M3 e46 running in service dilemma

[Whistler1981]

I'm looking at buying an e46 cab,2003 with 84000 miles,good external condition,hpi clear and 7 service stamps at regular intervals,only 1 issue though,no 1200 mile running in service stamp.I've been given mixed feedback on the relevance of this service on the car at its age,any advice people?

[shim]

Firstly you can check with the selling dealer just to see if it is a missing stamp rather than missing service.

If it wasn't done then firstly you cannot take out extended BMW warranty (or if you do it will be worthless)

Secondly if the car has done 12-15k with the running in oil in it AVOID it as the engine us not designed to use this oil for extended periods, it will have caused extended wear.

[phatgixer]

shim said:

Firstly you can check with the selling dealer just to see if it is a missing stamp rather than missing service.

If it wasn't done then firstly you cannot take out extended BMW warranty (or if you do it will be worthless)

Secondly if the car has done 12-15k with the running in oil in it AVOID it as the engine us not designed to use this oil for extended periods, it will have caused extended wear.

I thought it was myth they had different oil in them during running in. They just wanted to drain the original oil and replace with clean new oil?

[T-bagger]

No it's not a myth, M-Power engines come with a different grade of oil in from the factory for running in purposes. I know this to be true as during my main dealer days I replaced an M5's V10 and had to fill it with running in oil. It's hard to say if it would do any damage running with that oil for a longer period, but it would concern me.

[Whistler1981]

shim said:

Firstly you can check with the selling dealer just to see if it is a missing stamp rather than missing service.

If it wasn't done then firstly you cannot take out extended BMW warranty (or if you do it will be worthless)
Secondly if the car has done 12-15k with the running in oil in it AVOID it as the engine us not designed to use this oil for extended periods, it will have caused extended wear.

The 1st stamp in the book is done at 14k,then at 30,and then pretty much every 10k,and last had a level 2 1 month ago.I'm going to contact BMW today to verify the history and hope the initial service was done but not stamped,seems doubtful though.....

[mcbrun12]

I personally would avoid it, the S54 is a highly tuned performance engine and I believe BMW do the running in service for a reason. Also think of the issues you may have selling it.

There are plenty of M3's out there, take your time and a good one will come along.

[mat205125]

Get the reg and the VIN, and check with a main dealer for the service record.

[shim]

phatgixer said:

I thought it was myth they had different oil in them during running in. They just wanted to drain the original oil and replace with clean new oil?

i was told last month that this is true, mines still within 1200 mile period so ill ask what it is when i go back in

[sjj84]

Depends on the price if I would even consider it. It's lasted 7 years and 84k miles afterall. However BMW are pretty strict over the running in service, they won't offer any goodwill if it hasn't been done and would absolutely screw you if you were to part exchange.
Most people looking at M3's will have done a bit of research and will know about the running in service, I'd think that will limit the sellers market quite a lot. So really it's down to price, it would need to be quite a bit cheaper.

[Herbs]

1200 mile service changes engine, gearbox and diff oil. The cars uses a different type of oil to run in and if it is run longer on it then excessive wear & tear will occur.

This can be hidden for years and will only present itself at higher mileages so if that car has 80k+ on the clock and no running in service then it could be feasible to suggest that it has the wear & tear of a engine that has done 120k+.

There are lots of cars out there so take your time and wait for a good one

[thegreengoblet]

Herbs said:

1200 mile service changes engine, gearbox and diff oil. The cars uses a different type of oil to run in and if it is run longer on it then excessive wear & tear will occur.

Same thing with my old Cerbera when I bought her new. Basically you have a mineral based oil for the first 1000 miles. This oil removes the fine tolerances within the engine after manufacture. The oil is then replaced with a fully synthetic oil. As Herbs and others have pointed out, the engine will have excessive wear if run on mineral oil pass the 1200 miles.

[Whistler1981]

Just want to thank everyone who posted for all your feedback,combine that with the views of many BMW service managers and I've got a lot to think about!many thanks

[Davidonly]

Herbs said:

1200 mile service changes engine, gearbox and diff oil. The cars uses a different type of oil to run in and if it is run longer on it then excessive wear & tear will occur.

This can be hidden for years and will only present itself at higher mileages so if that car has 80k+ on the clock and no running in service then it could be feasible to suggest that it has the wear & tear of a engine that has done 120k+.

There are lots of cars out there so take your time and wait for a good one

At 1200 +/- 500 miles, BMW just a change of oil. Same oil type and grade, but changed early the first time to remove mechanical debris from manufacture and run-in.....

[Herbs]

Davidonly said:

Herbs said:

1200 mile service changes engine, gearbox and diff oil. The cars uses a different type of oil to run in and if it is run longer on it then excessive wear & tear will occur.

This can be hidden for years and will only present itself at higher mileages so if that car has 80k+ on the clock and no running in service then it could be feasible to suggest that it has the wear & tear of a engine that has done 120k+.

There are lots of cars out there so take your time and wait for a good one

At 1200 +/- 500 miles, BMW just a change of oil. Same oil type and grade, but changed early the first time to remove mechanical debris from manufacture and run-in.....

Maybe on a normal BMW but M cars have all three done as well as different grade of oil

[volores]

Hi

for whats its worth I have had the same dilema recently, having found a e46 M3 at a main BMW dealer - only to find that it didn't have the 1200 mile service - therefore, they were not offering it under the normal BMW approved used car program.......not sure whether we actually got to the end of the conversation...... that says a great dea if they wont warranty it......it would have to be at a vastly reduced price before i would even consider it.....

[ferrisbueller]

My M3 doesn't have a stamp for the running-in service. However, it is an AUC and has 2 years full warranty. Just in case I have any issues I have a letter from the dealer saying that they would cover anything BMW won't as a result of the running-in service stamp being missing.

At the right price and with the right protection it's possible to mitigate the risk.

[Herbs]

ferrisbueller said:

My M3 doesn't have a stamp for the running-in service. However, it is an AUC and has 2 years full warranty. Just in case I have any issues I have a letter from the dealer saying that they would cover anything BMW won't as a result of the running-in service stamp being missing.

At the right price and with the right protection it's possible to mitigate the risk.

That sounds more of a case of the service being carried out but forgot to ge the book stamped. BMW hold all service records centrally so it's possible to ring up and get the full service history rather than rely on the books which are easy to fake.

May be worth checking to see if that is the case with yours which would certainly help you sell it in the future

[Davidonly]

Herbs said:

Davidonly said:

Herbs said:

1200 mile service changes engine, gearbox and diff oil. The cars uses a different type of oil to run in and if it is run longer on it then excessive wear & tear will occur.

This can be hidden for years and will only present itself at higher mileages so if that car has 80k+ on the clock and no running in service then it could be feasible to suggest that it has the wear & tear of a engine that has done 120k+.

There are lots of cars out there so take your time and wait for a good one

At 1200 +/- 500 miles, BMW just a change of oil. Same oil type and grade, but changed early the first time to remove mechanical debris from manufacture and run-in.....

Maybe on a normal BMW but M cars have all three done as well as different grade of oil

yes all 3 fluids are changed, diff, engine and 'box, but in each case it is just the same oil from the factory as the oil it uses for the next 150k + miles.....

[AC Schnitzer]

If it has not had it's 1200 mile service walk away, it's really not worth the hassle. As stated check that the stamp is not missing from the book because if it has had it you could grab a bargain. But if it has not had the service forget it. BMW are getting better at good will warranty that extends beyond the life of the three year warranty, especially if it has a full BMW history but if it has not had its 1200 miles service then they will not be interested in any type of warranty claim.