Z4MC post 60k miler service items

[shuey]

Hey all

Thinking of buying a 60k miles M coupe - what type of service / maintenance items would I be looking at from 60k upto 90k miles - that's considered best practice - and what kind of cost would I be looking at?

I'm excluding tyres/brakes/oil services from this - as its all expected. Is there anything else major I would need to keep in mind - that fails or should consider fixing, and what mileage is best practice.

I'm aware of the S54 shells / bolts - but is that more around the 100k mile mark ? and is there anything else?

 

[mmm-five]

Shells have been known to go before the 60k mile, and the accepted (if disputed) wisdom is to do them every 60k miles.

For reference, mine lasted to 140,000 miles before they ruined the engine...but it's purely down to how mechanically-sympathetic the previous owners have been (i.e. have they used it purely for a quick run to the shops, or a weekend blast without letting everything warm up fully) - in my case it's been the same owner since 9,000 miles (although it did have a new engine at 23,000 which I blame the previous owner for) - but it may be difficult to get a clear/honest answer if you're buying it from a trader.

At that mileage/age, you'd have to be checking suspension components (dampers, springs, bushes) as they will wear with time as well as use, and there have been one or two diffs getting noisy around the 80,000 mile mark.

If the service history is completely up to date (i.e. recently had it's first Insp. 2), and carried out as the mileage and/or timing schedule then your next Insp. 1 would be in about 24-28,000 miles. Most wouldn't recommend waiting that long though, and I do mine every 14,000 miles or every year before my track/ring trips start.

The Inspection 2 would then be in another 24-28,000 miles, but just adds spark plugs, gearbox oil and diff oil changes to the Insp.1 job.

Of course, the regular oil services (every 2 years minimum) and every 12-15,000 miles otherwise (which an Insp1/2 would replace) have already been factored into your thinking.

Check for corrosion on the bottom LHS of the hatch, as water pools below (poor drainage) and rusts in a place you wouldn't obviously notice. Water will also pool on the bottom of the hatch glass - aka the 'duck pond' - but flies off as soon as you start driving.

Seats/interior can become squeaky/rattly - possibly due to the tightness of the cabin and maybe the slightly less levels of pride in their work that the US workers have in a German brand vs the German workers

 

[shuey]

thanks man, the noisy diff - is that something that need replacing when it does happen, or just oil change/ servicing? Expensive?

yeh the car has full BMW history (bar the last one.) Seems to be pretty well maintained so lets see.

It's one of those ones where I'm like do I go for a super low miler (sub-35k miles) and spend 5k premium or get 60k miler. will be daily-ing so not sure a low miler is best bet for my use.

 

[mmm-five]

No point paying a premium for a low miler if you’re going to use the thing properly…just use the savings towards any maintenance that comes up.

The diff can make a noise for a long time without breaking, but you’d want to get it rebuilt before it completely launches itself and leaves you stranded. If it’s not noisy (whining or clunking) then there’s nothing to worry about.

You really don’t want to be buying a new diff, or rebuilding one un,ess you really have to.

 

[Mr Tidy]

mmm-five has covered it all I think.

All I know about the diff is I'm sure I've read of one or two people having leaks from diff seals.

If you plan to put significant mileage on it I wouldn't bother looking for a very low mileage example as it won't do the value any favours!

I got mine on 76K miles with 7 previous keepers, the first being BMW UK.

So I figured it was likely at least one was less than scrupulous about getting it properly up to temperature before ragging it, and as I'd need to get the shells replaced at some point during my ownership for peace of mind I got them done at 78K. Cost including new engine mounts at an Indy was £1,000ish.

This is what the old shells looked like!

 

[PDJ]

Vanos is also worth having done £1000 all in by Mr Vanoes the rubber seals go hard over time in hot oil and just time

The rubber suspension joint will have perished at the same rate as a higher mileage car so may need work
JC Racing can sort out a diff early sign of wear is the left hand side output flange having over 2mm play in it.
JC Racing can also mod the oil relief valve so it does not jam and cause an engine failure I had mine done, not everyone done this but seeing it first hand I had it done.

 

[shuey]

Yeh I’m thinking the same mileage wise. I’d prob be doing 8k miles per year, so thinking if I own for 3 years…I’ll be on about 90k miles and hopefully not loose too much money if I don’t continue to keep.

Seems like an average £1k per year on service / replacement items should cover it.

 

[shuey]

What are your thoughts on ultra high milers… quite like the metallic grey one up for sale on forum (139k miles)? Do they feel like down on power at that mileage?

 

[Mr Tidy]

Yeh I’m thinking the same mileage wise. I’d prob be doing 8k miles per year, so thinking if I own for 3 years…I’ll be on about 90k miles and hopefully not loose too much money if I don’t continue to keep.

Seems like an average £1k per year on service / replacement items should cover it.

I only bought mine in December 2019 so it's early days, but that may be a bit light depending where it is on the service schedule when you get it!

Before I had the shells done I had an Inspection 2 at the same Indy - Ross at RBM Hampshire (or bowser134 on here). That's all fluids including gearbox and diff plus valve clearances with shims as required (I needed 5) but he also found a leaking, stuck cam-chain tensioner so that got replaced as well as tired rear traiing arm bushes and a CDV delete - that was about £1K.

At 8K a year you should be OK for Oil Service every 2 years, although a lot of owners do oil and filter every year, then Inspection 1 next time, oil service then Inspection 2.

So if you needed any brakes, tyres, battery, bits like A/C condensor, etc. it could be more.

But hopefully 90K shouldn't be too big a problem - fingers crossed as mine in on 80K now!

No idea about high mileage ones though, but mmm-five should know!

 

[mmm-five]

What are your thoughts on ultra high milers… quite like the metallic grey one up for sale on forum (139k miles)? Do they feel like down on power at that mileage?

it will obviously depend on the specific car, but mine feels as brutal now as it did 13 years and 150,000 miles ago.

However you’d expect a high miler to have a fair chunk of history…not just general servicing which will be in the book, but also any big ticket items that may be on their last legs…diff, clutch & flywheel, suspension, vanos, rod bearings.

Of course if there’s two cars with identical history with a 50,000 mile and £5K difference then it’s purely personal preference