Running In Service (Important when buying an E46 M3?)

[BDM]

Hey everyone...

So when looking for an E46 M3 is it essential to buy one with a running in service? Whats the drawbacks? Whats the gains?

Apart from that the car has been serviced at a main dealer most its life of schedule.

Appreciate your help

[Slurms]

the short version is if it's not been done then don't buy the car...

[andye30m3]

Slurms said:

the short version is if it's not been done then don't buy the car...

+1

I wouldn't even consider one which hasn't had this service, there's far to many for sale to buy one which could potentially cause problems.

I think the oil used between delivery and the first service is different and should not be used long term.

[Andy G Bmth]

I've just bought a Z4m which shares the same engine and was advised the same - if it hasn't been done then do not buy.

My understanding was a different oil was used for the first 1200 miles which was designed to collect the minute metal shearings from the engine bedding in and wasn't designed for longetivity. I don't understand the ramifications of running it longer than advised (apart from no chance of extending the warranty) but i imagine it is not very healthy for the engine.

I'm sure someone will be along shortly and explain all the nitty gritty bits in more detail

[Slurms]

I don't know the age of the car your looking at but if it's not been done it means BMW won't allow any goodwill payments towards any premature mechanical failures on the car.

Ok they aren't common but many people have had contributions from BMW towards repairs outside of the warranty.

But if the running in service is missed then BMW won't honour anything to do with the engine.

[Patrick123D]

Personally, having owned a Z4M for a year, I would take advantage of any car where the owner was to lazy/ignorant to have the 1200 mile service. It is not important. It is purely an oil change to remove the (very thin) running in oil provided by the factory & any "swarf" deposited in the sump. There will be minute particles of alloy/iron, even fter 10,000 miles, compared to an engine of the 1970's.

Why should you worry? If you have a modern (1998 onwards) BMW, it will run to over 200,000 miles with regular 12,000 mile oil-changes...

[KENZ]

The engine alone costs around 12k to replace so I'd say its important to remove any excuse that BMW may use to wriggle out of compensation if your engine was to fail..

[Mclovin]

steer clear of them....cars like this are notoriously owned by people that have too much money to give a toss and with that goes hand in hand a complete ignorance of everythingelse required to use a car -cold thrashing, launches, monitoring oil usuage etc...

[Great Pretender]

Patrick123D said:

Personally, having owned a Z4M for a year, I would take advantage of any car where the owner was to lazy/ignorant to have the 1200 mile service. It is not important. It is purely an oil change to remove the (very thin) running in oil provided by the factory & any "swarf" deposited in the sump. There will be minute particles of alloy/iron, even fter 10,000 miles, compared to an engine of the 1970's.

Why should you worry? If you have a modern (1998 onwards) BMW, it will run to over 200,000 miles with regular 12,000 mile oil-changes...

fk off Mike.

[john_p]

I wonder how many cars out there missed the service but magically regained the stamp later on in their life...

[JMRS4]

Patrick123D said:

Personally, having owned a Z4M for a year, I would take advantage of any car where the owner was to lazy/ignorant to have the 1200 mile service. It is not important. It is purely an oil change to remove the (very thin) running in oil provided by the factory & any "swarf" deposited in the sump. There will be minute particles of alloy/iron, even fter 10,000 miles, compared to an engine of the 1970's.

Why should you worry? If you have a modern (1998 onwards) BMW, it will run to over 200,000 miles with regular 12,000 mile oil-changes...

All Crap, don't listen to this. NO service NO buy simple.

Edited by JMRS4 on Monday 21st December 15:06

[M3RMS]

Personally, I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole

BUT THAT SAID, having been on M forums (mainly mtorque / BM3W) regularly for the best part of this decade (!), I don't think i've heard of a single engine problem that has been attributed to a running in service being missed or done late.

If it's factored into the price, I'm not so sure it would be something to worry about too much. It's not going to have a BMW warranty anyway - so i'd guess any goodwill claims will be highly unlikely to succeed regardless.

Possibly worth a punt if you don't mind taking the risk.

[Soovy]

Slurms said:

the short version is if it's not been done then don't buy the car...

This.

If it didn't have it done then the warranty is not valid.


Don't touch it.

[BDM]

Its basically an 04 car with 62k miles.

First few services at BMW main dealer then went to a specialist for one then the last was a BMW main dealer again.

I think its a little over priced at 17k as it has no TV/Sat Nav which i know apparenty requires a premium on the price. Does have Harman Kardon and CSL's though not sure if that requires a premium?

Thanks for all the help so far guys. Much appreciated.

Edited by BDM on Monday 21st December 15:40

[Andy G Bmth]

john_p said:

I wonder how many cars out there missed the service but magically regained the stamp later on in their life...

I agree but it's easy enough to check on BMW's database whether it had it or not which a stamp wouldn't cover as it is this that BMW would go by.

[Andy G Bmth]

Great Pretender said:

Patrick123D said:

Personally, having owned a Z4M for a year, I would take advantage of any car where the owner was to lazy/ignorant to have the 1200 mile service. It is not important. It is purely an oil change to remove the (very thin) running in oil provided by the factory & any "swarf" deposited in the sump. There will be minute particles of alloy/iron, even fter 10,000 miles, compared to an engine of the 1970's.

Why should you worry? If you have a modern (1998 onwards) BMW, it will run to over 200,000 miles with regular 12,000 mile oil-changes...

fk off Mike.

[Soovy]

BDM said:

Its basically an 04 car with 62k miles.

First few services at BMW main dealer then went to a specialist for one then the last was a BMW main dealer again.

I think its a little over priced at 17k as it has no TV/Sat Nav which i know apparenty requires a premium on the price. Does have Harman Kardon and CSL's though not sure if that requires a premium?

Thanks for all the help so far guys. Much appreciated.

Edited by BDM on Monday 21st December 15:40

AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE.

NO SERVICE = NO BUY

[426Hemi]

OP,
What is your budget?

I have one for sale...I will PM you, if interested.

[J-P]

BDM said:

...So when looking for an E46 M3 is it essential to buy one with a running in service? ...

Absolutely essential. Engine is expensive to replace and BMW won't honour any warranty issues if it's been missed. TBH even my M3 has a warning on the engine saying the car must have a 1200 mile service.

Would you want to buy a car like this without knowing that the previous owner/s really took care of it?

[Patrick123D]

What a load of bks is spouted forth on this forum, The BMW dealer network won't touch an ///M car that has not had the "dreaded" 1200 mile service. It's only a running in oil service for God's sake. All ///M cars have a cast iron engine block. Because the factory won't test run the engines prior to delivery (for cost reasons) BMW expect the customer to meet their costs. The 1200 mile oil change used to be FREE & factored in to the extortionate cost of your new car. Sadly it no longer isn't & YOU now have to pay for it to keep up your warranty, then pay through the nose at over 3 times the going rate over "normal" BMW's

As I realised several years ago, BMW UK have a "Cash Cow" with UK ///M owners.

Who gives a st about weather the car has had a "mandotary" 1200 mile service? If the car hasn't & you are happy with it then buy it for £3000 less than it's so called value - end of story..........