4 years between oil change... would you buy it???

[cooots]

Hi Guys,

I've asked a similar question in the past, but was hoping you could provide me with further advice...

2007 z4 3.0si Coupe with just 20,000kms (12,500miles) on the clock. Perfect in every way (and there's not many z4s available in this country).

Catch is, the car was only driven on the weekends, otherwise it would sit in the guys garage. The car's FIRST service was undertaken recently on 6 July 2011. That's over 4 years on the same oil and brake fluid. I understand that oil breaks down, can get contaminated and maybe even gluggy over time, but with such low kilometres, do you think it would be a problem?

Would you buy the car?

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mafoo]

Personally I would be a be a bit weary. Did it even get its running in service?

 

[aquazi]

I wouldnt personally buy it.... heck i think even more 12 months is too long between oil changes!

Personally I would be a be a bit weary. Did it even get its running in service?

Only M's need this.

 

[a11y]

I wouldnt personally buy it.... heck i think even more 12 months is too long between oil changes!

Agree, I know the OP says they're rare around his way but I'd pass on this one too. I also agree that the ~15k miles or 2 years between oil changes is too long - mine gets driven approx 5k miles per year and I change the oil annually between official 2-yearly inspections/oil changes.

 

[ZermattV]

I'd give it a wide berth too............ would be a nightmare to resell on too..

 

[powerontap]

Lack of miles put on a car is no excuse for not giving it proper mainrenance. Agree with above comments, would pass on it.

 

[Mr Whippy]

Give it a pass...

Leaving it a bit longer, or missing a service on a car that is used often is less of an issue, but just not having any attention for 4yrs AND light use is a combo that will only be a genuinely bad thing imo.

His dealer should be given a hard kick for letting him think it was 'ok'

I had a convo with a BMW dealer in the UK with a car and their lack of servicing it at 2yrs... it was over the 2 yrs by about 5 months but had only done about 5k since the last service...

Imo it's WORSE on a low-use car to miss the service interval. Even if you never change the oil on my car, the rate it burns it, every 25k miles it'd have fresh oil anyway, ish

Dave

 

[lacroupade]

Modern oil is way more robust that it used to be......although it might have an effect come resale time, I'd use it to beat the price down....with such a low mileage it won't have done any harm whatsoever.

 

[Tommo Two]

If you do buy it, i would do a total fluid change if i were you, brake fluid oil coolant. TBH i like to do that anyway when i buy a car!

 

[sars]

Modern oil is way more robust that it used to be......although it might have an effect come resale time, I'd use it to beat the price down....with such a low mileage it won't have done any harm whatsoever.

+1, after all it will be fully synthetic oil

 

[Half Colin]

Modern oil is way more robust that it used to be......although it might have an effect come resale time, I'd use it to beat the price down....with such a low mileage it won't have done any harm whatsoever.

X2 go for it

 

[Jembo]

Nice as it may be, am sure this won't be the only low milage example. Tend to think anyone who's cared as little for their car as this might not have given it the attention it needed over things you can't see, though have always preferred a car that's been regularly garaged & driven.

On a closing note of so called wisdom, try considering this as you would a bus... if you miss one, don't get hung up about it as another will come along... (some say the same can be said about women)

J

 

[Taz]

Modern oil is way more robust that it used to be......although it might have an effect come resale time, I'd use it to beat the price down....with such a low mileage it won't have done any harm whatsoever.

X2 go for it

ditto, just use the lack of service as a battering tool, it will happen to you when you come to resell

 

[RichardG]

Tend to think anyone who's cared as little for their car as this might not have given it the attention it needed over things you can't see, though have always preferred a car that's been regularly garaged & driven.

You only have to look some of the posts on this site to find out how many people get confused by the service requirements.
They just look at their mileage indicator telling them they have x number of miles to the service and go by that, it's not necessarily neglect just not understanding that it is either mileage or time based depending on what comes sooner.
That said given the choice of 2 indentical cars one that has been serviced to recondations and one that hasn't I know which I would take.
But as others have said you could use it as a big stick to try and drive a bargin price.

 

[Taz]

i think disk/brakes would be more of a concern to me

 

[Taz]

bmw must loose thousands because people don't get there sevices done on time

as a business why do bmw not have a database and send out reminders to there customers

 

[cj10jeeper]

I would not touch it unless very cheap, for a variety of reasons:

Old oil and brake fluid have sat in the system for 4 years. Although it won't deteriorate much the oil could be full of contaminants and engine be rusted to bits with condensation in it

Brake fluid attracts water so the pipes could have corroded from inside.

Not having any sort of service is indicative of lacl of care so:
Tyres will be 4 year or older and brittle
Brake calipers may be corroded and worn, etc.

All said it's down to your level of risk aversion, how rare Zeds are and if you can get the deal on it.

 

[ChawenHalo]

Modern oil is way more robust that it used to be......although it might have an effect come resale time, I'd use it to beat the price down....with such a low mileage it won't have done any harm whatsoever.

+1, after all it will be fully synthetic oil

I also agree with you. Synthetic does deteriorate but very slowly. So long as its been driven regularly it does not really matter. + you can use it to get a really good deal.

Sounds like a bargain and a good way to get the car of your dreams

 

[Garvin]

I wouldn't worry about it. 3k miles, per year is enough to keep things ticking over nicely and the synthetic oil won't have deteriorated much, if anything at all. As for brakes etc, again 3k miles a year should keep them moving and OK - I doubt the hygroscopic characteristic of the brake fluid will have caused any tangible corrosion - the main problem with brake fluid absorbing moisture is that it affects the efficiency as the water is more compressible than the brake fluid which makes the brakes a little more 'spongy' and the water can boil at the temperatures generated in the calipers etc and you end up with early brake fade. Just make sure it has a damn good service.

 

[Taz]

OP, you should create a poll on this 1, would be an interesting result