No oil change for 7 years!

andyw1234 · Post by **andyw1234** » Tue Jul 01, 2025 5:45 pm

Hi folks. I'm looking at buying an e85 with the n52 3.0 engine. It didn't have an oil change for 7 years by the looks of it but in terms of mileage it was only about 17000. What's the thoughts on this?

Many thanks

Rockhopper · Post by **Rockhopper** » Tue Jul 01, 2025 5:54 pm

What are you basing that one? Service book? Mines not been stamped since 2010!

andyw1234 · Post by **andyw1234** » Tue Jul 01, 2025 6:06 pm

Two service stamps in a row with 7 years between them. My daily hasn't had a stamp since I bought it as I do it myself but I don't think this is the case here. Assuming the 7 years is factual, what's your take on it?

john-e89 · Post by **john-e89** » Tue Jul 01, 2025 6:23 pm

Personally I wouldn’t walk away from this if the rest of the car is right, a 3.0 bmw engine can stand this oil issue. If it’s running well with no blue smoke then if the price is fair I’d change the oil asap and don’t worry about it.

Rockhopper · Post by **Rockhopper** » Tue Jul 01, 2025 6:26 pm

I tend to buy cars based on my own assessment of them. Service history is only of benefit when you come to sell. If the MOT history is good and the oil is nice and clean and there is plenty of it and the car is cheap enough then go for it.

andyw1234 · Post by **andyw1234** » Tue Jul 01, 2025 6:46 pm

This was my thinking too.

Many thanks

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Tue Jul 01, 2025 6:52 pm

Perhaps it burns so much oil that it's constantly being topped up and never needs a change.

MikeyH · Post by **MikeyH** » Tue Jul 01, 2025 6:56 pm

Or leaking it

2k35is · Post by **2k35is** » Tue Jul 01, 2025 7:06 pm

From memory when Mobil 1 was first released i mid 70's Audi ran an Audi 100 for 100k miles on it then stripped it down -hardly any engine wear. from hottest to coldest climates in world Article in Car magazine by L. J. K. Setright.
Agree with above posters wouldn't worry about it if rest of condition of car checks out.

Usel · Post by **Usel** » Tue Jul 01, 2025 7:07 pm

If you have scanner 1.4 it will tell you how many days ago the last oil reset happened.

Sometimes there's no paperwork but a service could have happened.

Rockhopper · Post by **Rockhopper** » Tue Jul 01, 2025 7:25 pm

enuff_zed wrote: Tue Jul 01, 2025 6:52 pm Perhaps it burns so much oil that it's constantly being topped up and never needs a change.

I had an Alfa 147, it used so much oil that i never changed it once in the five years I owned it.

deltasierra · Post by **deltasierra** » Tue Jul 01, 2025 7:42 pm

If the price is right, the engine runs smoothly and no smoke the rest of the car is good I’d go for it, there are many reasons why milage is low, what is MOT history.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Tue Jul 01, 2025 8:29 pm

Sorry, I didn't notice you have posted twice -just replied on the other one!

Jollygiant · Post by **Jollygiant** » Wed Jul 02, 2025 6:41 am

Rockhopper wrote: Tue Jul 01, 2025 6:26 pm I tend to buy cars based on my own assessment of them. Service history is only of benefit when you come to sell. If the MOT history is good and the oil is nice and clean and there is plenty of it and the car is cheap enough then go for it.

This 100%.

My Zed came with no paper history. The oil was fresh and I could see new starter and the MOT history was good and only 1 advisory (Bottom ball joint, which went a month after buying) no codes on reader both before starting and after driving and everything else seemed ok. So I bought it and that was year ago and it just passed it's MOT with no advisories.

Beerman · Post by **Beerman** » Wed Jul 02, 2025 7:06 am

Oil degrades over time.

17,000 miles is already quite a long time with the same oil. If it is the same oil and thousands of miles have been done with the oil well past its best, I'd walk away.

With cars of this age and value there will often be holes in the service history. A 7 year gap is too long for me.

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