Opinions on this service history...

[ITBFiend]

Looking at an '02 E46 M3 and got sent pictures of the history:

20/01/2003 - PDI (Barons of Farnborough)
27/02/2003 - 1,236 miles: Running-in check (Barons of Farnborough)
30/10/2003 - 11,270 miles: Oil service/Micro-filter (Barons of Hindhead)
21/09/2004 - 22,837 miles: Inspection 1/Micro-filter (Barons of Hindhead)
02/11/2005 - 34,376 miles: Oil service (Barons of Hindhead)
26/10/2006 - 48,468 miles: Inspection 2/Micro-filter (Elms Cambridge)
11/10/2009 - 59,576 miles: Oil service/Micro-filter (Scotthall Hampshire) <-----
14/03/2012 - 66,707 miles: Inspection 2/Micro-filter (M Style) <-----
15/02/2013 - 71,774 miles: Oil service (Stephen James Blackheath)
09/09/2014 - 74,767 miles: Oil service/Micro-filter (Stephen James Blackheath)

Interested to get some opinions on the history in general. Are the 3 year gaps an issue given the mileage done?

Cheers.

[BMWNICK]

How many owners?
I would think that during that time it had an owner who did low annual mileage. As long as it was not thrashed from cold during those short trips then it should be okay.

[ITBFiend]

BMWNICK said:

How many owners?
I would think that during that time it had an owner who did low annual mileage. As long as it was not thrashed from cold during those short trips then it should be okay.

Hopefully the case! Having the car put in at a BMW dealer for an AUC check tomorrow so fingers crossed.

3 previous owners + the current I was told.

[Output Flange]

It'll be fine. They're hardy things, cars.

[cosworth330]

Just done low miles in those periods, I wouldn't worry.

[Joe Sp]

It would be worth calling the BMW information line and seeing what else has been done/recorded on the car in the dealer. For example on mine I found out about a bodywork repair that had gone missing from the apparently full set of documents.

[magnum555]

Its exceeded some of the service intervals it is 2 years or 18'000 miles whichever comes first.

[ITBFiend]

Really in two minds as it can't be classed as FSH.

[p1tse]

ITBFiend said:

Really in two minds as it can't be classed as FSH.

is the service indicator based on mileage only or by time too?

as above little mileage
11/10/2009 - 59,576 miles: Oil service/Micro-filter (Scotthall Hampshire) <-----
14/03/2012 - 66,707 miles: Inspection 2/Micro-filter (M Style) <-----

I can see why an owner would be reluctant to do an inspection 2 inbetween

i think the car seems sound on service, i too looked at one and hasn't had a service since nov-2011, based on similar above.
if i was to buy it i would get an inspection 2, but atleast this example youre looking at had an inspection 2 after the long duration

[ITBFiend]

p1tse said:

is the service indicator based on mileage only or by time too?

as above little mileage
11/10/2009 - 59,576 miles: Oil service/Micro-filter (Scotthall Hampshire) <-----
14/03/2012 - 66,707 miles: Inspection 2/Micro-filter (M Style) <-----

I can see why an owner would be reluctant to do an inspection 2 inbetween

i think the car seems sound on service, i too looked at one and hasn't had a service since nov-2011, based on similar above.
if i was to buy it i would get an inspection 2, but atleast this example youre looking at had an inspection 2 after the long duration

That's true... this was the gap that bothered me the most:
26/10/2006 - 48,468 miles: Inspection 2/Micro-filter (Elms Cambridge)
11/10/2009 - 59,576 miles: Oil service/Micro-filter (Scotthall Hampshire) <-----

[Wills2]

But that gap was 5 or 6 years ago and its had plenty of fresh oil since.

If you're worried walk on to the next one.

[Output Flange]

ITBFiend said:

That's true... this was the gap that bothered me the most:
26/10/2006 - 48,468 miles: Inspection 2/Micro-filter (Elms Cambridge)
11/10/2009 - 59,576 miles: Oil service/Micro-filter (Scotthall Hampshire) <-----

Why does it bother you?

[p1tse]

it's not the perfect enthusiast owned service history, but that comes with a price if a bit OCD about it

I would imagine not many actually follow oil, insp1, oil, inp2 on an annual basis which I think would be the ultimate regardless of miles

as said above, it was a number of years ago, had fresh oil since.
however i would say it would require a reputable inspection 2 now if you buy it for peace of mind

[161BMW]

Mine is low mileage and gets serviced every 2 years
In the past 16 months 1500 miles

[ITBFiend]

Output Flange said:

Why does it bother you?

It's been neglected. A service history following the schedule isn't too hard to find so it'll be worth the wait for me.

[Pip1968]

The gaps should perhaps be reflected in price a little. Two gaps are a little off putting but provided it runs nicely now and passes any inspection I would consider it. I think that you have to look at the whole package and see how other cars of a similar age compare.

Best of luck.

Pip

[av185]

p1tse said:

is the service indicator based on mileage only or by time too?

as above little mileage
11/10/2009 - 59,576 miles: Oil service/Micro-filter (Scotthall Hampshire) <-----
14/03/2012 - 66,707 miles: Inspection 2/Micro-filter (M Style) <-----

I can see why an owner would be reluctant to do an inspection 2 inbetween

i think the car seems sound on service, i too looked at one and hasn't had a service since nov-2011, based on similar above.
if i was to buy it i would get an inspection 2, but atleast this example youre looking at had an inspection 2 after the long duration

Service indicator based on time, miles and usage......

[nickfrog]

Yes but only up to 24 months max between oil changes, irrespective of the other parameters. Oil degrade with time too, hence the (some will say arbitrary) time limit.

It depends how long you want to keep it for. If you want to sell next year, the potential buyers will ask precisely the same questions and have the same reservations...

[Gruber]

Well I, for one, would be quite happy with that service history. Certainly wouldn't stop me buying a 12 year old car.

[Cheburator mk2]

ITBFiend said:

It's been neglected. A service history following the schedule isn't too hard to find so it'll be worth the wait for me.

That is such a stupid assumption to make...

My Z4M Coupe which I had from new was always serviced on time. But the FBMWSH would not tell you the car had more than 25,000 track miles when I sold it at 50,000 miles... When you are dealing with a 10yrs+ E46 M3, buy on condition and not based on some piece of paper which really tells you nothing about stuff that's happened 5yrs ago...