[Bmw1939]

I am looking to add to the fleet. The last car I bought I was able to get service records through a dealer. I called the dealership that this new prospect was purchased at and they stonewalled me. Said unless I am the original purchaser they cannot release that information. I am thinking of contacting the guy at the other one but don't know if he has access. Any idea? I know I could just call him but I wanted to know first.

[M-technik-3]

They have access to them but will not give you them. You might be able to convince the service advisor to print them out sans the Personal Information.

[E92inNC]

Speaking only for Mercedes. It’s correct they can’t release service records if you are not the original owner due to privacy reasons. However I have read off a summary of services performed to them. Mercedes uses a national Vehicle Master Inquiry and it lists everything about the car-options, factory extended warranties, recall and all services done-but they don’t go into the tidbits of what that dealer does. We sometimes contact each other for copies of the invoices if there is specifics of the work on an invoice we need more info on. The VMI does not have services performed by any non Mercedes shop.

My advice is to just walk into the service department and talk to the receptionist or cashier and just ask for a summary of the car, if they aren’t busy they will usually pull it up and read it to you. Let them know you are interested in this vehicle and just want to know that it has regular maintenance at the dealership.

[Lost808]

When I bought mine (one owner car), the service manager couldn't give me a printout for privacy reasons as stated above, but they did read it to me and let me write it down. Gave me mileage/service/date.

[S4NoMore]

Originally Posted by Lost808

When I bought mine (one owner car), the service manager couldn't give me a printout for privacy reasons as stated above, but they did read it to me and let me write it down. Gave me mileage/service/date.

I always do the same. Between my local dealer and the vehicle's prior servicing dealer, one of them is able to read out the history. Better than nothing.

[krhodes1]

They certainly can - my 128i that I bought at the dealer in Wichita KS last summer came with a printout of the full dealer service history, but with the previous owner info blacked out. Which is stupid as it is all in the warranty book and other info that came in the glovebox of the car anyway.

Whether a given dealer can be bothered to do this is a totally different question.

[Buug959]

I got all the info from my local dealer printed out. I was chatting with him about some service that I wanted to get done (walnut blast in particular) and mentioned that I just bought the car. I'm in Nova Scotia and the car spent it's entire life in Ontario. I bought it from a dealer in Ontario and had it shipped to me. He asked for my key and looked up its service history and about two minutes later his printer was working away. I got all the service history and a list of the options on the car. Then he offered me a discount on my first service appointment. I guess I got lucky from what others are saying here.

[nhhiep]

here is what i did for them to release the info. I told them I just bought this car and want to bring it to THEIR shop to perform items that mentioned from the previous owner's last inspection. the SA looked so happy to hear that.

[NinetyEight740]

The only data would be warranty claims that can be accessed by every dealer. Anything that could be customer pay would only be on record by the dealer who performed the service. With these cars being so far out of warranty at this point (other than sulev) you hope the current owner keeps hood records to share.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by NinetyEight740

The only data would be warranty claims that can be accessed by every dealer. Anything that could be customer pay would only be on record by the dealer who performed the service. With these cars being so far out of warranty at this point (other than sulev) you hope the current owner keeps hood records to share.

BMW N.A. maintains a database of all services performed on BMWs by any US BMW dealership regardless if it is paid for by the owner or warranty.

OP, unless you own the car, any BMW dealership is not going to give you the service history. If you buy the car used and you have title to it, some SA at some dealerships will give you a redacted copy of the history if you ask the correct way and have brought the car in for some type of service. I've done it.

[John 070]

true story, when I was shopping for an extended warranty dealer prints out something that's like an Experian credit history on my car, its service history, what extended warranties it qualifies for (back then there was 6/70, 7/70, 6/100, 7/100, and it was added to the end of the normal warranty's expiration--I found GM adds to the day the warranty is purchased--I lost on the BMW and maybe broke even on the GM). I said can I have that? He goes no, it's proprietary. Now, if I were to leave my office, and you accidentally picked it up off my desk on your way out, I wouldn't worry about it. So that's what I did. It did say not to be shared with customers....

[SelahGuerra]

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[Wolf 335]

The BMW dealer where i bought my car printed out all service records from day one when car was sold to previous owner.

Not sure what the issue is with privacy, as there was no previous owner information anywhere on the sheet.

[bmwbob89]

Just run a car fax and most of the history will be in it.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Dealers here did that same bullshit with the privacy. I pressed on though and said I own the car and that I want to speak with the manager and had to argue to get the records. I had to reach out as well to the other dealer the car went to to get their records.

Also don't understand the whole private information argument because my screenshots of the official records did not have any information. It's such a bullshit excuse. And even if there is any any info? Takes 2 minutes to hide the private info on the screenshot with like MS paint before sending it.