E90Post
 


 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > General E90 Sedan / E91 Wagon / E92 Coupe / E93 Cabrio > What is up, was this car in an accident?



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      09-07-2010, 12:57 PM   #1
WilkesE90
Enlisted Member
United_States
7
Rep
36
Posts

Drives: 2007 BMW E90 335i 6-Speed
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Ohio

iTrader: (0)

What is up, was this car in an accident?

Hey guys,

I just recently picked up a 2007 BMW E90 335i this weekend. Given a slew of issues, this weekend would have been one of the only times I could have been able to have time to pick it up, thereby making time for a thorough thorough check over and review of its history a bit out of the question. Like most car guys, I wanted this car, and every car purchase "makes sense" when you're dying to go drive it!

Anyways, I noticed a few things after I picked it up that seemed a bit odd to me:

1. The front windshield is marked with what looks like a small circle of permanent marker. This made me think "was this replaced?" I looked in the lower left corner and it says "Guardian" instead of BMW symbol with the associated company (starts with a "P" I think). All the other windows have the BMW symbol, etc.
2. The front left headlight is also marked with a small circle from a black permanent marker. It is, however, a genuine BMW xenon headlight if it IS a replacement.
3. How do I know if my car has automatic rain sensing windshield wipers? Reason that I ask is that the cover that normally covers the rain sensor area above your rearview mirror is like way too long and does not look like the normal black plastic covering of the rain sensor that normally comes with E9x's (my mom has an E92 335i and it looks right, mine is way too long and has this empty space where there is nothing in there).

I don't know if there is a site that can do a thorough check because I got a Carfax report with the VIN and it showed that there were zero accidents and it has a clean title. However, maybe Carfax sucks and there is a better way to tell. Anyways, thanks in advance for any help with this situation!
__________________
2007 BMW E90 335i, Manual | 2004 BMW E46 330Ci, Manual (Retired) | 2002 BMW E39 530i, Automatic (Retired)
---
BMW Car Club of America Member 431251. Join your local chapter!
Appreciate 0
      09-07-2010, 12:59 PM   #2
reprod
Lieutenant Colonel
United_States
148
Rep
1,728
Posts

Drives: '16 M3 ZCP
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bay Area, CA

iTrader: (6)

Pics of the rain sensor please.
__________________
'11 Space Grey E92 335xi M-Sport (KWv1 Coils | Saddle Brown | Bamboo) (Returned)
'14 Mineral Grey F32 335i M-Sport (Dinan DHP | LED Lights | Coral Red | Hexagonal Aluminum) (Returned)
'16 Mineral Grey F80 M3 ZCP
Appreciate 0
      09-07-2010, 01:11 PM   #3
bsamoul
Major General
bsamoul's Avatar
No_Country
165
Rep
7,433
Posts

Drives: E90 325i
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Walnut Creek, California

iTrader: (2)

Here's a picture of my rain sensor:


And here's a picture of my window emblem (if that helps):
__________________
-Brian
2X 2006 BMW 325i [Electric Red & Mystic Blue] | ZPP | V1 | Rear Fogs | M3 Lip Spoiler | EAS RemoteKey | BMS Powerbox | Projector90 Headlights w/ LED AE | LED plate lights | OEM Blacklines
http://www.tech-shine.com
Appreciate 0
      09-07-2010, 01:20 PM   #4
mattsten
Private First Class
5
Rep
195
Posts

Drives: 2010 E90
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: TN

iTrader: (3)

Sometimes the dots on the lights represent different things done to the car on the lot. For example, at the dealer I worked at in college a white dot on a tail light meant the dent guy had already gone over the car....maybe it is something as simple as that. Carfax does not show all accidents, but a clean carfax is never a bad thing...
Appreciate 0
      09-07-2010, 01:39 PM   #5
WilkesE90
Enlisted Member
United_States
7
Rep
36
Posts

Drives: 2007 BMW E90 335i 6-Speed
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Ohio

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by mattsten View Post
Sometimes the dots on the lights represent different things done to the car on the lot. For example, at the dealer I worked at in college a white dot on a tail light meant the dent guy had already gone over the car....maybe it is something as simple as that. Carfax does not show all accidents, but a clean carfax is never a bad thing...
Yeah, I asked at the dealership and they said that the marking on the headlight was something they did for every car on the lot to identify them, so maybe you are right about that one!

Thank you for the post up of your rain sensor housing. That is about how long my plastic covering is, however it's funny, I am missing the rain sensor itself. I have this cord hanging down as if it is ready to plug into the rain sensor, if it was there. My wiper stalk has a button that you can push in that appears to be an automatic wiper button (it turns green when you push it in). Is it possible that all BMW's were made like that and I would have to get it installed / reflashed for the automatic feature to work?

Also, yeah, my glass must be a replacement. It has an E9, not E1 marking, no BMW symbol, no Pilkington, etc. It must have been made in Spain or something. Hmm, funny that a replacement windshield was never brought up in the paper work. I will have to see about that rain sensor though...
__________________
2007 BMW E90 335i, Manual | 2004 BMW E46 330Ci, Manual (Retired) | 2002 BMW E39 530i, Automatic (Retired)
---
BMW Car Club of America Member 431251. Join your local chapter!
Appreciate 0
      09-07-2010, 01:43 PM   #6
bsamoul
Major General
bsamoul's Avatar
No_Country
165
Rep
7,433
Posts

Drives: E90 325i
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Walnut Creek, California

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by WilkesE90 View Post
Yeah, I asked at the dealership and they said that the marking on the headlight was something they did for every car on the lot to identify them, so maybe you are right about that one!

Thank you for the post up of your rain sensor housing. That is about how long my plastic covering is, however it's funny, I am missing the rain sensor itself. I have this cord hanging down as if it is ready to plug into the rain sensor, if it was there. My wiper stalk has a button that you can push in that appears to be an automatic wiper button (it turns green when you push it in). Is it possible that all BMW's were made like that and I would have to get it installed / reflashed for the automatic feature to work?

Also, yeah, my glass must be a replacement. It has an E9, not E1 marking, no BMW symbol, no Pilkington, etc. It must have been made in Spain or something. Hmm, funny that a replacement windshield was never brought up in the paper work. I will have to see about that rain sensor though...
Yeah your glass has to have been replaced. As for the rain sensor though, it sounds as if when the glass was replaced they didn't put it back in, or the glass broke where the sensor was too so both broke and they just didn't put a new one in. Either way it sounds like you don't have it. You can always push the button, and use your hose and spray your window and see if they come on, but I don't think they will. And I want to say every E90 ever made from the factory came with the rain sensor, so no reflash would be necessary if you just plugged the module in.
__________________
-Brian
2X 2006 BMW 325i [Electric Red & Mystic Blue] | ZPP | V1 | Rear Fogs | M3 Lip Spoiler | EAS RemoteKey | BMS Powerbox | Projector90 Headlights w/ LED AE | LED plate lights | OEM Blacklines
http://www.tech-shine.com
Appreciate 0
      09-07-2010, 01:54 PM   #7
alex2364
Colonel
alex2364's Avatar
2847
Rep
2,740
Posts

Drives: 2020 M4 ZCP / 2023 X3 M40i
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Northern VA

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2020 BMW M4  [10.00]
2023 BMW X3 M40i  [10.00]
A clean Carfax report doesn't guarantee anything. You can check for previous paint work yourself.

http://video.about.com/usedcars/Look...Paint-Work.htm
Appreciate 0
      09-08-2010, 01:10 PM   #8
Xaero
Private First Class
United_States
9
Rep
184
Posts

Drives: Black 335i e92
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Louisiana

iTrader: (0)

I am in the same boat, but really nothing can be done.. I had a clean car fax on mine and after driving it home and doing a full detail job on it, it became obvious that the entire car had been at least re-clear coated. I really have no idea if it was wrecked or vandalized. I suspect it was vandalized since every panel on the car has been repainted. I made the mistake of not asking if the car had been painted at the time and was too excited about the car to really do a thorough inspection of the car (i didn't have reason to suspect it at the time). I would have walked away from the deal if I had know it at the time, but now I have to live with it.

I am handy in the garage and have been wet-sanding and polishing it and it's mostly unnoticeable now except on the driver's side door.. They laid the clear-coat down too thick and its really wavy if you know what you are looking for.

Mechanically everything seems great, but there is noticeable body work on it and I am so anal that I will eventually need to have at least the drivers side repainted to smooth it out. If I sell it or trade it in, I will take a huge hit since it has been painted.

I am going to try and make the best of it, so with my planned mods I will be swapping out the bumpers, side skirts, and trunk at minimum. I may do M3 fenders as well. So at that point it will not be much more to go ahead and get the entire thing sanded and re-cleared to smooth it out.

Live and learn I guess..
Appreciate 0
      09-08-2010, 07:36 PM   #9
WilkesE90
Enlisted Member
United_States
7
Rep
36
Posts

Drives: 2007 BMW E90 335i 6-Speed
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Ohio

iTrader: (0)

Aint that the truth!

Well guys, I was wondering if you could help me once again. Considering I am missing the rain sensor, do you happen to know what part number that is? I keep looking on RealOEM.com, but I can't seem to find it worth my life! Much appreciated!
__________________
2007 BMW E90 335i, Manual | 2004 BMW E46 330Ci, Manual (Retired) | 2002 BMW E39 530i, Automatic (Retired)
---
BMW Car Club of America Member 431251. Join your local chapter!
Appreciate 0
      09-08-2010, 07:52 PM   #10
Nr!qUe
Captain
Nr!qUe's Avatar
United_States
69
Rep
975
Posts

Drives: 2009 E90 LCI 328i 6MT
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Miami, FL

iTrader: (3)

Maybe they just replaced the windsheild, had a crack in it
__________________
2009 BMW E90 328i | Xenons | MT | Space Gray | Beige-ette | CF Fabric Trim | iPod/USB | 20% Tints | Euro-Plate | Rear Fog Switch Lego Mod | Painted Reflectors | Performance Short-shift Kit | Style 197 Wheels | OEM Sport Suspension |
Appreciate 0
      09-08-2010, 08:19 PM   #11
Xaero
Private First Class
United_States
9
Rep
184
Posts

Drives: Black 335i e92
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Louisiana

iTrader: (0)

I read that the rain sensor was integrated into the windshield?
Appreciate 0
      09-08-2010, 08:33 PM   #12
Nr!qUe
Captain
Nr!qUe's Avatar
United_States
69
Rep
975
Posts

Drives: 2009 E90 LCI 328i 6MT
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Miami, FL

iTrader: (3)

not true. my sister had a pole fall on her windshield, she had it replaced and her auto wipers work just as they used to
__________________
2009 BMW E90 328i | Xenons | MT | Space Gray | Beige-ette | CF Fabric Trim | iPod/USB | 20% Tints | Euro-Plate | Rear Fog Switch Lego Mod | Painted Reflectors | Performance Short-shift Kit | Style 197 Wheels | OEM Sport Suspension |
Appreciate 0
      09-09-2010, 01:08 AM   #13
bsamoul
Major General
bsamoul's Avatar
No_Country
165
Rep
7,433
Posts

Drives: E90 325i
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Walnut Creek, California

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Xaero View Post
I read that the rain sensor was integrated into the windshield?
No, it is situated right up against the windshield, so the glass is the weakest in that point
__________________
-Brian
2X 2006 BMW 325i [Electric Red & Mystic Blue] | ZPP | V1 | Rear Fogs | M3 Lip Spoiler | EAS RemoteKey | BMS Powerbox | Projector90 Headlights w/ LED AE | LED plate lights | OEM Blacklines
http://www.tech-shine.com
Appreciate 0
      09-12-2010, 10:34 PM   #14
WilkesE90
Enlisted Member
United_States
7
Rep
36
Posts

Drives: 2007 BMW E90 335i 6-Speed
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Ohio

iTrader: (0)

Yeah, I'm pretty sure now that the rain sensor must be purchased already attached to the glass. As a result, I'm just going to have to shell out close to 1K to get the OEM glass and sensor attached. Whatever, at the price that I got my first N54 E90, 1K is a small price to pay for this type of performance!
__________________
2007 BMW E90 335i, Manual | 2004 BMW E46 330Ci, Manual (Retired) | 2002 BMW E39 530i, Automatic (Retired)
---
BMW Car Club of America Member 431251. Join your local chapter!
Appreciate 0
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
accident, headlight, rearview, sensor, window

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:29 PM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST