Please help!
 

Hi everyone! This is my first post....I'm glad I found this site!

Ok...so I recently bought a 2001 x5 3.0. I got a great deal from a local broker. Before I bought it I ran a car fax and the broker got it inspected for me. I didn't bring it to my local mechanic which I am now regretting. After having it for a week I noticed a few things. I opened the door one day to see the paint stripped off the bolts to the door. So from there I started to look the car over. It also apears the drivers side rear door has been removed. So my first thought is it's been in an accident. So I opened the hood to really look it over. I noticed the drivers side quarter panel, hood, and bumper have all been replaced. There was also a little overspray on one of the plastic pieces. So it's pretty obvious the car has been in a wreck. And one of the things that worried me the most was the engine bay was white. Which isn't a big deal if the car was white....but it's silver. I'm a little embarressed to even write this. These are things I should have looked for before buying it. Every other car I bought I looked over carefully and had my own inspection done. I think I was just to excited about getting an x5 that I lost my mind lol.

So the next day I call the guy I bought it from and told him I'm bringing it by to show him what I found. So he checks over the vehicle and agrees with what I found. But refusses to do anything about it. He says that all bmw's engine bays are a different color for heat protection? Then he begins to ramble how the car is fine and that there's nothing wrong with it. And nothing will happen with it later on because it's been inspected and he got the green light from the auction. So there's no way there can be frame damage. That it's just a few new panels and paint. When i bought the car i was told that it has never been in an accident. So I'm not sure what I should do here. He wouldn't even split the costs to have it inspected by BMW. But he did say if I got it inspected and there was frame damage he would take the car back. What should I do??? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

I would check the consumer law in Cal and see what rights you have?

No BMW's are not different colors under the bonnet from the rest of the car!! That’s C**P! If you purchased the car from a dealer then you should be legally entitled to your money back. I know that is the case in the UK. I would have it inspected by BMW. Find out what they say which will probably not be good then take legal action as it sounds like you bought what we call a LEMON!! (A bad car)

:iagree:

Then come out to Westfest this Saturday. Sounds like you need to have some fun. Here ya go http://xoutpost.com/westfest4/

I do hope everything works out for you!


Katt :D

Can't help you on some of your concerns, but my
stone stock, never in any accident, '01 does have a
pretty whiteish under hood color. The silver paint job
doesn't extend to cover the under hood area.
GL, with your other concerns.
BR,mD

john,
As a followup to my previous post, here are some pics
of the under hood view of my Titanium Silver '01:

the diff is tough to discern, but my under hood and
wheel wells are plainly whiteish, not TitAg.

Hope the pics and, my similar "look" help resolve one
of your concerns.
GL,mD

Thanks for the pic's...I appreciate it!

:welcome: to The World John :wavey:

OT - sorry for hijack:

MD - where's your engine :confused: I don't have that much room under my hood :rofl:

:xoutpost:

Sorry to hear about your X problems.

I have the econo 3.0 budget model; no bulging V8.

My motor might have been suffering some "shrinkage"
as it's about 33 in the garage. :rofl:

John,

Take it to a local body shop, I did before I purchased my X5 just to double check. The first thing they'll look for is bolt replacement under the hood, or alignment of the bolts to the main frame. If those are original and have never been touched, the vehicle was never in a serious accident. That doesn't mean that something minor didn't occur, normally minor accidents aren't reported on nice cars because it would bring the value way down, therefore not on a carfax report. Also, check the alignment of all your doors by standing in front of the car in the sunlight and looking at the tops of the door frames (look to see if they all look even etc..). Again, check the the bolts in under the hood, or have a pro do it, if those have been touched, your car was in a serious wreck and that would constitute a refund even if the guy stated he had no prior knowledge. Sorry to ramble, just trying to help. GL.

JD

Thanks for the help guys. Yes I checked all the bolts under the hood. The hood was removed along with the bumper and the driver's side quarter panel. I must say they did a good job. Everything lines up good and the car drives great. But if i knew it was in an accident I would never have bought it. Just not sure what kind of action I can take. Return the vehicle? Have them pay for a warranty? Cash back? Obviously the car is not worth what I paid for it if it's been in an accident....

Seek legal advise and get an inspection done. I would also not be happy if I paid for a vehicle that was accident damaged and not told about it.

John,

Unless the dealer kindly agrees to refunding part of your money, all your money, etc.. you will have to take legal action. The dealer is probably figuring you won't do that since attorney fees could get costly. So, tell him you will file a small claims notice against him if he doesn't do something to fix the problem. If he refuses even after that, file a claim in small claims court and start documenting evidence to support your claim. Have professionals write up something, pictures, etc.. Bottom line, if you were told the car was in no accidents, and you determined it was, you have a case. Good luck.

JD

I think some people like the bulging V8 more power and the mpg

If you know anyone in the insurance industry have them run an "index search" on the VIN # and see if any accidnts were reported...this will give you all the accident info. including the name of the person who owned it when the accident occurred. Then get a lawyer and sue the car dealer its very unlikely that they didn't know the car was in an accident. Depending on the laws in CA I would hope you would be able to get your $$ less any depreciation the X has from you driving it or at least get the difference back between the FMV at the time of the purchase (considering the accident) and the actual amount paid. Good Luck!