First Service - 3 Years ??

[Wondermike]

Is it a private sale or a non-franchised dealer? Plenty of choice on BMW website for another grand or so, and a years proper warranty with it.

The spanner on the dash wouldn't just have appeared after three years, you would have to drive around ignoring it for a year.

[TitanTim]

With only 4500k miles on the clock, I'd snap it up. It'll feel like a new car.
Maybe could have done with an oil change at 2 years, but no real biggie if it hasn't been abused.
To much unjustified paranoia with low mile cars. Should be the opposite.

It will smell like a new car, look fresh and be very satisfying - then the bills will start coming in. The battery will fail prematurely - sorry sir, that's not covered in a used car warranty - you notice the tyres are slightly out of balance - sorry sir, we can't balance them as they have flat spots - no it's not covered by warranty. Why are my mirrors so slow - the grease has gone hard in them. - Oh, that's normal sir, no it's not a fault, it's a feature.

This is from first hand experience - no paranoia - then I was stupid enough to do it again!!!!! It started with the battery failing, then the brakes sticking!!!! Ahhhhh!!!

Batteries and tyres would have needed replacing after 3 years and 36k miles anyway (average mileage).
As long as you could get a company to warranty it, I don't see the problem.
It hasn't been in storage for 10 years where your fears would be more justified.

1.5k per year is about right for a summer/fun garage queen toy. Nice.

Agreed, my Z3 does less than a 1000 a year, is 12 years old and runs mint, just covered 25K now, never had any probs in the 5 years I've owned it and has been stored the past 4 winters for 6 months again with no problems. I would be more concerned with higher than average mileage with no service record.

End of the day, just get the car checked out before parting with the cash.
Tim.

[jabber]

Thanks for the helpful comments guys.

It has an asking price of £17,750 in white with red leather, manual and V spoke alloys. It looks the part and will now be used on a daily basis doing about 15,000 mile a year.

I was offered less than that for my 11 plate with sat nav heated seats full up to date service history and only done 11k

[n8ony]

Jabber

I will take it. Where do I sign !!

I think I have decided to leave this one, so the search continues.

[Z4_Gaz]

I will gladly do you a swap?

I have 76k on mine now (almost 4 years old). Everything is nicely worn in, so no premature failures to worry about. If something fails, at least I have had my moneys worth and it really will be worn out.