Help looking at a dealership car

[W///]

EDIT: The M3 is in Lewisville Texas.

Hello all,

I'm currently on an extended business trip in England while being on the market for an E92 M3. This car happened to pop up on Autotrader (actually it's been there for a while).

I know it's a long shot, but would anyone be able to go take a look at it if you happened to be close? I come back home (that's SC) at the end of June, and if the car is still there, it'll be nice to know the condition of the car before I fly all the way to Texas.

Here's the link:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...21283444&Log=0

[DFDubM]

I live nearby and can probably drop by and look at it over the next few days if you are still considering the car. Also, I can recommend a couple of BMW specialist mechanics for a PPI if you would like.

Originally Posted by bmwSC8

EDIT: The M3 is in Lewisville Texas.

Hello all,

I'm currently on an extended business trip in England while being on the market for an E92 M3. This car happened to pop up on Autotrader (actually it's been there for a while).

I know it's a long shot, but would anyone be able to go take a look at it if you happened to be close? I come back home (that's SC) at the end of June, and if the car is still there, it'll be nice to know the condition of the car before I fly all the way to Texas.

Here's the link:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...21283444&Log=0

[artifice]

I don't want to get your hopes up, but usually when cars have clean carfax's they give you a free pull, but this one you have to pay to see... could have issues. Might be a good place to start, get the carfax.

[DFDubM]

Agreed, but the car is also at a Ford dealership that is older so they might not cater to clientele that ask for a carfax very often.

You can also ask your local BMW service adviser to pull the VIN for you too.

Originally Posted by artifice

I don't want to get your hopes up, but usually when cars have clean carfax's they give you a free pull, but this one you have to pay to see... could have issues. Might be a good place to start, get the carfax.

[W///]

Originally Posted by DFDubM

I live nearby and can probably drop by and look at it over the next few days if you are still considering the car. Also, I can recommend a couple of BMW specialist mechanics for a PPI if you would like.

That would be amazing if you could do that. The car seems pretty clean from the pictures, but they are just that, pictures. I'd much rather have an enthusiast checking the car out for me.

Like I said, I won't be getting back to the States until the end of June, so who knows maybe the car will be gone by then. But if you give it a thumbs up, I'll start to pursue this car more seriously.

By the way, this car is reported to have 2 owners and no accidents on Autocheck. That's about all I know.

P.S. I see you have an MR E92. Good choice!

[DFDubM]

No problem. Might be later in the week. I emailed the dealer to see if they had the sticker, service records or anything else on the car as well.

Originally Posted by bmwSC8

That would be amazing if you could do that. The car seems pretty clean from the pictures, but they are just that, pictures. I'd much rather have an enthusiast checking the car out for me.

Like I said, I won't be getting back to the States until the end of June, so who knows maybe the car will be gone by then. But if you give it a thumbs up, I'll start to pursue this car more seriously.

By the way, this car is reported to have 2 owners and no accidents on Autocheck. That's about all I know.

P.S. I see you have an MR E92. Good choice!

[W///]

Originally Posted by DFDubM

No problem. Might be later in the week. I emailed the dealer to see if they had the sticker, service records or anything else on the car as well.

Thanks very much for your help. My name is Warot by the way.

I've been in touch with one of the guys from the dealership, John Gerarde. They've been quite good with answering quickly. He said the previous owner traded the car in with only 1 key, no service records (but I can get my hands on that... eventually). Not sure about the sticker, but doubt they are going to have it either.

I'm just curious to know how it drives, how it looks inside out, ect...

[DFDubM]

Finally made it by to look at the car. I should mention I didn't schedule an appointment, just dropped in.

The Story: They actually took it in for trade instead of buying it at auction so they will probably have more profit (i.e. negotiating room in it). It was originally listed at $47k and they've dropped the price several times trying to move it. Autocheck confirms locally registered and serviced.

The good: Ran my hands around all the panel edges feeling for tape marks from any repainting and didn't find any. No overspray that I could find anywhere. No accidents reported on Autocheck. Interior is in very good shape, it certainly hasn't been abused, no smoke smell, leather is good, all buttons worked. I ran the vehicle diagnostics and everything seems to be up to date. Engine bay is very clean, they prepped the car well. No signs of repairs in the engine bay or front end that I could see. No big paint scratches on the strut towers, strut brace looks true and undamaged or any other signs of front end suspension damage. Shifts are crisp, clutch seems to be OK to me, smooth revving, AC is good etc. No steering wheel shimmy, car tracks straight and accelerates strong.

The bad: Slight belt noise at startup, may need some new belts or adjustments. The bottom of the front bumper is pretty scratched up. It has been run up on parking curbs several times. I would estimate 50% of the underside is highly scarred/damaged but it is hard to see without kneeling down. The driver's side front and rear wheels show signs of repair. The rear even has a slightly bent wheel lip. It looks like they had the wheels refinished but it was done poorly. Someone just smoothed out the blemishes without repainting. It also concerns me that only the drivers side was like this. My opinion is that the car's drivers side hopped a curb at some point. I got under the car as much as possible and didn't see any damage or signs of repair but without having it on a lift it is hard to tell.

If it were me, I would get a mechanic to look at it on a lift just to verify that it is only wheel damage and nothing suspension or undercarriage related. That part would give me caution but I don't think it would be hard to assess by a mechanic. Otherwise I couldn't find any other issues.

I talked with Jim Houghton and the manager, David Ruiz, introduced himself and told me he would really like to sell the car. I think there could be a decent deal to be made just keep in mind that most would want to replace the two damaged wheels. I would certainly use this as a negotiating point. If you plan aftermarket, tell them to just knock it off the price, if not I would ask for at minimum the rear one that is bent to be replaced.

Hope that helps. All the best!

Troy

Edit: I thought I had my camera with me and it turns out I didn't. Sorry, I meant to take a bunch of detailed pictures for you as I know that would have really helped. My bad.

[W///]

Originally Posted by DFDubM

Finally made it by to look at the car. I should mention I didn't schedule an appointment, just dropped in.

The Story: They actually took it in for trade instead of buying it at auction so they will probably have more profit (i.e. negotiating room in it). It was originally listed at $47k and they've dropped the price several times trying to move it. Autocheck confirms locally registered and serviced.

The good: Ran my hands around all the panel edges feeling for tape marks from any repainting and didn't find any. No overspray that I could find anywhere. No accidents reported on Autocheck. Interior is in very good shape, it certainly hasn't been abused, no smoke smell, leather is good, all buttons worked. I ran the vehicle diagnostics and everything seems to be up to date. Engine bay is very clean, they prepped the car well. No signs of repairs in the engine bay or front end that I could see. No big paint scratches on the strut towers, strut brace looks true and undamaged or any other signs of front end suspension damage. Shifts are crisp, clutch seems to be OK to me, smooth revving, AC is good etc. No steering wheel shimmy, car tracks straight and accelerates strong.

The bad: Slight belt noise at startup, may need some new belts or adjustments. The bottom of the front bumper is pretty scratched up. It has been run up on parking curbs several times. I would estimate 50% of the underside is highly scarred/damaged but it is hard to see without kneeling down. The driver's side front and rear wheels show signs of repair. The rear even has a slightly bent wheel lip. It looks like they had the wheels refinished but it was done poorly. Someone just smoothed out the blemishes without repainting. It also concerns me that only the drivers side was like this. My opinion is that the car's drivers side hopped a curb at some point. I got under the car as much as possible and didn't see any damage or signs of repair but without having it on a lift it is hard to tell.

If it were me, I would get a mechanic to look at it on a lift just to verify that it is only wheel damage and nothing suspension or undercarriage related. That part would give me caution but I don't think it would be hard to assess by a mechanic. Otherwise I couldn't find any other issues.

I talked with Jim Houghton and the manager, David Ruiz, introduced himself and told me he would really like to sell the car. I think there could be a decent deal to be made just keep in mind that most would want to replace the two damaged wheels. I would certainly use this as a negotiating point. If you plan aftermarket, tell them to just knock it off the price, if not I would ask for at minimum the rear one that is bent to be replaced.

Hope that helps. All the best!

Troy

Edit: I thought I had my camera with me and it turns out I didn't. Sorry, I meant to take a bunch of detailed pictures for you as I know that would have really helped. My bad.

Troy, thank you so much for your help. PM sent.

[calintexas]

If you want a third party PPI performed, Autoscope in Plano would be a good choice.