Ticking Timebombs

B

bluestreak56

Veteran
 Maidenhead
Just saw this E39 on ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bmw520i-sport-/221685603541

Not serviced for 29k miles ..

Also went to see an E38 728i sport listed on gumtree recently, no SH from 30k - 108k

Does anyone actually expect these cars to last another 10k? Will they survive if serviced straight away? Or are they a run for the hills situation?
 
I have seen the images of a non serviced E39 engine block with the head removed, it was black gunk everywhere.
 
I had a 1994 2.0 Honda Accord years ago and put over 130,000 miles on it taking the total to over 185,000 miles.
All it ever had in my ownership servicewise was oil changes over a 10 year period.
Had to replace the sump as it rusted but was still on the original clutch and ran like a dream.
Only got rid as the bodywork was starting to rust and the brake lines needed changed.
I think sometimes servicing can be overrated.
 
Nictrix said:
I had a 1994 2.0 Honda Accord years ago and put over 130,000 miles on it taking the total to over 185,000 miles.
All it ever had in my ownership servicewise was oil changes over a 10 year period.
Had to replace the sump as it rusted but was still on the original clutch and ran like a dream.
Only got rid as the bodywork was starting to rust and the brake lines needed changed.
I think sometimes servicing can be overrated.
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+1 My zed is the only car I've had that has a FBMW SH - probably because if I ever want to sell it every buyer seems paranoid about seeing a good SH - I can understand it in a way because it is a high tec car.

My previous cars included a Cavalier I owned for 11 years and in total covered over 200k miles ( before anybody says how could you do this on the IOW I was working in London for a few years and frequently travelled up North and may other places around the country ) All I ever did was change the oil every so often and replace plugs - had to replace clutch and camshaft but the engine was still fine when I sold it - same thing with a Nissan Bluebird and Renault 16ts - both went on forever with only oil changes etc.
 
I agree with the sentiments re oil changes being the only real important work required frequently, however with the cars I was referring to there is no evidence of anything (inc oil change) over a significant period of time..
 
I get what you are saying, if I was to have advertised my Accord although it had oil changes there was no record of it and the last service in the book was below 50,000miles before I got it.
I really thought I would have got flamed for my post :)
 
I am no mechanic... however having toyed with my mates cars in the past - who had fully build 205's and mini's - oil and break fluid changes are critical.

Having seen some of the junk he got for very cheap with little no service... seized calipers/ hoses etc where the brake fluid deteriorates over time when not replaced (so has more water) For a brakes which are pretty damn important i would always have the fluid changed every couple of years.

However for a dirt cheap car which is a mile cruncher so most of the mileage is when the oil is warm i guess the impact of infrequent oil changes are not as bad as say an car which has covered fewer miles with a longer duration of oil changes.....

Sadly it seems more and more common now with cars which tell them when the service is due based on milage for people not to change the oil every 2 years... so they potentially cover lots of short distances where the oil hasnt reach optimum temp with old dirty oil.
 
Putting my auditor hat on for one second, having no evidence of something isn't proof that it hasn't been done.

I always document my oil changes etc. in my service book, but others may not so unless the PO tells you the car has never had an oil change, I would use it as a bargaining tool (if you like the car and it runs ok).

M52 engines are the same as the M54 in almost every way, and like any engine regular oil changes are required but you'll be able to tell a lot from the engine condition and how it runs more than what's in the book. It's also recoverable, so an immediate oil change/flush would undoubtedly help (plus maybe new plugs, etc.)

I guess in summary, if the price is right, why not?
 
Stratts said:
Putting my auditor hat on for one second, having no evidence of something isn't proof that it hasn't been done.

I always document my oil changes etc. in my service book, but others may not so unless the PO tells you the car has never had an oil change, I would use it as a bargaining tool (if you like the car and it runs ok).

M52 engines are the same as the M54 in almost every way, and like any engine regular oil changes are required but you'll be able to tell a lot from the engine condition and how it runs more than what's in the book. It's also recoverable, so an immediate oil change/flush would undoubtedly help (plus maybe new plugs, etc.)

I guess in summary, if the price is right, why not?
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But on these sorts of cars the price will always be right? Right?

For example. The 728i sport with 108k is priced at £850 (due to no history, no v5, dent in pass side rear door, trim missing on drivers side, small surface rust on both drivers side arches and lcd displays all malfunctioning). I know its not £thousands but still..
 
No, I'd say that was too much for that car, although by the sounds of it the missing history is the least of the issues there.
 
bluestreak56 said:
Stratts said:
Putting my auditor hat on for one second, having no evidence of something isn't proof that it hasn't been done.

I always document my oil changes etc. in my service book, but others may not so unless the PO tells you the car has never had an oil change, I would use it as a bargaining tool (if you like the car and it runs ok).

M52 engines are the same as the M54 in almost every way, and like any engine regular oil changes are required but you'll be able to tell a lot from the engine condition and how it runs more than what's in the book. It's also recoverable, so an immediate oil change/flush would undoubtedly help (plus maybe new plugs, etc.)

I guess in summary, if the price is right, why not?
Click to expand...

But on these sorts of cars the price will always be right? Right?

For example. The 728i sport with 108k is priced at £850 (due to no history, no v5, dent in pass side rear door, trim missing on drivers side, small surface rust on both drivers side arches and lcd displays all malfunctioning). I know its not £thousands but still..
Click to expand...
But in reality its not going to cost £850 though is it.. fixing the dent, rust and missing trim.. a couple of hundred... then the electrics could be a grand even.... factor that in with the risk due to no service and v5... and you are talking about atleast £2K upfront.... could you not get a better example for £2k with a better service risk?
 
Potentially yes which is why I walked away but the thing that really scared me was the lack of history and therefore engine blowing.

RE the V5 he has the paper slip just not the full thing.

Agree with you guys though a decent one can be had for around £2-3k, just requires a lot of searching.

I dont think £850 is too much for the car as it will sell for about that on ebay I think..
 
Join the 7 Series Register, a decent forum where the good E38s come up a lot.

I bought mine (a 1998 non-Sport 728i) for £800 in 2011 when it was a bit of a shed, sold it in 2013 for £2400. Needed a bit of work mechanically (which I sorted) but the bodywork was in good nick, which is the most crucial thing. I think for under £1500 you'll get a decent car, anything above needs to be really good.

I got decent money for mine as it was genuinely the best E38 for sale at that time, and the buyer agreed (he came a long way to buy it). I mention this because at that time £2k was the ceiling price for 728s, even the later facelift ones, so anything above that needed to be special.

I believe the market for these cars is such that £1,800 will now get you a top one. I wouldn't pay any more than that unless it was truly special. Back on topic, you could worry about service history, but the owners of these cars tend not to be boy racers and you will usually not have any engine issues.
 
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