How can I pull service records from 07 4.8i?

[francars]

So I found a low miles 07 4.8i that was trade in at Mercedes Dealer. I checked carfax and looks 2 owner (1st CA and 2nd NV) Services done according to CARFAX but I want to get the actual history.

The seller said that the BMW dealer (Reno) does not release this type of info? I know I have done it in past but with private sellers as they just call their service Dept to authorize release of info, etc.

I think this one will be the one as it has all the options I was looking for and then some. The car is out of warranty but they will give me 6 month warranty with the sale.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated

[ard]

1. Ask them for a copy of the 6 month warranty. I'm dead serious. See how that goes. In particular the part about how you, in the bay area, will get work done when they are in Reno.

2. Unless you have a relationship with a BMW dealer you will not get this. In actual fact, even if you own the car they are not supposed to give you access to info collected from prior owners- and that 'info' is not just their name, etc, but ANY interaction (ie service) they had with BMW

3. Can you really afford this car without a warranty? I'd pay the extra $4k for a real BMW warranty.

4. Get a THOROUGH ppi from a qualified BMW mechanic. It would be foolish to think a 6 month warranty gives you any protection.

5. Isn't the trick to find this car BEFORE it was traded to the MB dealer??? Someone took $5-10k under asking as trade value...

[francars]

Originally Posted by ard

1. Ask them for a copy of the 6 month warranty. I'm dead serious. See how that goes. In particular the part about how you, in the bay area, will get work done when they are in Reno.

2. Unless you have a relationship with a BMW dealer you will not get this. In actual fact, even if you own the car they are not supposed to give you access to info collected from prior owners- and that 'info' is not just their name, etc, but ANY interaction (ie service) they had with BMW

3. Can you really afford this car without a warranty? I'd pay the extra $4k for a real BMW warranty.

4. Get a THOROUGH ppi from a qualified BMW mechanic. It would be foolish to think a 6 month warranty gives you any protection.

5. Isn't the trick to find this car BEFORE it was traded to the MB dealer??? Someone took $5-10k under asking as trade value...

All points well taken. I will find out on the Warranty from this Dealer. I just called the originating dealer in Alhambra CA and spoke with the Service Manager and very helpful. Unfortunately the car was just for IN service for 2 sets of key chains and floor mats. No service history (according to this dealer or at least them) til it sold at NV 5/2009. Car was serviced at 19k miles and then sold in 2009 to 2nd owner who serviced it at a local NV BMW dealer. He then traded car to MB in Reno. Looks like 2nd owner did maintained car with services as needed.

Also found out this car had DEMO warranty til 55k miles or 5/1/2011 so if I buy the car now will only have 1 month of Manufacturer warranty.

The only think it is missing on my option list is Navigation but price might be right if all things check out OK.

[ard]

Originally Posted by francars

Also found out this car had DEMO warranty til 55k miles or 5/1/2011 so if I buy the car now will only have 1 month of Manufacturer warranty.
.

Wait a minute.

When I was buying my M5, people would occasionally see a "55k mile warranty" car...these were the cars that BMW absolutely THRASHED on the track at their driving schools/courses...they'd come back, get cleaned up and BMW would put on a 55k warranty.

THEY WERE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR CPO.

"Demo"... uh, sure. If that means demonstrating how much abuse this car can take....

There is absolutely NO WAY I would EVER consider a car with a 55k BMW warranty. It is, as they say, the red letter of abuse.



IMO

A

[killcrap]

Originally Posted by ard

Wait a minute.

When I was buying my M5, people would occasionally see a "55k mile warranty" car...these were the cars that BMW absolutely THRASHED on the track at their driving schools/courses...they'd come back, get cleaned up and BMW would put on a 55k warranty.

THEY WERE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR CPO.

"Demo"... uh, sure. If that means demonstrating how much abuse this car can take....

There is absolutely NO WAY I would EVER consider a car with a 55k BMW warranty. It is, as they say, the red letter of abuse.



IMO

A

ive seen plenty of vehicles with the Demo warranty. most of them were Dealer demo's, manager vehicles or sales team demos. which are used to rack up some milage to lower the cost of the vehicle. most M5's and "costly" vehicles were the Service Manager's and are usually all well cared for.

the ones that come from the track will state BMW MFG CORP as the previous owner on the DCS report.

[ard]

Originally Posted by killcrap

ive seen plenty of vehicles with the Demo warranty. most of them were Dealer demo's, manager vehicles or sales team demos. which are used to rack up some milage to lower the cost of the vehicle. most M5's and "costly" vehicles were the Service Manager's and are usually all well cared for.

the ones that come from the track will state BMW MFG CORP as the previous owner on the DCS report.

How does a dealer get BMWNA to extend their warranty??? Why would they not so this for every single demo car??

In the thousands of posts I've read about demos, I've never seen a new car from BMW that became a dealership demo and then got a 55k warranty... my impression was that it always was 'BMWNA use' that leads to the extended warranty. I would defer to your experience however.

Are these cars eligible for CPO?

By 'DCS report' this will not show up as a 'carfax owner', correct? How would the OP get a copy of the DCS report

A

[killcrap]

It all starts with how the vehicle is entered into the dealers inventory, as a Demo/Loaner/etc. Then when the vehicle is retailed, the warranty is extended depending on the vehicle.

yes these cars are eligable for CPO. my own e39 was my old Service Managers demo vehicle shows as DEMO on the DCS history with 3months ext wty. We leased it, and then returned it back in and purchased it back with a CPO warranty. any car is CPO-able basiclly except thoes that miss oil changes, and are modifed extensively and require multiple trim panel replacments.

ive cerfied vehicles that have been in several accidents, front end replaced, and cars that have been stolen and recovered. a CPO does not mean anything. only a profit margin for the dealers, and more money for BMW NA. a dealer often gets fined if a vehicle is certifed, sold and returns for a something that is checked during the CPO inspection.

The OP would not be able to see the DCS report.

[francars]

Thanks guys for the feedback. I have tried to get more info but I think I will wait for the right car. Here is the CARFAX from their website. I know its better to get an Auto check but wanted to show it to you and see what you think? If you look closely the care was sold in 7/2009 twice? What those this mean? Shall I still consider this car?

CARFAX Vehicle History Report on 4USFE83527LY65833

[ard]

Originally Posted by killcrap

It all starts with how the vehicle is entered into the dealers inventory, as a Demo/Loaner/etc. Then when the vehicle is retailed, the warranty is extended depending on the vehicle.

yes these cars are eligable for CPO. my own e39 was my old Service Managers demo vehicle shows as DEMO on the DCS history with 3months ext wty. We leased it, and then returned it back in and purchased it back with a CPO warranty. any car is CPO-able basiclly except thoes that miss oil changes, and are modifed extensively and require multiple trim panel replacments.

ive cerfied vehicles that have been in several accidents, front end replaced, and cars that have been stolen and recovered. a CPO does not mean anything. only a profit margin for the dealers, and more money for BMW NA. a dealer often gets fined if a vehicle is certifed, sold and returns for a something that is checked during the CPO inspection.

The OP would not be able to see the DCS report.

No E39 M5 used as a track demo car with the 55k mile warranty was eligible for CPO. For some reason there seemed to be quite a few back in the day....

Thanks for the insight.... In general, I'd love to hear what goes on between the techs doing the CPO inspection and the used car managers......