Best time to buy?

[saskia]

Sold my tvr seac last june and bought a black mc with very low mileage in july 2012 , from an ex tvr owner , great chap who could give me his thoughts on the similarities and differences between the two marques. Very glad I bought my mc from him .

 

[carl]

If you have mileage, age, number of owners and colour constraints you need to be buying new cars not second-hand ones.

 

[Ninarvana]

It's funny how marmite that sepang bronze is... I've never seen that colour on a Z in person but I'm quite taken with it from photographs I've seen, I think it's really unusual. I'd say the only colour on a Coupe that doesn't do it for me would be the Imola Red so each to their own. If we all liked the same things in life, it would be pretty boring!

Update:

The car Popey linked to me... The seller emailed me over a list of the service history which is as follows;
23.03.07 – Pre-delivery check.
17.09.07 – 1,518 miles: Running-in check.
04.04.09 – 9,510 miles: Oil Service and Micro-filter change.
25.04.11 – 14,848 miles: Inspection II, Micro-filter change and Air cleaner element.
20.04.11 – 15,739 miles: Approved used car check.
08.12.12 – 20,208 miles: Winter health check.
09.08.13 – 21,761 miles: Oil service, Brake fluid and Micro-filter.

Whilst there seems to be a typo between the inspection and UCC, one thing I'm learning is why is it so hard to find a vehicle that has a service history that makes complete sense. The running in check was 300miles late and its gone straight into an inspection 2 which is strange (or perhaps a dealer stamp error? etc)...

Thoughts?

 

[Simon_P]

It's funny how marmite that sepang bronze is... I've never seen that colour on a Z in person but I'm quite taken with it from photographs I've seen, I think it's really unusual. I'd say the only colour on a Coupe that doesn't do it for me would be the Imola Red so each to their own. If we all liked the same things in life, it would be pretty boring!

Update:

The car Popey linked to me... The seller emailed me over a list of the service history which is as follows;
23.03.07 – Pre-delivery check.
17.09.07 – 1,518 miles: Running-in check.
04.04.09 – 9,510 miles: Oil Service and Micro-filter change.
25.04.11 – 14,848 miles: Inspection II, Micro-filter change and Air cleaner element.
20.04.11 – 15,739 miles: Approved used car check.
08.12.12 – 20,208 miles: Winter health check.
09.08.13 – 21,761 miles: Oil service, Brake fluid and Micro-filter.

Whilst there seems to be a typo between the inspection and UCC, one thing I'm learning is why is it so hard to find a vehicle that has a service history that makes complete sense. The running in check was 300miles late and its gone straight into an inspection 2 which is strange (or perhaps a dealer stamp error? etc)...

Thoughts?

Don't worry about the running in check there is few hundred miles either side of the 1200 mile guide rule. It’s been through an approved check previously so I would check with BMW (are you putting a warranty on it?) to make sure it’s within tolerance. The inspection is wrong, have they just miss typed it to you - have you seen the record with your own eyes that it says inspection 2?

Mine had an Inspection 1 a month or so before I bought it at the suppling BMW dealer at 14,000 miles on the two year rule.

 

[Merrsh1]

The service history seems fine. As long as the inspection 2 is a typo.

Number of owners would be my number 1 enquiry. Why so many.... is it haunted like Stevens

 

[Ninarvana]

I certainly hope not Merrsh

I'm going to clarify the inspection today and regarding the owners, wanted to check the service history first. The warranty from Hexagon expired in Jan of this year and I would like to renew it for the first year of ownership to start with so that is something else I need to enquire about.

 

[PerryGunn]

The service history seems fine. As long as the inspection 2 is a typo.

To be honest, it wouldn't matter if the car had an Inspection 2 at that point rather than an Inspection I - the owner may have decided that, as it was 4 years old, they would rather give the car a 'full-fat' Inspection 2 than a 'semi-skimmed' inspection 1

Ignoring any arguments regarding 2-year oil services for low-mileage cars, after the initial checks, the recommended regime may be Oil - Inspection 1 - Oil - Inspection 2 and repeat but as Inspection 1 includes an oil service and Inspection 2 includes the items covered during Inspection 1, you could have an Inspection 2 every time if you wanted (and could afford it) without breaching the BMW servicing requirements

 

[mmm-five]

23.03.07 – Pre-delivery check.
17.09.07 – 1,518 miles: Running-in check.
04.04.09 – 9,510 miles: Oil Service and Micro-filter change.
25.04.11 – 14,848 miles: Inspection II, Micro-filter change and Air cleaner element.
20.04.11 – 15,739 miles: Approved used car check.
08.12.12 – 20,208 miles: Winter health check.
09.08.13 – 21,761 miles: Oil service, Brake fluid and Micro-filter.

Hasn't that gone over the 2 year interval for an oil service?

Don't see any brake fluid changes listed in it's 6.5 years.

 

[Stuart Truman]

That Inspection 2 is very close to the AUC check. It may be that it was decided that was what was needed to make the car sellable. That was my negotiation with mine. Although mine was silly low mileage (and as such I was less worried about the service regimen) I used it as a negotiation and got an Inspection 2 as a part of the deal sweetener.

 

[Ninarvana]

http://www.anym.co.uk/classified/e03be-bmw-e86-z4m-coupe

What do I win??

Popey, I thank you for sharing this link! The car looks beautiful, I am going to contact the seller.

Regarding any negative posts on here I'm a little perturbed by the criticism... What is wrong with having tight spec? This is buyer preference and whilst maybe rare, is not impossible. If I wanted to own any black MC, I would have bought that afwul 'shed' I test drove in Sytner Solihull. I understand this doesn't find you a car in a hurry but that doesn't concern me. Some of my choices were not static but desired, I decided to widen my net to include 2007, after looking into models that have come up for sale, a 2008 doesn't necessary buy you a low mileage vehicle but it would be of course nice to own one on a later plate. I currently have a beautiful car and wish I could afford to keep both but sadly that is not the case so any car that I moved onto had to be special. The Z4 however is of course getting older and as I'm not a fan of the E89, I felt I needed to start moving quickly in order to obtain an E86 with the desired low mileage.

I don't think anybody means to criticise. I went through a few phases during my search of questioning whether the car I wanted was in existence. I guess your confidence and "stubborness" (in the nicest possible way ) in your posts as to what you want makes people want to advise that you may face some difficulties.

Then the Black ///MC popey posted arrived, lol.

I think it's sensible to include 2007 cars. As for owners I really wouldn't worry too much. Service history and the car's condition will say alot more about the car's care. I'm the 5th owner of my car and it's a 2007 which had 24,500 when I purchased it back in July.

On a completely unrelated subject I really like your artwork, fancy re-creating a Z4M?

You knabbed quite the gem yourself then, proof of other low mileage black MC's in existence

I have never tried my hand at painting cars before, however I enjoy most pointing my oil brushes at subjects I have a passion for so I'm sure it would be a wonderful challenge You can always drop me an email at [email protected] or a pm on here if you'd like to discuss it further.

 

[BigT]

23.03.07 – Pre-delivery check.
17.09.07 – 1,518 miles: Running-in check.
04.04.09 – 9,510 miles: Oil Service and Micro-filter change.
25.04.11 – 14,848 miles: Inspection II, Micro-filter change and Air cleaner element.
20.04.11 – 15,739 miles: Approved used car check.
08.12.12 – 20,208 miles: Winter health check.
09.08.13 – 21,761 miles: Oil service, Brake fluid and Micro-filter.

Hasn't that gone over the 2 year interval for an oil service?

Don't see any brake fluid changes listed in it's 6.5 years.

Indeed a few months too many between insp 2 (which I assume is a 1) and oil service and no mention of the two brake fluid changes it should have had in 09 and 11. No mention of the tyre inflator check either which gets stamped.

 

[mmm-five]

No mention of the tyre inflator check either which gets stamped.

Mine's never been checked as far as I can tell, despite it having a 'full' dealer history :thumbsdown:

At least mine will be out of warranty/BMW hands soon - only staying in the scheme so they can sort out my little drip from the gearbox under warranty. Last drip took 3 visits to dealers and an independent to show them where the leak was

 

[Popey]

I had an inspection 2 done by BMW as soon as I got my car. Reason for this is I wanted to know everything was 100%. The dealer as offered to write me letter saying this was done at my request.

I'm glad i did it for peace of mind. It may look odd in the book but I can live with that as I have no plans to sell it and as above can get letter of needed.

 

[Merrsh1]

The service history seems fine. As long as the inspection 2 is a typo.

To be honest, it wouldn't matter if the car had an Inspection 2 at that point rather than an Inspection I - the owner may have decided that, as it was 4 years old, they would rather give the car a 'full-fat' Inspection 2 than a 'semi-skimmed' inspection 1

Completely agree. I more meant that I'd check it had an inspection.

 

[CornishRob]

23.03.07 – Pre-delivery check.
17.09.07 – 1,518 miles: Running-in check.
04.04.09 – 9,510 miles: Oil Service and Micro-filter change.
25.04.11 – 14,848 miles: Inspection II, Micro-filter change and Air cleaner element.
20.04.11 – 15,739 miles: Approved used car check.
08.12.12 – 20,208 miles: Winter health check.
09.08.13 – 21,761 miles: Oil service, Brake fluid and Micro-filter.

Hasn't that gone over the 2 year interval for an oil service?

Don't see any brake fluid changes listed in it's 6.5 years.

Indeed a few months too many between insp 2 (which I assume is a 1) and oil service and no mention of the two brake fluid changes it should have had in 09 and 11. No mention of the tyre inflator check either which gets stamped.

Isn't it 21 days over its 2 years, not months? I can't see this making any mechanical difference vs 21 days earlier. The mileage is low between services too, so can't see it being a problem, and I can't see BMW not offering you an extended warranty either if that's what your worries about!

 

[srhutch]

Isn't it 21 days over its 2 years, not months? I can't see this making any mechanical difference vs 21 days earlier. The mileage is low between services too, so can't see it being a problem, and I can't see BMW not offering you an extended warranty either if that's what your worries about!

It's four months over the 2 year period looking above.

But there is a typo or something wrong somewhere as the dates below cannot be right.

25.04.11 – 14,848 miles: Inspection II, Micro-filter change and Air cleaner element.
20.04.11 – 15,739 miles: Approved used car check.

 

[CornishRob]

Sorry, I must be looking at something different to you lot.

04-04-09 oil
25-04-11 for Inspection whatever it was?

Which one has months between?

Sorry, looking at it on my IPhone, so obviously missing something somewhere.

 

[StevenH72]

Sorry, I must be looking at something different to you lot.

04-04-09 oil
25-04-11 for Inspection whatever it was?

Which one has months between?

Sorry, looking at it on my IPhone, so obviously missing something somewhere.

It's the difference between the Insp II and 2013 Oil Service which is 4 months above the two year window.

It's only covered 7k in that time though, so I don't think that would be a huge issue. Checking for brake fluid changes is more critical imo.

 

[CornishRob]

Sorry, I must be looking at something different to you lot.

04-04-09 oil
25-04-11 for Inspection whatever it was?

Which one has months between?

Sorry, looking at it on my IPhone, so obviously missing something somewhere.

It's the difference between the Insp II and 2013 Oil Service which is 4 months above the two year window.

It's only covered 7k in that time though, so I don't think that would be a huge issue. Checking for brake fluid changes is more critical imo.

I'm an idiot! After reading back, it's even highlighted in red.

Long day...

 

[StevenH72]

Sorry, I must be looking at something different to you lot.

04-04-09 oil
25-04-11 for Inspection whatever it was?

Which one has months between?

Sorry, looking at it on my IPhone, so obviously missing something somewhere.

It's the difference between the Insp II and 2013 Oil Service which is 4 months above the two year window.

It's only covered 7k in that time though, so I don't think that would be a huge issue. Checking for brake fluid changes is more critical imo.

I'm an idiot! After reading back, it's even highlighted in red.

Long day...

We all have 'em :wink: