Dough - I understand that, but who's to say that previous owner did all recommended maintenance & repairs when required? Things like flushes, brakes, etc - wear items - they're given the option or told at time of visit but they're not considered warranty. When I worked for BMW, there were tons of customers who only did what was FREE. or required to keep warranty in force. I had many a customer told of waterpumps seeping and they refused only later to be towed in with overheated blocks/fried heads etc - bitching "isn't that a warranty item?" Dough, I think you're a victim of a bad previous owner.
As the techs use to say - "Stupidity is not covered under warranty"