Used M3's baking in the sun

L-Altos · 08-16-2009, 11:31 AM

So I have been to a few dealers this summer, drove a few '08 M3's, and I'm still looking. One thing that has concerned me about these M3's on the dealer lots is their constant exposure to sunlight. They sit outside in the hot summer sun all day long with the windows up, day after day.

This has got to be awful for the interior, possibly the electronics too?

I have been reading topics on leather care, and after seeing posts claiming ,"Remember a car interior in a hot summer day can get above 120ºF; that heat dries anything after a while" I wonder if these cars sitting on the dealer lots have interiors that are on their way to ruin?

bigjae1976 · 08-16-2009, 02:44 PM

That's why I always order mine.

But a car sitting on the lot for weeks is just a fact of life.

Big Windy · 08-16-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L-Altos

So I have been to a few dealers this summer, drove a few '08 M3's, and I'm still looking. One thing that has concerned me about these M3's on the dealer lots is their constant exposure to sunlight. They sit outside in the hot summer sun all day long with the windows up, day after day.

This has got to be awful for the interior, possibly the electronics too?

I have been reading topics on leather care, and after seeing posts claiming ,"Remember a car interior in a hot summer day can get above 120ºF; that heat dries anything after a while" I wonder if these cars sitting on the dealer lots have interiors that are on their way to ruin?

its not an ideal situation, but it is not the end of the world IMO. the leather and vinyl are UV treated, and with customers and SAs getting in and out of the car occasionally, it is not like the same air is sitting in the car for 6 months straight. 120 degrees is hot to humans, but most of these parts are designed to endure both hot and cold extremes. if not...that's what warranties are for!

drvai · 08-22-2009, 08:58 PM

There should be no problem.

signes · 08-22-2009, 11:41 PM

I bought my 08 that had been sitting out for ~6 months by the time I brought it home. No issues with substantial things you might worry about (seats, dash, etc.) The car did have horrible water spots all over it that were a b-tch to get taken care of. I mean everywhere, too - paint, glass, window trim, ... Took a lot of work to fix, but that should all be correctable if an issue for a car you look at through a pre-delivery detail. If you find the right car, the cosmetic stuff can be cleaned up.

edcvin · 08-23-2009, 09:03 AM

I'm sure its something you could work around.

-Vin

eclipsisNA · 08-24-2009, 01:36 PM

I wouldn't worry about the interior at all. The paint you have to worry about, and the dealer should pay to have it properly corrected. Most likely there will be swirls and water spots.

JCtx · 08-24-2009, 02:08 PM

I bought my car after sitting for 8 months on a Las Vegas dealer lot (Sep to Apr). Dealer said it was under a roof for many months, but I have to assume it wasn't. After buying all my other cars (since I can remember) fresh from the delivery truck, I wasn't happy about this either, but as others said, cars are made to withstand that. Plus conditioning leather and vinyl (which most of us do right away) probably reverses any adverse sun effects with only months of exposure. Besides, most M3s will spend most of their lives garaged (and mine is no exception), so we'll never have to worry about weather wear and tear IMO. You have to worry a lot more about your a$$ not wearing the seat's leather than the sun

; that's why I lever myself in and out, without rubbing at all.

As a side comment, I was b*tching that my car had the paint/leather/vinyl protectant package applied (didn't have to pay for that), which I'd avoid at any cost, but maybe it was good in this case since car sat for a while under the elements. I was blaming the leather tratment for the stiff leather, but that's probably due to its thickness. No supple leather on my car, but on the bright side, will probably look like new a lot longer than thin and supple leather. There's always a compromise

.

Bottom line, don't let that issue be a deal breaker. But at the same time, if you're going to buy used, I'd buy from an original owner for that reason. Good luck.

08-16-2009, 11:31 AM	#1
L-Altos Private 6 Rep 91 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	Used M3's baking in the sun So I have been to a few dealers this summer, drove a few '08 M3's, and I'm still looking. One thing that has concerned me about these M3's on the dealer lots is their constant exposure to sunlight. They sit outside in the hot summer sun all day long with the windows up, day after day. This has got to be awful for the interior, possibly the electronics too? I have been reading topics on leather care, and after seeing posts claiming ,"Remember a car interior in a hot summer day can get above 120ºF; that heat dries anything after a while" I wonder if these cars sitting on the dealer lots have interiors that are on their way to ruin?
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08-16-2009, 02:44 PM	#2
bigjae1976 Major General 1571 Rep 8,076 Posts Drives: 11 E90 M3 Individual Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (22) Garage List 2004 BMW M3 [4.50] 2011 BMW E90 M3 [5.25] 2013 BMW 328i [5.00]	That's why I always order mine. But a car sitting on the lot for weeks is just a fact of life. __________________ 2018 F30 320iX Melbourne Red 2011 E90 M3 Monte Carlo Blue 2004 E46 M3 Imola Red 2000 E36/7 Z3 Steel Blue
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08-22-2009, 08:58 PM	#4
drvai Major 136 Rep 1,274 Posts Drives: E92 M3 AW Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	There should be no problem.
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08-22-2009, 11:41 PM	#5
signes Brigadier General 199 Rep 4,318 Posts Drives: 991 GT3 RS Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Living at (almost...) 9k iTrader: (5)	I bought my 08 that had been sitting out for ~6 months by the time I brought it home. No issues with substantial things you might worry about (seats, dash, etc.) The car did have horrible water spots all over it that were a b-tch to get taken care of. I mean everywhere, too - paint, glass, window trim, ... Took a lot of work to fix, but that should all be correctable if an issue for a car you look at through a pre-delivery detail. If you find the right car, the cosmetic stuff can be cleaned up.
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08-23-2009, 09:03 AM	#6
edcvin Captain 126 Rep 880 Posts Drives: 2006 M5 \| 2011 M3 \| 2020 X3M Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New York iTrader: (1)	I'm sure its something you could work around. -Vin
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08-24-2009, 01:36 PM	#7
eclipsisNA Colonel 350 Rep 2,937 Posts Drives: 2013 Estoril 328i M Sport Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Beverly Hills, CA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2014 BMW 428i [7.76]	I wouldn't worry about the interior at all. The paint you have to worry about, and the dealer should pay to have it properly corrected. Most likely there will be swirls and water spots.
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08-24-2009, 02:08 PM	#8
JCtx Major General 258 Rep 5,012 Posts Drives: No BMW yet Join Date: May 2008 Location: El Paso TX iTrader: (0)	I bought my car after sitting for 8 months on a Las Vegas dealer lot (Sep to Apr). Dealer said it was under a roof for many months, but I have to assume it wasn't. After buying all my other cars (since I can remember) fresh from the delivery truck, I wasn't happy about this either, but as others said, cars are made to withstand that. Plus conditioning leather and vinyl (which most of us do right away) probably reverses any adverse sun effects with only months of exposure. Besides, most M3s will spend most of their lives garaged (and mine is no exception), so we'll never have to worry about weather wear and tear IMO. You have to worry a lot more about your a$$ not wearing the seat's leather than the sun ; that's why I lever myself in and out, without rubbing at all. As a side comment, I was b*tching that my car had the paint/leather/vinyl protectant package applied (didn't have to pay for that), which I'd avoid at any cost, but maybe it was good in this case since car sat for a while under the elements. I was blaming the leather tratment for the stiff leather, but that's probably due to its thickness. No supple leather on my car, but on the bright side, will probably look like new a lot longer than thin and supple leather. There's always a compromise . Bottom line, don't let that issue be a deal breaker. But at the same time, if you're going to buy used, I'd buy from an original owner for that reason. Good luck.
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