Buying a Z4 M Coupe, need an advice

R

RobertRO

Member
I am about to decide on the purchase of a 11/2006 BMW Z4 M Coupe, VIN# LK55136.
Visually, the car seems to be in very good condition, and I like it.

It's the service records that bother me a little bit.
The car mileage is now 33.000 Km, and according to the service book it had only two maintenance interventions so far:
- at 1756 Km / Jan. 2007: break-in check (exactly what operations were included in that "check", it doesn't say);
- at 19030 Km / Sep. 2008: oil service, brake fluid and microfilter.
And that's all.

I know that the service intervals specified for modern cars are quite long, but what I've found in the service book of this Z4 M Coupe makes me think that the car was sort of neglected, maintenance-wise.
If the break-in check included an oil service, then it means that the car ran ~17200 Km on the same oil. If not, then it's even worse: ~19000 Km on same oil - quite a lot for a S54, isn't it?
Subsequently, no oil service for 2 years / ~14000 Km (since Sep. 2008 to this moment).

I would highly appreciate your comments on this.
 
Welcome :)

I wouldn't be too concerned - the official mileage between services is approx 14,000 - 16,000 miles (22,000 - 25,750 km) and whilst a lot of people would prefer to get it done more regularly, these are the distances that BMW suggest. 2 years is also fine and what the service manual states, but again some people prefer to get it done more often.
 
To add to that, brake fluid should be changed every 2 years, so there should be a record of it being changed in 11/2008 and it will be due again right now.
 
No probs - I'm sure someone else will be along with advice as well soon.

Oh and yes the running in service at 1200 miles does include an oil change, so it's the lower of the figures that you're wondering about.
 
As glastoveteran said according to the book the mileage is fine on the same oil. But it's over the 2 years mark which I would worry about, I know it's only a few months but if the owner couldn't be bothered to do an oil service was anything else missed out under their care? And as said it is also due a brake fluid change

I was told by BMW that a month or two over is fine though, and they wouldn't refuse warranty work - might be worth checking against this car with BMW just in case.

As far as I know the running in service is really just an oil change and a poke about, nothing more really. The proper service is the one thats now due, the inspection 1.

Like you I'm concerned about the length of time the oil is in the car and will be doing oil changes on half the stated mileage, as for the small outlay it will cost me it's worth it in the long run, but I don't hear of this being done as a general rule.
 
MyNamesNotBob said:
As glastoveteranBut it's over the 2 years mark which I would worry about, I know it's only a few months but if the owner couldn't be bothered to do an oil service was anything else missed out under their care?
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That Z4 M Coupe is a buy-back against a Porsche, and it is in the dealer's hands now. Unfortunately, it happens quite often that, when the owner knows he will soon part ways with a car, he neglects the maintenance and focuses on his next car.
I wish there were more Z4 M Coupes to choose from, but unfortunately I don't have options within a certain budget.

paddy wright said:
my advice- get the roadster
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On one hand, I like the coupe better than the roadster. On the other hand, here in Bucharest it often happens that a nice car gets keyed, and the side mirros repeatedly stolen. Having a roadster with a softtop, it's like you're asking for extra trouble.
Frankly, buying a Z4 M Coupe these days is a reckless decision. Yes, I can afford it now, but then who can tell what tomorrow will bring? There are a lot of uncertainties regarding the economies, the currencies, the business in general.
On the other hand, one has to enjoy life. It's really a wild guess these days to choose where to draw the line between saving and spending.

The conservative / smart approach would be a Z4 Coupe 3.0si. It's less expensive and the related taxes are significantly lower than those applicable on the M. But I want to buy a keeper, which allows me to perform the maintenance myself. I am deterred by some facts about the 3.0si that I really don't like: exhaust hydraulic tappers noise, lack of an oil dipstick, headbolts popping up sometimes, Al-Mg engine which sheds a lot of Al in the engine oil, troublesome electric steering.
 
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