Used CPO...but Fleet Car?

frenzy757 · 03-24-2015, 11:56 AM

Hey Guys,

I found a pretty good M3...all the options I want, in the color I want. Low miles and fair price.

However, I was looking at the carfax and originally, it was a fleet vehicle...for about 5 months.

Carfax is here:

http://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory...69E32735A7AE6D

Any concerns I should have getting this? Does a fleet vehicle justify having a lower price than a non-fleet would have with comparable miles/options?

Thanks,
Brandon

M3 Esq · 03-24-2015, 12:37 PM

Could be a BMW company car or a performance center car. Looks like it was registered in NJ and that is where BMW NA is based IIRC.

M3Bimmer77 · 03-25-2015, 09:47 AM

The owner leased it and 5 months after he switched to a loan thru a BMW dealer. He gets a CPO car and no longer a leased car. Just be careful that the lease wasn't for a rental business!!!!

M3 n X5M · 04-01-2015, 08:29 AM

My two cars are formerly BMW NA cars... or fleet cars. I am the 5th owner of my M3... and the second of the X5M.

The X5M was a car almost identical to yours in its history and it has been fine for almost 3 years. Although there is the issue of possible need for a new cam chain that all X5M can have. Then again, the M3 has the potential rod bearing issues. Go figure, these cars are just a bunch of sissy mobiles, full of these internal issues.

All that aside, I would suggest the following.

Check when the brakes need to be replaced and if the hand brake feels weak.

If the brakes need to be done soon, and the hand brake needs adjustment the car was probably used for performance demos, training or fun. If the brakes are all like new and there is no documentation of ever changing the brake pads then the car was just a driver.

I hope the latter is helpful. This is a true sign of the recent life of the car.

I once test drove an M3 and the brakes were worn on a relatively new car... only 2 years ownership, and the handbrake was weak. I did not consider the car for purchase after those observations.

03-24-2015, 11:56 AM	#1
frenzy757 Second Lieutenant 78 Rep 204 Posts Drives: MB M2cs, 2022 X5e, 2008 T4R Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Used CPO...but Fleet Car? Hey Guys, I found a pretty good M3...all the options I want, in the color I want. Low miles and fair price. However, I was looking at the carfax and originally, it was a fleet vehicle...for about 5 months. Carfax is here: http://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory...69E32735A7AE6D Any concerns I should have getting this? Does a fleet vehicle justify having a lower price than a non-fleet would have with comparable miles/options? Thanks, Brandon
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03-24-2015, 12:37 PM	#2
M3 Esq Automobilist 395 Rep 2,632 Posts Drives: E70 X5, 911 GT3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (12)	Could be a BMW company car or a performance center car. Looks like it was registered in NJ and that is where BMW NA is based IIRC.
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03-25-2015, 09:47 AM	#3
M3Bimmer77 Captain 340 Rep 947 Posts Drives: 2011.5 M3 E90 Jet Black Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: West Palm Beach iTrader: (2)	The owner leased it and 5 months after he switched to a loan thru a BMW dealer. He gets a CPO car and no longer a leased car. Just be careful that the lease wasn't for a rental business!!!!
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04-01-2015, 08:29 AM	#4
M3 n X5M Lieutenant 172 Rep 436 Posts Drives: 2011 X5 M, 2008 e90 M3 6 MT. Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	My two cars are formerly BMW NA cars... or fleet cars. I am the 5th owner of my M3... and the second of the X5M. The X5M was a car almost identical to yours in its history and it has been fine for almost 3 years. Although there is the issue of possible need for a new cam chain that all X5M can have. Then again, the M3 has the potential rod bearing issues. Go figure, these cars are just a bunch of sissy mobiles, full of these internal issues. All that aside, I would suggest the following. Check when the brakes need to be replaced and if the hand brake feels weak. If the brakes need to be done soon, and the hand brake needs adjustment the car was probably used for performance demos, training or fun. If the brakes are all like new and there is no documentation of ever changing the brake pads then the car was just a driver. I hope the latter is helpful. This is a true sign of the recent life of the car. I once test drove an M3 and the brakes were worn on a relatively new car... only 2 years ownership, and the handbrake was weak. I did not consider the car for purchase after those observations.
	Appreciate 0 Quote