E39 530i Touring - servicing

[cuneus]

My (long) search for a decent estate continues (even started looking at Volvo's!)

Before I make another long journey this one (2004) has 45K and shows a PDI plus an oil service at 16K and another oil service at 29K

What service is it due now and why have the 2 previous ones only been oil services ?

TIA

PS If anyone know of a nice example please let me know

[Neil.D]

The 29k one should be an Insp 1 right? Seems strange. Where is your info from? The service book or BMW?
It should be due an Oil service followed by and Insp 2 around 60k miles as 16k or so miles between services is about right.

PDI
16k - Oil Service
29k - Insp 1
45k - Oilservice
60k - Insp 2

[cuneus]

Thanks for the reply

The info is from a picture of the service book

Think I will ring BMW tomorrow to confirm that the info in the book is correct

[matt uk]

If a car that age has only had oil services and not the Insepection I / II then I'd walk away. If it's true that is not a car with a good service history. Plenty of cherished cars out there.

[cuneus]

matt uk said:

If a car that age has only had oil services and not the Insepection I / II then I'd walk away. If it's true that is not a car with a good service history. Plenty of cherished cars out there.

Yes - tend to agree - but all the stamps are from BMW dealers ?

I did ring the garage but they don't have any records for that car (Reg no. - could have had a plate change)

Maybe you could point out a couple of examples (I haven't seen one yet!!)

[matt uk]

cuneus said:

matt uk said:

If a car that age has only had oil services and not the Insepection I / II then I'd walk away. If it's true that is not a car with a good service history. Plenty of cherished cars out there.

Yes - tend to agree - but all the stamps are from BMW dealers ?

I did ring the garage but they don't have any records for that car (Reg no. - could have had a plate change)

Maybe you could point out a couple of examples (I haven't seen one yet!!)

Ah, just realised you are looking at Tourings, so agreed there are far less out there.

Sounds like it could be a case of dodgy stamps if the dealers have no record. But it could be that the plate has changed. It is also possible that the Inspection service has been incorrectly recorded as a mere Oil Service. I always prefer to see invoices anyway. If you can look at these you'll be able to see what work was done.

If none of this is available then I guess you are looking to buy a non-history car. Nothing wrong with that so long as it's priced accordingly and you or someone you trust can give it a good once over and assure you that it's fit and healthy. Plently of nice home-serviced cars out there without the stamps (though I'd expect to see receipts for parts and oil).

But the E39 is now falling into the hands of those who can afford to buy yet cannot afford to spend the money on them they require and a lot are now falling into banger status.

Edited by matt uk on Monday 23 March 19:28

[cuneus]

Right I have confirmation that it has been on private plates. When I rang both BMW dealers with the correct reg no. they confirmed that it had been serviced