BMW X 5 Service Book Lost!!

[blackberry]

I recently bought a late 2004 Left hand Drive X5 that was registered in Italy prior to being UK plated in 2008.
The previous owner didn't have the Service Book or any maintenance history for the car but The HPI was clear with only 68,00 kms recorded. The car is in exceptionally good condition and in keeping with a low mileage car.

Can anyone advise me how I might trace the history of the car during it's life in Italy please?

[Targarama]

Try calling the local dealers to where this person lived?

VIN number to BMW directly? (maybe in Italy)

[blackberry]

Thanks Targarama.

I actually have all of the X5 hand books with the car "All in Italian" so I just need to find an English/Italian to contact an Italian Dealership.

If I'm able to find the main dealer garages whove services the car, do you think it's realistic that a new service book could be located and re-stamped by the dealers?

[daemon]

blackberry said:

Thanks Targarama.

I actually have all of the X5 hand books with the car "All in Italian" so I just need to find an English/Italian to contact an Italian Dealership.

If I'm able to find the main dealer garages whove services the car, do you think it's realistic that a new service book could be located and re-stamped by the dealers?

Its going to be difficult but not impossible. A "lost" service history on a relatively young car like this could have been on purpose though.

[TonyRPH]

For UK cars, you can call BMW (there is a number on their site) and quote the VIN number.

They will then be able to tell you where this vehicle has been serviced previously (I presume in the UK only in your case).

I guess a call to BMW Italy may well yield the same service.

You can then purchase a replacment service book - and send it to all the service agents concerned, who will stamp it FOC.

I did this very thing recently, with an E46 I bought - the previous keeper didn't keep the service book up to date, in spite of servicing the car regularly. I sent said book with an SAE (to cover return costs) and they stamped, signed and put in the mileages for me.

Please be aware though - calls to the BMW help line are £1 per minute!!

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/about/cservices/0,,1364...

[nw28840]

Just out of interest, you say the HPI check came up clean ? but surely this would only cover any history on the car
after it was imported to the UK ?

Or am i missing something here ?

[TonyRPH]

The HPI check doesn't show service history as far as I know.

All it shows is number plate changes, owner changes, outstanding finance and VIN number.