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n00b with request for help

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bobtates
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n00b with request for help

Post by bobtates » Sun Dec 31, 2017 4:40 pm

Hello all,
Looking to join the e86 club and everyone I've spoken to has told me to get on here asap, so here I am. Apologies in advance but I'm going to dive straight in with a request for some guidance that will hopefully help me on the way towards Coupe ownership! Here goes:

Before xmas I went to see a black 56 plate SI coupe. Condition was great (totally unmarked outside and in, engine silky smooth etc.) Very genuine seeming owner who agreed to any inspection and took plenty of time to show me the car/paperwork.

The car had 47k miles, and is pretty much standard except for slightly lower Eibach springs (which to my surprise actually seemed to improve the ride but may have been imagining things). So far so good.

My only area of concern is the service history. It has the following:

Stamped in the book:
Aug 2008, Oil Service, 13,800 miles @ BMW
March 2013, Inspection 1, 41,800 miles @ Specialist

Evidence of (but no stamps):
Sep 2015, Oil Service, mileage not noted @ Kwik Fit (?!)
April 2016, Oil Service, 46,200 miles, @ Specialist

plus some brake fluid changes that seem OK.

The obvious issue is the large gap between 1st and 2nd service. The owner has explained that there is an additional service logged 'on the key' mid way between the two stamps. Having read up a bit it seems this might be plausible and a dealer may be able to retrieve the details, though I don't really understand why the book wouldn't be stamped anyway as a matter of course. However even if this proves to be the case, unless I am mistaken it doesn't look like the car has followed the correct schedule, as my understanding is that it should have had: Oil, Insp1, Oil , Insp2, Oil and so on?

Coupes of the right spec don't come along that often, so don't want to let a good car go for the sake of being overly cautious if condition seems good - my main concern would be selling on in the future. I am keen to get the views of some members on here.

Any thoughts/comments (or similar cars for sale) much appreciated!

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Smartbear
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n00b with request for help

Post by Smartbear » Sun Dec 31, 2017 4:56 pm

Hi, I think I’d go to the dealers with the key & get the mystery cleared up regarding the long gap between services.
If you could get the car for a good price and it sounds & drives well I wouldn’t worry so much about it’s future resale, it’s getting on for 12 years old now & if you own it for a few years as well it becomes less important over time imho (M cars excepted)
Rob
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e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold

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Number5
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n00b with request for help

Post by Number5 » Sun Dec 31, 2017 8:21 pm

Hi and Welcome bobates.

You may find this guide useful if you're looking to buy a Zed

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21281

Many Z4 owners go to Eibach springs, so dont be troubled by that. It's a common alternative/upgrade to finding OEM replacements now the cars are pushing 10 years old

Good luck and keep us posted with photos when it arrives !
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MACK
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n00b with request for help

Post by MACK » Sun Dec 31, 2017 9:01 pm

Welcome along,
Service wise you can contact BMW regarding this with the reg/chassis number and if its recorded on the key then its been done at BMW and they have a record of it. There's a central number for this. This will confirm which dealer did the work and you can then contact them to find out exactly what they did.
If you do buy the car you can then send them the book, or pop in if they're close by to have it stamped up and a print out of what they did. some charge for this, but most dont.
Silver 05 3.0i SE
Mods inc - F/L Xenons Clear Ind Rear Lights M Sport Seats & Wheel Eibach/B4 3.64 DIFF (SOLD)

White E89 20i M Sport
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bobtates
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n00b with request for help

Post by bobtates » Tue Jan 02, 2018 10:26 pm

Thanks all for the replies.
I will be printing off that checklist for future viewings :thumbsup:

Will see what info BMW can share and as long as it's had some service around the 25-30k mile mark it's probably ok.

In the meantime going to see another black one at the weekend - it's asking for top money but has my favourite interior, (mainly black with piano black faschia but cream seats and door cards ), is a few years younger and claims full BMW history, so we'll see.

If either end up coming home with me I'll post some pics!

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kis
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n00b with request for help

Post by kis » Fri Jan 12, 2018 1:34 pm

How'd you get on fella? :)
My E85 Z4 3.0i SMG

BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
5 Series - E34 (x2), E39
7 Series - E32
X5 - E53, E70
X6 - E71

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