I think i've found the car for me - My mechanic and I took a look at an 89 535i and I really like it, but the seller doesn't have any records. I just checked Car fax and it seems like a bit of a waste if I already like the car enough to buy it, but I didn't realize how expensive it was when I told the seller I'd check the records and get back to him. I want to be sure I'm not buying a lemon but I also have to be a penny pincher :(

:help is anybody feeling extra christmas"e"??

Signed - poor student

Carfax isn't going to tell you anything about how the car was maintained. All it will tell you is possible accident damage, flood damage, etc... It will also tell you when the car was registered and where, emissions testing.

Carfax isn't a terrible thing, but not every state reports (or has to) info on car sales, so running a Carfax on a car is an extra piece of mind, but pretty useless in all actuality. If your mechanic digs the car and thinks it's clean enough to buy, that tells you the current condition of the car. If the car was a POS in the past and it's good now, be happy it's good now.

Seriously, a lemon? The car's still on the road after almost 19 years, how much of a lemon could it be after all that time?

Thanks for the insight and pwnership - No worries if no one can help me out I'll probably risk it anyway:buttrock

Another idea would be to take the VIN to the local dealer. If they are accomodating (and we all know that not all dealers are) they will print the service history. Gives you an idea if it was stealer maintained and for how long, recall status etc.

Another idea would be to take the VIN to the local dealer. If they are accomodating (and we all know that not all dealers are) they will print the service history. Gives you an idea if it was stealer maintained and for how long, recall status etc.

Having the Vin does help if the person maintained the car at the dealer. Carfax is a rip in my opinion because if the car is in front of you and a mechanic has checked it out, the only thing carfax can tell you is mileage, insurance claim and registration information.

By the way, carfax isn't a legal document or anything, just an expensive FYI for your own comfort. NOTHING beats having the car, seeing the title and in a worse case, paying someone to do a complete inspection of the car.

Are you worried that the car is a salvage or theft vehicle with a title flip - flop job? If so get the carfax. If you really trust your mechanic, go with your heart and pull the trigger.