[rotarypower101]

Where does one get a used vehicle checked out and evaluated around here, hopefully by someone that has a good grasp on these specific cars, knows what to look for, and good feel for the market value?

What is needed to do a preliminary search on the vehicles history, and where can someone have this done?

Any good tips for purchasing a used vehicle and making sure there is nothing BIG wrong with it, and hopefully the smaller issues are accounted for as well?

[Korntera]

I take all my cars to AR auto in Lake Oswego for Pre Purchase Inspections.

[rotarypower101]

Great, any specific people to talk to, or just in general?

What vehicle did you have them inspect?
What did they find, and what kind of advice was given to help resolve the issues?

[Korntera]

They look over my Lotus, Porsche and I just added a 335i to the garge but they were full so i had to take it to a place close to my house for my PPI ont that car but as soon as I need service they will handle it. Eddie there is the owner and pays great attention to the small customer base but they specialize in high end/race or track focused cars.

[rotarypower101]

Thank you!

Can the PPI be done by more local people if time and distance are important factors?

Do the dealers do things like this?

Kuni, for instance?

And is it a schedule able task?

How long does this typically take just for reference?

[rotarypower101]

Question: are those carfax reports worth it?

Anyone out there with a unlimited account that could help me out in a expedient manner?

I can PM you the vin.
As well as email if thats helpful.

How long does it take?

The site says "We have 24 history records for your..."

And how helpful are these Carfax things??

Is there a better way to find a history on a vehicle?

Thanks in advance.

[DaanBMW]

Use an indy shop specializing in bimmers. Personally I can recommend for both price & quality: Accurate motorwerks in Vanc or Dynasport in downtown. But before you do that, inspect the car yourself & drive it, and make sure you know how long the prev owner had it and why he's selling.

carfax is peace of mind more then really useful, but then I always got one before buying ;-)

[rotarypower101]

Thank you, any advice is very much appreciated!

Particularly where to have it checked out.

I will obviously look over it as well as I am able, but having a “professional” with the proper diagnostics IMO would be so much more useful in this day and age...

But I feel fairly adept at “feeling” with the backend how the running gear should feel, and whether there is a rattle,loosness, clunking, engine misfire or roughness, ect...

Ancillary sensors and fault codes are a bit harder for my backend to comprehend!

How well does BMWhat work for checking out a vehicles health VS a PPI? Or maybe in addition too?
I have the WIFI OBDII, and a generic app, would it be worth investing in the BMWhat?


I did call Kuni, they are booked until Tuesday.
Any reason to go to the indie shops over say, Kuni for something like a diagnostics “key read” I think they referred to it as?

Is there any service difference in what is checked?
Price difference?
I would rather start building a relationship with a local shop, I find REAL help and service invaluable over just protocols on a list, particularly the kind of help independent shops can supply!

What is typically checked out on a PPI ?
I would assume it is not “all inclusive” but rather a generic list of main systems?