Buying
Buying a used BMW in Kenya: our pre-purchase inspection checklist
A clean, shiny BMW can still hide an expensive problem. A pre-purchase inspection costs a fraction of one repair and gives you real numbers to negotiate with.
Why inspect before you buy?
Most BMWs in Kenya arrive as used imports. History is often incomplete, and some cars have been repaired cheaply to sell. An inspection tells you what you are buying and what it will need in the next year.
What we check
- Full ISTA fault history across all modules, including faults that have been cleared but left a trace.
- Cold start. We ask the seller not to start the car before we arrive. Timing chain noise, lifter tick and smoke show best when cold.
- Engine weak points for that exact engine: VANOS, timing chain, injectors, turbo and boost leaks.
- Cooling system: pressure test, hoses, tank, water pump and fan.
- Oil leaks: valve cover, oil filter housing, oil pan.
- Gearbox: shift quality on a road test, adaptation values and leaks.
- Diesels: DPF load, EGR and swirl flaps.
- Suspension and brakes: control arm bushes, shocks and pads.
- Electrics: battery, charging and that the battery is registered correctly.
What you get
A written report with photos, a clear verdict (buy, negotiate or walk away) and an estimate of what the car will need soon. Many clients use the report to bring the price down by more than the cost of the inspection.
Prices
From KES 9,500 for a 1 Series, 3 Series or X1, KES 12,000 for a 5 Series, X3 or X4, and KES 15,000 for an X5, X6, 7 Series or M car, plus the call-out fee for the seller's location.