Should I buy Car & Driver's former long term test M3?

[chemi19]

Hello everyone,

I am looking to buy my first M3. this is a car that I have wanted for over 15 years and after a lot of hard work I am finally able to afford one, used that is.

I have found a 2015 M3 which seems a bit too good to be true price wise, the car has all the options I want and a few more. It is being sold by a BMW Dealership but it is not CPO. When I asked about the car being CPO they said it was not done due to the miles on the car 40k+.

Below is what the CARFAX says:

Owner 1
Purchased: 2014
Type: Corporate fleet
Where: New Jersey
Est. miles/year: 17,221/yr
Est. length owned: 6/6/14 - 12/26/16 (2 yrs. 6 mo.)

Date: Mileage: Source: Comments:
06/06/2014 10 New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Woodcliff Lake, NJ
Title #RV20141570847 Title issued or updated
First owner reported
Titled or registered as corporate fleet vehicle
Vehicle color noted as Blue

02/04/2015 9,368 Suburban Collection
Ann Arbor, MI
suburbancollection.c
om Maintenance inspection completed
Exhaust system checked
Steering/suspension checked
Tire condition and pressure checked

03/25/2015 12,791 Suburban Collection
Ann Arbor, MI
suburbancollection.c
om Maintenance inspection completed
Oil and filter changed
04/24/2015 14,842 Suburban Collection
suburbancollection.c
om Maintenance inspection completed
Tire condition and pressure checked
Tire(s) replaced


07/29/2015 24,622 Suburban Collection
suburbancollection.c
om Maintenance inspection completed
Brakes checked
Cabin air filter replaced/cleaned
Exhaust system checked
Oil and filter changed
08/21/2015 26,244 BMW of Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI
734-663-3309
bmwofannarbor.com Maintenance inspection completed
Exhaust system checked
Steering/suspension checked

09/24/2015 28,707 Suburban Collection
Ann Arbor, MI
suburbancollection.c
om Maintenance inspection completed
Brakes checked
Steering/suspension checked
Tire condition and pressure checked
Wheel bearing(s)/hub(s) replaced

12/30/2015 36,398 BMW of Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI
734-663-3309
bmwofannarbor.com Maintenance inspection completed
Brakes checked
Oil and filter changed
Spark plug(s) replaced
Spark plugs cleaned and gap adjusted
Wiper(s) replaced

12/26/2016 44,077 Auto Auction
Eastern Region Listed as a manufacturer vehicle
Vehicle sold at auction
--------------------------------------------------------
Would a "corporate fleet" vehicle be kept for so long?
Could this be a buyback or Performance Center track car?

Is this worth the risk?

Below are the options on the car:
-Ceramic Brakes
-Lighting Package
-Executive Package
-Adaptive Suspension

44K Miles $51k

I would appreciate someone giving me their perspective on the vehicle.
Thanks in advance

[AchtungF80]

Wheel bearing(s)/hub(s) replaced

Too many burnouts/powerslides/launch control attempts

[brian30tw]

Not sure how helpful this is, or if you already knew this, but it looks like "Corporate Fleet" is used by Carfax for any vehicle that was leased, and since so many BMWs are leased, perhaps that's all there is to it in this case as well:

http://www.autotrader.com/car-tips/c...defined-213357

From original purchase in June 2014 to auction in December 2016 would be a 30 month lease, or perhaps it was turned in 6 months early on a pull-ahead program off an original 36-month lease.

[brian30tw]

I will add: it's weird that there were 36,000 miles on it the first 18 months, then only 8,000 more the next 12 months with no additional service records.

[davem3fan]

I'd bet it was the Car and Driver Long Term Test Vehicle, which was indeed Blue.

[frankiebones]

Originally Posted by achtungE30

Wheel bearing(s)/hub(s) replaced

Too many burnouts/powerslides/launch control attempts

I have done very few burnouts/powerslides and I have a 6MT and dont launch often. Still, my bearings needed to be replaced on my back left wheel at 11k miles.

[chemi19]

Originally Posted by davem3fan

I'd bet it was the Car and Driver Long Term Test Vehicle, which was indeed Blue.

Thank you for the hint. I am convinced this is correct!
I just checked the Car and Driver website and the services match perfectly!!

So... Should I buy this car?

[KevinM]

Doesn't look too scary to me, but it's always buyer beware with used cars. I'd definitely make sure it had the 1200 mile break-in service - the dealer should be able to confirm that. If this did not occur I would not buy the car.

Personally, I'd ask the dealer to CPO it and pay the cost. BMW can CPO cars up to 60,000 miles (15,000 miles for "CPO Elite," whatever that is).

http://cpo.bmwusa.com/?from=/Standar...verviewRD.aspx

GL

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by KevinM

Doesn't look too scary to me, but it's always buyer beware with used cars. I'd definitely make sure it had the 1200 mile break-in service - the dealer should be able to confirm that. If this did not occur I would not buy the car.

Personally, I'd ask the dealer to CPO it and pay the cost. BMW can CPO cars up to 60,000 miles (15,000 miles for "CPO Elite," whatever that is).

http://cpo.bmwusa.com/?from=/Standar...verviewRD.aspx

GL

I agree with this - at least bring it up to see if they come up with some other reason not to CPO it.

I'd get someone knowledgeable (and independent) to inspect the CCBs / weigh the rotors. You aren't going to want to pay to replace those anything soon. The volume of miles may imply mostly highway driving but hard to really know.

[alz0rz]

Originally Posted by chemi19

Thank you for the hint. I am convinced this is correct!
I just checked the Car and Driver website and the services match perfectly!!

So... Should I buy this car?

'

No way would I buy a car that was used and abused by a media publication....

[AchtungF80]

Originally Posted by alz0rz

'

No way would I buy a car that was used and abused by a media publication....

This.

[RickFLM4]

I missed that post. Would also not buy. Seems like it has to be that car. Service records line up too perfectly not to be.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...wrap-up-review

[frankiebones]

No way would I purchase this car, especially after the reviews they gave it. they treated this car with nothing but disdain. it was not a well loved or treated car.

[bd307]

Nope look elsewhere.

[bmrwrld]

Originally Posted by chemi19

Hello everyone,

I am looking to buy my first M3. this is a car that I have wanted for over 15 years and after a lot of hard work I am finally able to afford one, used that is.

I have found a 2015 M3 which seems a bit too good to be true price wise, the car has all the options I want and a few more. It is being sold by a BMW Dealership but it is not CPO. When I asked about the car being CPO they said it was not done due to the miles on the car 40k+.

Below is what the CARFAX says:

Owner 1
Purchased: 2014
Type: Corporate fleet
Where: New Jersey
Est. miles/year: 17,221/yr
Est. length owned: 6/6/14 - 12/26/16 (2 yrs. 6 mo.)

Date: Mileage: Source: Comments:
06/06/2014 10 New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Woodcliff Lake, NJ
Title #RV20141570847 Title issued or updated
First owner reported
Titled or registered as corporate fleet vehicle
Vehicle color noted as Blue

02/04/2015 9,368 Suburban Collection
Ann Arbor, MI
suburbancollection.c
om Maintenance inspection completed
Exhaust system checked
Steering/suspension checked
Tire condition and pressure checked

03/25/2015 12,791 Suburban Collection
Ann Arbor, MI
suburbancollection.c
om Maintenance inspection completed
Oil and filter changed
04/24/2015 14,842 Suburban Collection
suburbancollection.c
om Maintenance inspection completed
Tire condition and pressure checked
Tire(s) replaced


07/29/2015 24,622 Suburban Collection
suburbancollection.c
om Maintenance inspection completed
Brakes checked
Cabin air filter replaced/cleaned
Exhaust system checked
Oil and filter changed
08/21/2015 26,244 BMW of Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI
734-663-3309
bmwofannarbor.com Maintenance inspection completed
Exhaust system checked
Steering/suspension checked

09/24/2015 28,707 Suburban Collection
Ann Arbor, MI
suburbancollection.c
om Maintenance inspection completed
Brakes checked
Steering/suspension checked
Tire condition and pressure checked
Wheel bearing(s)/hub(s) replaced

12/30/2015 36,398 BMW of Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI
734-663-3309
bmwofannarbor.com Maintenance inspection completed
Brakes checked
Oil and filter changed
Spark plug(s) replaced
Spark plugs cleaned and gap adjusted
Wiper(s) replaced

12/26/2016 44,077 Auto Auction
Eastern Region Listed as a manufacturer vehicle
Vehicle sold at auction
--------------------------------------------------------
Would a "corporate fleet" vehicle be kept for so long?
Could this be a buyback or Performance Center track car?

Is this worth the risk?

Below are the options on the car:
-Ceramic Brakes
-Lighting Package
-Executive Package
-Adaptive Suspension

44K Miles $51k

I would appreciate someone giving me their perspective on the vehicle.
Thanks in advance

Some times to much information makes you over think things. It's good, well broke in and nicely maintained. I'd be worried with that mileage and nothing done to it. I give it the two up.

[alexc93]

Avoid like the plague....

[mike@x-ph.com]

I wouldn't get it

[E92 M Sport]

0% chance I'd buy it.

[neilum]

I don't see the upside here. Move on, there are more fish in the sea.

[chemi19]

Thank you everyone for your help.
I guess the only real attractive part of the car is the price with the options.
About the only M3 with all those options that I have found in that price range.
The only one I don't really care for is the CCB

[RobC2]

I would advise against it. It may be less than similar cars, but it is still a lot of money. Too much to gamble with.

[alz0rz]

Originally Posted by chemi19

Thank you everyone for your help.
I guess the only real attractive part of the car is the price with the options.
About the only M3 with all those options that I have found in that price range.
The only one I don't really care for is the CCB

If they beat on it enough, CCB will need servicing to the tune of almost $10,000.

Trust us all.. look elsewhere. Do NOT talk yourself into this, especially if you are on such a tight budget.