Red flag on 2010 BMW 328i CarFax

[barlowc]

Hi guys. I've looked at a used 2010 BMW 328i that a local Honda dealer has for sale. In reviewing the CarFax report, I noticed something that raised a red flag and wanted to see what you all thought.

On 02/15/2013 at 10,578 miles there's a record that states, "Title or registration issued. New owner reported." It's the first record for Owner #2.

Then, on 03/12/2013 there's a record that states, "Title issued or updated", and the mileage is reported as 15,700. What kind of use puts 5K miles on a vehicle in a month?

Then, on 03/29/2013 there's a record that states, "Vehicle offered for sale", and the mileage is reported as 17,847. 2K miles in 17 days!?

The vehicle is in great shape and clean - exterior, interior, and under the hood - and is being sold at a reasonable price. But 7300 miles in a month and a half seems crazy.

What do you think? So crazy that I should steer clear?

 

[Quattro Pete]

What are the locations for those entries? Was the car driven from one part of the US to another?

 

[DuckRyder]

I'd guess garbage information into CarFax = garbage information out of CarFax.

I don't put a ton of stock in CarFax anyway...

 

[barlowc]

 

[Audios]

Id pass on that one, Suburban Collection worries me, and wouldnt consider an E9x BMW without a warranty, preferably CPO.

 

[DuckRyder]

Suburban collection is the Honda Dealer, no?

15,700 isn't a real number it is a "Ms/Mr how many miles are on your car?" - "about 15,700" number.

2 round trips from Ft Lauderdale to New Baltimore MI are about 5450 miles.

Owner had to move? Sudden Transfer?

Wonder if the CPO warranty is transferable?

 

[donnyj08]

those numbers arent unrealistic. ive driven 2k miles in 17 days before and not really going on a trip.

where i live its 55Mi one way to college, i used to drive there and back 5 days a week plus a trip to indy once every weekend to pick up work supplies. thats a 250Mi round trip. and running to town during evenings for dinner, a trip to the store, to church, visit a friend ect..ect.. there were many weeks a couple years ago i would put 1k miles a week on my vehicle. 2k in 17 days is very doable in rural areas for someone who has to commute a lot daily. especially if it was used for business ect. i wouldnt sweat it honestly.

drive the car to a mechanic you trust and have him look it over, then drive it to a body shop you trust and have them look it over. do both of those and im sure you will catch any flaws it may have.

 

[barlowc]

Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
Suburban collection is the Honda Dealer, no?

From their web site, "The Suburban Collection sells and services 29 automobile brands in 30 retail locations throughout Michigan, California and South Florida." But it doesn't look like they have a BMW dealer.

The Michigan / South Florida connection has to be part of the story on how the vehicle got from Ft. Lauderdale to Southeast Michigan.

 

[zloveraz]

I'd get a auto check.

www.autocheck.com

 

[earlyre]

Originally Posted By: barlowc
Hi guys. I've looked at a used 2010 BMW 328i that a local Honda dealer has for sale. In reviewing the CarFax report, I noticed something that raised a red flag and wanted to see what you all thought.

On 02/15/2013 at 10,578 miles there's a record that states, "Title or registration issued. New owner reported." It's the first record for Owner #2.

Then, on 03/12/2013 there's a record that states, "Title issued or updated", and the mileage is reported as 15,700. What kind of use puts 5K miles on a vehicle in a month?
that's approx 2 round trips from Ft.Lauderdale ,FL to New Baltimore, MI.(1396.8mi ea way according to google)
Also, when i was growing up, my dad was a district manager for a retail chain. spent a lot of time driving between his stores,(approx 65kmi/yr or 5400mi/mo.)
Then, on 03/29/2013 there's a record that states, "Vehicle offered for sale", and the mileage is reported as 17,847. 2K miles in 17 days!?
I've Done that on vacation several times.
It's 1100 Mi from my house(Lima,OH) to my Brother's(Dallas,TX).
drive down, stay a week, drive back.
2200 Mi in 10 days or so, if i don't drive my car while down there.
Come First of June, Mom is Retiring, she and dad are driving from Lima, OH, Picking up my brother in Dallas, then on to Carlsbad Caverns, in NM. total round trip ~3124mi, they'll be gone a total of 12 days.
not OUTRAGEOUS figures, not terribly common, but doable.


The vehicle is in great shape and clean - exterior, interior, and under the hood - and is being sold at a reasonable price. But 7300 miles in a month and a half seems crazy.

What do you think? So crazy that I should steer clear?

 

[earlyre]

and yes, i know people who have bought vehicles, taken them on vacation, they turned around and sold it/traded it in right afterward. I'm sure they took a bath on the deal, but it's been done.

 

[MBS500]

Ive done over 3k miles in 7 days last summer. Trip from KY all the way to Key West going along shore.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Audios
Id pass on that one, Suburban Collection worries me, and wouldnt consider an E9x BMW without a warranty, preferably CPO.


+1. Looks like someone bought a car they couldn't afford and it got repoed after running across country. I'd doubly not be buying a repoed BMW from a Honda dealer, unless the deal was really good, like thousands less than I could reasonably resell the car for.

 

[SLCraig]

I do not see any issues personally..

 

[heynow]

Doesn't sounds like that much of an issue? If the mileage was going backwards I might be concerned.

I've driven 3000 miles in four days... it's definitely possible.

 

[daves87rs]

I sense "personal use" here. Not a big fan of the Suburban Collection either. Co worker had an issue there...company tends to go though salespeople quickly (as they are always hiring).


I'd pass and hit a real BMW dealership....one which will know their stuff.

 

[robshelton]

Everyone should be really careful dealing with cars and or titles from Florida. Unless it's been changed, FL doesn't show "Damaged or rebuilt" on their titles, so many shady dealers will send the title to FL to "Clean" it of any similar notation.

That said, as some have mentioned here the mileage listed was probably guessed at when they asked. But there are quite a few owners listed in a short time, and from my (Hard learned) experience that's a big flag. Yes there could be wholesalers involved, but a good desirable car is not typically resold many times before it is retailed.

The long and short of it? It's suspicious and I can almost guarantee you can find a better similar car if you look around. But if you decide to try it, be sure to take it to a BMW specialist and get their opinion. It will be money well spent. Good luck!

 

[OneEyeJack]

Sounds like you've made up your mind and just want a little push. If there is an inner voice telling you not to buy, pay attention.

 

[DuckRyder]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Audios
Id pass on that one, Suburban Collection worries me, and wouldnt consider an E9x BMW without a warranty, preferably CPO.


+1. Looks like someone bought a car they couldn't afford and it got repoed after running across country. I'd doubly not be buying a repoed BMW from a Honda dealer, unless the deal was really good, like thousands less than I could reasonably resell the car for.


AGAIN, look at the listed website...

http://www.suburbancollection.com

It is a dealership group including Suburban Honda in Michigan which has said BMW on their website. It has absolutely not a damb thing in the world to do with repo.

That said, BMW of Ft Lauderdale appears to be a Hoffman group company and I cannot find any connection between Hoffman and Suburban, which doesn't mean there isn't one...

IIRC correctly leased vehicles are titled as commercial vehicles in Florida because the leasing company owns the car.

 

[DuckRyder]

OP,

What does the dealer say about this? I'd point blank ask them and try to talk to the person they got it from...