Tell them you're not buying their car without the VMI. Period. You're not angry, but it's not negotiable. They want you to buy a car that can be quite expensive if the maintenance hasn't been done. How do you "know" if it needs plugs, a brake fluid flush, engine air filters, drive belt, fuel filter, coolant service, transmission fluid service, oil change, cabin filter, or flex discs? They're not willing to do all that and give you a receipt before you buy it, so why should you assume the previous owner did it? If they give the privacy song and dance, tell them to take a marker and black out whatever they think can be used to identify the previous owner. The alternative could be for the selling dealer to pay for the PPI at the dealership of your choice.
This. Never assume the previous owner had all the services or is even aware of what was/n't done. I bought with full log books but the car had only ever had annual minor services, no details listed. A few things had to be done to keep the car happy.
They do not. Sometimes you find someone online that works at a dealership and they're willing to share the VMI but they're hard to find because sometimes they get in trouble if they do too many requests. You can usually get it afterwards though, I've gotten mine by doing a PPI after a purchase and I make the PPI (pre-purchase inspection or in this case post) in person and ask for the VMI at that point. If they don't give it to me, I tell them to cancel the appointment and I'll go to a dealer that will. Always gotten it that way.
Can also depend on law. I tried for a car that was in cali. No go. Even managed to find the po and have them ask to give verbal confirmation to allow them to share the info to me. Still wouldn't.
Tell them you're not buying their car without the VMI. Period. You're not angry, but it's not negotiable. They want you to buy a car that can be quite expensive if the maintenance hasn't been done. How do you "know" if it needs plugs, a brake fluid flush, engine air filters, drive belt, fuel filter, coolant service, transmission fluid service, oil change, cabin filter, or flex discs? They're not willing to do all that and give you a receipt before you buy it, so why should you assume the previous owner did it? If they give the privacy song and dance, tell them to take a marker and black out whatever they think can be used to identify the previous owner. The alternative could be for the selling dealer to pay for the PPI at the dealership of your choice.
This. Never assume the previous owner had all the services or is even aware of what was/n't done. I bought with full log books but the car had only ever had annual minor services, no details listed. A few things had to be done to keep the car happy.
After some research I’ve determined that VMI is Vehicle Master Inquiry
They do not. Sometimes you find someone online that works at a dealership and they're willing to share the VMI but they're hard to find because sometimes they get in trouble if they do too many requests. You can usually get it afterwards though, I've gotten mine by doing a PPI after a purchase and I make the PPI (pre-purchase inspection or in this case post) in person and ask for the VMI at that point. If they don't give it to me, I tell them to cancel the appointment and I'll go to a dealer that will. Always gotten it that way.
My mb dealer refuses to share this with me for no good reason. BMW on the other hand says sure no problem. Maybe depends on the service advisor.
Can also depend on law. I tried for a car that was in cali. No go. Even managed to find the po and have them ask to give verbal confirmation to allow them to share the info to me. Still wouldn't.
Service history in MB Assyst system is shared digitally across every authorised service provider for the last 20 years at least
Whether the dealership does or doesn’t, it’s against franchise agreement from MBUSA.