Rebuilt/Reconstructed Title
A Rebuilt/Reconstructed vehicle is a salvage vehicle that has been repaired and restored to operation. These vehicles are often severely damaged before they are rebuilt and refurbished parts are typically used during reconstruction. In most states, an inspection of the vehicle is required before the vehicle is allowed to return to the road.
Manufacturer Buyback or Lemon Title
A DMV or a state agency marks an official document or issues a Manufacturer Buyback/Lemon title when a vehicle has been repurchased by the manufacturer. Not all states issue manufacturer buyback titles and the specific requirements for a lemon law vehicle varies by state.
Odometer Rollback
If a more recent odometer reading is less than an older reading, then the odometer may have been tampered with and "rolled back".
Manufacturer Recall
Automobile manufacturers issue recall notices to inform owners of car defects that have come to the manufacturer's attention. Recalls also suggest improvements that can be made to improve the safety of a particular vehicle. Most manufacturer recalls can be repaired at no cost to you.
Basic Warranty
Most manufacturers offer a basic warranty for new vehicles. These warranties vary by manufacturer and typically last for a certain amount of time and/or a set number of miles.
Not Actual Mileage Title
When the seller certifies, under the Federal Odometer Act, that the odometer reading does not reflect the vehicle's actual mileage. This may occur because the odometer was tampered with, broken, or replaced.
Junk Title
A Junk Title is issued on a vehicle damaged to the extent that the cost of repairing the vehicle exceeds ~ 75% of its pre-damage value. This damage threshold may vary by state. The majority of states use this title to indicate that a vehicle is not road worthy and cannot be titled again. Some states treat Junk titles the same as Salvage.
Loss Due To Fire Title
The vehicle sustained major damage due to fire. In most states, fire damage titles are issued when the cost of repairing the vehicle for safe operation exceeds its fair market value.
Exceeds Mechanical Limits Title
A vehicle with a 5-digit odometer cannot accurately track mileage after 99,999 miles because the odometer rolls over. This title is the result of a seller certifying under the Federal Odometer Act, that the odometer reading EXCEEDS MECHANICAL LIMITS of the odometer.
Structural / Frame Damage
In most cases, a vehicle is inspected for structural or frame damage, depending on the body design, after an accident or other incident. All levels of accidents from minor to severe can cause structural / frame damage and in most cases it can be repaired.
Airbag Deployment
Occurs when the driver, passenger or side airbag has been used or deployed during a crash or other incident. If an airbag has been deployed, it must be replaced by a qualified technician. Have this car inspected by a mechanic prior to purchase.
Salvage Title
A Salvage Title is issued on a vehicle damaged to the extent that the cost of repairing the vehicle exceeds ~ 75% of its pre-damage value. This damage threshold may vary by state. Some states treat Junk titles the same as Salvage but the majority use this title to indicate that a vehicle is not road worthy and cannot be titled again in that state. The following eleven States also use Salvage titles to identify stolen vehicles - AZ, FL, GA, IL, MD, MN, NJ, NM, NY, OK and OR.
Total Loss
An insurance or fleet company declares a vehicle a total loss when a claim exceeds ~ 75% of its pre-damage value or if the vehicle is stolen and not recovered. This damage threshold varies by company. These companies typically take possession and obtain the title. Not all total loss vehicles result in a DMV-reported branded title, like a Salvage or Junk title. See the glossary for more information.
Accident / Damage Indicator
Various events could indicate an accident or damage in a vehicle's history, such as: salvage auction, fire damage, police-reported accident, crash test vehicle, damage disclosure, collision repair facility and automotive recycler records. See the glossary for more information.
Hail Damage Title
The vehicle sustained major damage due to hail. In most states, hail damage titles are issued when the cost of repairing the vehicle for safe operation exceeds its fair market value.
Flood Damage Title
States issue flood titles when a vehicle has been in a flood or has received extensive water damage.
Standard Equipment
Power Windows, Power Steering, Air Conditioning, AM / FM Cassette, Power Brakes, 6-digit Odometer
Safety Options
4 wheel ABS, Dual air bags front and sides/active (manual) belts
CARFAX Vehicle History Report
1998 BMW M3
VIN: WBSCD9323WEE08048
SEDAN 4 DR
3.2L L6 PFI DOHC 24V
REAR WHEEL DRIVE
Standard Equipment | Safety Options

Accident/damage reported
Accident / Damage reported
3 or more previous owners
Previous owners
Registered as a personal vehicle
Personal vehicle
Service information available
Service records available
Vehicle history information available
Detailed records available
Last reported odometer reading/mileage
Last reported odometer reading
The CARFAX Xpert
This CARFAX Vehicle History Report is based only on information supplied to CARFAX and available as of 11/22/09 at 9:51 AM (EST). Other information about this vehicle, including problems, may not have been reported to CARFAX. Use this report as one important tool, along with a vehicle inspection and test drive, to make a better decision about your next used car.

Ownership History

The number of owners is estimated
Owners 1-2 Owner 3 Owner 4
Year purchased 1997  2004  2006 
Type of owner Personal Personal Personal
Estimated length of ownership 7 years  1 yr. 8 mo.  2 yrs. 4 mo. 
Owned in the following states/provinces New Jersey  North Carolina  North Carolina, Texas 
Estimated miles driven per year 16,790/yr --- 13,870/yr
Last reported odometer reading 113,438   128,994   168,746  

Title History

CARFAX guarantees the information in this section
Owners 1-2 Owner 3 Owner 4
Salvage | Junk | Rebuilt | Fire | Flood | Hail | Lemon Guaranteed
No Problem
Guaranteed
No Problem
Guaranteed
No Problem
Not Actual Mileage | Exceeds Mechanical Limits Guaranteed
No Problem
Guaranteed
No Problem
Guaranteed
No Problem
GUARANTEED - None of these major title problems were reported by a state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). If you find that any of these title problems were reported by a DMV and not included in this report, CARFAX will buy this vehicle back.

Additional History

Not all accidents / issues are reported to CARFAX
Owners 1-2 Owner 3 Owner 4
Total Loss
No total loss reported to CARFAX.
No Issues Reported
No Issues Reported
No Issues Reported
Structural / Frame Damage
No structural / frame damage reported to CARFAX.
No Issues Reported
No Issues Reported
No Issues Reported
Airbag Deployment
No airbag deployment reported to CARFAX.
No Issues Reported
No Issues Reported
No Issues Reported
Odometer Rollback
No indication of an odometer rollback.
No Issues Indicated
No Issues Indicated
No Issues Indicated
Accident / Damage
Accidents reported on: 03/17/2000 and 06/17/2004.
Accident Reported
No New Issues Reported
No New Issues Reported
Manufacturer Recall
Check with an authorized BMW dealer for any open recalls.
No Recalls Reported
No Recalls Reported
No Recalls Reported
 

Detailed History

Owner 1
Purchased: 1997
Type: Personal
Where: New Jersey
Est. miles/year: 17,155/yr
Est. length owned: 12/15/97 - 7/29/04
(6 yrs. 7 mo.)
Date: Mileage: Source: Comments:
12/15/1997     US Customs   Vehicle exported from
Germany
and imported to
Newark, NJ
12/15/1997   9   New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Dept.
South Plainfield, NJ  
Title issued or updated
First owner reported
Registered as
personal vehicle
04/04/1998   6,625   Inspection Co.
New Jersey  
Vehicle inspected
Anti-theft device present
at the time of inspection
03/17/2000     New Jersey
Police Report
Clifton, NJ
Case #00-4143  
Accident reported
Involving a front impact
or collision
12/30/2002     New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Monroe Township, NJ  
Registration updated when owner moved
the vehicle to a new location
03/04/2003   93,188   Open Road BMW of Edison
Edison, NJ
732-985-4575
www.openroad.com  
Maintenance inspection completed
Transmission checked
Exhaust system checked
08/05/2003   100,516   Open Road BMW of Edison
Edison, NJ
732-985-4575
www.openroad.com  
Vehicle serviced
05/12/2004   112,238   Open Road BMW of Edison
Edison, NJ
732-985-4575
www.openroad.com  
Drive belts replaced
Steering/suspension checked
Maintenance inspection completed
Wheels checked
Exhaust system checked
06/17/2004     New Jersey
Police Report
Case #04-09629  
Accident reported
in Monmouth County
Involving front impact
It hit another motor vehicle
It hit a curb
It hit a sign structure/post
Vehicle ran off the road
Vehicle towed
 
Owner 2
Purchased: 2004
Type: Personal
Where: New Jersey
Est. miles/year: ---
Est. length owned: 7/29/04 - 12/28/04
(4 months)
Date: Mileage: Source: Comments:
07/29/2004   113,438   New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Trenton, NJ
Title #MA20042110059  
Title issued or updated
New owner reported
08/05/2004     New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
Title #EB20042180215  
Title issued or updated
 
Owner 3
Purchased: 2004
Type: Personal
Where: North Carolina
Est. miles/year: ---
Est. length owned: 12/28/04 - 9/15/06
(1 yr. 8 mo.)
Date: Mileage: Source: Comments:
12/28/2004     North Carolina
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Greensboro, NC
Title #774227043637134  
Registration issued or renewed
New owner reported
01/10/2005   115,849   North Carolina
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Durham, NC
Title #776020050107134  
Registration issued or renewed
Loan or lien reported
01/12/2005   116,041   North Carolina
Inspection Station
Durham, NC  
Passed emissions inspection
03/09/2006     North Carolina
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Durham, NC  
Registration updated when owner moved
the vehicle to a new location
03/22/2006   128,994   North Carolina
Inspection Station
Greensboro, NC  
Passed emissions inspection
 
Owner 4
Purchased: 2006
Type: Personal
Where: North Carolina, Texas
Est. miles/year: 13,870/yr
Est. length owned: 9/15/06 - 2/9/09
(2 yrs. 4 mo.)
CARFAX Xpert
Low mileage! This owner drove an estimated 13,870 miles per year, lower than the industry average of 15,000 miles. These vehicles can be a better value.
Date: Mileage: Source: Comments:
09/15/2006   135,292   North Carolina
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Raleigh, NC
Title #771786062586073  
Registration issued or renewed
New owner reported
Passed safety inspection
01/18/2007   138,227   North Carolina
Inspection Station
Raleigh, NC  
Passed emissions inspection
08/13/2007     North Carolina
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Raleigh, NC
Title #771786062586073  
Registration issued or renewed
Passed safety inspection
01/23/2008   154,400   North Carolina
Inspection Station
Raleigh, NC  
Passed emissions inspection
08/14/2008     North Carolina
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Apex, NC
Title #771786062586073  
Registration issued or renewed
Passed safety inspection
09/04/2008     North Carolina
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Apex, NC  
Registration updated when owner moved
the vehicle to a new location
01/24/2009   168,400   North Carolina
Inspection Station
Apex, NC  
Passed emissions inspection
02/09/2009   168,746   Auto Auction   Sold at auction
in Southeast Region
Listed as
a dealer vehicle
CARFAX Xpert
Dealers routinely buy and sell millions of used vehicles at auction each year.
03/10/2009     Online Listing   Vehicle offered for sale
09/18/2009     Texas
Motor Vehicle Dept.
San Antonio, TX
Title #01521640064155123  
Title issued or updated
Dealer took title of this vehicle
while it was in inventory
CARFAX Xpert
SmartBuyer Checklist - I've created a checklist of specific questions for you to ask the seller about this 1998 BMW M3.
Print This Page Print this CARFAX Report and take it to your pre-purchase inspection
 
 

Glossary

Accident / Damage Indicator
CARFAX receives information about accidents in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. Different information in a vehicle's history can indicate an accident or damage, such as: salvage auction, fire damage, police-reported accident, crash test vehicle, damage disclosure, collision repair facility and automotive recycler records. Not every accident or damage event is reported and not all reported are provided to CARFAX. Details about the accident or damage event when reported to CARFAX (e.g. severity, impact location, airbag deployment) are included on the Vehicle History Report. CARFAX recommends you obtain a vehicle inspection from your dealer or an independent mechanic.
  • According to the National Safety Council, Injury Facts, 2007 edition, 7% of the 245 million registered vehicles in the U.S. were involved in an accident in 2005. Over 75% of these were considered minor or moderate.
  • CARFAX depends on many sources for its accident / damage data. CARFAX can only report what is in our database on 22.Nov.2009 08:51:14. New data will result in a change to this report.
New Jersey Police Reports:
  • Do not include an assessment of damage severity
  • Are required if the estimated damage exceeds $500
  • Are released biannually to CARFAX in November and June
First Owner
When the first owner(s) obtains a title from a Department of Motor Vehicles as proof of ownership.
New Owner Reported
When a vehicle is sold to a new owner, the Title must be transferred to the new owner(s) at a Department of Motor Vehicles.
Ownership History
CARFAX defines an owner as an individual or business that possesses and uses a vehicle. Not all title transactions represent changes in ownership. To provide estimated number of owners, CARFAX proprietary technology analyzes all the events in a vehicle history. Estimated ownership is available for vehicles manufactured after 1994 and titled solely in the US including Puerto Rico. Dealers sometimes opt to take ownership of a vehicle and are required to in the following states: Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and South Dakota. Please consider this as you review a vehicle's estimated ownership history.
Title Issued
A state issues a title to provide a vehicle owner with proof of ownership. Each title has a unique number. Each title or registration record on a CARFAX report does not necessarily indicate a change in ownership. In Canada, a registration and bill of sale are used as proof of ownership.
 
CARFAX DEPENDS ON ITS SOURCES FOR THE ACCURACY AND RELIABILITY OF ITS INFORMATION. THEREFORE, NO RESPONSIBILITY IS ASSUMED BY CARFAX OR ITS AGENTS FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THIS REPORT. CARFAX FURTHER EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CARFAX®