Should I buy the lemon car

[yishang]

I got a good deal on 2006 325i, low mileage, nice package, drives great, still under 50k/4 years warranty. The issue is when I run carfax vehicle history report, it turns out this car is a manufacturer buyback lemon car. The defect is described as vehicle battery permanent failure/Battery cable incorrect connection. It also had brake booster occasional malfunction and microfilter replacement serviced recently.

As I know nothing about vehicle, and really want a hassle-free car. Should I buy this car? The dealer told me I shouldn’t worry about since the defect was fixed, and the car is still under warranty. Should I take the risk?

[mryakan]

The problem is that the car will be very hard to sell even if in excellent condition. Unless you plan to run the car to ground, I'd steer away, the lemon title will haunt you forever.

[Grumpa72]

Two thoughts:
1. if the problem was fixed, why is it a buyback? Consider future sales.

Then, on the flip side of the coin:

2. if the problem is really fixed, ask the dealer for the CPO warranty - 7 years/100000 mile warranty and specifically to include the battery and other items mentioned in the buyback. If the dealer will give you that warranty, then I would consider buying the car.

Gary

[yishang]

Two thoughts:
1. if the problem was fixed, why is it a buyback? Consider future sales.

Then, on the flip side of the coin:

2. if the problem is really fixed, ask the dealer for the CPO warranty - 7 years/100000 mile warranty and specifically to include the battery and other items mentioned in the buyback. If the dealer will give you that warranty, then I would consider buying the car.

Gary

Thanks for the response. The car is sold in non-BMW dealer, they will offer extended warranty, but not CPO warranty. Can I take to BMW dealer to have certified?

[Emory]

Thanks for the response. The car is sold in non-BMW dealer, they will offer extended warranty, but not CPO warranty. Can I take to BMW dealer to have certified?

No. A Certified Pre-Owned Car is a spotless, cream of the crop lease return or trade-in that a BMW dealer has directly gotten back. A CPO car is a big benefit to the dealer - because they are listed as "CPO", they can ask, and get, a higher resale price than a non-CPO car.

The car you are looking at is now outside the loop of the BMW dealer, and has a lemon tag - it cannot, and can never be, rehabilitated as a "CPO" car.

[LuvMyE92]

The dealer told me I shouldn’t worry about since the defect was fixed, and the car is still under warranty. Should I take the risk?

Absolutely not.

I know - I know - a used car dealer would never lie to you. I'm sure it's just fine.:rolleyes

[ss109]

When you sell the car, it might as well have a Salvage title.

You'll never be able to get rid of it for a decent price.

[335e92tx]

I bought a 'buyback'. There is no reference on the title that it has been salvaged or any other term. The NEW state the vehicle is titled for has a entry in their 'records' that the car was purchased back by the manufacturer to avoid the lemon law. Does this matter ? Well not to me, bc I knew that already. Will it matter to someone else I sell it to? Well I doubt it, bc I fully intend on letting them know that it had a problem with the highpressure fp (well documented no less). I think it should depend on why it was 'bought back' before you can just universally say its bad or not.

[psucelticXI]

I read this thread title, and the following analogy came to mind. Would you have unprotected sex with a girl you know had STDs?

[Georgere]

where can i find a lemon car? i'd like to consider that purchase...

but no - thanks for the std girl :)

[psucelticXI]

where can i find a lemon car? i'd like to consider that purchase...

but no - thanks for the std girl :)

You should also be saying no thanks to the lemon car... lol my point exactly.

[hoog23]

I've seen some 335's that must be lemon buybacks (fuel pump?) that are priced really low.

[psucelticXI]

They're priced really low for a reason hoog....

[Grumpa72]

I read this thread title, and the following analogy came to mind. Would you have unprotected sex with a girl you know had STDs?

That is the lamest analogy I have ever read. :lol