searching for a 09 0r10 328xi

I am starting to look for a used 328xi and was wondering if there have been any major issues and/or complaints. I am not sure if it is better to go with a CPO or not. There must be a reason why some cars are CPO and others are not. Are these reasons anything major? I will have the car privately inspected also. Any advice would be much appreciated.

As I understand it, CPO means they've never been sold outside of a BMW dealership (so lease returns or trade-ins).

So not necessarily functionally better? The main reason why I am asking this is that i have seen some 328's for sale not at a dealer for a cheaper price. Paranoia factor is playing in here a bit, but you know what they say "you get what you pay for". I guess if the carfax comes up clean and the mechanic gives it the ok, should I even care if it is CPO

Originally Posted by the kidd

So not necessarily functionally better? The main reason why I am asking this is that i have seen some 328's for sale not at a dealer for a cheaper price. Paranoia factor is playing in here a bit, but you know what they say "you get what you pay for". I guess if the carfax comes up clean and the mechanic gives it the ok, should I even care if it is CPO

Although it's not as extensive as the OEM guarantee, the CPO does include a warranty.

My '07 328i wagon was purchased as a CPO in 2010 with about 30k miles and was in virtually perfect condition including new OEM tires (a $1,000+ item). While still under the original warranty it developed an electrical problem ultimately requiring two alternators and a new IBS unit - all at no cost to me. Now that it is out of the OEM warranty, I've again been getting spurious "low battery" warnings and the Comfort Access unlocks the car only intermittently, even though an electrical check showed the battery & charging system to be OK. It will go in to the dealer tomorrow and I've been assured by my SA that (other than a bad battery), the work will be covered by my CPO warranty and I will receive the customary loaner for as long as it takes them to fix the car.

So I'm a believer in the CPO, even if it costs a bit extra.

Tom

Originally Posted by Tom K.

Although it's not as extensive as the OEM guarantee, the CPO does include a warranty.

My '07 328i wagon was purchased as a CPO in 2010 with about 30k miles and was in virtually perfect condition including new OEM tires (a $1,000+ item). While still under the original warranty it developed an electrical problem ultimately requiring two alternators and a new IBS unit - all at no cost to me. Now that it is out of the OEM warranty, I've again been getting spurious "low battery" warnings and the Comfort Access unlocks the car only intermittently, even though an electrical check showed the battery & charging system to be OK. It will go in to the dealer tomorrow and I've been assured by my SA that (other than a bad battery), the work will be covered by my CPO warranty and I will receive the customary loaner for as long as it takes them to fix the car.

So I'm a believer in the CPO, even if it costs a bit extra.

Tom

So should I go CPO? I may even go with a 2011 328xdrive since the the new models are now in and a may be able to score a killer deal on one. Decisions, decisions

Originally Posted by the kidd

So should I go CPO? I may even go with a 2011 328xdrive since the the new models are now in and a may be able to score a killer deal on one. Decisions, decisions

What you really need to do is ask the BMW dealer to see the "INTERNAL SERVICE REPORTS" These are confidential internal documents that show ALL work done on the BMW (Unless the owner took it to an Indy shop which why would he with the 4 year coverage) at the dealer. So it will be a much clearer picture of the care the car got then the carfax.

Originally Posted by the kidd

So not necessarily functionally better? The main reason why I am asking this is that i have seen some 328's for sale not at a dealer for a cheaper price. Paranoia factor is playing in here a bit, but you know what they say "you get what you pay for". I guess if the carfax comes up clean and the mechanic gives it the ok, should I even care if it is CPO

The Carfax is not an all seeing, all knowing kind of check. There have been many examples of a clean carfax and still finding issues later. Personally, I would be hesitant to buy a BMW from a non BMW dealer, and only a little less hesitant if it wasn't CPO'ed.

Luckily I have a neighbor that owns an auto body shop. I think ( CPO or not) I will just take it to him prior to my purchase. I just read a nightmare story on this board about someone who bought a used 2011 3 series with 5k and come to find out it had been reprinted. I don't want to end up with that kind of hassle

Spell check. Repainted. And the car was "clean"