Z4 service
- Thread starter redgum
- Start date
There is very little benefit in changing the oil every year if the car isn’t getting much use. Same with spark plugs and filters. The thing that is most time sensitive is brake fluid, which absorbs water over time, but even so I think the guidance is to replace every four years.
Whatever you decide, extra servicing won’t hurt your resale value.
Whatever you decide, extra servicing won’t hurt your resale value.
What happens if you need to top up 2 litres of fresh oil during the year also?But then I suppose you’ll be using your car more,anyway oil is cheap compared to a new engine and I tell myself this and I enjoy servicing my cars,valve stem seal change is next on my list.Zedebee said:
Thanks for your reply, I would regularliy check oil anyway, I may get a full service , it was serviced by BMW 400miles ago, the book has been stamped, but no date or signature, the same for the last four services so I'm wondering if I have some fake history. I have done the usual searches and the milage and mot's are correct but can't check service history. Have contacted the dealerships but awaiting on reply. The car has a genuine 58000 miles so not all bad news.
North West Surrey
It does seem strange to have 5 stamps with no date or initials - hopefully you'll get some clarification from the dealerships.
My Z4s have only tended to average about 4,000 miles a year so I've just stuck with the 2-yearly intervals as it is always way off having done the mileage shown on the OBC.
My Z4s have only tended to average about 4,000 miles a year so I've just stuck with the 2-yearly intervals as it is always way off having done the mileage shown on the OBC.
I'm starting to get few bad vibes, the previous owner said he never noticed the lack of signatures, I didn't until I had travelle 200 miles home and paid for the car. It seems that the z4 market is well up for scammes as a full service history can add a fair bit to the value. Every days a school day I guess but as you get older you start to loose your edge 
redgum said:I'm starting to get few bad vibes, the previous owner said he never noticed the lack of signatures, I didn't until I had travelle 200 miles home and paid for the car. It seems that the z4 market is well up for scammes as a full service history can add a fair bit to the value. Every days a school day I guess but as you get older you start to loose your edge
Assuming you did as much diligence before setting off to buy the car you only have yourself to blame if history isn't as you wanted it to be .
That itself doesn't make it a bad car , these are 14 -20 yrs old now so have to be bought on current condition / presentation . History is nice t have but to some extent on a aged car they can be a vanity in the sense that the boxes ticked over many years don't necessarily reflect the car that is before you .
Enjoy it
relatively few issues to concern you ( unless its a 4 pot ) .£300-£350 should see every fluid + filter changed then maintain with a yearly oil change . job done welcome to the forum
Totally true, I'd gone a long way to buy the car and had done all the important checks before hand and then had to make a decision on return train or the car. It is what it is and the car has 58000 genuine miles, new discs, pads n pipes and two front springs. Hood mods done so all I have to do is one sticking door actuator and a few age related scratches. The BMW paint work does look like it was quality when put on.
Receipts is what I look for for vehicle history rather than stamps in a book. Stamps don't really tell you anything and I don't trust them - even with a signature and date.
I've had a "helpful" garage in the past (this was for a motorbike, not the z4, and granted, was a long time ago) fill in some gaps in my service book with their stamp. I didn't ask them too, and they certainly didn't do those services on the bike, but handed it back to me with a smile and proudly announced what they had done for me.
If book has a stamp but no corresponding receipts, I'd work on the basis that stamp isn't there.
But as mentioned, a wad of paperwork isn't a guarantee of a good car either. You can only increase your chances of ensuring a good-un with due diligence. You can't really guarantee it.
I've had a "helpful" garage in the past (this was for a motorbike, not the z4, and granted, was a long time ago) fill in some gaps in my service book with their stamp. I didn't ask them too, and they certainly didn't do those services on the bike, but handed it back to me with a smile and proudly announced what they had done for me.
If book has a stamp but no corresponding receipts, I'd work on the basis that stamp isn't there.
But as mentioned, a wad of paperwork isn't a guarantee of a good car either. You can only increase your chances of ensuring a good-un with due diligence. You can't really guarantee it.