Stretched service intervals - would you?

D

drjhill

Member
Been looking at a Z4C today (so 3.0 N52 engine) service history is as follows

Registered Jan 2007

Oil service at 15k but not until June 2009 (2 years 5 months)

Inspection 1 at 35k Jan 2011 (20k without oil change)

now showing 3800 miles until next oil service

I'm old school when it comes to oil changes (you can't have too many of them) though I know some feel modern oils and engines are too good to allow proper bedding in unless you thrash them a bit.

Dealer offered a cost price warranty and suggests renewing as long as I keep the car. Even said he would buy it back off me in 3 years

Whaddayareckon then? Jump in or walk away
 
I would check with BMW to see if its had any un-stamped services on between. One service overdue probably isn't the end of the world (for non ///M cars), but only 2 services since 2007? I wouldn't jump in...


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Be aware that if the service has not been done every 2 years then I doubt any warranty will cover the engine as BMW service schedules have not been followed.

Is this through a BMW main dealer?
 
I will check with BMW about extra servicing though they were not especially helpful last time I spoke to them, even though I was paying a pound a minute.

My thinking re warranty exactly the same as yours, outside the manufacturers schedule so no chance, and no goodwill from BMW

This is an independent dealer, claims his prep and warranty (which he wants me to pay for) is to BMW standards. That'll be why he hasn't got the franchise then

Car is nice but asking price is strong considering spec is not extravagant, not low mileage, not FSH as it turns out etc
 
If driven easy, the mileage interval for oil service can get close to 20k, so technically, the only fault may be that extra 5 months time. As srhutch says, this can be a huge technicality. Assuming you can get good warranty coverage despite this, the one time 5 months doesn't concern me too much.

OTOH, going 20k on the same oil makes me squirm, even if the SIA says it's OK. Also, it seems unlikely the same owner would get a 15k interval one time and 20k the next. How many miles on it now? 46k? or closer to 50?

If the warranty coverage is sorted to your satisfaction, I would adjust my fair price estimate accordingly and bid down the price, and if I didn't get it, walk away. It's worth a go for the right price, but there are other cars out there with proper service history.
 
Just thought about this some more, doesn't add up. If service reset at 35k, will be due again at 50k max. But car is now at 52k with 3800 still to go.

So either extra unstamped service, reset at some other time or something wrong with service indicator.

Unless there is a good explanation, dealer is not willing to move enough on price to take this punt.

I rode away on my bike in fact. All things come to those who wait ...
 
My 3.0si was similar, oil service at 17k and just over 2 years - was on 33k when I bought it at 4 years, still showing 3000 until Inspection 1, got it done at 34k and 4 years 3 months and then showing 15500 until the next oil service. From what I know of the previous owner and their driving I suspect it was driven pretty gently, mostly motorway at 50-60.

In this case I would use it as a bargaining tool but not be too concerned about it :).
 
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