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Beavis
Newbie
Joined: 08-February-2005
Status: Offline
Points: 10
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Topic: Advice: BMW with no service history Posted: 08-February-2005 at 18:44 |
I've seen a beauty on sale at a dealer in Dublin, at a good price, but with no service history. I'm tempted to buy anyway... is it worth the risk?
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Coasting
Really Senior Member II
www.TOTALTORQUE.net
Joined: 05-February-2005
Location: Not with the two-faced bloke.
Status: Offline
Points: 2125
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Posted: 08-February-2005 at 18:48 |
Generally, I'd always say not to touch it with a barge pole.
However, you haven't said what it is, how old it is, how many miles it has done, how much it is...etc etc
If its an older car (say, 10 years or more) then the necessity of FSH tends to diminish somewhat, but you still can't underestimate the value of it.
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Beavis
Newbie
Joined: 08-February-2005
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Posted: 08-February-2005 at 18:52 |
It's a 1996 328i, 120,000 miles, 8,500 Euro. It's an attractive machine, but obviously a risk.
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spokey
Bavarian-Board Contributor
Offensive and obnoxious tub of lard
Joined: 02-March-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1948
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Posted: 08-February-2005 at 19:05 |
Run, don't walk, for the nearest exit.
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Ciao,
Spokey
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Dergside
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 16-May-2004
Location: Mid West, Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 4000
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Posted: 08-February-2005 at 19:10 |
spokey wrote:
Run, don't walk, for the nearest exit. |
I second that!
Talk to BM Fan on here. He has a similar car that he's selling with a fraction of the mileage and good prevenance for very little more.
Edited by Dergside
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Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93.
Prev: e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci. e39 523i SE. e36 325i Coupe *2, 323i SE, 316iSE. e30 325iSE 2dr, 320i Conv, 320i 2dr, 316i.
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kbannon
Admin Group
E39 525i Sport Individual
Joined: 09-October-2002
Location: 64 Zoo Lane
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Points: 15508
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Posted: 08-February-2005 at 19:23 |
Beavis wrote:
It's a 1996 328i, 120,000 miles, 8,500 Euro. It's an attractive machine, but obviously a risk. |
nikasil!
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Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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BM Fan
Bavarian-Board Contributor
Joined: 19-January-2004
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 1054
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Posted: 09-February-2005 at 02:20 |
Beavis
I'd be careful about the history, reason being is that when you go to
sell her all potential buyers will be having the same conversation as
we are having now.
As for BMWSH fantastic but expensive and on older cars not as important
but it should at least have some history prefrably with a BMW
specialist independent - lots on the club website contacts section.
I sent you pm with other details, click on the link in my sig. Also see Cibies post - Joing club hopefully
Edited by BM Fan
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Martin
In BMW exile at the moment (Shame on me for lurking!!!)
Previous Models
2001 E39 520i Auto
1996 E36 M3 Evo Individual
1996 E36 328i Coupe
1997 E36 318i Conv
1992 E36 316i Sln
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JohnH
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 18-June-2004
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 1315
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Posted: 09-February-2005 at 03:05 |
I agree with the comments above - Run away from that as fast as you possible can
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Coasting
Really Senior Member II
www.TOTALTORQUE.net
Joined: 05-February-2005
Location: Not with the two-faced bloke.
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Posted: 09-February-2005 at 03:05 |
I agree with the general concensus above - i.e. leave it alone.
1996 isn't old as in 'OLD'. Plus, the 328i is a higher end model that you'd expect to come with some history at least. The fact that there is none at all would concern me greatly.
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AHEALY
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 05-February-2004
Location: Ireland
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Points: 946
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Posted: 09-February-2005 at 04:21 |
Yes, and as Killian mentioned, Nikasil. This could be a major problem for a car with this mileage. Maybe that's why it's being sold. Has the engine been replaced ?. Who did the servicing, maybe a local garage and they can confirm. I'd run as well, without a service history and a high end of the market car, it sounds suspicious.
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Ado
'97 523i & 95 M3
97 Subaru Impreza WRX Sport Wagon (sold)
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kbannon
Admin Group
E39 525i Sport Individual
Joined: 09-October-2002
Location: 64 Zoo Lane
Status: Offline
Points: 15508
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Posted: 09-February-2005 at 04:29 |
Out of curiosity, what price is it going for? What specification is it - alloys, manual/auto, leather, aircon, sunroof, obc, etc.?
The fact that it has no service history means that it could end up costing you several thousand on repairs (e.g. the aformentioned nikasil problem). You will never recover this though when it comes to reselling. When i was out looking for my car I stumbled across two cars where I strongly suspect that the engine was shot. One of the garages promptly ran me off the forecourt when I mentioned it! Presumably by now that particular car was sold (it wasn't even a good spec and there was some bodywork repairs/repainting needed!) and the proud new owner regrets the day they even went near it!
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Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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Richie
Bavarian-Board Forum Sponsor
Irish Region
Joined: 04-November-2002
Location: Dublin,Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 2526
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Posted: 09-February-2005 at 04:32 |
I'm pretty sure it's this one...
328
My guess is that it's an import. Reeks of a UK car to me!
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Richie
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NOISUFNOC
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 27-September-2004
Location: Sunny Greenock by the Sea
Status: Offline
Points: 1473
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Posted: 09-February-2005 at 04:51 |
My last car was like this, I contacted the dealer network with my chassis number and they tracked down a good few stamps for me, also if you really want to get the story on the car contact the last owner, they're usually helpfull.
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JohnH
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 18-June-2004
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 1315
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Posted: 09-February-2005 at 04:53 |
Does the Reg look a bit high for an original from limerick in 96? I'd guess that it is.
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AHEALY
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 05-February-2004
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Posted: 09-February-2005 at 04:53 |
Is it the spec Richie which gives it away, or it's very tidy condition. Well it looks tidy in the picture anyways.
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Ado
'97 523i & 95 M3
97 Subaru Impreza WRX Sport Wagon (sold)
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Richie
Bavarian-Board Forum Sponsor
Irish Region
Joined: 04-November-2002
Location: Dublin,Ireland
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Posted: 09-February-2005 at 05:02 |
Not a lot of 328 coupes in Ireland in 1996 and especially in that spec and Automatic. However,the UK was littered with them in that exact spec.Cross x alloys,m-tec kit and leather.Also 120k is high for Irish cars.More like motorway miles.
It's just a hunch but I reckon if you ring the dealer and get the chasis of it and then ring a bmw dealer here,they be able to say whether it's Irish or not.
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Richie
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T.J.
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Joined: 22-September-2003
Location: Cork, Ireland
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Posted: 09-February-2005 at 05:20 |
I wouldn't run from it at all... but I would do alot of homework. There are too many bargains to be had in leggy motors with big engines!
Bought my 1995 328 off Skillie who's in the club. It didn't have history, and it was originally english. So I contacted BMW GB, checked it's history (it was in their service network up until 2000), learned it had an engine replacement due to Nikasil in May 1999 etc etc.
It was an 84k car so had component wear anyway. I'm fussy about how my cars drive so knew i'd be replacing bushes, shocks etc anyway, so once I knew I wasn't going to have Nikasil issues, I was happy.
Buying any 2nd hand car is a gamble. They reach a point where a service history or specific milage isn't a priority - the condition or work done to it is. However, for E8,500 and 96, as BM Fan says, do the homework.
The risk I'll run when I sell mine (in a yr or so hopefully, for an E36 M3 saloon or E34 M5 - Right, Ritchie!) is that I don't have the history. However, as I've replaced the suspension with an ACS kit, done the clutch, bushes, new wheels, brakes etc it shouldn't be a factor. So maybe hang on until then?
Best of luck with the searching and purchasing!
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Mazda 6 MPS
S1 Elise 135 Sport
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon
Formerly E39 TDS, E36 M3, E36 328i, E34 525i, E34 518i
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Dergside
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 16-May-2004
Location: Mid West, Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 4000
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Posted: 09-February-2005 at 05:38 |
Richie wrote:
Reeks of a UK car to me! |
That car is an import. Living down this way I have a fair idea of where the numbers ran out in '96. Also, it looks to be a Sport spec, which was never officially sold here.
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Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93.
Prev: e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci. e39 523i SE. e36 325i Coupe *2, 323i SE, 316iSE. e30 325iSE 2dr, 320i Conv, 320i 2dr, 316i.
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Mac
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Joined: 15-October-2003
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 200
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Posted: 09-February-2005 at 05:39 |
Hi Lads,
I don't think I've ever seen it in Limerick, i'd nearly remember if I had, the number is unusual, definitely an import.
Nice car all the same, the mileage wouldn't put me off if it had Nikasil replacement at some stage, if it didn't I'd walk away. The fact that this car falls into the bracket for Nikasil cars is one thing but if it starts drinking oil like Oliver Reed at a free bar, you have nowhere to go with it now that BMW GB have closed the door on Nikasil.
I know plenty of Sixes are running fine with Nikasil blocks but personaly, I wouldn't tempt fate twice. I would have to have some re-assurance that the block was changed..
Mac.
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kbannon
Admin Group
E39 525i Sport Individual
Joined: 09-October-2002
Location: 64 Zoo Lane
Status: Offline
Points: 15508
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Posted: 09-February-2005 at 05:39 |
JohnH wrote:
Does the Reg look a bit high for an original from limerick in 96? I'd guess that it is. |
AHEALY wrote:
Is it the spec Richie which gives it away, or it's very tidy condition. Well it looks tidy in the picture anyways. |
Given that the reg is 4446 and the NCT is due on the anniversary of the car (which is March 2005), I cannot see four and a half thousand cars being sold in Limerick in the first three months of 1996! I would put money on it being an import.
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Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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