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  #11  
Old 12-03-2012, 12:55 PM
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Originally Posted by TiAgX5 View Post
I always thought the same until I purchased my '03 X5 2.5 years ago. Dealer trade in at Sanford Acura in FL. Previous owner provided a full and detailed service folio to the dealer that was provided to me for review prior to purchase. Dealer ran carfax for me and I found the carfax data and the service folio data were spot on with each other, Carfax even had the details of a parking lot fender bender in '05 that required a respray of the rear bumper (that incident devalued the truck by $200. according to them).

EVERY time the registration was renewed in FL was reflected in the Carfax too.

While no subsitute for a through PPI, Carfax can be a useful tool in knowing detailed info on a vehicle.
in this case it matched your folio, thats a well maintained car/good owner. my last e46 had pretty decent carfax too, but the point I should have made/trying to make is that if its good, great, if its not good not great, and that even if it looks good, its potentially 100% anyways, so dont rely on it!

and OP - I'm just messing with you. No offense ment.
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  #12  
Old 12-03-2012, 12:56 PM
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TIAGX5 thanks for your input. TerminatorX5. your answer is too realistic & appreciated. Thank you
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  #13  
Old 12-03-2012, 01:06 PM
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Originally Posted by goldenbird View Post
SlickGT1.. Where did you see in my question something related to "Americans screw me up". That's a big misunderstanding from your part.

A new law here in Lebanon took place recently. Junk cars are not allowed to enter our territories. Well this will cut off cheating customers by 50%. Let's exchange info, not anything else my friend
No you misunderstood me. I was just saying that Americans sell cars overseas not because they want to screw you, but because the market is there.

These type of laws are crap by the way. No one but the absolute pro can tell if EVERY car is junk. And like others have said, Carfax is also huge BS. Don't ever trust that shit. It can, and is faked. It's good to get for other reason, but you need other evidence of a good car.

Your country will never stop this unless they regulate years of cars, and issue penalties. This is why cars going to Moscow, are brand new, or nearly new. Forget about sending a 3 year old car there. You will never clear it.
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  #14  
Old 12-03-2012, 01:15 PM
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Originally Posted by TerminatorX5 View Post
my 2002 4.6iS entered Russia duty free in 2009, and I drove it there for about 10 months before leaving... While there, I had people ask me if I wanted to sell the car but once they learned how much it would be to clear the customs in order to sell/buy it on the local market, it was cheaper for them just to buy a new car from a local dealer...

about 20 years ago i had shipped a car to Ukraine, in hopes to make a buck - since the car was a regularly priced car in the US, and after the shipping there, I could not get anything for the car to come up with a profit, barely enough to cover the expenses... it is natural to get something dirt cheap, like a high miles newer car in the States, "clean" the title and ship it overseas - it is illegal to manipulate the title stateside but once it is outside of US jurisdiction, it is a fair game...

In general, there is a tendency for the US consumer just to consume the products, in this case a car- since it a mass produced commodity, marketed to masses, the masses are not car mechanics (in old days you needed to know something about a car once you got one), they just use the car until the dummy light comes on and says - "change oil", or "change brakes"... state inspections force people to change tires, brakes, other safety related items... but.. the cars are like shoes - once worn out, you just get a nw pair and toss the old one into garbage - granted, cars retain some value, so, you trade it in, or sell it... otherwise - disposable, like a lot of other things ... No wonder the manufacturers do not include fire extinguishers, first aid kits, headlight manual adjustments, now, even the spare tires into the cars - something is wrong, you pick up the phone and somebody comes and helps you... lol... this is not a game of a survivor...
+1

The trick to purchasing a used vehicle is finding the exception to the rule stated above. I spent over a year looking at all the '02 and '03 4.4 Spt Pkg X5 that were withing a 200 mile radius of Tampa, FL before finding my one owner exception, the guy even returned to the BMW dealer for new tires!!! Almost 160k miles now and I have only needed minor repairs (waterpump, tires, battery, belts, exp tank, upper rad hose, 1 turn signal bulb), the X is still going on the OE timing chain guides, trans, airbags (the X has thousands of miles towing a 6k lb trailer in the FL and TX heat to boot).

When the X was purchased for under $13k with 100k miles, I installed a tow hitch and went thru it replacing ALL fluids and lubing every moving item I could get at.

People cannot believe it's almost 10 yrs old with 160k miles.
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  #15  
Old 12-03-2012, 01:17 PM
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the manufacturers are trying to eliminate the grey market (privately imported goods), and are successful in places with strong governments - the grey market undermines the notion that the factories have about their own product, and makes the local dealers unhappy with the factory... a bad BMW that was wrecked, flooded, burnt and then sold to a consumer somewhere in Africa, still carries a BMW badge and now casts a bad image onto the marque... there are over 200 countries worldwide, and it is very hard to bring a less than good a car to a modern country - but there are many other countries with weak consumer protections, and grey market will be profitable... Bringing BMW into Costa Rica will cost you a lot of money, just because they will impose a 100% tax on the value of the car... but... it can be a flooded clunker... Panama will let you bring a car into the country tax free, if you are a holder of a pensionado visa - once every two years... not enough to run a business, but they will not check the quality of the car... and you can sell it after couple of years... (BTW, I have heard that Panama is #1 importer of the Cayenne...)
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  #16  
Old 12-03-2012, 01:38 PM
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jgold47. No my friend I knew you were just messing with me.

SlickGT1. A used car is in many cases sold for 'not happy with it" reason. U need to be always careful when purchasing a car whether it was of US, Europe or of local market origin. We tend here to purchase foreign used car because it is way better in all aspects as compared with the local used car. Traders are traders everywhere in the world. When you get a foreign car imported from US, you get it from a Lebanese trader, so when you've been screwed up, you'll be screwed up by the direct seller not the precedent one nor the previous users

Anyway, my car was very well tested by my mechanic through test drive, scanner and every inch of it from inside and outside was inspected. I was unfortunate to face the trans failsafe prog since the first day (it did it just once till now). replacing window regulator just in the next day, put me on Alert (first 2 days wasn't supposed to be that annoying), but this do not mean that I am screwed with my car. Every used car is subjected to some parts replacement, oil change, some adjustment etc. directly after purchase. tc
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  #17  
Old 12-03-2012, 04:58 PM
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Thanks for your info & suggestions guys. The thread title was posted as is to left your attention, not to insult anyone of you (in case some imo considered so). I got American relatives and friends there in your country

Way of living, facilities, laws & regulations differs from a country to another and that's what make us treat our cars differently. We got no leasing here in Lebanon nor extended warranty. We own our cars and that do not mean that we maintain them as it should. Exchanging such info between nations & communities is helpful (come for the info stay for friendship)

Used cars resellers here in Lebanon differs in reputation & prices. But they are mostly cheaters & you can trust almost no one. You got to check thoroughly the car you are willing to purchase & look also to its carfax, as it might help considerably sometimes.

I was willing to purchase an x5 that looks too great & rich in options and packages, but when I checked its carfax it is found to be a wrecked car with salvage title. Many importers here get those junk cars from US and resell it after rebuilding it again. Have a nice evening guys
Don't let SlickGT1's (slightly) inflammatory reply get to you. He generalized on your area rather than the question being asked but in the end, the answer is the same as mine. You HAVE to be careful of what you buy from who in ANY country. If you do have the benefit of American relatives, they "may" be able to help you weed out the unscrupulous dealers or they could even find a car and ship it to you directly removing the dealers entirely. An ex-manager of mine is from Lebanon and is a good guy so I am envisioning you like him simply want all the facts and that is what I try to provide in these forums.
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  #18  
Old 12-04-2012, 05:36 AM
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Thanks ndabunka. No I am not teased with what SlickGT1 was saying. He helped me out many times in this forum. Yes we have some problems in our car import regulations. Yes I admit & feel not angry when I am faced with this fact by any person. It is a reality and at the same time, an American friend should not feel angry if I asked '"do Americans well maintain their cars". We are exchanging info & suggestions in this forum, not anything else. I got also a relative in Switzerland who works as a car trader. I just wanted to undertake all the responsibilities by choosing a car on my own.

You can find a nice car of US origin here in the market but you have always to double check & inspect to choose the best one among many inspected ones.

Thank you again terminator x5 for the useful info
TiAgX5... Beautiful car by the way
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  #19  
Old 12-04-2012, 01:13 PM
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Thanks goldenbird. Buying a used complex vehicle such as a late model BMW takes time and the cost of several PPIs to get into the right one. I have no regrets of having spent over a year driving to look at X5s only to walk away. Keep in mind a couple major repairs after purchase can exceed the price of the vehicle.
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  #20  
Old 12-23-2012, 02:18 AM
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Americans mainatining there their cars?Typically no. The chances are least likely in a BMW as well.2 things i learned from my X5 is 1.Never buy a used BMW.2.If you really need to break rule 1 make sure you get a CPO'd one with a warranty and hope for the best
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