Has anyone purchased a motorhome privately in Germany? (1 Viewer)

[donnkim]

Hi
Want to buy a Hymer in Germany. I have seen a couple of Starline 700 but they are private sellers.
I am pretty clued up with buying from Germany dealers but private - what pitfall should I look out for?

Thanks
Don

 

[MR. FUSION]

Hi
Want to buy a Hymer in Germany. I have seen a couple of Starline 700 but they are private sellers.
I am pretty clued up with buying from Germany dealers but private - what pitfall should I look out for?

Thanks
Don

I have never seen a German motorhome doing less than 90 mph on the autobahn....so I made a mental note of never buying a used one from Germany. I think many may be thrashed as the Germans seem to think they are like cars !!!

 

[Weinsbergaman]

After buying ours privately in Denmark (Registered in Germany) I would make the trip a holiday, Don't Rush. Try and check up on the seller as best you can, (I was lucky as the seller worked for MAN trucks so my checks were easy). Ring them up, most I contacted spoke English, they don't always answer emails

BTW never seen a Motorhome travelling at speeds of 90mph in Germany usually around 70mph which is fine once in cruise control and you don't mind spending a little extra on fuel .

One place I wouldn't consider in the future is Belgium, they must have the worst roads in Europe, their Motorways are the bumpiest I've ever experienced

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[Silver-Fox]

I never quite understood this "thrashing scenario"

Admittedly i wouldn't want a vehicle that has accelerated up to the red line constantly or held against the rev limiter
But driving at 70 or even 90 whilst rolling will probably see around 3 to 3.5k on the rev counter is the same as normal acceleration

I'm happy to be corrected if im wrong

 

[donnkim]

Thanks for that. These are big enough commercial engines - if looked after will do 200k miles no problem.
I need to know how I or the private seller would get the export plates. Is that an easy operation as it would be for a knowledgeable dealer?

 

[Judge Mental]

I never quite understood this "thrashing scenario"

Admittedly i wouldn't want a vehicle that has accelerated up to the red line constantly or held against the rev limiter
But driving at 70 or even 90 whilst rolling will probably see around 3 to 3.5k on the rev counter is the same as normal acceleration

I'm happy to be corrected if im wrong

your perfectly correct its a nonsence....The doodlers do far more damage to engine!lol

Its a commercial van for heavens sake, designed to be thrashed and scrapped in 5 years. In over 25 years I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of campers driving @ 90, I have always assumed they are either stolen or being delivered

as for the OP's question: with private used its all about communication with the seller and how helpful they are. but its only a matter of both of you going to his tax office for him to get his plates off and you temp export plates and insurance. (In Germany plates stay with the driver for life - not with vehicle)

For peace of mind can get van checked out by local DEKRA agent, far more reasonable then here..

http://www.dekra.com/en/automotive

PS is that your crash on your Avatar? same happened to us years back

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[John & Joan]

We bought privately in Germany. We saw the van on ebaY. Asked lots of questions and asked for photos of specific places items. Arranged to pay using Travellers Cheques. Flew out and was met by seller at the airport. Quick view then to a restaurant for a meal and into a hotel for the night arranged by seller. Picked up next morning by the seller for detailed inspection. We were satisfied so went to tax office and arranged export plate and insurance. Had to then go to TUV station for the documents to be verified with the vehicle. All OK and stamped so back to the tax office and exchange made. Back to the plate maker for the plates with document from tax office. Then it was back to remove his plate and put ours on.
We visited his bank who did a random check of the cheques.
This took a morning. After a coffee we set off for a dealers to get bits and bobs escorted/guided by the seller in another vehicle. Then it was a weeks touring through Germany, Belgium and Holland before catching the ferry home. UK insurance kicked in once in the UK on VIN number. Then things had to be sorted for an MOT and UK registration.

 

[donnkim]

Yes that's our crash. Happened back in December 2014. We only had our Hymer B654 for 3 weeks. The OP's insurance company will not pay out yet so it looks as if it will be into court in January 2016. Such a long time.
We have been using our older Burstner since then, however I do not wish to spend another winter in a coachbuilt - no matter how good it is.
I am not sure how to PM don't want to say too much on open chat but if you would like to PM me Judgemental I can give you more details and perhaps you might offer some advice.
Thanks Don

 

[Judge Mental]

Yes that's our crash. Happened back in December 2014. We only had our Hymer B654 for 3 weeks. The OP's insurance company will not pay out yet so it looks as if it will be into court in January 2016. Such a long time.
We have been using our older Burstner since then, however I do not wish to spend another winter in a coachbuilt - no matter how good it is.
I am not sure how to PM don't want to say too much on open chat but if you would like to PM me Judgemental I can give you more details and perhaps you might offer some advice.
Thanks Don

I think you have been unlucky..probably down to the insurance companies. my damage looked similar. but luckily the person that hit me insurance company were wonderful (sorry) They hired us a coachbuilt for our months summer holiday. and my insurance wrote the van off so it was painless in comparison to yours.. your lucky to have a another vehicle..

if you click on my avatar/picture the choice is there to "start a conversation" in blue at the top...

but I fear you are in the hands of the insurance companies..hope you had legal protection. usually the other side caves when proceedings are taken out (if you have a strong case) so all is not lost!

Eddie

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