M3 service history advice and reliability.

[JimmyRosa]

Good morning people,


I'm currently looking at an M3 05 Jan, which has had its running in service on time as well as an oil service 20 months later.

It's now due an inspection 1, this would be 2 years and 2 months since the last oil service (covered just over 9K in the 2 years 2 months ) is this car still ok in terms of being maintained correctly or would I have reliability issues?
Or should I just wait for some else to come up as I will be keeping the car for a good while?

It has no warranty, but could have a full comp warranty very similar to the BMW comp warranty for a year.

The car is in good condition apart from that and has 3 owners.

Any advice or opinion would be greatly appreciated, I want a decent M3 at the end of the day and have been looking for over 3 months now. Want the right 1!

Cheers,
J

[Peter.js]

I think if it had its service and a BMW warranty then if the rest of the car is good then there shouldn't be a problem...you could always contact the owner previous to the current one to get a better idea of the history of the car.

[JimmyRosa]

Cheers for the info Mike. I've already asked re: the inspection 1, and the dealer will do it if I purchase, also put on a years warranty similar to the BMW comp warranty.

The last owner had the car for 2 years, the first owner was BMW, and the owner in between (2nd) must of owned the car for around a year - year and a half, as BMW would have owned for 6 months ( that's what they usually do before passing it on to a dealer) I assume.

Thanks Peter, I will try and contact the last owner, but this some times proves difficult.

It hasn't got a BMW warranty but like I said will come with a years equivalent to the full comp warranty that BMW offers.

So still good?

Does the car need to be serviced at least within every 2 years? I'm sure it's every 2 years or when the computer indicates? or could I run into probs if over with re: to engine etc because of the oil being old?

Like I said the looks mint and has FBMWSH and done 9K in the last 2 years, probably why it hasn't been serviced as the computer didn't indicate service due and the owner thought he might stretch to the next service.

p.s.
The dealer is telling me that the warranty they put on is the same price as BMW warranty and is now seeing if they can put the BMW warranty on.

Thanks again,
J

[JimmyRosa]

Hi Mike, the car is coming from a Reputable car manufacturer - dealer, not private, and has been fully checked etc as it come in as part exchange.

Thanks again,
J

[deano23]

JimmyRosa said:

The last owner had the car for 2 years, the first owner was BMW, and the owner in between (2nd) must of owned the car for around a year - year and a half, as BMW would have owned for 6 months ( that's what they usually do before passing it on to a dealer) I assume.

That doesn't sound out of the ordinary. Not to me anyway.

[nottyash]

deano23 said:

JimmyRosa said:

The last owner had the car for 2 years, the first owner was BMW, and the owner in between (2nd) must of owned the car for around a year - year and a half, as BMW would have owned for 6 months ( that's what they usually do before passing it on to a dealer) I assume.

That doesn't sound out of the ordinary. Not to me anyway.

Nor to me.
Mine is a 54, 3 on logbook. 2 brothers and the supplying dealer(demonstrater sold with 1100 miles on). so What??

[JimmyRosa]

Cheers Deano,

I have seen M3 go though a few owners, I'm a bit worried about resale (keeping value) with regards to owners.

[Pork]

As has been discussed on here many times before, condition is more important than the number of owners. It always amazes me that people are scared of the number of owners! My M3 had 2 owners before it was 1 year old - BMW Management and then a private chap. It has had all the services on time and was, to my mind, well looked after. Thats way more important than how many poeple had previously loved it before me.

Out of interest, I though the servoce timer on these was set to a certain amount of fuel use or two year - has it needed a service for a while?

[M3CD]

Sounds like its missed a service ?

I used to do bugger all miles in mine (about 5-6k a year) and it still virtually needed a service every 12-16mths.

[JimmyRosa]

mikez328 said:

JimmyRosa said:

Hi Mike, the car is coming from a Reputable car manufacturer - dealer, not private, and has been fully checked etc as it come in as part exchange.

Thanks again,
J

You should be perfectly safe then if they can negotiate a BMW AUC warranty (which I doubt). Most high performance cars are bought by enthusiasts who tend to get bored very quickly (like me - I change my car 2-4 times a year!). I would still telephone BMW Customer Services though to check on the "Official" BMW service records held on their computers.

I doubt that any "aftermarket warranty" will cover anywhere near what BMW AUC offer. Furthermore, BMW bend over backwards to repair items that are "dubious" (Clutches, Brakes etc.) & would be refused by the small print in 3rd party warranties. Deano & nottyash are right IMO.

Just spend a few quid speaking to BMW CS or the last known BMW Servicing agent. It's cheaper than an HPI check & bear in mind that although it's not an AJ6 engined TVR a new engine can cost £10-£12K plus labour..... Be careful.

Good morning,

Cheers Pork! see below RE: service etc.

After seeing the car pictures/description yesterday, I decided to view the car at Jaguar dealership is Essex, long way round the M25 from Surrey! Only traded the car in on sat, they had 4 calls about the car whilst I was there!

Well what can I say, for a car that's 4 years old, it was almost immaculate, drove lovely.
Interlagos Blue CS 2005 plate, 20K on the clock.

I done just that Mike, cheers!. Called BMW Customer services, checked dealer visits where and when, then called each dealer to find out details re: warranty work, services etc.
All good, every visit come up as it should of - only warranty work - removal and replace right glove box (must have not shut correctly, and some thing to do with the brake pads - replaced them.
It also had a mileage/history certificates.

The rest of visits MOTs, tyres, services, Ipod config what ever that is hopefully I can plug mine in and use the display on the Sat Nav?!?


The sales guy was very helpful, I used the dealership phone to call customer services etc which he was kind enough to get all the numbers I needed.
He also called the BMW warranty department and asked about placing a full comp BMW warranty on the car rather than the Jag warranty (what Pork was saying, Computer/fuel use) - which was around the same price as the Jag warranty! BMW warranty dept was able to place a full comp BMW warranty on the car no problem, as the cars computer was indicating that it was still 3 and half K from the next service (inspection 1) - even though it was 2 years since the last service, they also said because the car only covered around 9K in those 2 years it was absolutely fine.

As part of the deal - BMW full comp warranty with no excess, Inspection1 service, incl brake fluid change, new MOT
Small bits on car - polish a few light scratches out etc..

The only thing I couldn't get was the tax, oh well can't have every thing!

Have been looking for a while, and must agree with Pork, Deano23, Nottyash etc..

Condition is a large factor, cars I have viewed recently with less owners and younger have been no where near this cars condition.

Just hope I've made the right decision with regards to transmission? Did try a few SMGs which I liked but I think my heart was set on a Manual and this was the first manual with a good spec (HK stereo, sat nav tv, elec folding mirrors) I've seen after looking for CS/M3 for last 3-4 months!?! no heated seats but has got the bolster body adjustment which is brilliant imo.
As it was a BMW GB car it also had fire extinguisher fitted under the seat which is nice touch. I hope I never need to use it! could use it as a anti car jacking device

Thanks for every ones advice!

J

[Rags]

I guess we need to know roughly what you paid for it to decipher whether it was a good deal or not!

[JimmyRosa]

I think it's a good deal.

Around 20K

Cheers,

[MattOz]

Sounds lovely Jimmy.

Look forward to seeing the pics when you pick it up!

I bought my 2nd M3, a 2005 55 plate car, in September for about the same price. I'd say the deal you got was a good one.

Matt

[JimmyRosa]

Picked up my motor last night!

Well pleased!

[AngryApples]

Congrats mate!

I've got about 1.5 weeks to go until I get my hands on mne, the waits going to be a killer

[JimmyRosa]

Cheers AA.

What you picking up? spec?

Your have it in time for the Easter hols though!

[AngryApples]

04'
Carbon Black
Grey Nappa
SMG


Spec list to make your eyes bleed (I believe everything but lec rear blind and M embossed headrests)

When I called BM UK about the spec and history they quoted "universal remote control"

WTF is that said I (albeit in a more polite manner), turns out its a programmable garage door opener - handy cos' mines electric

(I love gadgets!)

9 days and counting.................aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

[AngryApples]

Oh, JR............


PICS!!!!