Carfax report. Should I be concerned? **UPDATED**

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by BGM

Looks normal to me. Though you might want to make sure obviously on the 1/4/10 and 7/21/11 visits for any red flags.

Yep. I will do that when we go back to drive it. I will also get the CPO checklist. I do feel a little better after seeing the items that were addressed. Nothing really stands out with the exception of the one I forgot and the one he didn't mention.

[ard]

Originally Posted by FSETH

UPDATE:

01/04/2010 - 7,797 - Salesman didn't say
04/06/2010 - 11,056 - Oil change
08/30/2010 - 16,658 - Replaced trunk lid activator
10/15/2010 - 17,910 - Brake fluid change and new battery per BMW recommendation
01/05/2011 - 19,134 - Oil change
03/30/2011 - 21,075 - Torn trunk seals repalced
07/21/2011 - 23,837 - Forgot what salesperson said
09/27/2011 - 25,425 - Standard 25,000 mile vehicle check
11/02/2011 - 26,330 - Replaced new fuel filter heater (Per recall I assume)
02/24/2012 - 28,240 - Oil and air filter change

Seems fairly normal to me now. What do you guys think?

"New Battery per BMW recommendation" is a red flag for me...

There are work orders and 'service codes'...if they are reading the BMWNA service code history ALL you get is 'what was done' and not 'here is the underlying complaint'...you could have multiple 'discharge;' complaints, with the end result being the work codes you see there...

You've got two "forgots" in there.. and there is NO SUCH THING as a 'standard 25000 mile vehicle check'.

You could ask them to sign a statement that says 'there were no service visits in the past history of this vehcile related to the same or similar underlying complaint'...... (idle fantasy, I know)

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by ard

"New Battery per BMW recommendation" is a red flag for me...

There are work orders and 'service codes'...if they are reading the BMWNA service code history ALL you get is 'what was done' and not 'here is the underlying complaint'...you could have multiple 'discharge;' complaints, with the end result being the work codes you see there...

You've got two "forgots" in there.. and there is NO SUCH THING as a 'standard 25000 mile vehicle check'.

You could ask them to sign a statement that says 'there were no service visits in the past history of this vehcile related to the same or similar underlying complaint'...... (idle fantasy, I know)

I just e-mailed the salesman to to see if he can explain these again:

01/04/2010
07/21/2011
09/27/2011

[BGM]

What I find a little odd is no mention of brake pads or rotors.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by BGM

What I find a little odd is no mention of brake pads or rotors.

Shouldn't they last more than 32k miles? I know they lasted longer than that on my e53 4.4i. I would imagine they will be replaced while they CPO the vehicle if they are less than 50% as ard stated. I will ask for the checklist before we buy the car so I can see if it was done.

Also, just heard back from my salesman again. He says no actual service took place on the first two dates listed below. However, he didn't say what the owners brought it in for. I am not sure if he will or can tell me that. He says the last date was vehicle check due to the filter heater replacement which was done on 11/02/2011.

01/04/2010
07/21/2011
09/27/2011

From what I have read, the filter heater was done as a recall, correct? Wasn't it a potential safety hazard? Otherwise, the battery is the only thing that concerns me. Then again, it was replaced almost 2 years ago and there doesn't seem to be any evidence of any related issues. I know BMW's have drain issues and such. I do have a battery tender that I use fairly frequently on all of my cars, so that should help keep the battery charged up.

My wife is all over this vehicle, so I am getting pressed pretty hard to get it in our garage for her. I think at this point, if it checks out when we go drive it, I will probably pull the trigger. It does have nearly 2.5 years or 65,000 miles left on the CPO warranty. I am sure a lot of these cars could have some issues that look suspect when you dig through the service records. So, do you guys see any major issues or would you feel fairly safe with this one? Keep in mind that there is a good amount of warranty left and that the wife wants this particular one very badly.

[BGM]

Originally Posted by FSETH

Shouldn't they last more than 32k miles? I know they lasted longer than that on my e53 4.4i. I would imagine they will be replaced while they CPO the vehicle if they are less than 50% as ard stated. I will ask for the checklist before we buy the car so I can see if it was done.

Both fronts/back were replaced out in in L.A. at the dealer when CPO'd at 15K miles. I am at 35K miles now and the rears are due now and the fronts in about 10K miles. And I don't beat on my cars. I had an e53 3.0 and the brakes seemed to go about 30K miles or so (though don't quote me on that).

[blondboinsd]

Originally Posted by FSETH

Shouldn't they last more than 32k miles? I know they lasted longer than that on my e53 4.4i. I would imagine they will be replaced while they CPO the vehicle if they are less than 50% as ard stated. I will ask for the checklist before we buy the car so I can see if it was done.

Also, just heard back from my salesman again. He says no actual service took place on the first two dates listed below. However, he didn't say what the owners brought it in for. I am not sure if he will or can tell me that. He says the last date was vehicle check due to the filter heater replacement which was done on 11/02/2011.

01/04/2010
07/21/2011
09/27/2011

From what I have read, the filter heater was done as a recall, correct? Wasn't it a potential safety hazard? Otherwise, the battery is the only thing that concerns me. Then again, it was replaced almost 2 years ago and there doesn't seem to be any evidence of any related issues. I know BMW's have drain issues and such. I do have a battery tender that I use fairly frequently on all of my cars, so that should help keep the battery charged up.

My wife is all over this vehicle, so I am getting pressed pretty hard to get it in our garage for her. I think at this point, if it checks out when we go drive it, I will probably pull the trigger. It does have nearly 2.5 years or 65,000 miles left on the CPO warranty. I am sure a lot of these cars could have some issues that look suspect when you dig through the service records. So, do you guys see any major issues or would you feel fairly safe with this one? Keep in mind that there is a good amount of warranty left and that the wife wants this particular one very badly.

How do you have an in-service date when nothing was done? Sure we've all driven in and asked questions but that doesn't get logged. Something seems fishy

I'm with ARD. New battery scares me

[FSETH]

Man, you guys are freaking me out. Do you really think a battery replacement two years ago is that big of a deal? I bought an OE replacement battery from BMW for my e36 a few years back and it died within a year. In all honesty I appreciate your opinions though. That is why I asked for them. I will press the salesman again regarding the two dates.

[FSETH]

I was reading up on the fuel filter heater recall that was performed on 09 X5 35d's and came across the following. Perhaps this is why the battery was replaced in the X I am looking at.

"The fuel filter heater, which is used for warming up the diesel fuel during vehicle operation at low outside temperatures, could experience an electrical overload condition and become permanently activated," said NHTSA in its recall summary of the problem. "The fuel filter heater could remain activated even when the ignition is off and lead to a dead battery. The unit could also overheat, possibly leading to a vehicle fire."

[ard]

Originally Posted by FSETH

I was reading up on the fuel filter heater recall that was performed on 09 X5 35d's and came across the following. Perhaps this is why the battery was replaced in the X I am looking at.

"The fuel filter heater, which is used for warming up the diesel fuel during vehicle operation at low outside temperatures, could experience an electrical overload condition and become permanently activated," said NHTSA in its recall summary of the problem. "The fuel filter heater could remain activated even when the ignition is off and lead to a dead battery. The unit could also overheat, possibly leading to a vehicle fire."

When you look at the record in this light, it makes sense.... I really suspect there could have been multiple complaints on discharge, with the dealer telling the owner "too many short trips"... but since they didnt DO anything about it, there is nothing in the record. Just the work related to stuff that was performed at those interim time points.

Now, they seem to (hopefully) have fixed it a few thousand miles ago. if this car has a new car warranty, I'd take the risk. (Feel like asking the dealer if they'll agree to refund if the car has a repeat battery discharge issue? )

GL

A