Running in service @ 2,343 miles - question?

camcc · Post by **camcc** » Sat 13 Feb, 2010 18:18

If an M Roadster had it's running in service at 2,343 miles, would that void the warranty at all?

I know that they are meant to be done within 1,200 miles.

Regards,
Chris.

chevron · Post by **chevron** » Sat 13 Feb, 2010 20:08

yes to some degree it would.It would be BMW who would decide if to pay a claim on any failure which may be affected by the late service ,An engine problem due to oil lubication might not be paid due to the oil having been replaced late.BMW are a little flexable to the mileage of the first service but not to the mileage you have,Also if the car is ever traded in and sold by a BMW dealer it will have limited warranty as well then which could reflect in the trade in value.

Post by **Robert T** » Sat 13 Feb, 2010 20:12

um, this might sound glaringly obvious, but surely all ///M Roadsters will be out of warranty by now? AFAIAA it was 3 years general and 6 years bodywork. So are we talking extended warranty here or what?

I don't think this is uncommon though - I have heard of other cars going quite well beyond the 1200 miles.

Cheers R.

Jonttt · Post by **Jonttt** » Sat 13 Feb, 2010 20:16

It would have been a potential worry if buying a car privately within the first 3 years. Buying from a dealer should have meant warranty was honoured.

As Robert says not really a factor now dealer/warranty wise, more potential buyers that might affect value, just like you are querying.

I was offered a Z4m just out of BMW warranty that had never had its running in service at all. The price reflected this as it was about £4k under what it should have been but there would always be a worry what damage was done to engine.

camcc · Post by **camcc** » Sat 13 Feb, 2010 21:39

Thanks for the replies....

Sorry that I didn't make myself very clear, the car I'm looking at is a '98 car, so obviously well out of warranty. What I meant to say is that if, for instance, I bought this car and also purchased a warranty now through say the AA, would the late run in service go against any claim?

Below is the entire service history of the car. I haven't seen the booklet myself as yet, this is just what the seller has sent me. I notice that there are quite long gaps in between oil changes, or do BMW change the oil along with brake fluid services? Would you be put off by this cars service history?

April 1998 - 0 miles - Pre-Delivery Inspection - BMW
Oct 1998 - 2,343 miles - Running in check - BMW
Jul 1999 - 4,507 miles - Oil Service - BMW
Sept 2000 - 9,855 miles - Brake Fluid Change - BMW
Jan 2002 - 14,008 miles - Inspection I - BMW
Dec 2002 - 17,707 miles - Brake Fluid - BMW
May 2004 - 21,242 miles - Oil Service - BMW
Sept 2007 - 25,573 miles - Inspection II - Specialist
May 2009 - 27,945 miles - Oil Service - Specialist

Sorry for all the questions!

Jonttt · Post by **Jonttt** » Sat 13 Feb, 2010 21:56

Wow that must still have low mileage on.

I think despite being "late" with the running in service it seems a really good service record in accordance with the mileage. The obvious thing is its well overdue a brake fluid and coolent change but thats not to the detriment of the car with that mileage.

Note Coolent and brake fluid changes are time dependant not mileage.

The rest are based on the "cars" electronics working out useage against service requirements but it usually average 7 to 10 k per oil service cycle so this is pretty spot on.

Some owners change oil every year even with very little mileage but to me its more important how the car was drive with so little mileage ie engine warmed up before high revs etc....

When the car was under 3 years old would have been an issue unless bought from dealer just for warranty issues but now that service record would actually appeal to me pretty well

nb re the warranty fair enough if you want the piece of mind but I would stick the money in premium bonds

ie you can get it pretty quickly if you need it and you get a chance to win £1m

camcc · Post by **camcc** » Mon 15 Feb, 2010 21:04

Thanks Jonnt, shouldn't brake fluid and coolant be changed annually?

I'm sure I read in BMW Car or something that if you don't change coolant annually it can start corrosion of the engine innards...

Chris

Post by **Robert T** » Mon 15 Feb, 2010 21:26

camcc wrote:shouldn't brake fluid and coolant be changed annually?

I'm sure I read in BMW Car or something that if you don't change coolant annually it can start corrosion of the engine innards...

Er no.

Brake fluid is every 2 years and coolant every 4 (or 3 for an ///M) - see this thread. Coolant should contain a rust inhibitor.

Now oil, on the other hand, is recommended in the manual to be changed at every service or annually, whichever is sooner. Most of us push this out a bit - mine had usually been every 18 months.

Cheers R.

camcc · Post by **camcc** » Mon 15 Feb, 2010 22:18

Thanks for clarifying... I looked through my magazines where I thought I read about coolant and it was in Total BMW: "The biggest killer of BMW engines is lack of coolant changes.....change it every year or the block will rust and the head will blow" Good way to scare their readers!

I'm guessing that coolant is not changed during every Inpection service (as it's not in the scedule) and that its just up to the service technician to decide whether one is due?

Jonttt · Post by **Jonttt** » Mon 15 Feb, 2010 22:25

Not specifically, whoever carries out the service (indy or dealer) should inform you that its due a coolent / oil service but they won't carry it out unless you give the go ahead ie its not part of the oil service / inspection by default. Ultimately its the owners responsibility to get it done.

Some dealers put a reminder sticker on the car / service book to say when its next due (as its time based the date is set and not dependant on mileage or use)

nb. the stickers are dying out as newer BMW's tell you what they need and when things are overdue

camcc · Post by **camcc** » Wed 17 Feb, 2010 20:07

On a slightly seperate note from the original subject of my thread; I've just realised that the service history info that the sellers sent me shows the PDI as having taken place in April 1998, run-in October 1998 and the first Oil service in July 1999.

This means the car should be on a 'R' plate, however the pictures on Pistonheads clearly show it as having a 'T' plate (1st March - 31st July '99).

I wonder why this is, should I be concerned? How should I go about finding out more as to why this is, other than asking the sellers when I go to view the car on Saturday?

Chris

Desiro · Post by **Desiro** » Wed 17 Feb, 2010 21:25

This means the car should be on a 'R' plate, however the pictures on Pistonheads clearly show it as having a 'T' plate (1st March - 31st July '99).

He does say it is a rare model

I personally think it is too expensive even with the low milleage. Keep looking and you will get a good S54 for similar money.

If you really are keen to buy this one go to the dealer and ask to see the service book it may have been pdi checked abroad.

He does say in the advert that it is R reg.

camcc · Post by **camcc** » Wed 17 Feb, 2010 21:33

Service book says PDI was done at Park Lane, London.

I think the best course of action would be to get the VIN number when viewing the car and ring Park Lane dealer up - would they give me the registration number logged against their records at the time for that VIN?

P.S I know it's overpriced and I don't intend on paying anywhere near the price they're advertising at, but it is in my favoured colour combo and the seats look immaculate!

pingu · Post by **pingu** » Wed 17 Feb, 2010 21:48

Park Lane is the dealership for the MOD and the Foreign Office, so there is a possibility it was a VAT-free purchase for a foreign-based civil servant or squaddie.

camcc · Post by **camcc** » Wed 17 Feb, 2010 21:59

What difference would that make to the registration pingu? Do you think it might have been on a diplomat plate for the first year? If so wouldn't it have just been put back on an R plate?

Chris.

Post by **Robert T** » Wed 17 Feb, 2010 22:02

Well the DVLA, he say:

Code: Select all

Date of Liability   	       01 07 2010
Date of First Registration 	27 04 1998
Year of Manufacture 	       1998
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 	    3201CC
CO2 Emissions  	Not Available
Fuel Type 	     Petrol
Export Marker  	Not Applicable
Vehicle Status 	Licence Not Due
Vehicle Colour 	SILVER

Which ties up with what the seller says, but as you say, this has to be a cock up, as you can't have a plate which is newer than the car - i.e. it is not a personalised plate.

It is possible that something weird happened when the car was put on a private plate and then an incorrect year-letter ordinary plate put on it when the private plate was taken off.

Either way I would get this resolved before buying - otherwise it will become your liability and sure enough your expense to put it right.

Cheers R.

Desiro · Post by **Desiro** » Thu 18 Feb, 2010 01:25

I think the best course of action would be to get the VIN number when viewing the car and ring Park Lane dealer up - would they give me the registration number logged against their records at the time for that VIN?

I agree ring Park Lane to find the vehicles early history.

An HPI report would also be useful to indicate any plate changes or worse.
you will need for the report:-

VIN (chassis number)

V5 Registration Document serial number

V5 Registration Document issue date

good luck Chris it's a great looking car

camcc · Post by **camcc** » Fri 19 Feb, 2010 11:55

Damn it - just had a call from the garage to say that the car has been sold

Oh well....the search goes on!