The Auto Vault Inc.

Buyer Beware BUYER BEWARE. We found a vehicle being sold by The Auto Vault on Craigslist, and visited them shortly after to view it. The staff at The Auto Vault BUYER BEWARE. We found a vehicle being sold by The Auto Vault on Craigslist, and visited them shortly after to view it. The staff at The Auto Vault were friendly, and they showed us a great selection of high-end BMW stock. The vehicle had recently been detailed, and they assured us their team of mechanics had inspected it thoroughly for problems. We asked about issues within the electrical system and air conditioner, as both components are known to have problems on this model vehicle (2010 BMW 335xi); The Auto Vault assured us that their inspection had found no issues, and we made the purchase without further inspection. Upon purchasing the vehicle we found that it had no floor mats (they weren't being detailed), only one key, and that the luxury package they claimed it had did not exist. None of which had been explained to us, and some of which we had been mislead to believe. Within a week of purchase the on board computer began to shut off intermittently during driving, so we decided to take it to a mechanic to diagnose the problem. The mechanic explained to us that their was significant rust on the underside of the vehicle and that some of the wiring had corroded through; none of which had been mentioned by The Auto Vault. We spoke with them again, and while things remained friendly, continued to believe their guarantees about the vehicle's state. Some months later (3) the air conditioner stopped working. It was at this point that we asked our mechanic to make a more detailed inspection, and to test the various electrical modules. The mechanic found significant electrical problems throughout all modules of the vehicle (including safety features), and determined that the air conditioner's evaporator had a leak which had been refilled before sale. The mechanic assured us that the issues he found pre-dated the purchase of our vehicle, and that any qualified mechanic would have uncovered them upon inspection. It was at this point that The Auto Vault stopped responding to our communications, and we had to pursue the issue through the Better Business Bureau (complaint: bbb.org/sacramento/busin…). The Better Business Bureau moderated communication between us and The Auto Vault, but ultimately found that they had fulfilled the requirements of the contract we had signed. They mentioned that cases of this type are typical, but that they are not a legislative body, and so were unable to pursue a fraud case against them. The Better Business Bureau also recommended that we pursue the issue with the DMV body responsible for licensing dealers, and in small claims court. I would recommend for anyone considering purchasing a vehicle from The Auto Vault that they find a more reputable dealer better able to guarantee their products. It was a mistake to trust The Auto Vault, and a bigger one to sign a contract an As-Is contract with them. BUYER BEWARE More