of dealer you are working with. If the car is good and the dealer is honest, they might do it. I'd ask it in a way implying that you know that it's a lot you are asking for, but if it isn't too much of a hazzle maybe could they... Wenn es nicht zuviel Arbeit macht, könnten Sie ein paar Fotos von (name part here) den Radläufen (wheel arches), den Schwellern (sills), und der Heckklappe (bootlid/rear door) machen und mir per mail senden? (I'm only assuming that these are the parts you might be interested in.) Falls dies zuviel Aufwand ist, in welchem Zustand befinden sich diese Teile? If it's too much of a hazzle, what state are these parts in?
- End: Im Voraus vielen Dank! Thanks in advance. OR: Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Robert G. With friendly greetings.
Also remember that you are dealing with a low-end used car dealer here, you are not applying for a job with the grammar police. Their German might be worse than yours.
Do you have a link to an ad?
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duurtlang
> Klaus Schmoll
03/04/2014 at 16:06 |
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Thanks, that's quite helpful! My limited experience with dealers is that some aren't too keen on dealing with obvious foreigners asking lots of questions. Given the short supply of these cars I don't want to scare them off. I'm not too afraid of making some mistakes though. This is the ad btw, a mere 140 km from me. Looks like a honest Rentnerfahrzeug to me, but looks can be deceiving. And you're right, it's a timing belt not a chain.
Did I ever mention my real name here? You're eerily close there :)
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Klaus Schmoll
> duurtlang
03/04/2014 at 16:43 |
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The car is looking quite good for its age. A new wing, a new front spoiler, and it might be as good as new. But I can now understand that you want to see more pictures. If a car has one obvious rust spot, there usually might be more that doesn't show in the pictures.
The dealer however might be quite inclined to sell to somebody from outside Germany. For a private German buyer they would have to provide a used car warranty for at least a year. Always a crap shoot with such an old car. They usually buy a policy from some sort of insurance company. The older the car, the more expensive it is. Cars of this vintage are normally advertised as "Export only". This one isn't. Might be an indicator of how good it is, or it was just negligence. If such a warranty has already been considered in the price, you can expect a serious discount if you take it outside Germany.
As to the name: You mentioned that people complaining about our resident Italian always make you feel funny, as your name is similar to his.