Car Service History

dujox

I'm having issues getting my car service history. I bough a 325ix and before making the move we checked its Carfax report. Well, we'd better be cover. Surprisingly, the Carfax did not say anything value to us. I mean it was useless.

Then I took the car to my local dealership just to be told they cannot show me MY CAR service history. I want challenge this and I have a few questions:

Should you buy a house does not you know its history?
-How is BMW excluded for doing so. Does it this optional?
-How a new owner of a old BMW could properly keep this Drama Queen Car without a properly car history report?

How some of you had worked around this issue? Please help me out,
before I literally end up just driving my "ultimate driving machine"

Mr_Shiftright

The dealer is under no obligation to show you the car's service history.

However I see no reason why the service writer couldn't TELL you a few things that he might read off the computer, as a courtesy.

Your CARFAX report might tell you the original selling dealer. You might contact them to see if they would offer you further information on the car.

If not, the best you can do is just start the normal BMW service schedule required for your car's mileage. Since you already bought the car, the question is rather moot regarding prior service.

These are dealer records and while I think it is rather annoying that they don't tell you anything about the car, they aren't required to share this information with you. Perhaps they wish to protect the identity of the previous owner, I don't know. Some used car buyers are emboldened to contact the previous owner, which I would personally find intrusive, if I were the previous owner.

CARFAX comes from public records, that's why they can sell it to you. Dealer records are not public but sometimes they do seem to show up on CARFAX as a service appointment. Not sure how that works.

dujox

Thank you. I basically agree with you regarding some annoying car buyers wanted to contact the previous owners. I, however, do not think that as the main reason most owners want a car service history, specially after I bough the car already.

You well know that those cars are particularly expensive not say its services. As other BMW owner put it: "I am not asking for the COKE formula!"

Yes I share you believe that the least he should read a couple things before hang off on me. Thanks :confuse:

Mr_Shiftright

What I think is going on is an age-old problem at dealerships--poor personnel training. This would never happen at my friend's dealership.

kyfdx

BMW NA just put the hammer on their dealers about service historys.. This is a fairly recent occurrence in the last six months...

I used to drop in my local BMW dealer and check out any car that I was interested in... No more.

I assume that it became an issue when private sellers started having their deals fall apart, after their local dealer gave up their service history...

Also.. if the BMW VPC does any pre-sale body work, it shows up on those history reports.. though, it's usually delayed by 6 months... Also, any repairs done on employee leases, etc.., before they are sent to auction...

There is all sorts of information that could derail a deal for the dealer or private seller... or, call into question someone's honesty, after the fact..

I'm sorry they don't give out the information freely, any more... but, I'm not surprised...

regards,
kyfdx
visiting host

cdnpinhead

is power.

Not a problem for honest people.

For the rest. . .

The dealers have apparently been told to protect the rest, or to obscure how much and what kind of maintenance is really required on these cars.

Either way, I'm less than impressed (at least favorably).

roadburner

I used to drop in my local BMW dealer and check out any car that I was interested in... No more.

When I bought my 1988 M6 back in 1992 the selling dealer provided a 2 inch thick file of service receipts. The previous owner was a real piece of work. He brought the car back to the dealer because a piece of trim popped off the seat hinge- the fix involves snapping it back into place. My service advisor will still run a VIN and advise me of any red flags; I suspect that in many cases the person requesting the information did not buy the BMW in question from that dealer and doesn't intend to use said dealer for service, repairs, or parts purchases. Couple that with a demanding and belligerent attitude and I can easily understand why many dealers tell some non-customers to go pound sand...