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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

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

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?

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.

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 was my thinking too.

Many thanks

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

Or leaking it

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.