Joe Must Know!

Buying a used BMW can be a great investment if you follow a few simple rules when performing your initial pre purchase inspection. In this article we will give you a general outline to use when inspecting your next potential BMW.  Over the next several articles we will provide a solid list of which BMW models/years you should stay away from, which ones offer the most value and of course editors top picks.

Step 1: The Walk Around
During the intial walk around look for any obvious ding, dents, scratches on all of the door panels, trunk lid and hood as this is a good sign of how well the car has been treated. The car should have all of the appropriate badging and emblems (BMW hood and trunk emblems are known to crack and peal apart so this is not by any means a deal breaker - both can be replaced for $30).

Tip: Getting down to “car level” will help you see the dings easier and how well the body panels line up. 

Next look at the tires tread depth and wear pattern (uneven wear is a sign of alignment issues), make sure they are all the same brand (typically the rear tires are larger than the fronts) while there, note the amount of ”Curb Rash” on the wheels (excessive curb rash is usually a sign of a bad driver).

Step 2: Interior Inspection
With the key in hand lock and unlock the doors several times then pop the trunk. Once you see everything works as is should open the door and take a deep breath - a car that has a strong air freshener odor may be sign of a smoker car or the owner is trying to cover up a foul odor.

Before you start the engine turn the ignition key to the on position and note the time before the next maintenance is due (located below the speedometer/tachometer). If you see a negative sign then a number its a good indication the car was not properly maintained and should be avoided regardless of how clean the oil appears.

Let’s assume the car has been serviced properly now it’s time to start the car. Let the car warm up while you checkout the interior. Start your scan from left to right and make sure every switch works as it should.

• Side Mirrors - Check operation of both side mirrors (left position/reverse gear auto adjusts passenger mirror)
• Lights - headlights (high/low), fog lights, directionals, brake/tail and backup
• Wipers - Delay, stage 1, stage 2 (condition of blades)
• Steering wheel controls - Should not stick (usually volume control)
• Tilt/Telescopic steering wheel - Manual or powered check full range of movement
• Rear View Mirror - Any dark spots is a sign of a defective mirror and needs to be replaced
• Vents - Check full range
• Radio - Check Pixels (BMW volume control on the head unit are known to fail)
• CD Player/Changer - Comes with CD cartridge - loads easily and plays uninterrupted
• Temp controls - Check full temp range
• Glove box - Check for user manual/fuse box label/ BMW flashlight
• Power seats - Test full range in every direction.
• Center Console - cup holders, coin holder, arm rest/storage compartment
• Power Windows - One touch window switches are known to fail. Check each window from the center console then on the doors.
• Central locking - Close all the doors then confirm the central locking system is operational
• Sunroof - (radio off) listen for any binding (if the sunroof slows down at any point it could be a sign of a bent rail or another problem. BMW sunroofs cost a lot of money to replace so its important to cycle the sunroof 10 times stopping it midway and then continuing until you are satisfied it works smoothly and consistently.
• Rear Sunshade - Optional on most higher end BMW models, these are known to bind up and quit working simply due to lack of use. A little white lithium grease usually fixes the problem
• Rear seat center console - Check to see if the cup holders work (slide out) and the pass through opens.
• First aid kit - most of the time the contents are tool old to use anyway
• Tools - located under the trunk lid (Screwdriver, adjustable wrench, tow hook, wheel locks(optional))

Approximate cost of common replacement items: 

1. Cup holder - $40
2. Power seat controls (with or without memory) - $100
3. Eye glass case - $35
4. Ash tray (front/rear) - $40/$50
5. Floor mats - $90
6. Gear Shift nob - $50 -$80 (leather/wood)

For  a couple hundred dollars you can give new life to just about any tired looking BMW interior

Now it’s time to look under the hood. Open the oil filler cap and look for any sludge or rust as this an indication of a car that either was poorly maintained or not drive enough to burn off the condensation that build up in the engine. Pull the dipsticks and inspect the oil and transmission fluid (both fluids should be clear of dirt and not smell burnt). Ask if the overflow bottle has been replaced (they are defective and are know to break). If the owner does not know look at the hood liner for signs of the overflow bottle explosion - it will look brownish. 

Next pop open the air box and interior filters and note the condition. If the are full of leaves and debris it may indicate the car was not maintained properly. Also check for leaves and debris between the AC condenser and the radiator as this can cause the car to run hot or overheat putting stress on every component of the drive-line (if you don’t have the tools to remove the top plastic cover make sure it is covered during the final pre-purchase inspection.

Lastly take a close look at the front grills from the inside of the hood. Make sure all of the clips and tabs are in place and none are broken. Missing tabs may indicate the car has been in an accident (more on that in future articles/videos).

Step 3 Test Drive
First shut off the AC and radio and keep the windows up. This will allow you to hear any squeaks, rattles and other noises that may be an indication of trouble. All BMW series are known for having poor lower control arm bushings (BMW knows they are defective, but they usually don’t wear out until about 60K miles so they simply don’t have to fix the issue). A clunking sound when driving over a bump is a good indication they will need to be replaced. Prices vary, but figure around $500-$700. Any humming noise is usually from a tire with little or no tread left or in rare cases just a poor quality tire. Steering wheel shake can be an indication of a bent wheel, out of balance or flat spotted tire or other suspension issuses

Don’t be shy when performing a test drive (let the owner know you of your intentions). Several hard acceleration through the gears will light up any “service engine soon” codes that were recently erased prior to your test drive.

Hard braking will reveal anything wrong with the ABS system/rotors/calipers. The car should brake straight and hard. If you feel the car pull to one side it could be a sign of a bad caliper. If you feel a pulsation during light breaking it’s most likely a sign of a warped rotor (Note: BMW rotors are not supposed to be cut and should be replaced).

If the car accelerates without hesitation, brakes straight and handles well overall it’s now time to give the car another once over. While driving put the windows down and listen for rattles in the doors as this could be a sign of a power window issues.

Step 4 Professional Prepurchase Inspection
No matter how thorough you are with your initial inspection nothing compares to having a professional perform their checks to ensure the safety and reliability of your next car. It may cost around $75 - $100, but trust me it’s money well spent. The mechanic will be able to get the car on a lift and check for leaks, suspension defects, previous repairs, brake pad wear, warped wheels (BMW wheels are very weak and most are bent from pot holes*), leaks and any other potential problems.

*BMW wheels can be trued out for around $50 a wheel by your local wheel and tire shop as compared to $350 for a new one from BMW or Ebay.

I hope you found this tutorial helpful and it has given you a little more confidence to go out and get that BMW you’ve always wanted. 

Please post or email me your questions and I will be happy to answer them