 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  | |  04-23-2008, 01:00 AM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: SOUTH Jersey Posts: 1,085 |  Ever wish you had done a carfax?
With my buying of my saab, I decided to invest in carfax and run it's Vin. Thankfully, it came up squeaky clean.
My Ti didn't. I knew the car had been in accident at one time.. I didn't know that it had been totalled and rebuilt with a salvage title that somehow managed to "disappear" in New York in 2002.
From the kerb and driving, they did a decent job of fixing the car. You would be hard pressed to see how badly the passengerside had been hurt. Under the car though, I am feeling the pinch. You can see where the partially rebuilt the floor and now the welding is rusting. I even have a two inch diameter hole in the floor where you can reach up and touch carpet.
I have no intentions on getting rid of my Ti.. but I think she will be coming off the road this fall for a complete rewelding of the floor and a lot of grinding to get rid of the rust. Not something I am looking forwards to. |  |  | | 04-23-2008, 01:02 AM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asdfasdf Posts: 10,002 |
ouch, good thing you bought a new dd right before you found out about that | | | | | 04-23-2008, 02:07 AM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Quad Cities, Iowa Posts: 2,110 |
I did a Carfax on mine and Im glad I did. I wasnt particularly worried about it but I thought it would be a good thing to do. Mine is clean and had a good history although its clear now the car was in some minor fender benders not reported because they were not on the carfax. The first owner was a complete POS, the cars condition (I am the third owner and know the 2nd owner) tells me that but its still all good. __________________
"Drive Fast and Take Chances" | | | | | 04-23-2008, 02:10 AM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 |
The last time I ran a Carfax on my 98 ti that was totaled in 2000. It went from a salvage title in MD to a rebuilt in VA and now is somewhere in Greenville, SC. I'm hoping to see it on the road again someday.  __________________ ...steven
BMW CCA #146825
1996 BMW 328ti 2003 MINI Cooper S 2016 M235i
www.bmwcca.org
| | | | | 04-23-2008, 03:45 AM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stamford, CT <-> Boston, MA Posts: 1,393 |
My car was 'clean' but you can definitely tell that the previous owner had some wrecks. Maybe not totaled, but the hatch sits funny, the panels all don't exactly line up... __________________ 
BMWCCA #403399
2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman, 6-Speed
Loaded
2001 325xi, Winter Package, 5-Speed
Traded
1998 318ti, Active, Automatic, TOTAL LOSS R.I.P. 10/20/08
Bilstein Sport Shocks/Struts . H&R Sport Springs . Strut Reinforcement Plates . RSM Reinforcement Plates . Fogg Airbox . X-Brace . Bosal Brospeed Catback | | | | | 04-23-2008, 04:48 AM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: LA, Bellflower, CA Posts: 3,613 |
ppl go a long ways to conceal fender benders and "lil accidents". guess they want to car to keep a so called clean title.
i've noticed the same thing with my ti. the foglights dont match which would mean that it either got hit a little on one side or something or one just broke. either way it makes me suspicious. so far i think im the 2nd owner... __________________ 
-Theta Chi-
Float like a cadilac, sting like a BIMMER
.... my socket is just too thick and won't fit in the hole! damnit!
Marv's 332ti is in the werks. Stay tuned ya'll  ...
Check list: S52 swap, manual transmission swap, 3.25 LSD with M Coupe diff cover, SuperSprint muffler, M3 style mirrors, AFE intake, ASC delete, M50 Manifold swap, UUC strut bar, ZHP lighted knob, Vaders, M-tech interior, OEM armrest, AC Schintzer front lip, AC Schnitzer rear spoiler, Roof spoiler, 18'' rims, M3 front drilled brakes, LED interior lights, 3 spoke Euro style steering wheel, OEM roof spoiler and bike holder, Thule fairing, Euro tail lights, oil pressure guage, carbon fiber hood painted to original paint (still showing CF weaving), what's next to do...? | | | | | 04-23-2008, 12:42 PM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asdfasdf Posts: 10,002 |
my rear bumper doesn't line up right on the drivers side, and there is a dent on the hood above the passenger side headlight, I read the service record I got from the BMW dealership (goes all the way back to 30k) and they said they popped it out but it's still noticeable | | | | | 04-23-2008, 02:10 PM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Eugene Oregon Posts: 6,182 |
mine has a little bit of rust on a rear fender well that needs to be gone through and a little underneath by the front of the doors and under. DAMN Pennsylvania salted roads but i knew that before i bought the car and plan to go through it all before i do a full respray. __________________
-Josh
Sold-1995 318ti, Club Sport, Hellrot
Sold-1996 318ti, Active Model, Boston Green
Current- 1995 318ti, sport model, schwartz
| | | | | 04-23-2008, 05:07 PM | #9 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 |
Mine was woman owned from new till I got my hands on it, nuff said __________________ 
1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd
OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | | | 04-23-2008, 07:46 PM | #10 | | Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: PA Posts: 45 |
Hmmm. I never ran the carfax on my current ti. The previous owner was as honest as he could be  .. apparantly his son did a nice job ripping over a curb. I am slowly finding the extent of his curb rash since I finally had it aligned (Wow- was it BAD!) Still didn't run a carfax- doesn't matter whats on it now, its my new toy! (and money pit all in one!) | | | | | 04-23-2008, 07:54 PM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,895 |
Mine has some small dents, but I knew about them when I bought it.
Have to get them fixed this summer.
Previous owner tried to hide a cracked diff cover with jb weld, but I found it and replaced it before it leaked out. __________________ ...
ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ | | | | | 04-24-2008, 05:13 AM | #12 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 368 |
Carfax is only useful if it comes up with something. More often than not it will deliver a clean bill-of-health on a car even if it's had accident history. Their records are not as good as they imply, and they don't have access to the data they claim to. I believe they were even successfully sued recently. So, run one if you want but don't take a "Clean" Carfax report as proof your car is a virgin. There's no substitute for an inspection by someone familiar with these cars. | | | | | 04-24-2008, 06:52 AM | #13 | | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 |
Quote: Originally Posted by Phil Marx  So, run one if you want but don't take a "Clean" Carfax report as proof your car is a virgin. There's no substitute for an inspection by someone familiar with these cars. | Great advice Phil. Well said. __________________ 4 MORE YEARS BABY!!! | | | | | 04-24-2008, 02:26 PM | #14 | | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 3,212 |
Yup my carfax came out clean too. But it gots a dent on the passenger side door and some by the rear fender. | | | | | 04-24-2008, 02:27 PM | #15 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
you mean if someone tells me they're a virgin, they might not be? oh god, oh god, oh god ... __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | |
| Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | |
 Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
| | |
|
Linear Mode
