[LSX5]

Anyone running carfax reports?

[Janjohn]

I used Carfax to find and check on CPO X3s before buying our new X3 from the dealer. Anytime we were looking at used vehicles we read the Carfax reports thoroughly. Carfax can’t catch everything so also having a mechanical inspection keeps things on the up and up. IMHO.

[Zig613]

In my area the vast majority of the dealers selling a used vehicle will provide a potential buyer with a copy of the CarFax. Most private sellers on AutoTrader don’t, at least they are not providing the info in the listing. Personally I would buy a used vehicle without reviewing a copy. As noted above it wouldn’t catch all the info (good & bad) but it is all part of data collection when buying a used vehicle.

[Westside Guy]

One should always carefully check the car for repairs/ possible body damage in case the owner of the vehicle didn't report an accident to their insurance company and told their body shop not to report it.

[Janjohn]

I use the Carfax app for browsing through used Porsches (costs nothing to look). You can select things like “one owner” “no accidents” and mileage. In Mecum Auctions the auctioneer says “clean CarFax”

[///Joost]

I might misinterpret his question, but I think he's asking for someone to run a Carfax report for him for free...

[Janjohn]

Originally Posted by ///Joost

I might misinterpret his question, but I think he's asking for someone to run a Carfax report for him for free...

Maybe I’m wrong but I put the CarFax app on my iPad and can run free searches and get preliminary reports on a VIN number. If I’m buying a used vehicle, I’d expect to see a full CarFax report before putting any money “on the table”.

[LSX5]

I am buying from private seller just wanted to know if anyone on here would run a vin for me, willing to pay for carfax just don't want to pay what carfax wants for a single report.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by ///Joost

I might misinterpret his question, but I think he's asking for someone to run a Carfax report for him for free...

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!

[Janjohn]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!

Ding Ding Agreed. If it were me, but it’s not, I’d ask the private seller to provide one before I even bother to go see it. The prospective buyer in a private sale has all the leverage.

[gjk76]

Originally Posted by Janjohn

Ding Ding Agreed. If it were me, but it’s not, I’d ask the private seller to provide one before I even bother to go see it. The prospective buyer in a private sale has all the leverage.

In some instances, they may provide one, but it might not be current. When I purchased mine in November 2025, the seller had one from 6 mos. earlier and wasn't going to pay for another. I ended up just getting the report regardless. FWIW, the cost of a report is cheap compared to the cost of the car.

[JABCAT]

Take Carfax reports with a grain of salt. Had a lot of trouble trading in a Jeep Wrangler we owned from new & could't figure out why we were getting really low-balled on trade-in value until one dealer showed us the Carfax said it had major collision damage.

Turns out several years earlier my wife was clipped by a car who ran a red light. There was no damage to the Jeep at all, not even a scratch, but the Cop who filed the report filed such a horrendously incorrect report. There were 3 vehicles involved & at different times in the report our vehicle was listed as vehicle 1, vehicle 2 or vehicle 3. The color was also wrong & the damage report was wrong.

In the beginning when it was listed correctly as vehicle 2 it stated no damage. However, when it was listed incorrectly as vehicle 1 it was listed has having front end & rear end damage.

Carfax wouldn't amend the report and the Police Dept. wouldn't amend their report. Thankfully, I keep very detailed records of all my vehicles and was able to sell private party for $15k more than what I was being offered on trade.

Carfax also doesn't show DIY maintenance, unless the owners have an account and enter it in.

[e30 4 life!]

I use this website all the time...$7 for Carfax or autocheck
https://www.vinsandcars.com/

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by e30 4 life!

I use this website all the time...$7 for Carfax or autocheck
https://www.vinsandcars.com/

Thanks for the link, I just ordered a report for my Z4 and it only cost me $6.61 instead of the normal $45 that CarFax charges!

[BavarianPretzel]

Stopped trusting CarFax after I found no mention of a $20000 crash repair on my own Mercedes a few years ago. (Performed by a Mercedes dealer’s own body shop the only worked on Mercedes exclusively)

[vic07]

that`s only if seller is desperate for money ...otherwise, I don`t see why

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by BavarianPretzel

Stopped trusting CarFax after I found no mention of a $20000 crash repair on my own Mercedes a few years ago. (Performed by a Mercedes dealer’s own body shop the only worked on Mercedes exclusively)

Did you disclose the accident when you sold the Mercedes?

[jkoral]

$7 is pretty good, I've always used members here on bimmerpost for $5 or $6 reports, such as https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1915702

[TimmyTurbos]

Originally Posted by LSX5

I am buying from private seller just wanted to know if anyone on here would run a vin for me, willing to pay for carfax just don't want to pay what carfax wants for a single report.

1 - GET A PPI at a BMW dealership. If they won't see that through, WALK AWAY.
It will cost you a couple hundred bucks but worth every penny.

Also if you're balking at paying for a carfax- you may have a rude awakening driving an M car my friend. You gotta pay to play.

[Altamate]

I payed $200 about 25 years ago for an inspection on a boat I didn’t end up buying and $100-150 a few times over the years and more recently for car inspections, carfax(s) and registration checks on vehicles I didn’t end up buying.

It was all money well spent.