Dubious first oil change - advice needed

Dubious first oil change - advice needed

Author
Discussion

Z4MCSL

Original Poster:

544 posts

83 months

Monday 24th July 2017
quotequote all
Hi All,

I'm looking at a 2008 z4 3.0si sport.

Service history looks decent except for one bit. It has the running in service...then it has the oil change early 2011 with no mileage....and next service is inspection 1 at 30k at the end of that year. So unless the previous owner did 15k miles in 8 months (I guess that's plausible) then it seems the first oil change was done late.

Worth worrying about on an otherwise mint car with all the bits I want??

Thanks

Z4MCSL

Original Poster:

544 posts

83 months

Monday 24th July 2017
quotequote all
Should say car is on about 80 now and has had service/oil change roughly every 15k

iSore

4,011 posts

144 months

Monday 24th July 2017
quotequote all
How many miles on it now?

2008...is that a late E85 Coupe type Z4?

Z4MCSL

Original Poster:

544 posts

83 months

Monday 24th July 2017
quotequote all
Yeah forgot to say it's a coupe 😁😁😁

Smuler

2,286 posts

139 months

Monday 24th July 2017
quotequote all
One scenario is that the garage was tardy in that it didn't enter the miles for the oil service (seen that several times) and then , yes, someone did 15k in 8 months and the car was then (15k miles later as is normal) due it's Inspection 1 at 30k

You can assume the Oil service was due around 15k miles, that's my experience on E46 M3s as the closest comparison.

Depending when the car was registered in 2008 seems first oil service was(a little) late as I understand it should be 2 years in any event.

What I'd do, is cross reference with the MOT history , to make sure Miles correspond.

As it does seem a sudden surge in miles (during 2011) , do you know it's the same owner?

Data on V5 together with a HPI check might tell the story.

Or check out the servicing dealer, they could still have records from 2011 to fill in miles.

Any gaps in history are worth checking , inmho, I was very analytical with my M3 wink

But no reason to get worried at the moment.

talksthetorque

10,815 posts

135 months

Monday 24th July 2017
quotequote all
Thought it was only the Ms that have the running in service.
A si 3.0 is due one roughly every 15k, so if that was done at 15k, with the next one at 30, then you're good.
Phone whoever did the first service, they may have a mileage/invoice record.

helix402

7,859 posts

182 months

Monday 24th July 2017
quotequote all
Don't worry about it.

AlwynMike

508 posts

87 months

Monday 24th July 2017
quotequote all
Have a friendly word with your local BMW dealer - the history may be available globally if it was done at BMW.
Take the VIN number in case it was on a private plate.


xjay1337

15,966 posts

118 months

Monday 24th July 2017
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Wouldnt be concerned.

SebringMan

1,773 posts

186 months

Monday 24th July 2017
quotequote all
If it's clean underneath the oil cap and inside the engine, sounds fine on cold startup and goes well I'd say you're OK smile.

Z4MCSL

Original Poster:

544 posts

83 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
quotequote all
SO....


Garage confirmed the March oil service, which was the first service, was done at 28,276....very high.

Although he did say in reality if anything would have been an issue it would have been an issue by now.

any more thoughts?

xjay1337

15,966 posts

118 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
quotequote all
Z4MCSL said:
SO....


Garage confirmed the March oil service, which was the first service, was done at 28,276....very high.

Although he did say in reality if anything would have been an issue it would have been an issue by now.

any more thoughts?
Are you wanting someone to say "avoid, it's going to blow up in 200 miles" ?

Everyone so far has said it's going to be fine.

Z4MCSL

Original Poster:

544 posts

83 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
quotequote all
haha, I know you are totally right. Well actually no Im just hoping more people go: " yeah its fine go for it"

shaking the tree for any scare stories a bit I guess - think I'm ready to go but its that final push

Smuler

2,286 posts

139 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
quotequote all
Z4MCSL said:
haha, I know you are totally right. Well actually no Im just hoping more people go: " yeah its fine go for it"

shaking the tree for any scare stories a bit I guess - think I'm ready to go but its that final push
I'm not going to, now, say it'll blow up in 200 miles wink

But :

(1) I'd want a discount off list to reflect poor service history.
(2) There is a possible scenario that the owner at the time didn't give a damn about the car, so also reflect that in a discount.

Like someone else said, I didn't know a non M had a running in service. I actually replied, initially, thinking it was a Z4M wink

You sure it's the right service book??



Z4MCSL

Original Poster:

544 posts

83 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
quotequote all
yeah I didnt mean running in I meant pre-delivery.

Yeah I guess there are two scenarios:

1. First owner didnt care about it and only serviced it once he realised he was going to have to get the first MOT that year

Obviously this is a bad sign
BUT
it has then been services every 15-17k at the appropriate level.
it is now on 80k and drives well etc as far as I can tell

2. First owner got more than one oil service before the first inspection service at 30,000 but didnt put them in the book etc.


either way I would hope if that had fked the car this would have come out by now??

On another note I wondered if there was a way to find the first owners name and then I can do some due diligence on LinkedIn.



Z4MCSL

Original Poster:

544 posts

83 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
quotequote all
yeah I didnt mean running in I meant pre-delivery.

Yeah I guess there are two scenarios:

1. First owner didnt care about it and only serviced it once he realised he was going to have to get the first MOT that year

Obviously this is a bad sign
BUT
it has then been services every 15-17k at the appropriate level.
it is now on 80k and drives well etc as far as I can tell

2. First owner got more than one oil service before the first inspection service at 30,000 but didnt put them in the book etc.


either way I would hope if that had fked the car this would have come out by now??

On another note I wondered if there was a way to find the first owners name and then I can do some due diligence on LinkedIn.



Smuler

2,286 posts

139 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
quotequote all
Z4MCSL said:
yeah I didnt mean running in I meant pre-delivery.

Yeah I guess there are two scenarios:

1. First owner didnt care about it and only serviced it once he realised he was going to have to get the first MOT that year

Obviously this is a bad sign
BUT
it has then been services every 15-17k at the appropriate level.
it is now on 80k and drives well etc as far as I can tell

2. First owner got more than one oil service before the first inspection service at 30,000 but didnt put them in the book etc.


either way I would hope if that had fked the car this would have come out by now??

On another note I wondered if there was a way to find the first owners name and then I can do some due diligence on LinkedIn.
I presume it's had more than one previous owner, therefore s/he's not on V5?
Problem with a DD check as you describe is that it can be the most respectable people (often wealthy) who are lax at servicing, cos the car is a plaything and they don't worry about resale.

I found this when checking out M3s, several owned by GPs.

I don't have the mechanical knowledge to know what the (possible) ramifications of a late first oil change is, but I've found N/a Straight Sixes pretty solid.
I'd say price to reflect poor service history is fair, if you're happy with car as it drives now and it's recent service, maintenance, MOT, history.

The only issue I've had with a N/A straight six was poor oil consumption, leaky rocket gasket being the final cause determined.
That car probably wasn't that well looked after, in terms of it having one caring/careful owner, yet it was serviced always on time.















Z4MCSL

Original Poster:

544 posts

83 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
quotequote all
Ha yeah I agree,

I really love it when people add "Dr owned" to their adverts - as if that means anything!

Im waiting for a call back from a couple of people I know who know their 3.0si engines but will see where we get to.

Feels a bit stupid that it is putting me off so much right now but its something to worry about so i am worrying that it may subsequently put people off when I come to sale.


xjay1337

15,966 posts

118 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
quotequote all
Honestly you are over thinking this too much and it's frustrating.

TR4man

5,226 posts

174 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
quotequote all
You are concerned because In between 2008 and 2011there is some doubt over the date and mileage of an oil change?

Surely any problems would have occurred by now?



Edited by TR4man on Tuesday 25th July 15:12