Z4m without an insp 2

[ratty6464]

I've been offered a z4m through a BMW dealer with circa 60k miles. Looking at the history it hasn't had an inspection 2 but had an oil service instead.

I have negotiated that they will carry out the insp 2 now and add a further year approved warranty to take it to 24 months.

Would I be mad to take the deal due to the history? Or does having the service now and warranty to back it up reduce the risk?

[ian in lancs]

All the insp2 adds is tappet adjustment. Not unknown for book to be stamped but the work not done. Long story but I stood over the tech when he did mine and they didn't need adjusting and that was common apparently. As long as fluids are all changed regularly and as you say a warranty I wouldn't be bothered.

[Smuler]

If you assume 15k between service intervals, then 60k is the point the first Indpection 2 is required. An extra oil service in its stead is just an extra stamp.
I agree with Ian, it's whether the fluids have been changed regularly over its life.
My understanding (based on E46) is if insufficient Miles are travelled in a 2 year to trigger a service (in my experience 15k miles) , then the oil should be changed anyway.

However , with a 2yr warranty I think you've got a deal if it all checks out

[Baz Tench]

Whenever I take my e46 M3 in to my local indy for services, I just ask them to 'give it whatever it needs please'. It hasn't needed any more than oil services and inspection 1s in the last 5 years.

[mmm-five]

ian in lancs said:

All the insp2 adds is tappet adjustment.

Not quite.

Inspection 1 has the valve clearance as well - all the Inspection 2 adds (for the other £300-£400 the dealer would charge) is spark plugs, air filter, diff & gearbox oils.

I'd be requesting a copy of the before & after valve clearance measurements though, just to see how much they've gone out/stayed in spec since the last valve clearance check at least 30,000 miles previously.

But as you say, as long as it gets done shortly then it's probably not far off the mileage it should have had an Inspection 2 anyway (15k oil, 30k I1, 45k oil, 60k I2).

It will however only get 15k between services if the car has been driven gently or cruising (returning average 30mpg) as the service indicator works on using 500 gallons of fuel between services (500 gal x 30mpg = 15,000 miles).

Edited by mmm-five on Tuesday 11th April 10:47

[doclip]

Indeed -as long they do the Inspection 2 service properly and show you print out the clearances -as youll need that if you come to sell it in terms of provenance -then its down to price for that particular car in terms of whether its bang for buck

[SebringMan]

Baz Tench said:

Whenever I take my e46 M3 in to my local indy for services, I just ask them to 'give it whatever it needs please'. It hasn't needed any more than oil services and inspection 1s in the last 5 years.

That's plausible.

An Inspection II only needs doing every 8 years or 60k, whichever comes first.

As said, an InspII is more than just a tappet adjustment.

[SPORTSTER]

Valve adjustments should be carried out for Inspection 1 aswell as Inspec 2

[BuzyG]

mmm-five said:

It will however only get 15k between services if the car has been driven gently or cruising (returning average 30mpg) as the service indicator works on using 500 gallons of fuel between services (500 gal x 30mpg = 15,000 miles).

Now that is interesting to know. Explains why my intervals have moved out. I drive the car far more at a cruise these days, than I did when I bought it.

[ian in lancs]

Yes the service indicator starts at 15500mls and ends up about 12000mls between services. Does on my z4m anyway.

[ian in lancs]

Yes the service indicator starts at 15500mls and ends up about 12000mls between services. Does on my z4m anyway.

[SebringMan]

SPORTSTER said:

Valve adjustments should be carried out for Inspection 1 aswell as Inspec 2

Yup, very true.

Many specialists won't do the clearances for either saying they've never needed to do them.

All I can say is that when I did mine it made quite a difference to pull of the car, so much that even my friends noticed the difference quite a bit. To quote "Your car felt like a slightly quicker 330i before. It really pulls now! I did also give it a service with 10W60 so that may have also affected things as well as changing a duff alternator.

Even a friend who works at BMW was saying that his customers could feel the difference with the Inspection I and IIs.

[ian in lancs]

my Z4M service record

1,148 Running In Service (1200mls)
11,407 Oil Service
12,144 Replace Brake Fluid
24,157 Inspection I - incl tappets
33,666 Replace Brake Fluid
33,666 Replace Mobility Kit
36,960 Oil Service
49,733 Inspection II - incl tappets
49,733 Replace Brake Fluid
49,733 Replace Gearbox Oil
49,733 Replace Diff Oil
62,341 Oil Service

[ian in lancs]

[ratty6464]

Cheers for the upload. I've requested a copy of the before and after valve clearance measurements when it is serviced.