Need some advice

C

Chatuge

Member
hey guys, So I'm looking for a Z4C 3.0 at the moment. I thought that I'd found the perfect one. 1 owner since new, 35K miles, refurbished split rims, good spec. But I've just got hold of the service history and want to get peoples opinions on whether to run!

So car was PDI'd in Nov 2006. It was then not serviced again til August 2011 by a Main Dealer. Brake fluids were done at the same time (stamped up as an "oil service"). It was then serviced May 2015 by a company called "Service for Service" who stamped it as an "oil service" "inspection 1" AND "inspection 2"! They also did the brake fluids. Then it was service November 2017 by BMW main dealer who have stamped up a "inspection 1" and did teh brake fluids again.

Am I being over cautious here on needing to see a row of stamps? The miles its covered is so low. The owner told me that in the first 5 years it was given the "once over" by BMW a few times. (not quite sure what they would have done if they didn't do a service!).

Should I focus on the fact that its now had an Inspection1 by Stephen James done or focus on the lack of service at the start of its life?

What do people think?
 
Low miles but still 5 years with no service history is pushing it - and the history after that is very odd too, nearly 4 years until the next one. Being told by the owner that it was given the 'once over' in 5 years by BMW but there's nothing in the service book sounds iffy to me :?
 
Marlon said:
5 years with no service history is pushing it - and the history after that is very odd too, nearly 4 years until the next one. Being told by the owner that it was given the 'once over' in 5 years by BMW but there's nothing in the service book sounds iffy to me :?
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hmmm I am taking that as "yeah I didn't do anything in those 5 years!" to be honest! He can't prove otherwise!

So the main question is whether the history should mean that I walk away. It did 22K miles on the first oil basically! The Inspection 1 in 2017 obviously means its got good oil and parts now, so part of me thinks "it'll be ok".
 
Chatuge said:
Marlon said:
5 years with no service history is pushing it - and the history after that is very odd too, nearly 4 years until the next one. Being told by the owner that it was given the 'once over' in 5 years by BMW but there's nothing in the service book sounds iffy to me :?
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hmmm I am taking that as "yeah I didn't do anything in those 5 years!" to be honest! He can't prove otherwise!

So the main question is whether the history should mean that I walk away. It did 22K miles on the first oil basically! The Inspection 1 in 2017 obviously means its got good oil and parts now, so part of me thinks "it'll be ok".
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If you can be sure of the mileage (if you haven't already then check the MOT history https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history) and its running nice and sweet then its probably not a problem, however the lack of history could put buyers off when you come to sell. Not an issue if you are going to keep it for years and pile on the miles however.
 
The MOT history all checks out and also checks out with his story. He said that he didn't use the car between 2011 and 2015 (which shows on the MOT history as it didn't have one!).

History looks like this :

May 2011 : mileage 15,085
May 2015 : mileage 25,059
November 2016 : mileage 32,912
November 2017 : mileage 36,515

So you can see the gap between 2011 an 2015 when it didn't have an MOT.

So the stories all seem to line up!

Thoughts now?
 
I assume you've looked at other Zeds or at least other ads and have a good idea of what a car with straight history is worth?

Now ask yourself is this discounted enough that I could afford to sell it on without expecting to get 'full history - full MOT' money? If not then offer less. Its harsh but in my view the lack of inspections and MOTs are the vendors problem don't make them yours. Particularly don't make it your financial problem. Other cars will come along.

Knowing all this at the right price it may be a real bargain - I bought a Focus RS with no history as a finance snatch back (for no history money of course) and in four phone calls had all the service records from Ford dealers in the area it was last sold - garage name on number plates!

By the way why was it off the road - working abroad; illness; indifference or in bits for repair?
 
To me, unless the owner is an enthusiast/engineer/mechanic and has done the work themselves (with receipts), lack of service shows a lack of care (although it could be ignorance), as does 4 different tyre makes or budget tyres so make sure you check the whole car thoroughly. Brake fluid change is frequently overlooked and should be done every 2 years, but easy to check, it should look the colour of chardonnay not tea without milk.
 
If it genuinely wasn't used for years I'd bail on it. Either been in an accident and in bits or the engine went bang and was sitting around for ages.
Either way after 2011 he did 10k on it and then what?
As for not repairing it after an accident.. track day error? Barely anyone insures them properly for this and just take a £50 premium with a 3k excess hoping for the best.
 
Good points everyone! So he said it was off the road as he didn’t drive (he lives in central London). He wants £13k for it! I reckon a bid at £10k is fair with that lack of history at the start. Thoughts??
 
I would wait for another one to come along,as lack of servicing would put me off......going 4&5 years between services is not proper care,they need services every 2 years at most,regardless of my late or use.
Fluids congeal after just sitting for several years,which isn't great.

I would keep looking of it were me,but justly opinion.
 
AS said above it all depends on what you intend to do with the car- if it’s a long term keeper, you trust the seller and the last service doesn’t throw up any nasty warnings then go for it- a nice low mile, original car (factor in around a grand to sort any issues that do crop up- the brake lines could be done due sitting so long).
However if it’s one you will want to sell on shortly then the next buyer will have the same concerns you do and it will be hard to shift.
 
paddy wright said:
AS said above it all depends on what you intend to do with the car- if it’s a long term keeper, you trust the seller and the last service doesn’t throw up any nasty warnings then go for it- a nice low mile, original car (factor in around a grand to sort any issues that do crop up- the brake lines could be done due sitting so long).
However if it’s one you will want to sell on shortly then the next buyer will have the same concerns you do and it will be hard to shift.
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Yep, I always have intentions to keep them for a while and then once I get the itch scratched they usually go up for sale again within 18-24 months! So perhaps this isn't the one for me!
 
My 2003 with 88k miles 6400 a year was owned by the second person for the last 12 yrs as a snowbird here in AZ...

The car's service records were intense... springs, control arms, drive belt, abs sensors, brake and coolant flushes, pad replacments and even new window tint at the bmw dealership....

It seems these cars and replacement part needs at least on my car were up to about 70k miles...
I can't imagine if I bought a 30k mile Z and had to replace all of these items on my own...

Just personal experience here
 
Where and how was it stored ?

Was it left outside unused for 5 years or properly winterized and under cover/indoors ?

Tyres?
If originals they will all need replacing .. I’d check the manufacture dates on the sidewalls

If it’s sat on them for 5 years without moving I’d be looking at changing them anyway

Cars can really deteriorate if not used and stored properly
I’d say it would need an Insp 2 now at that age

I wouldn’t be hung up on a one owner car .. mine had 40k on it and five owners but a massive history file and mint condition with an average of 4K pa

Personally if it wasn’t stored properly it would have to be very cheap for me
 
Buying cheap cars with sketchy history is OK in my book, you buy on condition there and then and accept it for what it is.
Spending more than £5k is where I take things seriously.

The fact you're asking means it's not something you're comfortable with, for the sake of avoiding sleepless nights wondering, id walk away and let someone else more carefree take the chance. You'll never know what the truth really is, too many variables.
 
Chatuge said:
The owner told me that in the first 5 years it was given the "once over" by BMW a few times. (not quite sure what they would have done if they didn't do a service

What do people think?
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Ask him which dealer

If they’ve had it in they will have a record of its visit .. mine gets a check by BMW on its annual service (April) and MOT (Oct)

All those visits are documented and on the BMW dealers computer

If he can’t give you those details assume it never happened
 
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