[kihun]

So last year around this time, I purchased my 07 335i coupe with 27k mileage for 27000 out the door. I purchased the car w/ maxcare warranty (another $2K)because you know.. it's a bimmer.. so today I go to dealership to trade in with FJ cruiser.. found out my car had front collision accident.. WTF??

First, salesperson in carmax told me clearly saying that this car is accident free vehicle. but today when I went to dealership to appraise the car, carfax came out with one accident with the first owner..

I contacted HQ of carmax and told me my situation.. they said they are going to bring it up to manager level person to call me back but I haven't heard anything since..

am I over reacting because my car value was 17k.. I have 39k mileage on my 07 with almost every possible options.. turbos replaced under factory warranty.

What would you do if you were me..? should I ask them for partial refund for lying or file a small claim if they won't comply with me.

[kihun]

PS: I spoke to person who worked at carmax for five years.. he said carmax don't sell cars that had been into accidents esp body work or frame damage.

[dreamingat30fps]

Do you have any proof that they said it was accident free? Does it show on the carfax? Did you see the carfax when you purchased it? (as far as I know they have carfax for all their vehicles).

If you don't have proof then I'm not sure theres much you can do about it.

[The Nash]

Buyer beware applies.

[kihun]

I'm curious.. the maxcare cover cars that had been in a car accident before? I called maxcare and they said they'll call me back.. wtf. man

[kscarrol]

Just to clarify, you are trying to trade in the 335 for a FJ Cruiser, right. And the Toyota dealership is offering $17k for the 335 which you bought one year ago for $27k. That's the gist of it, right? And you are thinking the drop in value is because of the accident which you were lied to (possibly) about. Did you see a carfax before buying the 335? I would assume so. Perhaps they will refund something but not sure I'd have the patience for the fight.

Not sure how the car fax issue will work out but be careful when comparing your $27k purchase price and the $17k offer from the Toyota dealership. Any dealership will make you a low ball offer which equates to wholesale pricing at best while your purchase price was retail. Not versed in VA tax law but will you see a savings in sales tax by trading in the 335? If not, I would try to sell the 335 privately which should(?) get you more than what a dealer will offer for a trade-in....

[kihun]

^.. It wasn't toyota dealership. however it was private dealership. but either way regardless what they offered me, I'm pretty pissed the fact that they lied to me saying it was a accident free car. I remember he pulled out a carfax for the vehicle but never actually seen the paper..(I guess that was my fault). He said it was accident free and a fantastic car.

[kscarrol]

Right, as others have pointed out, without a copy of carfax available when you purchased I don't see you having much of a leg to stand on. Good luck!

[koreez88]

Maybe the dealership is trying to bump down the trade-in value of your car by providing false information?

[kihun]

yea.. I just have to find out if maxcare do cover accident vehicles. I guess that way I can prove a point.

[dreamingat30fps]

Pretty sure the only thing carmax claims is that they do not sell cars with frame damage, not that they don't sell vehicles with any accidents.

[P1]

Unless you have a copy from when you actually bought the car that states that it had a clean Carfax, you don't (unfortunately) have a leg to stand on.

[Inspired]

Why didnt you do your own research and get your own Carfax or Autocheck?

[US///M3]

$17k for an 07 335i with 39k mile seems like a fair offer even for one that has never been in an accident.

[KingOfJericho]

Talk them up to $20k then take your FJ.

[Maestro]

Just another lesson about carfax to never trust it when it says the car is clean. It is 100% possible that when you bought the 335I a year ago it did not show any sort of accident, and then all of a sudden it shows up as records get updated.

I had a used car which I bought from a dealer and the dealer told me it had minor accident which they did the repair on since the owner had them do all the repair and maintenance on the car plus when they owned. The dealer provided me all the service history plus the repair information. I later has a small fender bender which insurance covered, when I was selling the car and in the market for another car, I ran a carfax on my older car and it did not show either of these accidents or repairs. The same thing happen to my dad and his pickup truck, we bought and carfax which the dealer gave us said the car was clean, later when we were doing working on the truck we notice it was definitely in an accident which you can see over spay on the undercarriage.

[zx10guy]

This is why I always have a used car inspected by my mechanic friend...CarFax or no CarFax.

[Myrder]

Have to do research and inspect the car before buying it. Body repair is usually an easy spot. Look in the jambs of the doors trunk and hood to see if there is any off color, over spray, non-oem bolt,clips and so on.

If you see something post some images up.

[persian54]

this is why i only lease new cars…


17k trade in is fair. take it

[Maestro]

Originally Posted by persian54

this is why i only lease new cars…


17k trade in is fair. take it

I was thinking the same thing, 27K a year ago for that car seem pretty high even with low miles.

[11b3v]

Who ever sold you the car maybe didnt know about the accident. You should have cheked Carfax before buying it. Remeber those CarFOX commercials, well you out of luck.

Every dealer will try to sell the crap they have. They all lie!

[MrClean514]

If it's a car which CarMax knows they will sell quickly, they will keep it on the lot, regardless of whether its been in an accident or not.

I do think it is a crock of shit the sales person told you they do the opposite.


Side question, OP, why the trade in for an FJ? If you don't mind me asking.