How can I find out who had my car before I did?

VisualEcho · 09-16-2019, 12:52 PM

I purchased my car used with 9,400 miles on it this past August. I know it was purchased new 12/13/2017 from Russel BMW of Catonsville, MD, but have no idea how to find out who had it previously because no one will tell me (for obvious reasons). I'd love to contact the previous owner to see if they still have the window sticker, or if they had any issues.

How might I do that?

MrOhnoez · 09-16-2019, 01:10 PM

Got the vin? I can check and see if there were any issues for warranty work. But I wont give you a customers info.

VisualEcho · 09-16-2019, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrOhnoez

Got the vin? I can check and see if there were any issues for warranty work. But I wont give you a customers info.

Thanks, but I already did all that, I'm mainly looking for the window sticker and to see how the car was treated.

heavyD^2 · 09-16-2019, 01:21 PM

Maybe it's me but I wouldn't care for any of the owners of cars I've traded in or sold to be contacting me even if I babied the car and had nothing to hide.

VisualEcho · 09-16-2019, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

Maybe it's me but I wouldn't care for any of the owners of cars I've traded in or sold to be contacting me even if I babied the car and had nothing to hide.

I hear you, probably a bad idea, I'd just really like to have the window sticker.

DETRoadster · 09-16-2019, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VisualEcho

I hear you, probably a bad idea, I'd just really like to have the window sticker.

Call the dealer and ask if they would contact the original owner on your behalf. Give them a story to spin like: "I'm just so impressed with how meticulously cared for the car is. I really can tell the original owner was an enthusiast, like I am, who cares for his/her vehicles. I just wanted to let the original owner know the car is now in good hands and was hoping he/she still has the window sticker as I was hoping to get my hands on it. I know you cant give me their name, for obvious reasons, but would you be willing to contact them on my behalf?"

VisualEcho · 09-16-2019, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DETRoadster

Call the dealer and ask if they would contact the original owner on your behalf. Give them a story to spin like: "I'm just so impressed with how meticulously cared for the car is. I really can tell the original owner was an enthusiast, like I am, who cares for his/her vehicles. I just wanted to let the original owner know the car is now in good hands and was hoping he/she still has the window sticker as I was hoping to get my hands on it. I know you cant give me their name, for obvious reasons, but would you be willing to contact them on my behalf?"

Great thinking, been there, done that, got nowhere. I mean, I know I'm asking for a lot.

TemjinX2 · 09-16-2019, 02:38 PM

i would just check your owner/warranty booklet. the last two owners of cars i bought used left there insurance info and filled out the warranty card with there name and address when they traded in the car.

I spoke to the salemen about the previous owner..not his name but he kinda told reasons he traded it in, age wise..what kind of person he was...the warranty card seems to verify what the salemen told me.

it was scary how some ppl just leave pii items in there car they will trade in...i shredded it for the person once i found it.

TemjinX2 · 09-16-2019, 02:39 PM

most of the ppl buying these cars new at 60k...more likely are older and probably dont track the car. the people on this forum are more like the 1% rather then the norm.

kt22cliffjumper · 09-16-2019, 02:45 PM

It's not likely but you can try vinwiki and see if previous owner registered it there.

https://vinwiki.com/

1mm2 · 09-16-2019, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

Maybe it's me but I wouldn't care for any of the owners of cars I've traded in or sold to be contacting me even if I babied the car and had nothing to hide.

No it's not just you, if it happened to me I'd be very interested in where they got the info from. Then I would ask them for all their personal info (right down to their wife's/girlfriend's measurements) before responding to their questions.

You know...quid pro quo.

arciga18 · 09-16-2019, 03:24 PM

There are companies that can make a window sticker for you .

Pretty sure future classic / IND can help. It will cost you probably .

DanG · 09-16-2019, 03:48 PM

I would think that the original selling dealer should be able to make a copy of the window sticker.

VisualEcho · 09-16-2019, 04:19 PM

First, there was no paperwork in the car when I got it.

Second, I have a copy of the window sticker, I wanted the original.

I do have a driver profile listed as Katie as well, and have no idea how to delete it.

Thanks for all the responses guys, I know it's a weird question.

Anthony1s · 09-16-2019, 05:12 PM

Had a guy do this to me maybe 5 years ago for a car I sold 2 years prior to that. The guy found my personal social media accounts, phone number, and address. Wouldn't stop hounding me for information about the car. I replied once to him saying that when I sell a car I don't want to be tied to it anymore and I'm not obligated to track down info to give to him. So then he showed up at my house when I wasn't home. Saw my neighbor and they told him when I would be home from work. So he showed up an hour after I got home, while I was eating dinner. I confronted him, cursed him out and told him to leave me alone. Haven't heard from him since.

VisualEcho · 09-16-2019, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony1s

Had a guy do this to me maybe 5 years ago for a car I sold 2 years prior to that. The guy found my personal social media accounts, phone number, and address. Wouldn't stop hounding me for information about the car. I replied once to him saying that when I sell a car I don't want to be tied to it anymore and I'm not obligated to track down info to give to him. So then he showed up at my house when I wasn't home. Saw my neighbor and they told him when I would be home from work. So he showed up an hour after I got home, while I was eating dinner. I confronted him, cursed him out and told him to leave me alone. Haven't heard from him since.

Um, yeah, well, I'm not that guy.

MrOhnoez · 09-16-2019, 06:37 PM

Well as I stated i can give you service info.
But I most definitely will not give you customer info.
Just give me the vin.

RocketTR · 09-17-2019, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

Maybe it's me but I wouldn't care for any of the owners of cars I've traded in or sold to be contacting me even if I babied the car and had nothing to hide.

Why not? As an enthusiast, I'd love to know where my old cars ended up and what happened to them.

akkando · 09-17-2019, 11:18 AM

Post pictures of the car. Someone on here might recognize it unless it's 100 percent stock with no damage.

McPurrs · 09-17-2019, 11:23 AM

You can print a window sticker online. Same thing as the original(that was printed by someone else and applied to the car...not at the mfg

VisualEcho · 09-17-2019, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akkando

Post pictures of the car. Someone on here might recognize it unless it's 100 percent stock with no damage.

It's 100% stock with no damage.

VisualEcho · 09-18-2019, 08:18 AM

The plot thickens...

09-16-2019, 12:52 PM	#1
VisualEcho Banned 6634 Rep 4,145 Posts Drives: '18 M2 6MT Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Missouri iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW M2 [10.00]	How can I find out who had my car before I did? I purchased my car used with 9,400 miles on it this past August. I know it was purchased new 12/13/2017 from Russel BMW of Catonsville, MD, but have no idea how to find out who had it previously because no one will tell me (for obvious reasons). I'd love to contact the previous owner to see if they still have the window sticker, or if they had any issues. How might I do that?
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09-16-2019, 01:10 PM	#2
MrOhnoez Lieutenant 558 Rep 594 Posts Drives: '21 GLI, '79 beetle, '99 M3 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Southern region iTrader: (0)	Got the vin? I can check and see if there were any issues for warranty work. But I wont give you a customers info.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-16-2019, 01:21 PM	#4
heavyD^2 Colonel 3689 Rep 2,956 Posts Drives: X3M Competition Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Too close to Santa iTrader: (0)	Maybe it's me but I wouldn't care for any of the owners of cars I've traded in or sold to be contacting me even if I babied the car and had nothing to hide.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-16-2019, 02:38 PM	#8
TemjinX2 Major 521 Rep 1,485 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi e92 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Socal OC iTrader: (0)	i would just check your owner/warranty booklet. the last two owners of cars i bought used left there insurance info and filled out the warranty card with there name and address when they traded in the car. I spoke to the salemen about the previous owner..not his name but he kinda told reasons he traded it in, age wise..what kind of person he was...the warranty card seems to verify what the salemen told me. it was scary how some ppl just leave pii items in there car they will trade in...i shredded it for the person once i found it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-16-2019, 02:39 PM	#9
TemjinX2 Major 521 Rep 1,485 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi e92 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Socal OC iTrader: (0)	most of the ppl buying these cars new at 60k...more likely are older and probably dont track the car. the people on this forum are more like the 1% rather then the norm.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-16-2019, 02:45 PM	#10
kt22cliffjumper New Member 15 Rep 16 Posts Drives: E46 M3, F87 M2 Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	It's not likely but you can try vinwiki and see if previous owner registered it there. https://vinwiki.com/ __________________ 2018 Mineral Grey M2 \| DCT 2005 Silver Grey M3 \| SMG \| Xenon \| sunroof delete \| manual nappa leather/cloth seats \| TC Kline D/A coilover 450F/500R with TCK camber plates and TCK RSM \| BMW Motorsports 4.10 LSD \| Powerflex RTAB \| Vibra-Tech engine/trans mounts \| Stoptech 4 piston F/R BBK with slotted 2-piece rotors \| BBS RS-GT 18"
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09-16-2019, 03:24 PM	#12
arciga18 Brigadier General 1729 Rep 3,654 Posts Drives: LeMans/ Chestnut E90, RWD Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Chicago iTrader: (3)	There are companies that can make a window sticker for you . Pretty sure future classic / IND can help. It will cost you probably .
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09-16-2019, 03:48 PM	#13
DanG Major General 10658 Rep 6,937 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 AW DCT Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW M2 [7.68]	I would think that the original selling dealer should be able to make a copy of the window sticker.
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09-16-2019, 04:19 PM	#14
VisualEcho Banned 6634 Rep 4,145 Posts Drives: '18 M2 6MT Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Missouri iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW M2 [10.00]	First, there was no paperwork in the car when I got it. Second, I have a copy of the window sticker, I wanted the original. I do have a driver profile listed as Katie as well, and have no idea how to delete it. Thanks for all the responses guys, I know it's a weird question.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-16-2019, 05:12 PM	#15
Anthony1s Banned 756 Rep 2,149 Posts Drives: 2018 Mineral Grey M2 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Pennsylvania iTrader: (0)	Had a guy do this to me maybe 5 years ago for a car I sold 2 years prior to that. The guy found my personal social media accounts, phone number, and address. Wouldn't stop hounding me for information about the car. I replied once to him saying that when I sell a car I don't want to be tied to it anymore and I'm not obligated to track down info to give to him. So then he showed up at my house when I wasn't home. Saw my neighbor and they told him when I would be home from work. So he showed up an hour after I got home, while I was eating dinner. I confronted him, cursed him out and told him to leave me alone. Haven't heard from him since.
	Appreciate 1 JTO245274.50 Quote

09-16-2019, 06:37 PM	#17
MrOhnoez Lieutenant 558 Rep 594 Posts Drives: '21 GLI, '79 beetle, '99 M3 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Southern region iTrader: (0)	Well as I stated i can give you service info. But I most definitely will not give you customer info. Just give me the vin.
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09-17-2019, 11:18 AM	#19
akkando Major General 5865 Rep 6,635 Posts Drives: 17 M2 DCT LBB,11 e90 M3 ZCP IB Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1)	Post pictures of the car. Someone on here might recognize it unless it's 100 percent stock with no damage.
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09-17-2019, 11:23 AM	#20
McPurrs The deuce gets loose 290 Rep 499 Posts Drives: '17 M2 BSM 6MT Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Worcester, MA iTrader: (0)	You can print a window sticker online. Same thing as the original(that was printed by someone else and applied to the car...not at the mfg
	Appreciate 1 VisualEcho6633.50 Quote

09-18-2019, 08:18 AM	#22
VisualEcho Banned 6634 Rep 4,145 Posts Drives: '18 M2 6MT Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Missouri iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW M2 [10.00]	The plot thickens... Attached Images
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