purchasing used M3

Mimmer · 02-22-2011, 07:34 PM

When purchasing a used m3 i keep looking at he carfax report and a lot of them dont state that they got a oil change etc at the 1000-1200 mile breakin point is that normal to not show on a carfax report? and is it possible to get the info if the previous owner did there job on keeping up with the maintance etc ? or is that something thats not possible to find out. This car im looking at recently came from seattle but now is out of state at another bmw dealership so could i ask bmw seattle look up history ?

and i know they lag issue has been fixed but would they update it to current one or is that something i need make sure has been done .

any help be great thanks!

mdosu · 02-22-2011, 08:12 PM

call bmw, since oil changes were free, most ppl took it to a dealer, so there's a record.

1sikbmr · 02-22-2011, 08:38 PM

ask the dealer to find the service history or maybe even call BMWNA and give them the vin. they can probably find it.

stryker1 · 02-22-2011, 09:37 PM

Take the vin to the nearest dealership or call they can pull up the cars history and tell you all you need to know

'Cane · 02-22-2011, 11:29 PM

Carfax report means absolutely nothing. My 07 335i Coupe had $30,000 in accident damage and has a clean Carfax.

SlammedR8 · 02-22-2011, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Cane

Carfax report means absolutely nothing. My 07 335i Coupe had $30,000 in accident damage and has a clean Carfax.

so... how did you find out about the 30k accident ?

mgx · 02-22-2011, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlammedM6

so... how did you find out about the 30k accident ?

accidents are only reported to carfax/autocheck if a police report is filed, that's IT

he said it was HIS 335 which had a 30k accident, so it obviously happened while he was the owner

'Cane · 02-23-2011, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlammedM6

so... how did you find out about the 30k accident ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgx

he said it was HIS 335 which had a 30k accident, so it obviously happened while he was the owner

Yes, it was my car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgx

accidents are only reported to carfax/autocheck if a police report is filed, that's IT

That must be incorrect, there was most certainly a police report filed in this case.

mgx · 02-23-2011, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Cane

Yes, it was my car.

That must be incorrect, there was most certainly a police report filed in this case.

must not have been submitted to the DMV then because as far as i know, that's the only way the bureau updates vehicle history

Mimmer · 02-23-2011, 01:53 AM

thanks guys

so besides carfax telling you if its been in an accident there really no other way to know?

i once saw that they can use a light that shows any defects in paint or something and usually means accident but i have no idea whats it called exacly... anyone know what im talking about>?

GreasyGinzo · 02-23-2011, 06:27 AM

I just bought a CPO'd 08 a few weeks ago and the carfax didn't show the 1200 mile service but the history from BMW's network did.

M3Dreams · 02-23-2011, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by givemeam3

thanks guys

so besides carfax telling you if its been in an accident there really no other way to know?

i once saw that they can use a light that shows any defects in paint or something and usually means accident but i have no idea whats it called exacly... anyone know what im talking about>?

A paint meter measures the thickness of paint on each panel. Any good dealership willing to stand by their claim of accident free should be able to run it over the car and give you the report or you can take it to the nearest body shop and pay them $50 to do it for you. Otherwise, you are on your own to find this info; hopefully your eyes are as good in measuring panel gaps and detecting over spray. Almost always a painted car shows some sign of over spray.

GreasyGinzo · 02-23-2011, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3Dreams

A paint meter measures the thickness of paint on each panel. Any good dealership willing to stand by their claim of accident free should be able to run it over the car and give you the report or you can take it to the nearest body shop and pay them $50 to do it for you. Otherwise, you are on your own to find this info; hopefully your eyes are as good in measuring panel gaps and detecting over spray. Almost always a painted car shows some sign of over spray.

That is interesting. I have traded in a decent amount of cars over the past few years and the only time I ever saw the appraiser use a paint meter was on my Lexus that I was shopping around for trade. I must have went to 6 or 7 dealers over the past 3 months and they all took a paint meter to it.

Mimmer · 02-24-2011, 12:09 AM

ok thanks for the info guys "paint meter" is what im looking for.

02-22-2011, 07:34 PM	#1
Mimmer Lieutenant 57 Rep 412 Posts Drives: E92 13' Join Date: May 2010 Location: WA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2013 e92 m3 [0.00]	purchasing used M3 When purchasing a used m3 i keep looking at he carfax report and a lot of them dont state that they got a oil change etc at the 1000-1200 mile breakin point is that normal to not show on a carfax report? and is it possible to get the info if the previous owner did there job on keeping up with the maintance etc ? or is that something thats not possible to find out. This car im looking at recently came from seattle but now is out of state at another bmw dealership so could i ask bmw seattle look up history ? and i know they lag issue has been fixed but would they update it to current one or is that something i need make sure has been done . any help be great thanks!
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02-22-2011, 08:12 PM	#2
mdosu Banned 314 Rep 8,496 Posts Drives: Double Vanos'd Civic-M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (6)	call bmw, since oil changes were free, most ppl took it to a dealer, so there's a record.
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02-22-2011, 08:38 PM	#3
1sikbmr Brigadier General 145 Rep 3,329 Posts Drives: F80 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: New York iTrader: (16)	ask the dealer to find the service history or maybe even call BMWNA and give them the vin. they can probably find it. __________________ F80 ///M3 6MT Avus Blue ZCP
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02-22-2011, 09:37 PM	#4
stryker1 Private First Class 11 Rep 163 Posts Drives: E90 2008 M3 silverstone Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: miami, fl iTrader: (2)	Take the vin to the nearest dealership or call they can pull up the cars history and tell you all you need to know __________________ AA signature w/ xpipe AA ecu, alufelgen 19''s kumho, h&r sport, afe element & scoops, ind painted markers, and gills, carbon grille.
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02-22-2011, 11:29 PM	#5
'Cane Major General 8494 Rep 5,365 Posts Drives: 2022 Aventurin/SS G82 xDrive Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 M4 Comp AWD [8.00]	Carfax report means absolutely nothing. My 07 335i Coupe had $30,000 in accident damage and has a clean Carfax.
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02-23-2011, 01:53 AM	#10
Mimmer Lieutenant 57 Rep 412 Posts Drives: E92 13' Join Date: May 2010 Location: WA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2013 e92 m3 [0.00]	thanks guys so besides carfax telling you if its been in an accident there really no other way to know? i once saw that they can use a light that shows any defects in paint or something and usually means accident but i have no idea whats it called exacly... anyone know what im talking about>?
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02-23-2011, 06:27 AM	#11
GreasyGinzo Captain 41 Rep 635 Posts Drives: '08 E92 AW 6MT M3(Totaled) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (1)	I just bought a CPO'd 08 a few weeks ago and the carfax didn't show the 1200 mile service but the history from BMW's network did. __________________
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02-24-2011, 12:09 AM	#14
Mimmer Lieutenant 57 Rep 412 Posts Drives: E92 13' Join Date: May 2010 Location: WA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2013 e92 m3 [0.00]	ok thanks for the info guys "paint meter" is what im looking for.
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