E86 Z4 Coupe service history - thoughts?

[j24]

Hi all,

My first post on the forum! New to Z4's and currently on the lookout for a Z4 coupe.

Just wanted to get some thoughts on what's in the service book:


Dec 2008
Pre delivery check

Dec 2011 - 9800 miles
Oil service
Brake fluid
Micro filter

April 2013 - 14900 miles
Oil service

December 2014 - 24900 miles
Inspection I (have read this includes oil and filter?)

January 2017 - 40100 miles
Oil service
Inspection II
Brake fluid
Micro filter
Air cleaner element

July 2019 - 57300 miles
Oil service
Micro filter

November 2020 - 65000 miles
Oil service
Brake fluid

April 2022 - 78300 miles
Oil service
Micro filter
Air cleaner element
Plugs


Anyway thanks for reading - really appreciate any thoughts/guidance from others more experienced than myself!

 

[bigwinn]

How many owners?



Those gaps look a little leggy and could help negotiations on price of you decide it’s worth the risk

It’s heading towards needing the water pump doing soon too so use that to further barter

 

[Zedebee]

Welcome to the forum j24. It’s good you are looking at an E86 coupe, they are terrific cars, and generally robust. You will get a range of opinions about service history on here. Personally I would view that service history as being perfectly OK and should not be a cause for worry. It is quite common for these 15+ year old cars to have only 3 or 4 services if they have been serviced according to the on board indicator. The real wear and tear on the engine will be due to how it has been driven and you will a better idea about that from the general condition, the MOT history, and whether it has track-orientated modifications.

 

[N4LLY]

As above.
If a bog standard un-modded car, i would not be put off by the service history.
You say the MOT history is clean and ticks all your boxes.

Would suggest a service at each MOT booking from now on though.

(Many more opinions incoming )

 

[inkey$]

Looking at the history you’ve provided, I wouldn't worry too much about that. If it were my car I’d probably be looking to get an Inspection 1 done next.

 

[smorris_12]

Seems fine. Worrying about what happened service-wise a dozen years ago is a waste of time (barring super high performance engines that have a strict running in regime.) As long as it's had oil as per mileage and brake fluid now and again then I'd look no further.

Purchase as per current condition and how long the current owner has had it. To my mind the number of owners is the killer of cars, particularly as they get older. Each new owner treats it as an ever cheaper car (and therefore is wont to spend less on servicing, or skip it completely) or punts it on rapidly because they've spotted something nasty.

 

[Pondrew]

I can't see a problem with that history, either TBH. The only service that was significantly late was the first one and that was at only 10k miles.
The car is 14 years old and has had 7 services, therefore has had one on average every 2 years.

 

[Zedebee]

To my mind the number of owners is the killer of cars, particularly as they get older. Each new owner treats it as an ever cheaper car (and therefore is wont to spend less on servicing, or skip it completely) or punts it on rapidly because they've spotted something nasty.

Broadly speaking, I’d agree, however there are a handful of sympathists on here who are selling on cars in significantly better order than they acquired them, even though another owner has been added to the V5 and the car changed hands after only a few months. To be fair this applies more to Roadsters, where the hobby investment is less, than to Coupes.

 

[j24]

How many owners?

5 - including the current owner, who has had it two years.

As long as it's had oil as per mileage and brake fluid now and again then I'd look no further.

The only service that was significantly late was the first one and that was at only 10k miles.

Thanks both. Agree re the first service not being a big worry. For me it's the most recent three year/21,000 mile gap between oil services (July 2019 - Sep 2022) which is a little bit concerning at face value... I'd be less worried if it was a few years back, but as the most recent service interval it's a little worrying.

Maybe not a huge issue in isolation?

 

[j24]

Thanks for the replies all, really appreciate it!

As I just mentioned in my other reply, not too worried about the first service, more so the fact the car has recently just gone over three years and 21000 miles between oil services (July 2019 - September 2022). That doesn't seem ideal on a 14-year-old car, but maybe it's not something to be overly worried about?

Definitely feeling a little more reassured after reading replies.

Would suggest a service at each MOT booking from now on though.

If it were my car I’d probably be looking to get an Inspection 1 done next.

Thank you both, my inclination would probably be towards a yearly service. Must admit I still need to get my head around the whole Inspection 1&2 side of things... but looking at existing service history looks like it could be due an inspection 1 next year

 

[N4LLY]

July 2019 - 57300 miles
To
September 2022 - 78300 miles

Would imagine owner would have to put fresh oil in themselves. I know i would :wink:

Do you have a link to particular car for sale ? [ref]j24[/ref],

 

[N4LLY]

Yep an inspection 1 next time around would be a good plan.

 

[j24]

Do you have a link to particular car for sale ?

Yep:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210301213984

It definitely looks the part in montego blue!

July 2019 - 57300 miles
To
September 2022 - 78300 miles

Would imagine owner would have to put fresh oil in themselves.

Have asked, but unfortunately it's a no...

Maybe it's not a dealbreaker - The rest of the history is alright, and it's only this one service history gap that's I'm concerned about.

I'd be intending to service more regularly than has been the case so far, so maybe I should be focussing on condition of car in person tomorrow and put it to the back of my mind - with the knowledge that if I buy it I'll be servicing it more frequently!

 

[smorris_12]

I wouldn't even begin to worry about the 21k between services. A few k over isn't going to break anything.

I only run to the scheduled changes on my cars and only ever buy the cheapest oil of the correct spec. My 3 series has 276k on it and the last thing I need worry about is oil related wear. Ditto the X5 with 188k. And these are both diesels which do far worse things to their oil then a cleanly behaved petrol.

 

[Pondrew]

Yep:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 0301213984

It definitely looks the part in montego blue!

It does present very well from the ad pictures.
It looks like the driver's seat bolster is in pretty good nick, which (especially with a white interior) is pretty unusual for a BM. This would lead me to think it has been quite well looked after generally.
TBH 5 owners on a 14 year old Z4 is nothing. Cars that are generally used as second/ hobby cars change hands frequently IME.
If you want a car that has had a service every year for 14 years then you either are going to pay big bucks or it doesn't exist. If it is the colour, spec, mileage, price you want then the tiny blip in service history shouldn't be a deal breaker IMO.
As the saying goes "don't sweat the small stuff".

 

[Zedebee]

Yep:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 0301213984

It definitely looks the part in montego blue

Very nice. Good price too. If I was looking to get back in a coupe, I’d definitely consider this one and the service history would not put me off at all.

 

[Secondtothird]

Looks very nice. I'd echo the consensus in the comments so far, only issue is whether it'll put off the owner after you, if you ever decide to sell. (They are such an event to drive, you may never wish to!) I drive mine regularly and have fresh oil and filter three times a year for peace of mind.

Owen

 

[Mr Tidy]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

There is nothing in that service history that would put me off. My Montego Blue Coupe had 5 previous keepers when I bought it in 2016 and my MC had 7 when I bought it in 2019. As others have said frequent ownership changes seem quite common on 2 seaters.

Whether it is this one or not good luck with your Coupe search - they are great cars.

 

[N4LLY]

Do you have a link to particular car for sale ?

Yep:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210301213984

It definitely looks the part in montego blue!

Yep looking damn fine from here

 

[j24]

Update:



Brought it home last night!