Tips/advice on inspecting ordered car when it arrives

Does anyone have any tips on what to look for when your new car arrives before you drive it off the lot? For example, looking for any small or minor scratches, dents, damages, underneath the car, etc?

Call me a little paranoid, but it seems like if you don't catch something before you drive it off the lot, you're held liable since there is no way to prove you didn't do it after driving off.

I've never ordered a bimmer so this will be good info.

Make sure they didn't forget the xenons?

Originally Posted by Arciga18

I've never ordered a bimmer so this will be good info.

Make sure they didn't forget the xenons?

they forgot mine.

Originally Posted by bcl0328

they forgot mine.

Did you confirm that the order had them on it? I'm curious to know what happened after you noticed they were missing?

Originally Posted by winterfresh

Did you confirm that the order had them on it? I'm curious to know what happened after you noticed they were missing?

nah it was a joke. originally i was going to order mine with xenons but they had a car there with everything i wanted, minus xenons. so instead of waiting for an order i just took it. my old car was falling apart and i need reliable transportation so i said i'll take it.

might sell it in 3-4 years to get a blue m-sport 335i.

Do you guys test drive it before you do the final signing?

Originally Posted by bmwm311

Do you guys test drive it before you do the final signing?

i didn't but after seeing rattling dash noises and vibrating steering wheel, i would.

Originally Posted by bmwm311

Do you guys test drive it before you do the final signing?

of course

look at all the body panels, check for dents, scratches, look at the gaps between panels, make sure they are consistent.

Make sure the alinment is right, no vibration in the tires or steering(there is a know steering wheel vibration issue)

Originally Posted by justinnum1

Make sure the alinment is right, no vibration in the tires or steering....

+1,000,000! Hopefully BMW will have a solution in the near future.

Originally Posted by justinnum1

of course

look at all the body panels, check for dents, scratches, look at the gaps between panels, make sure they are consistent.

Make sure the alinment is right, no vibration in the tires or steering(there is a know steering wheel vibration issue)

I was unfamiliar with the wheel vibrations. I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to do a sticky post that listed all known issues? I think that would be very helpful.

Originally Posted by winterfresh

I was unfamiliar with the wheel vibrations. I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to do a sticky post that listed all known issues? I think that would be very helpful.

basically myself, and several other have found an issue where the steering wheel vibrates between 40-60mph...nothing to crazy, and you wouldn't really know it unless you look at it but its there. supposeldy bmw changes a part in the steering box(might be the whole unit altogether) starting in march production, waiting for those cars to get in owners hands to see if they experience it as well

Originally Posted by justinnum1

basically myself, and several other have found an issue where the steering wheel vibrates between 40-60mph...nothing to crazy, and you wouldn't really know it unless you look at it but its there. supposeldy bmw changes a part in the steering box(might be the whole unit altogether) starting in march production, waiting for those cars to get in owners hands to see if they experience it as well

Anyone with March production cars receive there's yet and can comment on this issue?

Originally Posted by justinnum1

basically myself, and several other have found an issue where the steering wheel vibrates between 40-60mph...nothing to crazy, and you wouldn't really know it unless you look at it but its there. supposeldy bmw changes a part in the steering box(might be the whole unit altogether) starting in march production, waiting for those cars to get in owners hands to see if they experience it as well

Justin, I realize I could review the threads for posts about post March production and steering vibration but I'm hoping you'll just tell me and others how this worked out. Which part in the steering box was BMW supposed to have changed?

Yeah I test drove mine despite the sour puss face my CA had. I made sure the alignment was right, checked The interior.....CA kept on saying "it's covered in our warranty" blah blah blah.

Originally Posted by GatorACE

Yeah I test drove mine despite the sour puss face my CA had. I made sure the alignment was right, checked The interior.....CA kept on saying "it's covered in our warranty" blah blah blah.

I would do the same. If you drive it off and then later notice a dent or damage underneath, or interior blemishes, those aren't covered under the warranty, correct? They could say, "How do we know you didn't do this after you drove off?"

Yeah mine was a march production. No issues with the alignment and no vibrations on speeds > 40 mph.

Yeah dont forget about the goodies. Got the Cable to connect iPhone included, BMW keychains, floor mats and BMW coffee travel cup.

Good stuff!

Ask them to show you the vehicle repair history to see if any shipment damage was repaired at the VPC.

Originally Posted by laser

Ask them to show you the vehicle repair history to see if any shipment damage was repaired at the VPC.

Would you actually refuse delivery and have BMW reorder the car (which I'm sure they would refuse to do) if you found they had repaired shipping damage? VPC repairs I'm sure are considered the same as at the factory.

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

Would you actually refuse delivery and have BMW reorder the car (which I'm sure they would refuse to do) if you found they had repaired shipping damage? VPC repairs I'm sure are considered the same as at the factory.

Not true, if the car has been damaged you can try to pass it off without the customer's knowledge but if they catch it they can certainly turn down the car, hence a refundable deposit... The work doesn't have to be reported, so your right its still considered the same as having work done at the factory

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

Would you actually refuse delivery and have BMW reorder the car (which I'm sure they would refuse to do) if you found they had repaired shipping damage? VPC repairs I'm sure are considered the same as at the factory.

Shipping damage can range from a slight bump or scrape to more severe like having the off load driver crash the car (rare).

It's easy to ask for the repair report so you know if anything is embedded in the cars history that you will have to explain when you sell or trade it.

Originally Posted by laser

Shipping damage can range from a slight bump or scrape to more severe like having the off load driver crash the car (rare).

It's easy to ask for the repair report so you know if anything is embedded in the cars history that you will have to explain when you sell or trade it.

Would that actually be in the car's history? If it's repaired by BMW to be as good as new then delivered what difference does it make?

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

Would that actually be in the car's history? If it's repaired by BMW to be as good as new then delivered what difference does it make?

Yes it should be.

My F10 had a record of the fuel sensor replaced at the VPC and that was comforting to know since it was an issue with some early builds.

The manufacturing process is completed when the car leaves the production line and handed over to the shipper.

It's driven onto a car carrier if made in Germany to the port of Bremerhaven, driven off the car carrier, driven onto the ship, shipped across rolling seas to the US, driven off the ship to the VPC, then another truck. You get the picture.

It's pretty impressive that the subsequent issue / repair history is tacked so diligently in the cars record for the benefit of BMW and you as the first and future owners.

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

Would you actually refuse delivery and have BMW reorder the car (which I'm sure they would refuse to do) if you found they had repaired shipping damage? VPC repairs I'm sure are considered the same as at the factory.

Originally Posted by laser

Shipping damage can range from a slight bump or scrape to more severe like having the off load driver crash the car (rare).

It's easy to ask for the repair report so you know if anything is embedded in the cars history that you will have to explain when you sell or trade it.

I did refuse delivery and had my dealer reorder our X5 - moonroof had a pretty good scratch and there was some slight delivery damage to the rear bumper. I probably wouldn't have refused it if it was just the bumper, but there was no real way for them to repair the moonroof scratch. In college I worked at a dealership and believe me, crazy things can and do happen when the car goes from factory to dealer.

Originally Posted by Sphinx15

I did refuse delivery and had my dealer reorder our X5 - moonroof had a pretty good scratch and there was some slight delivery damage to the rear bumper. I probably wouldn't have refused it if it was just the bumper, but there was no real way for them to repair the moonroof scratch. In college I worked at a dealership and believe me, crazy things can and do happen when the car goes from factory to dealer.

Did they tell you these things were damaged when you went to get your car? Or did you see them yourself after doing an inspection?

Originally Posted by laser

Shipping damage can range from a slight bump or scrape to more severe like having the off load driver crash the car (rare).

It's easy to ask for the repair report so you know if anything is embedded in the cars history that you will have to explain when you sell or trade it.

I don't know if its still the same as in the past but they had to tell you if there was any damage that exceeded $500.00. Not all body damage is repaired at the VDC. Its done through you local dealer.Good luck
cheers
vern