6 Year Old BMW 320 with only 4 services.

[mercowner]

Hi,

Hope someone can help. Ive seen a used BMW that has over 100k miles but serviced by an indy at 35k, 55k, 75k and 85k. Its at 110k now. I couldnt locate anything on the iDrive but I would have thought if some paid in region of 30k on a new car atleast o1-2 services would be done by BMW.

the car is priced about 1500 less than anything else similar age and mileage. The condition of the car is really good. Would BMW have kept a record prior to 35k?

How much of a risk is it buying with only 4 services? Thanks for your help.

[parabolica]

I understand your concern, but at that mileage and given it has had regular services since 35k onwards, I would be buying based on condition more than anything else. Worst case scenario - its first service was at 35k and maybe it did miss at least 1, maybe 2 earlier services. Any issues caused by that will have been picked up in the 35k (and subsequent) services.

Is it the 320d or 320i? The diesels were designed to go a long way before initial servicing.

[mercowner]

Thanks for the reply, yes it is the 320d. The overall condition is pretty good better than the Merc I have hence why I am surprised as someone has been careful driver not much sign of dents or anything of that sort just curious that someone after paying so much for a new car did not go for BM service initially to atleast not to lose too much value of the car.

Another question, are the auto boxes on the servieceable? I have heard mixed from some saying they are sealed for life and other saying oil change is required at some point.

Thanks

[DailyHack]

No, sealed for life is a load of tosh, get it done as soon as you can, and thereafter 40/50k, also the differential...also start by doing 10k MAX engine oil changes to prolong your timing chain "the achilles heal of BMW diesels" and to prolong your expensive turbo...

trust me I have ran two N47 diesels long term (150k+), and running one now albeit a 2012 318d E91 (110k), and it helps alot - 20k oil intervals is a quick way to lunch your engine on these.

[aeropilot]

mercowner said:

Hi,

Hope someone can help. Ive seen a used BMW that has over 100k miles but serviced by an indy at 35k, 55k, 75k and 85k. Its at 110k now. I couldnt locate anything on the iDrive but I would have thought if some paid in region of 30k on a new car atleast o1-2 services would be done by BMW.

the car is priced about 1500 less than anything else similar age and mileage. The condition of the car is really good. Would BMW have kept a record prior to 35k?

I would think it likely that 1st serv was done at BMW, as there would have had to have been at least one prior to 35k!

However, what is the time between first reg and that 35k indie service, as that might be more telling. Could be that first owner was hire car, or lease car etc., and clocked up a big mileage in first 18 months, and they dumped into the auctions just before it needed its first service.

I would say there's a reason its 1500 quid lower than other similar cars.......

[survivalist]

I’d say that any car with the N47 engine in is a bit of a gamble. As someone else has already pointed out the timing chains stretch and snap and a lot of info seems to suggest that the long oil change intervals are to blame (or at least don’t help)

I’d normally put this down to internet folk law but I know 3 people who this has happened to and Facebook owners club seems have about a post a week with a picture of a stranded car.

If you can stretch to it the 6 cylinder 330d is much more reliable.

Might well have been a company/lease car. I was one of the few people at my last place that bothered getting stuff serviced, which surprised me as all costs were covered - think a lot of people can’t be arsed because it’s not theirs and they know they’ll be getting a new one soon.

[va1o]

There’s a good chance it may have had services/ oil changes done outside of the BMW network, which don’t show on the idrive history

[Sheepshanks]

mercowner said:

Hope someone can help. Ive seen a used BMW that has over 100k miles but serviced by an indy at 35k, 55k, 75k and 85k. Its at 110k now.

You've focused on its early life but I'd also be somewhat concerned that its last service was 25K ago.

[Fermit and Sexy Sarah]

survivalist said:

If you can stretch to it the 6 cylinder 330d is much more reliable.

And a lot faster. Yesterday I tried to keep up with one (in our Insignia CDTi 170, I know....) through some twisties, he was gone!

[Mr Tidy]

I wouldn't be so worried about the long interval in it's early life as it is still going strong.

But I'd be concerned about the 35K miles gap interval since the last one!

I know BMW service intervals are long, but they aren't ever as long as that!

I had a 123d with the N47 engine that only got serviced according to the BMW regime, but I don't think it ever managed more than 18K between services. I bailed out of it at 81K miles after reading horror stories about cam-chains, before BMW started their "Quality Enhancement" programme.

Still it did me a favour as I discovered the joys of straight 6 petrol N/A BMWs.

As the saying goes, if it's cheap it's usually cheap for a reason!

A serious question - are you usually lucky in life?