Buying a Z4M with 'iffy' service history

W

winshent

New member
Hi Guys

This is my first post on the forum..

I'm going to view a Z4M tomorrow, its a local private sale on 49k, is the perfect spec for me and is keenly priced. The seller has emailed me the service details and it looks out of shape. I'm not prepared to take on an M without a BMW Mondial warranty.. There is a gap between 1st oil service and the inspection 1 of c23k... This seems way too high for an M car ?

Here are the details:

Running in check
19/05/2006
1,374m

Oil service / microfilter
11/07/2007
14,448m

Inspection I
17/10/2009
37,452m

Oil service
11/07/2012
48,874m

Brake fluid
11/07/2012
48,874m

What do you guys think? Mondial said I would need to check with a dealer if the car meets the service requirements. Even if it does, would you guys still think its worth it?

Another issue is that the seller replaced one rear tyre.. Surely you should replace both at the same time ?

For me, running an M engine for 23k on the same oil is a no-no... Should I just move on ?

Vince
 
Ye its 2 years or 14k?? unless it has been done and hasnt been stamped which is a possibility. Its also ready for its inspection 2 really... Mine was done at 46.5k
 
Send a quick message to the seller asking for clarification. It could be that it's had an engine change (like mine) and thus reset the service interval.

Mine goes something like:
* PDI @ 25/10/06
* Running in service @ 1.2k @ 03/05/07
* Oil service/brake fluid @ 10k @ 13/11/08
* Oil service/microfilter @ 35k @ 06/09/10
* Brake fluid @ 14/01/11 (no mileage recorded in book)
* Insp I/microfilter @ 47k @ 06/07/11
* Oil service/microfilter @ 60k @ 04/05/12

So there's a 25k gap between 2 oil services. However in that gap (@ 22.5k) there was an engine change (October 2009), and a 2nd running in service 1k later. Neither are in the service history, but the engine change is documents in copies of the warranty invoice.

What my BMW service history doesn't show is the interim oil service I carry out every 6/7k miles, or the brake fluid replacement I get done at the same time (after finding the BMW brake service left my pedal very spongy and finding lots of air in the system when I power-bled it myself).

If the seller has a straight answer for you, or it's had a new engine, then don't let it put you off. But still ask for proof of whatever reason you get.

Mine is currently under the monthly fully comprehensive Mondial warranty, and I've had no problem with the small warranty claims I've had.
 
A BMW dealer will probably tell you it's OK after all one sold me an ///M that hadn't been serviced for 28 months although mileage wise it was fine. AUC only provides guidelines and this particular dealer took in their words "A view that it would be fine"

Mondial however confirmed that this was out of the service limits so any warranty claim on the engine could have been void.

I rejected the car after finding this out on day 2 (I had asked that the history was 100% before anybody says) and dealer had no choice as the warranty was worthless.

If you want a warrantied car then the service history must be 100%.
 
peddy said:
jamiez said:
The 1 tire change could have been just a puncture
Click to expand...
Wrong thread? :?
Click to expand...

Nope.. part of my original thread below.. Reason I asked is that I was concerned that this might affect/ damage the differential?

winshent said:
Another issue is that the seller replaced one rear tyre.. Surely you should replace both at the same time ?
Click to expand...

I received a response from the seller after enquiring about the 23k miles covered between services. He could not explain it and to his knowledge it had not had an engine change when he bought it at 40k miles 2 years ago..

Its the spec I want, but I'm pretty sure that a warranty would not be approved as of the gap in mileage. Also, there is a gap of 2 years 9 months between the inspection 1 and the last service.

Head is telling me to give it a miss.
 
Unless it's significantly cheaper (£1k-£2k?) than one with a fully-documented service history, then it's probably not worth it.

After all if the seller bought it without checking the service history he might not have bothered looking for other issues when he bought it.
 
winshent said:
peddy said:
jamiez said:
The 1 tire change could have been just a puncture
Click to expand...
Wrong thread? :?
Click to expand...

Nope.. part of my original thread below.. Reason I asked is that I was concerned that this might affect/ damage the differential?

winshent said:
Another issue is that the seller replaced one rear tyre.. Surely you should replace both at the same time ?
Click to expand...

I received a response from the seller after enquiring about the 23k miles covered between services. He could not explain it and to his knowledge it had not had an engine change when he bought it at 40k miles 2 years ago..

Its the spec I want, but I'm pretty sure that a warranty would not be approved as of the gap in mileage. Also, there is a gap of 2 years 9 months between the inspection 1 and the last service.

Head is telling me to give it a miss.
Click to expand...

If the seller really wants to sell - then push back on the seller to get all of this ironed out and presented to you clearly which makes you not worry about these things
 
jamiez said:
If the seller really wants to sell - then push back on the seller to get all of this ironed out and presented to you clearly which makes you not worry about these things
Click to expand...

Not sure what you mean.. He's seems genuine and has been fully transparent with all the details..

Do you mean knock him down in price to counter the servicing issues?

The more important question is would you buy an M car with this servicing?
 
Vince, if you have those concerns then walk away, it will always torment you and you can't change the past.

Andi.
 
andicole0 said:
Vince, if you have those concerns then walk away, it will always torment you and you can't change the past.

Andi.
Click to expand...

Exactly, and likewise when you come to sell the nest buyer will have the same concerns.
 
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