BMW SA & Service History

[PsyCLown]

Hey all,

So I called BMW Fourways to try get the service history of a car I am interested in purchasing and they directed me to BMW SA as they do not have access to view such info at the dealerships apparently...

Got the number for BMW SA and gave them a call, apparently they do not provide any service history info without the Natis document.

Now I can understand for privacy reasons not all info should be readily available and I can appreciate that, however this makes it just that much more difficult to get a service history on a 2nd hand BMW and I find it extremely off putting especially considering the fact that odometer tampering is not all that difficult and is rather common place in SA.

What are your 2c and your views on this?

Sure you could ask the dealer or the seller for a copy of the Natis document, however I think most would be hesitant to provide a copy prior to you purchasing the vehicle.
I surely would be as a seller, lots of scams out there and it's info I'd rather they not have unless the vehicle has been purchased by them.

 

[kingr]

I’ve spoken to most of the oem’s & nobody wants to share service history. We wanted to pull this data digitally into our reports & include it as part of the vehicle history check.

Apparently the service history data of a car can be used maliciously.

The auto industry has systems in place to foster fraudulent behavior.

 

[Dragonman]

It's part of the whole POPI and GDPR(European) compliance regulations. All companies are getting more protective over the info they are holding and sharing.

Sent from my Redmi Note 7 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[Kyle]

Ask to accompany the seller to a BMW dealership, they would be able to provide the necessary info with the key of the vehicle.

He could also try simply calling a dealership and requesting an email if the car is registered in his name on the owner's circle. Depending on the model you can slo get history from the iDrive system.

 

[///Avi]

Ask to accompany the seller to a BMW dealership, they would be able to provide the necessary info with the key of the vehicle.

He could also try simply calling a dealership and requesting an email if the car is registered in his name on the owner's circle. Depending on the model you can slo get history from the iDrive system.

I'm sure the information on the idrive can be altered as well. Mileage tampering is common place as you know and there was a for sale post with mileage tampering on an F series car, I'm sure they would've tampered with the idrive info as well.

Best would be, as you say, go with the owner to BMW and get the details or he must organise the details for you.

 

[Kyle]

The history can also be viewed / exported from the BMW owner's circle website...

 

[PsyCLown]

Yeah, I assumed it was due to POPI and GDPR and such and I understand that however at the same time it does make fraudulent activities a bit easier and now leads to extra work for both the buyer and seller.

I do not feel this is the correct move, especially in SA with odometer tampering being rife here and unfortunately the service history being the best way to try and confirm this is not the case.

I believe overseas you can request a report from their licensing departments and that will provide a mileage history of sorts as well. I think this is in the US or EU, we don't even have that.

End of last year they had no issue giving me the info.
I feel something needs to change, although bitching and moaning on this forum isn't going to get us anywhere.

I am actually curious which other car manufacturers are going down the same route, not giving out service history easily.

Had no issues getting service history on my Audi last year and on a Merc for a friend while he was busy in a meeting... Wonder if that has changed now.

 

[PsyCLown]

The history can also be viewed / exported from the BMW owner's circle website...

Not sure how this works? What is it's the 3rd or 4th owner?

Also all of these rely on the owner / dealership assisting you.
I'd also rather not rely on info directly from the owner / seller, so if they provide me with a piece of paper... eh, no thanks. Takes a few seconds to make changes in photoshop.

 

[Kyle]

The history can also be viewed / exported from the BMW owner's circle website...

Not sure how this works? What is it's the 3rd or 4th owner?

Also all of these rely on the owner / dealership assisting you.
I'd also rather not rely on info directly from the owner / seller, so if they provide me with a piece of paper... eh, no thanks. Takes a few seconds to make changes in photoshop.

The car would be linked to his profile if he had it serviced at BMW... He just needs to "register" on the site again in order to view the info.

http://www.bmwownerscircle.co.za/#/login

 

[kingr]

It's part of the whole POPI and GDPR(European) compliance regulations.

This is false.

I’ve gone over popi with a fine comb and sharing the service history of a car doesn’t violate any clauses. This would be valid as a popi concern if any personal details of an individual is shared, as long as no personal identifiable information is shared, there’s no violation.

 

[PsyCLown]

So for interest sake, on Friday when I picked up the car I went to BMW Bryanston, walked in and told them I wanted a service history print out for my car.

I was directed to a gentleman who asked for the VIN and printed out a copy for me without any questions asked. Did not care about seeing the vehicle or any NATIS documents. So perhaps as long as you pretend that it is your vehicle, it is not a problem. I dunno.

Also this proves that it can be done at a dealership and one does not have to contact BMW SA for this info which makes far more sense...

Irony is that I called BMW Bryanston to check the VIN, so it's the exact same dealer in both instances. I suppose it also depends on who you deal with.