[07E92TT]

So I bought an 07' 335 coupe about a month and a half ago and there is a defect in the paint above the left rear tire like some body work was done and then painted over, and also the texture of the leather on the side of the drivers seat is different than that of the passenger side as if the side airbag came out on the drivers side and was cheaply put back in and covered with cheaper leather. Now you can only see the defect in certain light and the seat doesn't really bother me and the car drives great, but I bought this car as a CPO vehicle and the carfax is clean but obveously something has happened here...any suggestions on what i can do or am I pretty SOL? also whenever i press the horn its soft, like i have to press it in a little bit and then the horn sounds, its not just a solid hard push? maybe this means there's no airbag in there, or maybe thats just how they are? If anyone could let me know how their's is that would be great. Thanks guys

[Peanuto]

Go to a dealer, not necessarily the one who sold it to you. Have them take a paint meter across the vehicle. If the paint shows up much thicker in one area, most likely the area in question, then it has been in an accident and repainted. I just traded in an Escalade to get my E92 335i and I bought the Cadillac with 10k mi. on it and a clean title/no accident history. When I went to trade it in the dealer whom I have known for a long time pointed out an area where the paint was 4x thicker than the rest of the vehicle and upon knocking on the vehicle a repair was blatantly made using bondo. That evil hollow knock where it should sound solid. In the long run it didn't cost me enough to merit a lawsuit ( I went back to the Cadillac dealer with a letter from my BMW dealer and said if he didn't give me the difference it caused in the initial appraisal and the final trade appraisal I would be seeing him in court) But anyways, if it shows to have been in an accident the dealer has to take the car back.

[stickypaws]

CarFax won't show anything unless it's reported. CPO will still pass unless the car has an issue that makes it not able to be CPO'd (i.e., a minor accident doesn't mean it can't be CPO'd)

Easiest/best way to find out is to take it to a good body shop. They'll tell you what you want to know.

[FotiosF90M5]

the steering wheel airbag most likely was deployed and hopefully replaced. when they put the wheel back together they didnt put the airbag cap on right. get that checked out asap. thats what I would do anyway.

[07E92TT]

So say I go to a body shop and they say its been wrecked or repainted or whatever, what can I do to fix this issue? Would the bmw dealer buy the car back or would I just have to deal with it or what? It really bothers me because I know its there and it takes away from the greatness of an otherwise wonderful car.

[FotiosF90M5]

Im not sure. so much for carfax bullshit. Its probably not as bad as your thinking. just get it checked out by the dealer concerning the airbag issue and visit a body shop to see how much of the car was painted. If the car drives fine chances are it is. just get the airbags checked out for your own safety and whoever else might ride in your car.

[blue2fire]

You should get an Autocheck Report along with the one from Carfax. They have some different sources and seem to work better together...

[stickypaws]

Originally Posted by 07E92TT

So say I go to a body shop and they say its been wrecked or repainted or whatever, what can I do to fix this issue? Would the bmw dealer buy the car back or would I just have to deal with it or what? It really bothers me because I know its there and it takes away from the greatness of an otherwise wonderful car.

The body shop can tell you everything, and remember they also install airbags, etc.. Once you get the info you want from the body shop, then confront the dealer and ask them for the paperwork for the repair job (if they indeed did the work.)

If it was repaired before they had their hands on it (by the PO) then there's not much you can say providing the car is safe to drive (under the CPO)

Even if the dealer did the repair and you didn't ask about any previous damage (or check by asking to use their paint meter when you did the purchase), then it's their word against yours. Bottom line is if the car is safe to drive despite the body work done.

I'm sure the car is fine, just probably not the best body work was done (it's a real skill to do good work that never noticeable.)

It's just part of buying used. Carfax, Experian, and other records are only good as far as helpful tools.

[samchoi604]

Take some pictures. I don't understand how the leather can be different along the same surface. Shouldn't they have replaced the whole seat?

Also, this is the exact problem with buying used car, even CPO's. You take a test drive, it drives great, and think there's nothing wrong. Always check thoroughly for paint mismatch!!

[07E92TT]

i have the red interior and the texture of the driver seat side is not the same of the leather on the passenger seat side, the passenger side feels like the rest of the interior while the drivers side feels of smooth and flimsy cheap leather, as if they just put a diff piece of red leather on and stitched the original seat up. idk it may seem like i'm being too picky about it but when you pay 40 grand for a car you expect it to be perfect you know? Oh and ill take some pics tomorrow during the day

[AWM3]

The airbag system does a functional check every time you start the car. There is a working airbag in your steering wheel, otherwise your airbag light would be on. Also they could not give a CPO warranty on a car without a working airbag. Regarding a paint defect above the rear tire that doesn't seem related to a front airbag issue. Have the front of the car examined for evidence of repairs. A 2 year old used car is not going to be "perfect." It's a used car. If you want perfect you generally have to buy a new car, and then in a very short time it's no longer "perfect" either. Unless you don't drive it.

[blue2fire]

Originally Posted by car62

The airbag system does a functional check every time you start the car. There is a working airbag in your steering wheel, otherwise your airbag light would be on. Also they could not give a CPO warranty on a car without a working airbag. Regarding a paint defect above the rear tire that doesn't seem related to a front airbag issue. Have the front of the car examined for evidence of repairs. A 2 year old used car is not going to be "perfect." It's a used car. If you want perfect you generally have to buy a new car, and then in a very short time it's no longer "perfect" either. Unless you don't drive it.

What are you saying? Should it be fine for the dealer to sell a shunted car especially when they advertise it to be the a fine (or the finest) specimen of it's kind?

Crashed cars are worthless heaps of junk that will never be as good as others of their ilk. They don't perform as well or look as good.

[F32Fleet]

There's always a chance that the car was damaged prior to delivery and it was repaired at port (This happens and BMW does NOT have to tell you). As for the seat, there's always a chance that the seat could have been damaged in some whay other than an accident, or it's just difference in quality and/or use which is to explain the difference.

[twinturboa51]

leather is a natural substance and will have slight variations. is your skin the same all over your body??? yes its a 40+ thousand dollar car but its still mass produced. its not a hand built rolls with quality control every step of the way. you are saying the driver seat is different than the rest of the car? take a look at any car and the driver seat will be different than the other ones, because thats what is used the most. its wear and tear. as far as the body damage goes you should take it to a body shop. any good body shop will be able to tell you if there was work done to it.

[Noc57]

Originally Posted by blue2fire

Crashed cars are worthless heaps of junk that will never be as good as others of their ilk. They don't perform as well or look as good.

That's not really true. A good repair shop and quality OEM parts make all the difference.

I did a little under $20K in damages to my car when it was only 2 weeks old.

Long story, but I ran up over a curb, causing air bag deployment, a whole bunch of suspension/underbody damage, and a major headache.

...and guess what? It drives EXACTLY the same after the repair as when I bought her new. I can't even tell a difference.

As long as there isn't significant frame damage and the repair is done right, with the right parts, there's no reason the car would never be the same.

Fortunately for me my repair guy was one of the best in the state, and certified from BMW. Insurance was awesome, approving only OEM BMW parts and letting the body shop do whatever they needed.

Of course people will always "think" something is wrong with their car after it's been in a wreck, and that can eat at you.

[MMakoto]

you paid 40+ for this 2yr old car? that seems to be kinda steep, even for a CPO. my car which is fully loaded, w/o active steering and active cruise control, is just under $30k for a trade in on kbb.

[Noc57]

Originally Posted by MMakoto

you paid 40+ for this 2yr old car? that seems to be kinda steep, even for a CPO. my car which is fully loaded, w/o active steering and active cruise control, is just under $30k for a trade in on kbb.

KBB is never accurate. Go into a dealer with a kbb quote and they'll laugh at you.

All depends on the market, which right now.....sucks horribly.

Though $40K does seem pretty high.

[07E92TT]

well i got it for 36.5 but after taxes and tag and everything it winded up being 39,850 or something like that, it only had 9500 miles on it and it was the only used CPO E92 for sale in the whole city (apart from an awful dark green one) and it was the color combo I wanted...But I understand what you guys have been saying, it still drives/looks great so ill try to just get over the maybes of what might of happened and just deal with it. Thanks for all the advice/opinions

[carrabassett786]

subscribing.

[jopa489]

Originally Posted by Socom

There's always a chance that the car was damaged prior to delivery and it was repaired at port (This happens and BMW does NOT have to tell you). As for the seat, there's always a chance that the seat could have been damaged in some whay other than an accident, or it's just difference in quality and/or use which is to explain the difference.

I was thinking the same. This happens more often than you may imagine and BMW (and every other brand) does not have to disclose that information.

[Jurisprudent]

Just paint work alone doesn't necessarily mean anything in terms of an accident... could have just been a scratch, etc... more important to know whether the panels are the original panels (VIN # is your friend), whether they have filler on them, etc...

[LZM Ray]

paint work if its notnoticable i wont worry but interior material not matching thats annoying i would definitely have the dealer fix the interior up.