[Cornhusker]

Let's say you made a deposit and your car is supposed to be built next week and then you decided you wanted something different.

What would happen? can you get your deposit back? Anyone ever done this?

[Coolieman1220]

thats how i got my baby, someone ordered and then decided they didn't want it. The dealer ended up w/ it and I took it home a few months later!

The guy ended up w/ an X5 i hear....

[Cornhusker]

lets say the deposit was 2500..... it's a bit of a deal breaker.

[sneaks]

I think the dealer will be ok, as long as you still buy a car from them. But if you want a different brand, don't expect your deposit back unless you find a buyer FOR them.

[kgb1637]

Originally Posted by sneaks

I think the dealer will be ok, as long as you still buy a car from them. But if you want a different brand, don't expect your deposit back unless you find a buyer FOR them.

You can usually keep the deposit if you buy a different BMW but if you're leaving the brand, you're leaving the deposit too.

[ERANG A LANG]

so what car did you order? and now what do you want?

[mithiral67]

Did you sign anything? If not, pretty sure the deposit is 100% refundable. Or look into buyers remorse laws to return the car.

[e90pilot]

It doesn't matter if you signed anything. They cannot force you to buy anything until you take delivery. At least in CA that's the way it is. You can back out at anytime.

[snkeyez95]

I once ordered a 135i and a week before arrival I lost my job. I told my salemen I couldn't buy the car and without blinking he gave me my $1200 deposit back.

Not sure if this is normal practice...just thought I'd share from my experience.

[mithiral67]

Originally Posted by e90pilot

It doesn't matter if you signed anything. They cannot force you to buy anything until you take delivery. At least in CA that's the way it is. You can back out at anytime.

Depending on what you order, sometimes they can try to get you to sign and pay for certain options that are hard to sell. Like if you buy a very unusual color that they cant sell otherwise or with easy, they can require a non-refundable deposit.

I think at the end of the day, you can get it back, but they will fight you until they can sell the car.

[Virtualshock]

Back in April, before I got my 328, I put down a $1K deposit on a 2011 A5 (which would not be built until August). Unfortunately, my car got totaled in early May and I did not want to pay for a rental for four months. I couldn't find an A5 with the right options and happened to come across the car I ended up buying. Long story short, I called the dealer to cancel my order. The sales person wasn't thrilled, but did offer to refund my deposit. Thing is, he never charged my CC in the first place.

[michaelthepsycho]

I left a $500 deposit on my order and left the country for summer break. The salesperson is the one who takes the heat if an ordered car doesn't sell. A deposit is always refundable. This has always confused me as I could never understand a refundable deposit...... It's the same thing as leaving nothing at all... Except for the temporary capital that the dealership gets to invest with.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by sneaks

I think the dealer will be ok, as long as you still buy a car from them. But if you want a different brand, don't expect your deposit back unless you find a buyer FOR them.

I don't agree with this statement. Unless your car is so special that it couldn't be sold, you get your full deposit back.

Years ago I put a $5000 deposit on a car, and it stated no refunds, and I signed it. I canceled, and the dealership said you just lost your $5k with a smile. The next week, after contacting the Attorney General's office (gotta love how NYS protects consumers), I was back in the dealership picking up my deposit in the form of a check.

The dealership cannot be unjustly enriched, i.e. keep your deposit AND sell the car to someone else.

[mithiral67]

Originally Posted by michaelthepsycho

This has always confused me as I could never understand a refundable deposit...... It's the same thing as leaving nothing at all... Except for the temporary capital that the dealership gets to invest with.

Its for the exact reason the OP is posting. Asking for the money back will put some folks off and be more likely to buy the car, cause heck, they put the deposit down.

In addition, it separates out serious buyers from folks that are in the middle of the road. If someone could order a car without puting cash down or have a car shipped from another distance dealership, they would be more likely to do this. If they have to actuall put cash down, its a good faith jesture that they will buy and justify the dealer using up a production slot or bringing that car over to his dealship.

At the end of the day, is almost always refundable, so is being able to return a car under buyer's remorse laws. But its more of a hassle to get the refund back or return a car. So folks buy and the dealership is more likely to get the sale.

I dont know if the OP has bought many cars, but after i bought my first bmw with a 2500 deposit, they havent asked for a dollar to reserve my two next production spots. If he has a good relatinoship with the sales guy at a dealership, see if they will waive the deposit going forward.

[Cornhusker]

Thanks guys... its build week 40... hopefully it hasn't started yet. was ordering an diesel x5.... then I listened to Dave ramsey's money makeover and think I'll pay cash for something used and cheaper...... I know LOL flame on......

[Ty Vil]

As others have said - it depends what you ordered. If you orderd a "normal combination" X5 with common options - your Center should give you the deposit back.

If you ordered deep sea blue or vermillion red with leatherette, adaptive drive and no nav - that deposit is and should be gone.

On "funny" cars I put a stipulation that "deposit is non refundable once vehicle starts production" and have the client initial next to it.

[Professor///M]

When I ordered mine in 2007 I only required a $500 deposit (the cheapest ever, I needed $1000 for 2 on lot vehicles thereafter!)


I was told, even with my "custom built" BMW, that at any point I could change anything, even if it was during production until certain dates, i.e. until day 4 I could change the color, etc.

I was also told that I could cancel and receive my FULL $500 back if I didn't want the car at all, that there's no obligation.

This was in 2007 though

[HISI808]

Originally Posted by Cornhusker

Thanks guys... its build week 40... hopefully it hasn't started yet. was ordering an diesel x5.... then I listened to Dave ramsey's money makeover and think I'll pay cash for something used and cheaper...... I know LOL flame on......

<rant>
Anyone who flames you is a tool. You made a sound financial decision by buying something used and cheaper and you should be applauded. Now, if only more people would just live within their means maybe the economy wouldn't be in the dumps. i.e., people buying houses they can't afford, cars they can't afford, maxing out their credit cards, etc...
</rant>

[Cornhusker]

Originally Posted by HISI808

<rant>
Anyone who flames you is a tool. You made a sound financial decision by buying something used and cheaper and you should be applauded. Now, if only more people would just live within their means maybe the economy wouldn't be in the dumps. i.e., people buying houses they can't afford, cars they can't afford, maxing out their credit cards, etc...
</rant>

Yep, I just figured I can't get rich if I don't save money..... there's still plenty of time for nice cars down the road. I could have paid cash for the x5, or I could pay cash for something cheaper and invest the rest.

Agree on the house thing. I put down 20% on mine and didn't over buy and lost all my equity because of banks giving stupid loans and buyers spending like rockstars.

BTW, I canceled and had no problems wiht the deposit, turns out they never actually debited my cc anyhow.