PSA

bandwagn · 02-09-2017, 03:12 PM

Went to test drive this X5M today - brought it to the local BMW dealership for a PPI and the tech instantly recognized it - turns out it needs a new engine. Previous owner must have found out, and promptly traded it in on a new Mazda.

Buyer beware if you see it online - VIN LK25385

It's a beauty, but danger lurks beneath.

eswimm · 02-09-2017, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bandwagn

Went to test drive this X5M today - brought it to the local BMW dealership for a PPI and the tech instantly recognized it - turns out it needs a new engine. Previous owner must have found out, and promptly traded it in on a new Mazda.

Buyer beware if you see it online - VIN LK25385

It's a beauty, but danger lurks beneath.

Wow, thought that was mine for a minute, but mine was LK25358. It needed new heads, so I traded it in on a 2013 X6M.

-c- · 02-09-2017, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bandwagn

Went to test drive this X5M today - brought it to the local BMW dealership for a PPI and the tech instantly recognized it - turns out it needs a new engine. Previous owner must have found out, and promptly traded it in on a new Mazda.

Buyer beware if you see it online - VIN LK25385

It's a beauty, but danger lurks beneath.

What were the warning signs what noises?

Did you tell the dealer your ppi findings ? Maybe they will pull it. My dad owns a dealership and if he knew he had a bad car he'd pull it and fix it even at a loss to stop a future possible lawsuit and bad press.

bandwagn · 02-09-2017, 08:28 PM

There really were no warning signs - no lights or anything when I went to test drive it. Not really the fault of the selling dealer, since they really wouldn't have any way of knowing.

Only foreshadowing was the number of service visits on the vehicle history that I was able to get from my normal dealer (and 5 prior owners) - however, even that didn't show the most recent visit where they did a leak down compression test - so take the history only with a grain of salt - if they don't actually do the work, the diagnosis won't hit the records.

Was really just 'luck' that I went to the dealer that had previously serviced it and was able to talk to the tech about it.

Sad deal overall - at 80k miles and ridden hard, I guess it has lived a good life.

bandwagn · 02-09-2017, 08:33 PM

It's at a big name dealer in town, so they'll probably do what makes sense.

My guess is that it'll go to copart type salvage auction, some Indy will pick it up cheap and replace the engine (maybe), then turn around and sell it with a clean title and nothing on the records.

Can't blame the system, just be aware of the game.

02-09-2017, 03:12 PM	#1
bandwagn First Lieutenant 232 Rep 313 Posts Drives: 2006 325xi Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Omaha iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 X6M [0.00] 2006 330Cic [0.00]	PSA - Always get a good PPI Went to test drive this X5M today - brought it to the local BMW dealership for a PPI and the tech instantly recognized it - turns out it needs a new engine. Previous owner must have found out, and promptly traded it in on a new Mazda. Buyer beware if you see it online - VIN LK25385 It's a beauty, but danger lurks beneath. Attached Images
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02-09-2017, 08:28 PM	#4
bandwagn First Lieutenant 232 Rep 313 Posts Drives: 2006 325xi Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Omaha iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 X6M [0.00] 2006 330Cic [0.00]	There really were no warning signs - no lights or anything when I went to test drive it. Not really the fault of the selling dealer, since they really wouldn't have any way of knowing. Only foreshadowing was the number of service visits on the vehicle history that I was able to get from my normal dealer (and 5 prior owners) - however, even that didn't show the most recent visit where they did a leak down compression test - so take the history only with a grain of salt - if they don't actually do the work, the diagnosis won't hit the records. Was really just 'luck' that I went to the dealer that had previously serviced it and was able to talk to the tech about it. Sad deal overall - at 80k miles and ridden hard, I guess it has lived a good life.
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02-09-2017, 08:33 PM	#5
bandwagn First Lieutenant 232 Rep 313 Posts Drives: 2006 325xi Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Omaha iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 X6M [0.00] 2006 330Cic [0.00]	It's at a big name dealer in town, so they'll probably do what makes sense. My guess is that it'll go to copart type salvage auction, some Indy will pick it up cheap and replace the engine (maybe), then turn around and sell it with a clean title and nothing on the records. Can't blame the system, just be aware of the game.
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