E36 M3 - DIY Servicing
Discussion
A few cars I have seen for sale have been serviced over the last couple of years by the owner. What is the general opinion of this regarding a) the health of the car and b) the impact on resale?
My concern is that buyers expect to see a full service history and that if you are doing servicing work yourself you aren't routinely checking error codes, spotting unique issues to M3's which only an experienced mechanic would identify etc.
However, these cars are now so cheap to buy (although not to run!) that DIY servicing is bound to become more common.
My concern is that buyers expect to see a full service history and that if you are doing servicing work yourself you aren't routinely checking error codes, spotting unique issues to M3's which only an experienced mechanic would identify etc.
However, these cars are now so cheap to buy (although not to run!) that DIY servicing is bound to become more common.
I'm sceptical unless they are able to produce a load of receipts for materials.
Some peoples idea of annual servicing is a set of plugs and some oil, maybe a filter if you are lucky. Some of those people will be buying their oil off of their motorfactors shelf, and choose on a cost basis.
I undertake a lot of work myself on my cars. I'll replace brakes, CVs, or any other mechanical item that requires replacement between services. For my own piece of mind (with resale an added bonus) I drop the car to my Indy for it's annual inspections - Whilst I regard myself as a pretty good spanner spinner, I don't have anything like the specialist knowledge, experience or equiptment of my Indy.
Some peoples idea of annual servicing is a set of plugs and some oil, maybe a filter if you are lucky. Some of those people will be buying their oil off of their motorfactors shelf, and choose on a cost basis.
I undertake a lot of work myself on my cars. I'll replace brakes, CVs, or any other mechanical item that requires replacement between services. For my own piece of mind (with resale an added bonus) I drop the car to my Indy for it's annual inspections - Whilst I regard myself as a pretty good spanner spinner, I don't have anything like the specialist knowledge, experience or equiptment of my Indy.
Billy,
Just look for Full Service, having got a E36 3 years ago, and doing only 4K miles in it, its not worth (in my view!) spending 1K or so on servicing on a car thats only worth around 5K. 'Light' Oil's I have done at BMW (as well as every 6 months anyway), and the inspections at BMW specialist. I saw on another thread a BMW for 9K that you indicated was too much, for 5K I think it will be hard to find a really good example with FBMSH - just look like the previous post for plenty of recipets - just like mine!
Excellent cars so shop around for the one you want!
Just look for Full Service, having got a E36 3 years ago, and doing only 4K miles in it, its not worth (in my view!) spending 1K or so on servicing on a car thats only worth around 5K. 'Light' Oil's I have done at BMW (as well as every 6 months anyway), and the inspections at BMW specialist. I saw on another thread a BMW for 9K that you indicated was too much, for 5K I think it will be hard to find a really good example with FBMSH - just look like the previous post for plenty of recipets - just like mine!
Excellent cars so shop around for the one you want!
Thanks guys. I am hoping to find a car with a full service history but not necessarily a full BMW service history. My experience of main dealers (of different brands) suggests that an Indie will consistently do a better job of servicing than a main dealer anyway. Surely this is possible for at or around £5k?
BillyB said:
Thanks guys. I am hoping to find a car with a full service history but not necessarily a full BMW service history. My experience of main dealers (of different brands) suggests that an Indie will consistently do a better job of servicing than a main dealer anyway. Surely this is possible for at or around £5k?
I sold my E36 for less than £5k, and that had full service history. BMW for the first 5-6 years, then Indy every year after that.Those cars are out there!
I always do my own servicing but buy parts from munich legends so have a fully detailed receipt for all the parts to go in the history. I'd wouldn't necessarily worry me seeing a car like this.
At the end of the day servicing a car is not difficult, I'd also be interest to here how well cars are 'checked' when they go in for a service. I suspect its a quick oil change and job done rather than all of the checks suggested.
At the end of the day servicing a car is not difficult, I'd also be interest to here how well cars are 'checked' when they go in for a service. I suspect its a quick oil change and job done rather than all of the checks suggested.
Dont take DIY service as a bodge. Ask the seller what he has done and why. Eg what oil and why, if the answer is 'BMW spec that for the car/it is better suited to the temps it is exposed to' rather than 'its cheapest at macro' you need not run away immediately.
I had a problem with my M5 earlier in the year, keep going into limp mode and mis-firing. Tried taking it to a stealer, paid £200 for diagnosis (inc. £50 for a test drive!!!) and they suggested taking the vanos apart and swapping some coil packs around for £1000, just to diagnose further. Sod that, the vanos is only a few years old!
I promptly bought a Peake BMW code reader, replaced all 8 coil packs, plugs and both MAFs. All diy, cost ~£400 all-in. Now the car pulls stronger than ever, nothing to do with the VANOS and I have saved thousands in the process.
I also change my own oil, every 6k or 1 year, whichever comes first and leave it to drain every last drop overnight before filling with the exact right spec of oil for the year of my car. Anything I can do myself, I do, otherwise it goes to the indy. Lucky enough that hasnt been required, as M5 consumables like suspension bits and brakes are fairly easy!
Yet for some reason I have probably devalued my car by giving it more care and attention than the monkey down at BMW...
I had a problem with my M5 earlier in the year, keep going into limp mode and mis-firing. Tried taking it to a stealer, paid £200 for diagnosis (inc. £50 for a test drive!!!) and they suggested taking the vanos apart and swapping some coil packs around for £1000, just to diagnose further. Sod that, the vanos is only a few years old!
I promptly bought a Peake BMW code reader, replaced all 8 coil packs, plugs and both MAFs. All diy, cost ~£400 all-in. Now the car pulls stronger than ever, nothing to do with the VANOS and I have saved thousands in the process.
I also change my own oil, every 6k or 1 year, whichever comes first and leave it to drain every last drop overnight before filling with the exact right spec of oil for the year of my car. Anything I can do myself, I do, otherwise it goes to the indy. Lucky enough that hasnt been required, as M5 consumables like suspension bits and brakes are fairly easy!
Yet for some reason I have probably devalued my car by giving it more care and attention than the monkey down at BMW...
E38 said:
Yet for some reason I have probably devalued my car by giving it more care and attention than the monkey down at BMW...
That's because there's no evidence (other than receipts and your word) that you did the job well (although I'm sure you did!). The average M3 buyer will want to see a stamped-up book, and anything less than that will knock a few quid off the price you can get for the car. When buying from a keen amateur DIYer, even though you know they did a good job, are you going to be able to sell the fact they did a good job to whoever you sell it to? Unlikely - a stamp will (rightly or wrongly) give a subsequent buyer confidence, so will most likely mean more £ on the selling price.
Personally, and given the age of the cars now, I was looking for regular servicing (main dealer/reputable indy/obviously skilled amateur spannerer) and an enthusiast owner. I viewed a car where the guy had a huge wad of receipts for work he'd done, including records of the valve clearances before and after he did them, an immaculately organised garage of tools, and a very nice classic E30 Alpina parked next to the M3, which he'd restored himself (photos to prove). Unfortunately the car was more money than I wanted to spend, and wasn't totally standard, so I didn't buy it, but mechanically it was the best car I viewed (including the very nice one that I actually bought!).
DIY isn't necessarily a bodge, although I would say missed stamps because the work's been done at home will hurt resale values.
One of the cars I have my eye on, which has had recent DIY servicing, is this one: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1224106.htm
The seller bought some 2nd hand shocks and springs off eBay (they had come off another M3). He doesn't really know what they are other than they say "BMW Performance" on them.
Does anyone know what they might be?
He reckons they were a significant improvement over the old ones.
The seller bought some 2nd hand shocks and springs off eBay (they had come off another M3). He doesn't really know what they are other than they say "BMW Performance" on them.
Does anyone know what they might be?
He reckons they were a significant improvement over the old ones.
BillyB said:
One of the cars I have my eye on, which has had recent DIY servicing, is this one: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1224106.htm
The seller bought some 2nd hand shocks and springs off eBay (they had come off another M3). He doesn't really know what they are other than they say "BMW Performance" on them.
Does anyone know what they might be?
He reckons they were a significant improvement over the old ones.
An M3 fitted with 2nd hand-parts? Fair enough if a DIYer fits OEM bits or some uprated Eibachs etc, but 2nd-hand mystery springs off ebay?The seller bought some 2nd hand shocks and springs off eBay (they had come off another M3). He doesn't really know what they are other than they say "BMW Performance" on them.
Does anyone know what they might be?
He reckons they were a significant improvement over the old ones.
Cant help with the ID, but I advise you to walk.
I wouldn't necessarily walk (if everything else about the car checks out) but I would get a local specialist to have a look at the shocks/springs before buying, to make sure they are (a) correct for the car; and (b) aren't knackered. If they are, negotiate on price and think carefully.
From the write-up alone, it sounds okay, but when did it have its last "big" service? If it's due an Inspection (especially Inspection 2) soon then the price is £500+ too high.
From the write-up alone, it sounds okay, but when did it have its last "big" service? If it's due an Inspection (especially Inspection 2) soon then the price is £500+ too high.
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