Pre-Inspection Question

Hey everyone - I had my pre-inspection done recently out in NJ. I was given a form that shows what I currently would owe in excessive damage at lease-end.

My question is whether other dealerships would have to abide by that assessment?

Could I show up for my final inspection at a different dealership and assuming the vehicles condition is exactly the same, be told that I owe significantly more? Obviously I took detailed (time stamped) photos of my car immediately after the inspection to avoid this very issue, but you still never know.

I just dont want to be married to a single dealership, especially if I feel like that place is not really hungry for my business.

I can't forsee any reason why another center would assess an inspection any differently than another. Why not bring the pre-inspection form with you and your photos to the other center? They'll give it a once over just to be sure everything complies with the pre-inspection and you can be done. Naturally, if there's any extra wear and tear above what was previously noted, you'd be responsible. But you already knew that.

Not meaning to hijack, but on this topic, I didn't know you could return your lease to a dealer other than the one you leased it from. Because Adrian did not state otherwise, I assume this is okay?

Originally Posted by Flagpole Sitta

Not meaning to hijack, but on this topic, I didn't know you could return your lease to a dealer other than the one you leased it from. Because Adrian did not state otherwise, I assume this is okay?

Think it through. What if you moved to, say, Oregon. Would you expect to be required to drive the car to Florida?

The dealer doesn't own the car you lease, BMW does.

Originally Posted by Kamdog

Think it through. What if you moved to, say, Oregon. Would you expect to be required to drive the car to Florida?

Thanks for the attitute, Kamdog.

Thinking it through, I can't believe they allow customers to do this. This allows people like Davidus who dislike their inspection to shop around to other dealers to see if they don't notice something another dealer noticed on inspection. Now, if there are extenuating circumstances, like moving out of state, you could ask.

Regardless, I am glad to see I am wrong. This allows people who disliked their leasing process on their current vehicle to lease their next vehicle from someone else (like a board sponsor), and allow them to turn in their current lease to the new dealer. Nice.

Originally Posted by Flagpole Sitta

Not meaning to hijack, but on this topic, I didn't know you could return your lease to a dealer other than the one you leased it from. Because Adrian did not state otherwise, I assume this is okay?

You can return to any BMW dealer in the US so long as you call them first to assure they have room to accept vehicle. Some dealers are very small. I've returned all of my cars to various dealers due to a mix of not liking originating dealership and moving. The last two cars I've returned to same dealer.

Originally Posted by Flagpole Sitta

Thanks for the attitute, Kamdog.

Thinking it through, I can't believe they allow customers to do this. This allows people like Davidus who dislike their inspection to shop around to other dealers to see if they don't notice something another dealer noticed on inspection. Now, if there are extenuating circumstances, like moving out of state, you could ask.

Regardless, I am glad to see I am wrong. This allows people who disliked their leasing process on their current vehicle to lease their next vehicle from someone else (like a board sponsor), and allow them to turn in their current lease to the new dealer. Nice.

Interesting point (about shopping around), but thats why Im wondering whether that first pre-inspection is official or dealer specific. I have no interest in shopping around, to some degree Im satisfied with their assessment, even though I think its ridiculously high (The $450 charge per panel is black-and-white unfortunately).

My concern is that the next assessment will be higher.

A lease is a purchase in another way. You can shop your owned car around for the best trade-in, why not a lease? If you could not return the car to any dealer you want, you are stuck with what your original dealer says, take it or leave it. That isn't very customer oriented.

No issue returning a BMW to a different dealer. Just be sure to give them a call and make an appointment.

In theory, dings are dings, scratches are scratches, rim damage is rim damage, etc. etc. Damage does or does not exceed the criteria that BMW sets for being charged.

That being said, in personal experience with our lease returns, there is leeway depending on whether you are buying another BMW from where you are returning the car. I would not call it shopping our lease returns but I have had different pre-lease inspection quotes provided to me

Thats not to say the dealer wont have to pay to have it fixed but they may be willing to eat some rim damage for example in order not to lose your new car business. Then again, their not going to forgo significant damage.

This is only my 2 cents, its usually worth even less.

Originally Posted by davidus1

Interesting point (about shopping around), but thats why Im wondering whether that first pre-inspection is official or dealer specific. I have no interest in shopping around, to some degree Im satisfied with their assessment, even though I think its ridiculously high (The $450 charge per panel is black-and-white unfortunately).

My concern is that the next assessment will be higher.

Its a pre-inspection, its not official AT ALL. its what you would be billed if you turned in the car right then and there. you cant lock them into anything based on that, just the same as they cant lock you into the damages on the car in the case you fix them before final turn in. Its done as a courtesy to let you know what you would owe right then. you then have a chance to fix the damage or let them bill you plus any new damage.

the final assessment at turn in is what matters.

if you incur more damage before the final inspection, or if they missed something, why wouldn't/shouldnt it go higher?

unless you turn the car in at time of inspection, anything can happen. someone can key every panel on the car 5 minutes after the pre-inspection, they wouldnt have to stand by the assessment.

i'm not sure why this is such a confusing subject-- the final inspection is done at lease turn in. you CANT lock in the level of damage two months prior.

Originally Posted by davidus1

Could I show up for my final inspection at a different dealership and assuming the vehicles condition is exactly the same, be told that I owe significantly more? Obviously I took detailed (time stamped) photos of my car immediately after the inspection to avoid this very issue, but you still never know.

Give an example of what would be differently interpretted by 2 dealers? The usage guidelines are pretty straightforward.

If you're thinking the pre-inspection dealer was going to give you some "freebies", and then the second dealer would honor those, you should consider this a gamble that you are likely to lose.

If you bring the car to another dealer other than original place you leased, i understand that a third party inspection is required( i read this somehwere here on bimmerfest) whereas if you return it to your original dealer, that is not ncessary and most likely you will get preferential treatment at originating dealer even if you didnt buy or lease next bmw there because they will hope you bring it there for service. So if you return the car to another dealer other than orignal place you got it, its subject to ( or maybe even required) to do the 3rd party inspection. That is what i heard.

Originally Posted by chrischeung

Give an example of what would be differently interpretted by 2 dealers? The usage guidelines are pretty straightforward.

If you're thinking the pre-inspection dealer was going to give you some "freebies", and then the second dealer would honor those, you should consider this a gamble that you are likely to lose.

Well the pre-inspection dealer explicitly stated that my curb rash on my rims was not something that I would be charged for...What if the next one says it is. That could be a ton of money for 4 rims, especially when the extra 2 months could have allowed me to get them fixed for much cheaper.

Hello, as others have stated, the only assessment that has no leeway in it, is the final inspection.

With respect to curb rash, if it's light, you should be fine. If the wheels are damaged to the point that the balance of the wheel could be affected, the answer would be quite different though.

Originally Posted by davidus1

My question is whether other dealerships would have to abide by that assessment?

Originally Posted by BMWofBloomfield

Hello, as others have stated, the only assessment that has no leeway in it, is the final inspection.

With respect to curb rash, if it's light, you should be fine. If the wheels are damaged to the point that the balance of the wheel could be affected, the answer would be quite different though.

Per guidelines - Cracks or structural bends in rims (Exceeding Guidelines)