Anyone who is seriously interested in purchasing a used car whether you're a car enthusiast like myself, or need it for daily driving to take you from Point A to Point B should read.
I came to this dealership (All in Auto Sales) on a Saturday afternoon, looking for a used 2008-2010 BMW E60 M5. Simply put, it's a 4 door luxury performance sedan with a V10 engine. Upon entering the dealership, I was greeted by a guy (I don't remember his name), who later accompanied me to test drive the 2008 M5, which had approximately 80,000miles, with three previous owners. The dealership was asking for $24,500 for the M5. Keep reading, it get's interesting.
Before the test drive, we were able to open all fours doors, inspect the engine bay, trunk, interior, exterior etc. So far, so good, we then proceeded to the test drive and 5minutes in, I noticed a problem. The car hesitated, and jerked back and forth uncomfortably upon accelerating and braking. Moreover, there were no engine lights on or symbols/signs that indicated any issues with the car. Any car that hesitates upon acceleration/deceleration can be scary, and can become a serious issue if not properly taken care of. For example, 1) The transmission can go out, which can be an expensive fix. 2) Your car will lose power substantially, as a result of the engine misfiring, which means harder acceleration to achieve desired speeds. Harder acceleration= Less fuel efficiency and harder wear and tear to your engine.
I asked the guy who was with me while test driving to see if anything was wrong with the M5. I was aware the Automated/Manual Sequential Manual Gear Box (SMG), was nearing its end, as these cars are notoriously known for excessive maintenances. I wanted to see if he was aware, or at least be honest with me, and inspect it together at a nearby bodyshop. Nope, didn't happen. He then told me to contact his boss, Ralph, the (General sales manager) who, to my surprise, later told me that the car was fine, and in good running condition with no problems. I was able to get the VIN (Vehicle identification number) and requested a Carfax vehicle history report. On the report, no major issues. (Sorry, I deleted the pictures on my phone on accident). This likely means that the previous owner of the M5, was aware, and knew about the issue, but decided to sell it to avoid paying potentially high cost in repairs. I'm talking $7,000 minimum including labor, parts since this is a high-end performance BMW M car. I do not mind, and am willing to take things into consideration as long as I know exactly what is wrong with it. However, Ralph failed to explain that issue adequately, telling me that the car was in good condition with no problems. I became very suspicious.
I understand that depending on the model, year, and make of all cars, each will present their own problems/issues. Had Ralph suggested taking the vehicle with me to a trusty independent BMW shop and thoroughly check the car, along with a pre-purchase inspection. I would feel more comfortable and be willing to purchase the car and drive it off the lot that same day. However, that didn't happen, and because of it, I give it one star. read more