Does anyone know this car?

[jpd14383]

After an 18 year long love affair with the OG Z4, I’m currently in the market to scratch this old itch!

If the couple of cars I’m looking at is a black Coupe, reg KL57 OAV - figured this place was one of the best to see if it’s previous owner is hiding. It’s currently showing an EML and trying to determine whether I’m buying someone else’s big problem.

 

[mmm-five]

What's the MOT history like - is there anything missing to suggest it's been on a private plate, etc?

If it's had an EML for a while then it would have been pointed out on an MOT, but an EML can be caused by everything from a slight misfire due to lack of use to requiring all new coils, O2 sensors.

You'd need to scan it to see what the EML is for!

 

[tiglon]

After an 18 year long love affair with the OG Z4, I’m currently in the market to scratch this old itch!

If the couple of cars I’m looking at is a black Coupe, reg KL57 OAV - figured this place was one of the best to see if it’s previous owner is hiding. It’s currently showing an EML and trying to determine whether I’m buying someone else’s big problem.

What does the current owner say about it? Why is he not getting it fixed before sale?

 

[jpd14383]

Unfortunately I’m buying it almost blind. I own a used car showroom and typically buy and sell (and own) 2-4 year old boring run of the mill stuff. The last tasty car I owned was an M135i which was just in manufacturers warranty when I bought it so a lot less risk.

This one I’m looking at is at auction, but BCA are another company using COVID as a convenient excuse to make things slightly favoured to them selling, so I can’t see or start the car in the metal prior to bidding - I have an mechanical report which has a yellow (less serious) flag on EML illuminated, but nothing else. Buying from BCA has been a minefield over the last 18 months and it could be almost nothing, or it could be a money sucking nightmare.

 

[Mr Tidy]

BCA are making life difficult for sure!

A mate of mine has an acount with them and says they don't supply and Service History until you've bought the car.

He was looking for a Boxster for a relative and ended up buying one privately for less than the BCA one made.

Good luck if you do go for it.

 

[srhutch]

What's the MOT history like - is there anything missing to suggest it's been on a private plate, etc?

If it's had an EML for a while then it would have been pointed out on an MOT, but an EML can be caused by everything from a slight misfire due to lack of use to requiring all new coils, O2 sensors.

You'd need to scan it to see what the EML is for!

Mot history stays even if the plate is changed so should all be there as far back as the database goes.

 

[jpd14383]

BCA are making life difficult for sure!

A mate of mine has an acount with them and says they don't supply and Service History until you've bought the car.

He was looking for a Boxster for a relative and ended up buying one privately for less than the BCA one made.

Good luck if you do go for it.

Cheers dude. They’re a nightmare. It was bad enough pre covid, now they’re a law unto themselves - gobbling up cars which would come as a part ex via We Buy Any Car, remarketing through the auction then retailing them Cinch. Which are all owned by the same company.

Can’t even get on site anymore until you’ve paid for whatever you’ve bought.

 

[jpd14383]

What's the MOT history like - is there anything missing to suggest it's been on a private plate, etc?

If it's had an EML for a while then it would have been pointed out on an MOT, but an EML can be caused by everything from a slight misfire due to lack of use to requiring all new coils, O2 sensors.

You'd need to scan it to see what the EML is for!

Completely, just wasn’t sure if there’s anything particular on the N52 to kick up and EML. Not too worried about typical sensors etc, it’s if they tend to have anything expensive go as a common issue.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Completely, just wasn’t sure if there’s anything particular on the N52 to kick up and EML. Not too worried about typical sensors etc, it’s if they tend to have anything expensive go as a common issue.

I'm not aware of any common major issues.

My first Z4 had an amber EML come on when the electric water pump died, but the temperature gauge had already gone into the red with the red warning light lit up! A new Pierburg pump is about £250 so long as you don't buy from BMW like my Indy did. :roll:

I got an amber EML on my 2nd Z4 that gave the codes as post-Cat O2 sensors on both banks, but it turned out to just be one of those random electrical glitches BMWs are prone to when the battery is on it's last legs!