Potential M - advice appreciated

N

Ninarvana

Member
Afternoon,
Well, the discussion of my MC hunt has featured across a number of threads the past few months and I have received much criticism (unduly I personally feel) as well as much appreciated help (a big thanks has to go out to StevenH in particular). After a considerable amount of deliberation spanning various reasons, a Ruby MC (first preference) has appeared that has caught my attention. The mileage is higher than I was initially considering (done 41k) but the Ruby field is narrow and well with the rise in prices and the consideration that I'd like to eventually move onto an E9x generation M3 I felt I would be silly to rule out this car.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201403082354978?atcide=emc-cars-EAF004

So, I am going to be viewing the car one day next week and would appreciate your feedback regarding the SH. See photos below:
image.jpg
image1.jpg

Now, firstly note there is no date next to the Inspection 1... I have confirmed this all with BMW and it was carried out bang on in 2009. The pressing matter is more that the car hasn't been serviced in essentially 4 years (which to a degree I can understand as the car just hasn't done the mileage) and is now therefore due an Inspection 2. It is a private sale and doesn't come with an extended warranty.

It has had new discs all round and looks as if she's wearing Eagle F1's. The chap has owned the car since new, it all comes up clean on HPI so if she has been cherished, would this be a good buy at say 16K (as I need to get an Inspection 2)?

Thoughts, thoughts, thoughts...
 
Unless the car has done 13-15k since last service then only oil is due. Do the inspection 2 when it hits around 45 and indicated to do so.

If the date is from a dealer close to you be worth getting the date added. In saying that it won't be the same pen so could add yourself if you know the exact date.

Only you can decide on price. What the rest of the spec like?
 
srhutch said:
Unless the car has done 13-15k since last service then only oil is due. Do the inspection 2 when it hits around 45 and indicated to do so.

If the date is from a dealer close to you be worth getting the date added. In saying that it won't be the same pen so could add yourself if you know the exact date.

Only you can decide on price. What the rest of the spec like?
Click to expand...

Spec. is in the middle I would say, heated seats, professional nav, telematics & blutooth, professional sound system. Just no folding mirrors or cruise (which can be retrofitted if nec.) Has the piano black and cream leather.

Technically one could say it has been somewhat over serviced (aside the last 4 years) in that it was serviced every 10ish K.

*Apparently the trip is saying the inspection is due in 500 miles...
 
Looks a decent spec and not a bad buy if you can get it for 16k.

You can always get a BMW comprehensive warranty for about £1k if you want.
 
DPG said:
Looks a decent spec and not a bad buy if you can get it for 16k.

You can always get a BMW comprehensive warranty for about £1k if you want.
Click to expand...

That maybe a consideration for the first year to start with... If it's the right one I would take the car straight to Munich Legends and have it overhauled.
 
4 years without a service would be a concern for me. I know it hasn't done the 15k miles, but it's still covered 9k miles in 4 years.

The owner's manual recommends an oil service and brake fluid change at least every two years....

My car was 4 months late for an oil service (brake fluid was changed on time), but hadn't covered many miles in 24 months, so I wasn't too concerned that the oil had created too much damage.

But being two years late for oil service / brake fluid would be a deal breaker for me. If it had missed a service 6 years ago, but had been given a further oil service and Inspection since, I'd more happily accept it (as any potential issues from the missed service would have already manifested themselves), however, when you take the car for the service (and run it afterwards), you'll have to deal with any potential issues the missed service has caused.

Also, from a potential future buyers perspective, I think you'll struggle with the service history and the car isn't cheap enough to take the risk.

Sorry Nina, I know you've had a frustrating and lengthy search but I just don't think this is the right car to settle on. If the car was say £14.5 - £15k it'd be worth it (given the service history), but you'll have to do a hell of a good job negotiating to get it down to that level.
 
Ninarvana said:
DPG said:
Looks a decent spec and not a bad buy if you can get it for 16k.

You can always get a BMW comprehensive warranty for about £1k if you want.
Click to expand...

That maybe a consideration for the first year to start with... If it's the right one I would take the car straight to Munich Legends and have it overhauled.
Click to expand...

Do you know ML, if so ask them their opinion on the service gap. As Steven has said selling on could be your biggest problem.
 
DPG said:
You can always get a BMW comprehensive warranty for about £1k if you want.
Click to expand...

You can only do so if the service schedule has been maintained though?

My M had a gap of just under 4 years between the RIS and first service but had done just under 9000 miles. I spoke to the insured/extended warranty people and they will provide cover if I did an insp2. Worth speaking to them if you are intending on taking out this cover.
 
Walk away, not worth the hassle.

If they can't be bothered to service it correctly what other gremlins are waiting to be found.
 
even if my car doesn't turn a wheel its serviced regardless... on a car like this i don't want to see a 4 year gap in service history, oil breaks down whether the car is used or not (albeit slower).

their are plenty of correctly serviced vehicles.... go with one of those.... however.... i will say this prob won't have done any harm to the car in anyway, but resale wise these cars a really sensitive to correct maintenance due to the engines specialist nature.
 
So if he hasn't serviced it in 4 years does that mean he has been driving it for 2 years with the service light flashing?

I've always done mine slightly early so don't know what happens if you over run.
 
The car needs an inspection II, that could also potentialy bring up other issues/ expence, on top. It's not been serviced for 4 years, not even an oil or brake fluid change. I'd probably walk away myself, even if it was much cheaper. Good luck.
 
DPG said:
So if he hasn't serviced it in 4 years does that mean he has been driving it for 2 years with the service light flashing?

I've always done mine slightly early so don't know what happens if you over run.
Click to expand...

As I understand the service light won't come on (only when an inspection is due), however, the owners manual is quite clear that the car must have an oil service and brake fluid change every two years (regardless of mileage). It's the type of thing that if you're not a member here (or an owner who thoroughly inspects documentation) you could miss. That said, I don't know many cars that it is recommended to go 4 years without a service.
 
StevenH72 said:
DPG said:
So if he hasn't serviced it in 4 years does that mean he has been driving it for 2 years with the service light flashing?

I've always done mine slightly early so don't know what happens if you over run.
Click to expand...

As I understand the service light won't come on (only when an inspection is due), however, the owners manual is quite clear that the car must have an oil service and brake fluid change every two years (regardless of mileage). It's the type of thing that if you're not a member here (or an owner who thoroughly inspects documentation) you could miss. That said, I don't know many cars that it is recommended to go 4 years without a service.
Click to expand...


im not sure how the car switches the light on or under what circumstance but last year i had 7000 to service miles showing at the start of my track day , after id run 3 tanks of fuel by the time i got home the car had decided it wanted some service love in 2000 miles ........ may have been a software glitch as i haven't seen it do that before....
 
StevenH72 said:
DPG said:
So if he hasn't serviced it in 4 years does that mean he has been driving it for 2 years with the service light flashing?

I've always done mine slightly early so don't know what happens if you over run.
Click to expand...

As I understand the service light won't come on (only when an inspection is due), however, the owners manual is quite clear that the car must have an oil service and brake fluid change every two years (regardless of mileage). It's the type of thing that if you're not a member here (or an owner who thoroughly inspects documentation) you could miss. That said, I don't know many cars that it is recommended to go 4 years without a service.
Click to expand...


So I believe, Steven is correct. Technically the owner hasn't done anything 'wrong' in that if the indicator doesn't display a time and only a mileage base-age, he could say he's just followed what the trip has indicated to him if he's not 'in the know'.
 
Beedub said:
StevenH72 said:
DPG said:
So if he hasn't serviced it in 4 years does that mean he has been driving it for 2 years with the service light flashing?

I've always done mine slightly early so don't know what happens if you over run.
Click to expand...

As I understand the service light won't come on (only when an inspection is due), however, the owners manual is quite clear that the car must have an oil service and brake fluid change every two years (regardless of mileage). It's the type of thing that if you're not a member here (or an owner who thoroughly inspects documentation) you could miss. That said, I don't know many cars that it is recommended to go 4 years without a service.
Click to expand...


im not sure how the car switches the light on or under what circumstance but last year i had 7000 to service miles showing at the start of my track day , after id run 3 tanks of fuel by the time i got home the car had decided it wanted some service love in 2000 miles ........ may have been a software pitch as i haven't seen it do that before....
Click to expand...


Food for thought as I've heard of this before (I believe from BMW)... Could it be that if the car has been driven 'harder', it decreases the mileage at when the trip indicates you should service? If the car was telling this seller he was due his services roughly every 10k going by the SH, perhaps this is a way of seeing that the car was driven rather enthusiastically during the first few years of it's life? I've also noticed that it took less than a month to rack up that running in service mileage, does that often warrant an 'over eager' label?
 
It is on fuel usage. So the harder you drive, the more you use, the shorter the intervals.
 
I pretty much line up with Steven's opinion on all things purchasing - having done this incredibly lengthly task when finding mine ... in the end i settled on a forum car.

Personally - i'd walk from that one, there's too much unknown with 4 years no servicing, even if it had sat garaged it would need servicing.

If the price was much lower, i'd consider entertaining a chat with Stuart @ ML and see what he says before bothering to look at it. I'd then factor in no Insp2 into the cost and have it done immediately to improve the outlook of the logbook.

Resale will be somewhat an issue but there's always someone out there .. again, one to factor into the price. 16k is a good price if the car didn't have the service blip and everything else checks out, id be knocking insp2 cost + maybe warantee money off it to consider purchase, personally.

Alternatively - you could get them to put it in for Insp2, then you walk away with some BMW backing (not that i trust BMW main dealers and Insp2's) :/
 
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