Z4 service question... looking at one to buy.
Discussion
3.0 Z4 SMG
Registered Jan 04 with pre-delivery checks.
Brake fluid at 8500 miles Dec 05
Oil at 10,500 miles at May 06
Car is on 22k and thats all that is in the book.
Service indicator says INSPECTION and has 2600 miles to go. The brake fluid check light isn't on (the little clock near the SERVICE/INDICATOR lights)
However, on very low usage shouldn't the oil be done every 2 years irrespective of mileage?
The owner just rang BMW and they confirmed it's not due until May this year (which sounds about right for the mileage)... but that'll be THREE years and 15k on the same oil!
Are BMW just lying buggers?
Dave
Registered Jan 04 with pre-delivery checks.
Brake fluid at 8500 miles Dec 05
Oil at 10,500 miles at May 06
Car is on 22k and thats all that is in the book.
Service indicator says INSPECTION and has 2600 miles to go. The brake fluid check light isn't on (the little clock near the SERVICE/INDICATOR lights)
However, on very low usage shouldn't the oil be done every 2 years irrespective of mileage?
The owner just rang BMW and they confirmed it's not due until May this year (which sounds about right for the mileage)... but that'll be THREE years and 15k on the same oil!
Are BMW just lying buggers?
Dave
The service book certainly says in low mileage situations the oil should be changed every 2 years irrespective of the service indicator, but the indicator itself takes no account of age. The only 'problem' with the car is that the owner presumably has not read the service book and has chosen to simply blindly obey the indicator.
Personally, I wouldn't want to wait 2 years for an oil change anyway. I know all about this condition based servicing thing - but I still think it's best practice to change it once a year anyway.
I had to argue this (and lost) with BMW as my next service is free, and I wanted it after 12 months - at which point the service indicator will still have 6/7k miles left to run.
I had to argue this (and lost) with BMW as my next service is free, and I wanted it after 12 months - at which point the service indicator will still have 6/7k miles left to run.
I think the problem here is that BMW say it's ok for ANOTHER 6 months, and it's been 2.5 years in both cases thus far on the oil in there.
I know it has been driven rarely and gently, never entered sports mode from what I can gather, but it does tend to do shorter journeys and 2.5 years is still a LONG time for oil to sit around in an engine.
I might just give it a miss. I rekon I can get it for £10.5k, and it has pretty much every option bar the M sport seats, but I'm still not sure on SMG and the troubles it might cause down the line, and if a FBMWSH on a low usage car means completely missed services (the car has been in for other work, yet BMW haven't advised the servicing), then I think I might just pass and go for a less valuable higher miles car with less spec except the bits I really want
Dave
I know it has been driven rarely and gently, never entered sports mode from what I can gather, but it does tend to do shorter journeys and 2.5 years is still a LONG time for oil to sit around in an engine.
I might just give it a miss. I rekon I can get it for £10.5k, and it has pretty much every option bar the M sport seats, but I'm still not sure on SMG and the troubles it might cause down the line, and if a FBMWSH on a low usage car means completely missed services (the car has been in for other work, yet BMW haven't advised the servicing), then I think I might just pass and go for a less valuable higher miles car with less spec except the bits I really want
Dave
ks.Haha, I don't think she realises or cares for the difference to be honest. Never touched DSC button either apparently. Never read the manual for SMG (didn't know why it dinged when left in neutral after switch off)
My main concern is if 2.5 years is considered a bit TOO long. BMW think 2 years in the book, but clearly the dealership currently thinks almost 3 years is ok!
Dave
My main concern is if 2.5 years is considered a bit TOO long. BMW think 2 years in the book, but clearly the dealership currently thinks almost 3 years is ok!
Dave
Realistically if the car is as you say then it won't be an issue. If they say 2yrs to oil service I bet it can go for much longer. They give these timescales to account for the worst possible scenario and then allow some.
I'd cite the issues and make a cheeky low offer. If accepted you can get more peace of mind by getting it checked out by BMW who will do a full used car check.
I'd cite the issues and make a cheeky low offer. If accepted you can get more peace of mind by getting it checked out by BMW who will do a full used car check.
Yeah, I think it'll be fine then...
I'd just send it in for the INSP1 and a brake fluid job at the same dealer, and then tell them they are naughty for ignoring their own guidelines at the same time...
I think £400 for that and an offer of £10300 is reasonable. It is genuinely a good car at that price.
I'm still just not sure if I'll regret SMG when it is ultimately a bigger liability for going wrong vs the bulletproof ubiquitous manual, and if I'll start to miss a normal gearbox/clutch etc... just sitting in the car yesterday baffled the hell out of me, and since my partner will be driving it I think she'd actually not like driving it having so many ways to do the same simple thing (I'd probably just prefer an auto over SMG thinking about it)
Tempted to just wait out for a manual 3.0 car with heated M sport seats, xenons, and thats about it really. Also I'd not mind a car with more miles then I'd not be as worried about using a good indie over BMW stealers.
Dave
I'd just send it in for the INSP1 and a brake fluid job at the same dealer, and then tell them they are naughty for ignoring their own guidelines at the same time...
I think £400 for that and an offer of £10300 is reasonable. It is genuinely a good car at that price.
I'm still just not sure if I'll regret SMG when it is ultimately a bigger liability for going wrong vs the bulletproof ubiquitous manual, and if I'll start to miss a normal gearbox/clutch etc... just sitting in the car yesterday baffled the hell out of me, and since my partner will be driving it I think she'd actually not like driving it having so many ways to do the same simple thing (I'd probably just prefer an auto over SMG thinking about it)
Tempted to just wait out for a manual 3.0 car with heated M sport seats, xenons, and thats about it really. Also I'd not mind a car with more miles then I'd not be as worried about using a good indie over BMW stealers.
Dave
Edited by Mr Whippy on Wednesday 14th January 17:41
To the OP
For what its worth, I bought a three year old SMG that had 9,900 on it. It really was 'as new'.
Similar background, first owner had just followed whatever the dashboard indicated, i.e. the brake fluid had been done at 2 years but oil had never been touched. I did have to think about it but still bought the car.
I had the oil changed immediately (local village garage) and waited til the countdown interval for the 'first' oil service at BMW. Got the stamp in the book and kept up the 'FSH'.
When it came to sell it wasn't a problem, one potential buyer was clued up on the 2 year recommendation (and it appeared to be a problem to him) but the rest of the enquirers seemed happy that only condition - based had been followed.
I had the car to 25k miles over about a year and only had one problem which was the drivers window glass coming out of the assembly it sits in. Obviously not linked to the age of the engine oil. I often regret getting rid of it although it would now be worth half what I paid two years ago which does cheer me up somewhat. 10k for that car is a steal, IMHO!
Shout if you have any questions. I loved the SMG, great gearbox if a little brutal in sport mode (which isnt mandatory of course).
Lift off the throttle when it changes like you would in a manual car, that smoothes it right out.
Once you have done a few miles you'll do this without having to think about it as you get used to 'predicting' when it's likely to upchange based on throttle position etc etc.
IIRC, its smooth on a downchange anyway as it blips the throttle for you.
Which was nice.
Finally, if you decide not to go for it please can you send me a link to the advert? I might be interested at that price, and sell my S2000 in turn.
For what its worth, I bought a three year old SMG that had 9,900 on it. It really was 'as new'.
Similar background, first owner had just followed whatever the dashboard indicated, i.e. the brake fluid had been done at 2 years but oil had never been touched. I did have to think about it but still bought the car.
I had the oil changed immediately (local village garage) and waited til the countdown interval for the 'first' oil service at BMW. Got the stamp in the book and kept up the 'FSH'.
When it came to sell it wasn't a problem, one potential buyer was clued up on the 2 year recommendation (and it appeared to be a problem to him) but the rest of the enquirers seemed happy that only condition - based had been followed.
I had the car to 25k miles over about a year and only had one problem which was the drivers window glass coming out of the assembly it sits in. Obviously not linked to the age of the engine oil. I often regret getting rid of it although it would now be worth half what I paid two years ago which does cheer me up somewhat. 10k for that car is a steal, IMHO!
Shout if you have any questions. I loved the SMG, great gearbox if a little brutal in sport mode (which isnt mandatory of course).
Lift off the throttle when it changes like you would in a manual car, that smoothes it right out.
Once you have done a few miles you'll do this without having to think about it as you get used to 'predicting' when it's likely to upchange based on throttle position etc etc.
IIRC, its smooth on a downchange anyway as it blips the throttle for you.
Which was nice.
Finally, if you decide not to go for it please can you send me a link to the advert? I might be interested at that price, and sell my S2000 in turn.
Edited by texasjohn on Wednesday 14th January 22:06
bras0782 said:
I'd cite the issues and make a cheeky low offer. If accepted you can get more peace of mind by getting it checked out by BMW who will do a full used car check.
What he says. Use it to your advantage! However, I got quoted £206 + VAT (2 hrs labour) by a BMW dealer for them to carry out a full AUC check on the Z4 I was buying privately. Once I’d picked myself up off the floor, I found a local independent BMW specialist 2 mins down the road from the dealer who did a full mechanical inspection for £25 .My car was a similar situation: very low mileage (18.5k on a 4 year old Z4) and the service indicator still showing 8k to go until next service. But, checking the service book showed it was last serviced in Nov 2006 so was actually 2 weeks overdue when I bought it. Didn’t bother me as I used it to my advantage and was planning (at least) an oil change on ANY car I bought anyway, just to reassure me.
Problem is they are just going to trade it in full stop. The hassle of private buyers/haggling isn't really worth the extra £1000 they might get privately so I'm probably best just making an offer and if they accept they do, if not I look elsewhere.
Still not sure I want SMG, and just wait for a manual with M Sports and xenons at a similar kinda price, with higher miles that I'd be happier taking to a good independant etc...
Dave
Still not sure I want SMG, and just wait for a manual with M Sports and xenons at a similar kinda price, with higher miles that I'd be happier taking to a good independant etc...
Dave
Mr Whippy said:
Problem is they are just going to trade it in full stop. The hassle of private buyers/haggling isn't really worth the extra £1000 they might get privately so I'm probably best just making an offer and if they accept they do, if not I look elsewhere.
Still not sure I want SMG, and just wait for a manual with M Sports and xenons at a similar kinda price, with higher miles that I'd be happier taking to a good independant etc...
Dave
Can you pass the contact details on?Still not sure I want SMG, and just wait for a manual with M Sports and xenons at a similar kinda price, with higher miles that I'd be happier taking to a good independant etc...
Dave
Ta
texasjohn said:
Mr Whippy said:
Problem is they are just going to trade it in full stop. The hassle of private buyers/haggling isn't really worth the extra £1000 they might get privately so I'm probably best just making an offer and if they accept they do, if not I look elsewhere.
Still not sure I want SMG, and just wait for a manual with M Sports and xenons at a similar kinda price, with higher miles that I'd be happier taking to a good independant etc...
Dave
Can you pass the contact details on?Still not sure I want SMG, and just wait for a manual with M Sports and xenons at a similar kinda price, with higher miles that I'd be happier taking to a good independant etc...
Dave
Ta
BUT, I will ask for you... once I've finally decided
Dave
Re your oil question, I'd be more interested to be sure it has had a fully synthetic oil used. Others will know more then me, but my understanding is mineral oils degrade more quickly than synthetic - hence an annual change, traditionally - and lose their lubricating qualities in doing so, resulting in wear. There are other reasons why synthetics are better too, like adhereing to the parts, which is important if the car isn't used every day (poss, given the mileage). Even so, given the conditions the engine is tested to, whatever has been used will be ok I'm sure.
My 04's only service was at 3 yrs - and it recently occured to me I'd better get the anti freeze done then. Whoops.
Anyway, sounds like a good car, though I've not tried SMG. Good luck.
My 04's only service was at 3 yrs - and it recently occured to me I'd better get the anti freeze done then. Whoops.
Anyway, sounds like a good car, though I've not tried SMG. Good luck.
Yeah I'm sure it'll be a good oil from BMW.
It's still running super quiet and smooth so I guess it's ok
Yeah, SMG is just one of those things. I can get the car a bit cheaper, but the liability is there to offset it. So it's just the risk element.
But it has a years mot/tax/tyres and good discs/pads, and with insp1/brake fluid at about £400 it could well do me a year with almost zero costs, which isn't bad
Just can't be sure. One second I'm thinking no way to SMG, reading scary reports, worrying about missing out on the clutch/manual change, then the next I'm thinking how cool it'll be to not have to shuffle gears day to day in traffic etc, and how nice it'll be to just change gear with my hands fixed on the wheel when pushing on, OR, in difficult conditions etc...
I think for the first 3 months I won't mind which I get, as it'll be a 3.0 Z4... what will matter is the 6 months and a year when I start to settle into it.
All that said, those that do have them have really got to like them, and they appear to have had mixed machinery in the past, so I think I should be open minded about it
Dave
It's still running super quiet and smooth so I guess it's ok
Yeah, SMG is just one of those things. I can get the car a bit cheaper, but the liability is there to offset it. So it's just the risk element.
But it has a years mot/tax/tyres and good discs/pads, and with insp1/brake fluid at about £400 it could well do me a year with almost zero costs, which isn't bad
Just can't be sure. One second I'm thinking no way to SMG, reading scary reports, worrying about missing out on the clutch/manual change, then the next I'm thinking how cool it'll be to not have to shuffle gears day to day in traffic etc, and how nice it'll be to just change gear with my hands fixed on the wheel when pushing on, OR, in difficult conditions etc...
I think for the first 3 months I won't mind which I get, as it'll be a 3.0 Z4... what will matter is the 6 months and a year when I start to settle into it.
All that said, those that do have them have really got to like them, and they appear to have had mixed machinery in the past, so I think I should be open minded about it
Dave
Hey Texasjohn,
I didn't go for the SMG, and instead got a manual Z4.
I'm not sure what the SMG owner is doing, it doesn't have to go back until May, so she is still deciding what to do properly (I think the low trade in price has made her wonder about trading it in)
I will enquire what she intends to do over the next few weeks, and if she is interested in a conventional private sale closer to the time I will let you know!
Dave
I didn't go for the SMG, and instead got a manual Z4.
I'm not sure what the SMG owner is doing, it doesn't have to go back until May, so she is still deciding what to do properly (I think the low trade in price has made her wonder about trading it in)
I will enquire what she intends to do over the next few weeks, and if she is interested in a conventional private sale closer to the time I will let you know!
Dave
Mr Whippy said:
Hey Texasjohn,
I didn't go for the SMG, and instead got a manual Z4.
I'm not sure what the SMG owner is doing, it doesn't have to go back until May, so she is still deciding what to do properly (I think the low trade in price has made her wonder about trading it in)
I will enquire what she intends to do over the next few weeks, and if she is interested in a conventional private sale closer to the time I will let you know!
Dave
Fill us in on the details then Dave?I didn't go for the SMG, and instead got a manual Z4.
I'm not sure what the SMG owner is doing, it doesn't have to go back until May, so she is still deciding what to do properly (I think the low trade in price has made her wonder about trading it in)
I will enquire what she intends to do over the next few weeks, and if she is interested in a conventional private sale closer to the time I will let you know!
Dave
Mr Whippy said:
Hey Texasjohn,
I didn't go for the SMG, and instead got a manual Z4.
I'm not sure what the SMG owner is doing, it doesn't have to go back until May, so she is still deciding what to do properly (I think the low trade in price has made her wonder about trading it in)
I will enquire what she intends to do over the next few weeks, and if she is interested in a conventional private sale closer to the time I will let you know!
Dave
Congratulations Dave, hope you enjoy it. How about a pic or two?I didn't go for the SMG, and instead got a manual Z4.
I'm not sure what the SMG owner is doing, it doesn't have to go back until May, so she is still deciding what to do properly (I think the low trade in price has made her wonder about trading it in)
I will enquire what she intends to do over the next few weeks, and if she is interested in a conventional private sale closer to the time I will let you know!
Dave
Thanks re the SMG by the way.
ETA...
Appreciate they might not want the hassle of marketing it, people trapsing around etc, thus:
If it is 'as described' (and I have no reason to doubt you) ask her to name a price and I will either accept or decline based on this. Doesnt even need to contact me directly to do this, just an email. No hurry on my side so just pass on my email.
Edited by texasjohn on Monday 19th January 20:02
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff