How to Treat a 10,000 Mile 15 Year Old Car
Discussion
Hi,
Not really sure where in the forum to post this. Mods please feel free to move if there's a better option.
I've bought a 58 plate BMW 130i auto... with just 10,000 miles. It checks out. I pick it up tomorrow. It's a Japanese import. It appears to have been a second car or housewife's car in Japan most of its life, hardly being used, and then imported by a UK car dealer who only sells Japanese import German and Swedish cars. They brought it over in January 2022, and it's sat in their lockup just being moved around once in a while. It's literally only done 55 miles between being imported in Jan '22 and me purchasing it this week, so just moved around occasionally.
What, if any, recommisioning might a vehicle like this need? I plan to run the car about 9k a year. I test drove it, twice, on Tuesday for I guess about 5 miles, and all seems well. Is there anything I should do, or anything else I should be aware of, or should I just stop worrying and drive the thing? BTW, it's been meticulously over serviced at a main dealer in Japan its whole life, around once every thousand miles! The only thing I'm wondering about is the automatic gearbox oil, as I think BMW never put it on their service schedule (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong). So it's somewhat likely the gearbox oil is 15 years old. I'll get that done as a precaution anyway. Thanks
Not really sure where in the forum to post this. Mods please feel free to move if there's a better option.
I've bought a 58 plate BMW 130i auto... with just 10,000 miles. It checks out. I pick it up tomorrow. It's a Japanese import. It appears to have been a second car or housewife's car in Japan most of its life, hardly being used, and then imported by a UK car dealer who only sells Japanese import German and Swedish cars. They brought it over in January 2022, and it's sat in their lockup just being moved around once in a while. It's literally only done 55 miles between being imported in Jan '22 and me purchasing it this week, so just moved around occasionally.
What, if any, recommisioning might a vehicle like this need? I plan to run the car about 9k a year. I test drove it, twice, on Tuesday for I guess about 5 miles, and all seems well. Is there anything I should do, or anything else I should be aware of, or should I just stop worrying and drive the thing? BTW, it's been meticulously over serviced at a main dealer in Japan its whole life, around once every thousand miles! The only thing I'm wondering about is the automatic gearbox oil, as I think BMW never put it on their service schedule (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong). So it's somewhat likely the gearbox oil is 15 years old. I'll get that done as a precaution anyway. Thanks
Johnny5hoods said:
Hi,
Not really sure where in the forum to post this. Mods please feel free to move if there's a better option.
I've bought a 58 plate BMW 130i auto... with just 10,000 miles. It checks out. I pick it up tomorrow. It's a Japanese import. It appears to have been a second car or housewife's car in Japan most of its life, hardly being used, and then imported by a UK car dealer who only sells Japanese import German and Swedish cars. They brought it over in January 2022, and it's sat in their lockup just being moved around once in a while. It's literally only done 55 miles between being imported in Jan '22 and me purchasing it this week, so just moved around occasionally.
What, if any, recommisioning might a vehicle like this need? I plan to run the car about 9k a year. I test drove it, twice, on Tuesday for I guess about 5 miles, and all seems well. Is there anything I should do, or anything else I should be aware of, or should I just stop worrying and drive the thing? BTW, it's been meticulously over serviced at a main dealer in Japan its whole life, around once every thousand miles! The only thing I'm wondering about is the automatic gearbox oil, as I think BMW never put it on their service schedule (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong). So it's somewhat likely the gearbox oil is 15 years old. I'll get that done as a precaution anyway. Thanks
From what I remember, that era of BMW sealed their gearbox for life so wouldn't have an oil change on it unless it lost fluid after a related repair.Not really sure where in the forum to post this. Mods please feel free to move if there's a better option.
I've bought a 58 plate BMW 130i auto... with just 10,000 miles. It checks out. I pick it up tomorrow. It's a Japanese import. It appears to have been a second car or housewife's car in Japan most of its life, hardly being used, and then imported by a UK car dealer who only sells Japanese import German and Swedish cars. They brought it over in January 2022, and it's sat in their lockup just being moved around once in a while. It's literally only done 55 miles between being imported in Jan '22 and me purchasing it this week, so just moved around occasionally.
What, if any, recommisioning might a vehicle like this need? I plan to run the car about 9k a year. I test drove it, twice, on Tuesday for I guess about 5 miles, and all seems well. Is there anything I should do, or anything else I should be aware of, or should I just stop worrying and drive the thing? BTW, it's been meticulously over serviced at a main dealer in Japan its whole life, around once every thousand miles! The only thing I'm wondering about is the automatic gearbox oil, as I think BMW never put it on their service schedule (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong). So it's somewhat likely the gearbox oil is 15 years old. I'll get that done as a precaution anyway. Thanks
Tyres definitely need replacing. A lot of BMW owners say a swap to non-runflats is a huge improvement.
I know BMW say transmissions (Auto and Manual) are sealed for life, but a good Indy will replace the fluid.
Then just drive it, although some rubber parts may have deteriorated over time, like auxiliary drive belt and possibly suspension bushes, flexi brake pipes, etc.
But a 10,000 mile 130i sounds like fun!
I know BMW say transmissions (Auto and Manual) are sealed for life, but a good Indy will replace the fluid.
Then just drive it, although some rubber parts may have deteriorated over time, like auxiliary drive belt and possibly suspension bushes, flexi brake pipes, etc.
But a 10,000 mile 130i sounds like fun!
Jayho said:
From what I remember, that era of BMW sealed their gearbox for life so wouldn't have an oil change on it unless it lost fluid after a related repair.
Yes, I’d be getting it to a specialist for a gearbox oil change.Manufacturers view “sealed for life” to simply mean sealed for the duration of the warranty - they don’t care if it borks after that as a result of no oil changes.
Being sat unused isn't great for seals - be on the lookout for oil leaks. Otherwise just check the usual age related things - body rust, condition of rubber lines. The battery will need to be replaced. Replace fluids/filters according to the service history. Tyres may have flat spotted - you'd find that soon enough.
Appreciate the comments.
Drove it home from Bristol to Surrey today. Wow - what a smooth thing. Also, very easy to place accurately on a tight b - road.
Anyway, the important bit: noticed a definite whiff of petrol through the aircon driving around town, and from the rear when walking away after parking it at the shops. Then, when I got home the smell was gone.
When I drove away from the dealers, it was fairly close to empty, and I don't remember a smell. Then I got on the motorway, obviously didn't notice anything there with the wind blast. Then filled it up about two-thirds and continued on the motorway. It was when I got on to some slow local roads that I noticed the smell through the aircon, at traffic lights.
This could just be fumes escaping, as I'm the first person to fill it up much past empty for the last 2+ years, or it could be fuel tank, fuel filler neck, fuel pipes etc. I'll give it a few days and see what happens. Maybe the smell won't return.
Perhaps cars that have been barely moved in years give off some petrol fumes to begin with, the first time they're driven a long distance?
Drove it home from Bristol to Surrey today. Wow - what a smooth thing. Also, very easy to place accurately on a tight b - road.
Anyway, the important bit: noticed a definite whiff of petrol through the aircon driving around town, and from the rear when walking away after parking it at the shops. Then, when I got home the smell was gone.
When I drove away from the dealers, it was fairly close to empty, and I don't remember a smell. Then I got on the motorway, obviously didn't notice anything there with the wind blast. Then filled it up about two-thirds and continued on the motorway. It was when I got on to some slow local roads that I noticed the smell through the aircon, at traffic lights.
This could just be fumes escaping, as I'm the first person to fill it up much past empty for the last 2+ years, or it could be fuel tank, fuel filler neck, fuel pipes etc. I'll give it a few days and see what happens. Maybe the smell won't return.
Perhaps cars that have been barely moved in years give off some petrol fumes to begin with, the first time they're driven a long distance?
Johnny5hoods said:
Perhaps cars that have been barely moved in years give off some petrol fumes to begin with, the first time they're driven a long distance?
No, that isn't a thing.Cars that have old perished fuel lines tend to produce petrol smells - especially if they were built before the use of ethanol was widespread and haven't had the fuel lines replaced.
It can easily lead to the car going 'woof', so don't ignore it.
GreenV8S said:
No, that isn't a thing.
Cars that have old perished fuel lines tend to produce petrol smells - especially if they were built before the use of ethanol was widespread and haven't had the fuel lines replaced.
It can easily lead to the car going 'woof', so don't ignore it.
Any ideas on the rough cost to have a garage replace fuel lines?Cars that have old perished fuel lines tend to produce petrol smells - especially if they were built before the use of ethanol was widespread and haven't had the fuel lines replaced.
It can easily lead to the car going 'woof', so don't ignore it.
Johnny5hoods said:
Any ideas on the rough cost to have a garage replace fuel lines?
It'll be mostly labour, and the cost will depend how difficult it is to access the lines. You'd want to inspect the parts you can see before committing to changing them. Also see if you can pin down where the smell is coming from - it might be something else entirely.Fast and Spurious said:
Rip the guts out of it. Give it the B'Jesus!
This exactly. it needs an "Italian tune up". Yes I know it's German.Edited by Fast and Spurious on Friday 16th February 22:56
Let it warm up, then run it hard. Make sure you redline it in each gear and make sure it gets good and hot. Find a safe place and and carry out some hard brake stops. Several in succession.
Thank me later.
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