Buying advice needed

brendanb86 · 11-07-2015, 09:02 AM

Morning all,

I'm new to the forum, been browsing for the past few days as I prepare to purchase an E93. I went to view a car earlier and it looks really nice, drives well and seems in good shape. My only concerns are based around the service history. The car is a 57 plate with 45,000 miles. The service history is as follows:

August 2011 - 23,124 miles
September 2012 - 30,043 miles
November 2013 - 35,364 miles

It's now done around 45,000 and no service has been done since the last in 2013. The engine checks show brakes are good for 11k miles and oil needs doing in 3k. The following light displays on the dash (this is an image off the web, in the car the date says 10/2014):

It's had an AA inspection done which showed the following:

I really like the car and as stated, it drives well and seems to be in pretty good nick. But having come from an Audi background, I'm unfamiliar with BMW service jntervals so thought I'd get the forums thoughts?

Thanks

Brendan

Wilt · 11-07-2015, 09:29 AM

BMW has 'condition based service'...not at specific mileage intervals necessarily. And there are max time intervals for 'low annual mileage' cars.

Last oil was Nov 2013, so car has not been maintained per BMW factory recommendation of an ANNUAL oil change regardless of miles driven. Oil change is due NOW, not in 3000 miles.

Last evidence of brake fluid change was Sept 2012, so it is in need of a brake fluid change as brake fluid is hygroscopic (absorbs water) and the boiling point drops significantly as water is absorbed (primarily of importance in panic stops or prolonged, e.g. long downhill, braking.

Air cleaner is supposed to be changed every other oil change, so that is overdue (last done Sept 2012).
Microfilter (cabin air) needs changing (but not a critical item to engine life). And outer tread measurements indicate that you should budget for replacement tires soon.

That dash light simply indicates that the interval for a state safety inspection (if your state even requires one?!) is well past due.

You don't mention engine size and type (turbo, non-turb0, diesel). A turbo will need plugs at about 45K, a non-turbo will need plugs about 60K (in earlier years BMW said plugs at 100K for non-turbo, but in my 2011 service guide it says 60K even for a non-turbo)
Seems good to go in other regards.

brendanb86 · 11-07-2015, 11:30 AM

Thanks for your help Wilt.

I should have mentioned that an MOT was done 2 weeks ago and the rear tyres were replaced.

It's the 320i so I guess I should budget for plugs in 15k. I was simply concerned at the lack of services over the years, but perhaps it's not as bad as I first thought and a full service now would see it straight.

Wilt · 11-07-2015, 12:36 PM

A mere 10K miles since last oil change, but two years. Not so bad.

Brake fluid change I view to be the most urgent issue. Everything else is small potatoes.

ctuna · 11-07-2015, 02:34 PM

Since you are England and under different rules
which are apparently more stringent than in the US
most of us have no idea or how to evaluate whats
going on in the UK except for what Ed China does on
wheeler dealers.(I love that show)
However the Mike Miller BMW old school schedule is
interesting reading google Mike Miller BMW for a copy.

11-07-2015, 09:02 AM	#1
brendanb86 New Member 0 Rep 7 Posts Drives: Audi TT Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Buying advice needed - servicing concerns Morning all, I'm new to the forum, been browsing for the past few days as I prepare to purchase an E93. I went to view a car earlier and it looks really nice, drives well and seems in good shape. My only concerns are based around the service history. The car is a 57 plate with 45,000 miles. The service history is as follows: August 2011 - 23,124 miles September 2012 - 30,043 miles November 2013 - 35,364 miles It's now done around 45,000 and no service has been done since the last in 2013. The engine checks show brakes are good for 11k miles and oil needs doing in 3k. The following light displays on the dash (this is an image off the web, in the car the date says 10/2014): It's had an AA inspection done which showed the following: I really like the car and as stated, it drives well and seems to be in pretty good nick. But having come from an Audi background, I'm unfamiliar with BMW service jntervals so thought I'd get the forums thoughts? Thanks Brendan
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11-07-2015, 09:29 AM	#2
Wilt Major 228 Rep 1,050 Posts Drives: 2011 328i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: SF Bay area iTrader: (0)	BMW has 'condition based service'...not at specific mileage intervals necessarily. And there are max time intervals for 'low annual mileage' cars. Last oil was Nov 2013, so car has not been maintained per BMW factory recommendation of an ANNUAL oil change regardless of miles driven. Oil change is due NOW, not in 3000 miles. Last evidence of brake fluid change was Sept 2012, so it is in need of a brake fluid change as brake fluid is hygroscopic (absorbs water) and the boiling point drops significantly as water is absorbed (primarily of importance in panic stops or prolonged, e.g. long downhill, braking. Air cleaner is supposed to be changed every other oil change, so that is overdue (last done Sept 2012). Microfilter (cabin air) needs changing (but not a critical item to engine life). And outer tread measurements indicate that you should budget for replacement tires soon. That dash light simply indicates that the interval for a state safety inspection (if your state even requires one?!) is well past due. You don't mention engine size and type (turbo, non-turb0, diesel). A turbo will need plugs at about 45K, a non-turbo will need plugs about 60K (in earlier years BMW said plugs at 100K for non-turbo, but in my 2011 service guide it says 60K even for a non-turbo) Seems good to go in other regards. Last edited by Wilt; 11-07-2015 at 09:38 AM..
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11-07-2015, 11:30 AM	#3
brendanb86 New Member 0 Rep 7 Posts Drives: Audi TT Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Thanks for your help Wilt. I should have mentioned that an MOT was done 2 weeks ago and the rear tyres were replaced. It's the 320i so I guess I should budget for plugs in 15k. I was simply concerned at the lack of services over the years, but perhaps it's not as bad as I first thought and a full service now would see it straight.
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11-07-2015, 12:36 PM	#4
Wilt Major 228 Rep 1,050 Posts Drives: 2011 328i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: SF Bay area iTrader: (0)	A mere 10K miles since last oil change, but two years. Not so bad. Brake fluid change I view to be the most urgent issue. Everything else is small potatoes.
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11-07-2015, 02:34 PM	#5
ctuna Lieutenant General 1921 Rep 13,122 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	Since you are England and under different rules Since you are England and under different rules which are apparently more stringent than in the US most of us have no idea or how to evaluate whats going on in the UK except for what Ed China does on wheeler dealers.(I love that show) However the Mike Miller BMW old school schedule is interesting reading google Mike Miller BMW for a copy.
	Appreciate 0 Quote