Need car advice - not detail related...

E

elomori

New member
Hello all,



I purchased a used 330i, 2001 around 10 months ago. The broker I purchased the car from guaranteed that my car had not been in an accident and was clean. He stated that BMW (the car was purchased from a BMW auction) would have disclosed if the vehicle had been in an accident. He also went on to say that his mechanic personally checked the vehicle and it was clean. On top of that we got a Carfax report on the car which came out clean.



I recently brought my car in for a tune-up and the mechanic asked me if my car had been in an accident. After I explained to him my car had not, he recommended that I have it inspected at a body shop. Sure enough the body mechanic had stated that my car was in an accident and noted the following:



hood replaced

Left and right fender repainted

Left and right door repainted

Left quarter panel repainted

front bumper repainted

left and right apron repainted

radiator support replaced

broken wire connectors

oil leak from sending unit

water leak from washer fluid reservoir



I purchased the car "as is" but would like to be compensated for my damages that still need to be repaired and to be compensated for the loss of value to my vehicle. My broker is not getting back to me. Does anyone have advice on how I can handle the situation, i.e. to be compensated for the loss of value on the vehicle and to be compensated for any out of pocket expenses to repair the oil leak, water leak from washer fluid reservoir? Any advice would be appreciated....
 
I would say that you don't have a leg to stand on unless you know who did the repair work and can prove that it was wrecked before you bought it. At this point, 10 months later, anything could have happened to the car so there isn't any way of proving it otherwise. On top of that, did you get in writing that the car was never wrecked other than the carfax report? My guess is that the broker didn't provide anything in writing. Last, it is possible that the accident was never reported and was repaired by an independent body shop, and nobody *knowingly* took adavantage of you. This is just one of the chances you take by buying a car from an auction or auction broker.



Remember one thing: "Believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear." I live by this rule.
 
I would seek the advice of someone who has the qualifications to answer legal questions, "As is" may mean just what it says... (that person is not me I'm justadumbarchitect)Good luck

JonM
 
Have you tried contacting carfax? I know that they have some kind of warranty on things like that but I'm not quite sure how it works. Might be something to look into. Also try contacting the broker, and getting the name of the auction company. See if they possibly have it on file that it was wrecked because every auction I've been to they stated before anyone placed a bid that it was wrecked. But its also possible that the person that had it before just paid out of pocket to get it fixed, in which case it would not be on record.
 
BMW usually places stickers on body panel of the car with the vin # to show the part was the original when the car was built

.

When a fender or hood is damaged the replacement part has a BMW "DOT" sticker. That mean's it was replaced.



AS-is does not mean much today and having stuff in writing will only shorten the legal process.



Generally what you have to read is any "misrepresentation" of a car is illegal by state law.

It should be on a piece of paper or part of your bill of sale recites. If your autobroker denies ever hearing those words from your mouth then you're looking at getting a lawyer.



See what the auto broker says or go pay him a visit. You can sell as-is.......but............if the seller lies to you and everyone knows what's wrong with the car, you can have a good case.



Good luck!
 
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