[07BSM328]

hey everyone,
got a question, i'm almost at my lease end and am aware of the 3rd party inspection. however i'm looking to just drop off the vehicle this weekend, is that inspection mandatory or can someone at the dealer do it?
anyone have experience with this?

[oel]

if you are returning it early for a new car, you can just drop it off and they'll take care of the inspection, but you will still get charged if they find any damage. That's what I was told when I returned mine. My car looked brand new the day I returned it, so i wasn't charged anything.

[aspiring335]

Any reason you're dropping it off early? My inspection was two months before I have to drop off the car. It really wasn't bad at all -- the guy was super friendly and only picked up on one ding on the hood.

[07BSM328]

i'm 10K KMs over and getting an STi instead so i really just want to get rid of it.
sounds like i gotta get in touch with the 3rd party dude.

[**Matt**]

Definately make an appt and be there to go over the inspection. I dropped my car off and drove away in another one after SA told it was fine to just drop it off, no worries. 3 weeks later i got a bill for 2 tires and a bumper that needed to be painted (underneath front bumper - not visible). I called my SA and complained as we were working on a deal prior to my returning the car and he had always given the indication that there would be no charges etc. Totally ignored my polite request to consider covering some of the charges as I had purchased a CPO from him, I wrote his manager. I never heard from the manager and had to go back to the dealer to have items repaired on the car that was suppsedly a CPO!!??

This was at BMW Store Downtown Van. What a joke that place is - I wrote them saying I would never go back and would tell everyone I know about their horrible service. Will always go to Autowest and BJ from now on.

[NiceAndSlow]

If you have safe lease? should this help? I heard it covers only $1000 per part and up to $7500 worth of damages?

[B1N]

just a question as my lease is coming up too and i am ot planning on buying back the car...I had bmw send me a inspector 2 weeks ago and he noted down everyting was fine (tires, no major scratches/dings etc) and provided me with a report...so what happens when I return it to bmw on the day my lease expires?...are they not going to inspect it?.. can they charge me for anything the 3rd party inspector missed?

[aspiring335]

Originally Posted by B1N

just a question as my lease is coming up too and i am ot planning on buying back the car...I had bmw send me a inspector 2 weeks ago and he noted down everyting was fine (tires, no major scratches/dings etc) and provided me with a report...so what happens when I return it to bmw on the day my lease expires?...are they not going to inspect it?.. can they charge me for anything the 3rd party inspector missed?

I think they would only charge you for major damage / missing parts. For example, if you return it with different wheels than when the inspector looked at it, or a major dent that wasn't there before, you'll get charged.

[B1N]

thanks! the reason being is I dont want any surprise charges from bmw because the rate they charge to fix something is probably 3-4 times the amount I would need to fix it myself...for example i had front tint the inspector told me to remove before i returned the vehicle and on the report it said bmw would charge 260 to remove them, im getting the tint shop to take it off for $30...

what about tires?...inspector said i had 5 mm left but its more closer to like 3.5....can they ding me for that without warning me?

[teamadobo]

Didnt you get the lease return package? It has a gadget to check the tire tread depth yourself

[B1N]

ya i got one of those and its like borderline right now, like right on the blue line on the circle...so im sure it could go either way...only thing is when the inspector he wrote on the report that it was 5mm left...so im wondering if bmw will go by his report or do another inspection themselves?

[teamadobo]

I would think BMW will follow the inspectors report. That is why they hire them in the first place

[B1N]

ya me too! cause im gonna be pissed if bmw surprises me a month later for a bill for $1000 to replace 2 tires!

[discoboy1]

They will look mostly at cosmetics and tires, they usually allow 1 ding (smaller than a quarter) per body panel.
If you tires are really worn, I suggest you find some used ones prior to inspection.