E86 service intervals

alexparker · Post by **alexparker** » Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:11 pm

Hi everyone,

I'm considering a rather tidy E86 at the moment - low mileage, great spec etc. I have an issue with the service intervals in the logbook though - the gap between the pre delivery check and the first service is 22,000 miles/5 years. Inspection 1 was done after 25,000 miles from new. Cause for concern?

Cheers

philbo909 · Post by **philbo909** » Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:26 pm

It's a long gap, but how many years ago? Has it been well serviced since? Test drive it and if it's all tight and nice I see no problem with it personally

hopz121 · Post by **hopz121** » Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:28 pm

Yep,

Servicing is every 2 years as a minimum regardless of mileage!

Service interval is as follows

Oil service
Inspection 1 Service
Oil Service
Inspection 2 Service
Oil Service
etc......

Coolant is every 5 years
Brake fluid is every 2 Years also

Haggle hard or find another one would be my view on it.

5 year old oil isn't good for an engine.

alexparker · Post by **alexparker** » Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:36 pm

Cheers for the replies. It's 12 years old, but has only had three services (the third being a few weeks ago). Oil change, then inspection 2, then inspection 1.

hopz121 · Post by **hopz121** » Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:38 pm

alexparker wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:36 pmCheers for the replies. It's 12 years old, but has only had three services (the third being a few weeks ago). Oil change, then inspection 2, then inspection 1.

Your call plenty of other cars about though.

Id take a cheaper car with more miles that has been serviced correctly personally.

philbo909 · Post by **philbo909** » Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:05 pm

alexparker wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:36 pmCheers for the replies. It's 12 years old, but has only had three services (the third being a few weeks ago). Oil change, then inspection 2, then inspection 1.

A service every four years is bad news, best to steer clear if it's priced as a pristine low miler

philbo909 · Post by **philbo909** » Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:05 pm

Edit: double post

mjennings23 · Post by **mjennings23** » Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:51 pm

Agreed, but then I'm a stickler who does at least an oil service every year despite only doing 8k miles. Its so cheap if you do yourself that it's not worth leaving, £50 for filters and 10l of oil is nothing.

alexparker · Post by **alexparker** » Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:55 pm

philbo909 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:05 pm A service every four years is bad news, best to steer clear if it's priced as a pristine low miler

My feelings exactly... thanks

rally-chris · Post by **rally-chris** » Tue Feb 13, 2018 4:40 pm

There’s only one significant risk resulting from long service intervals on low mileage cars and that is the build up of moisture in the engine oil. Most of the service items are just checks or replacement of items that don’t have a long term harmful effect on the car (like an air filter).

If this car had only one 4 year service gap and then regular servicing over the subsequent years then I wouldn’t be too concerned as any damage to the engine (due to corrosion) will likely have shown up by now (e.g. damage to crankshaft or camshaft bearings etc). However if the car has continued to have long service intervals since then, I would be more circumspect as problems may yet surface.

Chris

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