Making new purchase, '03 w/replaced engine - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

NaptownM5 · 13th February 2007, 20:42

Hello all, I have been lurking the boards here for about 5 weeks and am about to purchase an '03 Lemans Blue I fell in love with. I did find some bad info when checking the vin with the original dealer though. Apparently the car was a lease vehicle, and has been serviced properly through the dealer over the life of the car. But, while being leased, the car had he engine replaced at 19,500 miles (currently has 28,500) due to water intake. The car otherwise is perfect and spotess, and I still feel reasonably comfortable with the purchase. The engine was replaced by the dealer through the previous owners insurance.
I have searched high and low for a reason not to purchase the car, but cant find one. The dealer is giving me a reputable 48mo/75K mi warranty with the purchase starting the date of purchase.
I look forward to joining the community, thanks for being so helpful on the pre-purchase. This is a great community.

Rick

mottati · 13th February 2007, 21:01

can't complain about a 10k mile engine, but i'd look for any signs of flood damage. Not that the car was flooded, but if it was driven thru water deep enough to get into the intakes (assuming they're stock) there could potentially be some other water issues. If you can get the car away, pop off the door threshold trim and try to peer down behind the carpet to look for any potential water ingress.
I recently was in that area to run my icelink wires, and my 7 year old, near 90k mile car looked brand new (from a cleanliness standpoint) below the carpets.

I also wonder, why an aftermarket warranty and not a CPO?

Good luck and welcome!
Mike

BMWMPWR · 13th February 2007, 21:08

I concur- hope this beast wasn't a katrina or the like, victim. Did you or do you plan a PPI for further review of this chassis?

gbogh3 · 13th February 2007, 22:15

Is the dealer selling you the car giving you this information?

Last time I ran a VIN with the dealer, there was an engine was replaced and so was the rest of the interior was also replaced!

You may want to find out what else was done......

NaptownM5 · 14th February 2007, 15:10

mottati: I'm buying this from a private dealer. I'm taking it Friday to my local BMW dealer for MD inspection and a PPI. I'll have them do the inspection you suggest if it's not already included, thanks! The originating BMW dealer in PA says it wouldnt have been CPO because of the replaced engine, and therefore without CPO it couldnt have a BMW extended warranty. I figured a dependable aftermarket warranty would be the next best thing. The car has no mods, but I cant say for when the water intake occoured. I guess the pervious owner could have had CAI and thrown on the stock intake before towing it to the dealer.

cdracer: I dont think it's Katrina because of the PA service records and clear carfax for the life of the car. Thats not to say they didnt take a road trip or that it doesnt flood in the north east!

gbogh3: I am doing this research myself. The only other records on the car were maintenance, with nothing fishy for a 28K mi car (brakes/clutch etc...)

Thanks guys, any other suggestions on checking for abuse would be apprecieated.

verhagke · 14th February 2007, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaptownM5

mottati: I'm buying this from a private dealer. The BMW dealer will be doing the MD inspection and a CPO inspection (is this called PPI as cd racer says???) I'll have them do the inspection you suggest, thanks! The BMW dealer says it wouldnt have been CPO because of the replaced engine, and therefore without CPO it couldnt have a BMW extended warranty. I figured a dependable aftermarket warranty would be the next best thing. The car has no mods, but I cant say for when the water intake occoured. The pervious owner could have had CAI and thrown on the stock intake before towing it to the dealer.

cdracer: I dont think it's Katrina because of the PA service records for the life of the car. Thats not to say they didnt take a road trip or that it doesnt flood in the north east!

gbogh3: I am doing this research myself. The only other records on the car were maintenance, with nothing fishy for a 28K mi car (brakes/clutch etc...)

PPI - Pre Purchase Inspection

What you need is an independent inspection. You will need to take it somewhere other than the selling dealer. Make sure that whoever you get to do this is familiar with what to look for in flooded cars.

Considering the background I would proceed with caution. If the car turns out fine, one thing you may also want to look into is the warranty on the replacement engine. I think that BMW provides a 2 year warranty on parts which I would think includes the engine.

SoCalJD · 14th February 2007, 16:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaptownM5

mottati: I'm buying this from a private dealer. I'm taking it Friday to my local BMW dealer for MD inspection and a PPI. I'll have them do the inspection you suggest if it's not already included, thanks! The originating BMW dealer in PA says it wouldnt have been CPO because of the replaced engine, and therefore without CPO it couldnt have a BMW extended warranty. I figured a dependable aftermarket warranty would be the next best thing. The car has no mods, but I cant say for when the water intake occoured. I guess the pervious owner could have had CAI and thrown on the stock intake before towing it to the dealer.

cdracer: I dont think it's Katrina because of the PA service records and clear carfax for the life of the car. Thats not to say they didnt take a road trip or that it doesnt flood in the north east!

gbogh3: I am doing this research myself. The only other records on the car were maintenance, with nothing fishy for a 28K mi car (brakes/clutch etc...)

Thanks guys, any other suggestions on checking for abuse would be apprecieated.

>>>

Maybe not Katrina...but possibly the Delaware.

NaptownM5 · 14th February 2007, 16:53

verhagke: Sorry if I wasnt clear, I am buying the car from a private, non-BMW dealer in VA. He is allowing me to drive the car to my local BMW dealer in MD for a BMW PPI as well as the state inspection. If this is not usually considered enough for you guys on this board then I will gladly search for another alternative in my area (read: private BMW mechanic inspection). I want to be as thourough as possible with this purchase and I thought using a BMW dealer as a third party would be sufficient.

socaljd: Sure hope not! If it was in a flood, they did an awesome job with the repair, and I guess covered up the salvage title. Anything is possible!

MAH · 14th February 2007, 16:56

I have had a major engine overhaul by a BMW dealer and they do place a two year warranty on the repairs.

Mark

SoCalJD · 14th February 2007, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaptownM5

verhagke: Sorry if I wasnt clear, I am buying the car from a private, non-BMW dealer in VA. He is allowing me to drive the car to my local BMW dealer in MD for a BMW PPI as well as the state inspection. If this is not usually considered enough for you guys on this board then I will gladly search for another alternative in my area (read: private BMW mechanic inspection). I want to be as thourough as possible with this purchase and I thought using a BMW dealer as a third party would be sufficient.

socaljd: Sure hope not! If it was in a flood, they did an awesome job with the repair, and I guess covered up the salvage title. Anything is possible!

>>>

Hey, don't mind me. I know squat about the mechanical side of these cars. However, knowing about that new engine, I'd want to get some answers on how/why it happened.

BMWMPWR · 14th February 2007, 16:58

Did you ask the owner how water got into the engine?

NaptownM5 · 14th February 2007, 19:29

CDracer: I cant find information on the original owner because it was a lease vehicle. The BMW Dealer who did the work didnt give any more details than it had sucked water into the engine and the persons insurance covered the engine. Maybe I'll push the service department for more information.

verhagke · 14th February 2007, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaptownM5

Sorry if I wasnt clear, I am buying the car from a private, non-BMW dealer in VA. He is allowing me to drive the car to my local BMW dealer in MD for a BMW PPI