Variation on the Servicing Theme

[zedzen]

Hi

I'm new kid on the block. I very recently purchased a Z3 3 litre Roadster with 7,000 confirmed miles on it which has never been serviced other than a BMW oil change the car dealer got done for me before I handed over the cash.

So far I've held discussions with BMW Elms in Bishop's Stortford and Bensten on servicing recommendations and prices. Naturally, you can guess who is cheaper.

My main issue comes with the low miles the car has done and my realisation I might want to look after this one as my research has suggested the Z is becoming more collectable as it passes the 10-12 year mark.

So, what would you do? Before I forget, i do intend hanging onto the car and probably intend doing less than 4,000 miles a year.

Answers on a postcard!

Rob

 

[Boysie]

Hi Rob

Are you asking do you need to stay with a stealer
the answer is No
Use a reputable Indie, this wont affect the value of the car
Insure it as a classic 'Peter James' are very good, limited milege
I think i saw the car advertised some time back ' one lady owner'
As you say they hopefully will retain their value, as they get rarer,
or at least the value will drop very slowly

That is a very low milege car

Have you posted any pics yet?

 

[Boysie]

How many light on the dashboard
I would imagine its never had a service 11
I would suggest a fluid change, it deteriate through age,
and a tyre check, they get hard with flat spots,
only if its been standing for a long time
Was it just a short trip car

 

[zedzen]

Hi,

I think it was not even a short trip car! Rather amusingly, it did fail several MOT's for things like a perished fuel line and cracked tyres. In the latter's case, these were replaced 300 miles ago last year.

I can't remember how many lights are on the dash but my main intention was to get the car to a 'base level' meaning in addition to a service 2 I was also going to change:

1. diff oil
2. gearbox oil
3. get the aircon serviced
4. check the belts and change if showing signs of deterioration
5. brake fluid
6. coolant fluid

With no real desire to cut and run on the car, it seemed questionable why I personally needed the BMW stamp but the low mileage thing threw me a bit thinking ahead to the day my children sell it at Christies for a 100k and throw a big party!

Also, given the fact a puncture might take the jam out of my donut, whats the concencus on adding Ultra seal? i've used it on bikes successfully and wondered if you can do the mod as easily on cars?

rob

 

[Boysie]

Hi,
1. diff oil
2. gearbox oil
3. get the aircon serviced
4. check the belts and change if showing signs of deterioration
5. brake fluid
6. coolant fluid

You seem to have everything covered rob
Regarding the tyre
I would'nt go that route, you might as well put run flats on
Sorry 'Please dont even go there'
Puncture are life's little niggles, just live with it

100k in the year 2100 there will be no petrol to drive it :|

 

[zedzen]

I'm playing the long view that we will all retrofit hybrid engines within 15 years. Otherwise this will be another stunning purchase that will come back to bite me! Although don't forget we have @ 400 years worth of coal in this country which can be converted to oil although not that easily.

 

[hard top]

 

[r37]

dont forget to poke at the coolant lines and vacuum lines. after 10+ years they have probobly turned brittle.

 

[GazHyde]

Pure economics for me. If BMW wants £350 for an inspection II my reliable Indy will only want around £200.

Is the work any better or worse? Contentious. At least my Indy talks to me like I'm a human being!

I've had some good discussions at my Indy over various technical items because the guy who runs it and welcomes you at the front door, knows BMWs. When you speak the the trained chimp on the service desk at my main dealer, he knows how to work the credit card machine.

Would I be put off buying a BMW without BMWFSH? Nope. The last 3 I bought haven't had it!

 

[zedzen]

Bensten St Ives it is then....unless someone knows another Indie you all rave over along the M11 corridor?

rob

 

[Frank.A]

I definitely would not fit run flats.
The stiff side walls don't suite the Zed or many other cars by all accounts.Stick to the types of tyres that the manufacturer fitted from new such as Dunlop or Continental Contact or Falken ZE912s.Ultraseal works and many are using it.If you have a puncture and have to fit that compact spare,the only place for the punctured tyre is on the passenger seat.

 

[board]

I definitely would not fit run flats.
The stiff side walls don't suite the Zed or many other cars by all accounts.Stick to the types of tyres that the manufacturer fitted from new such as Dunlop or Continental Contact or Falken ZE912s.Ultraseal works and many are using it.If you have a puncture and have to fit that compact spare,the only place for the punctured tyre is on the passenger seat.

Yes and if you have a passenger please make sure you deflate the tyre before putting it anywhere near them (or the inside of the car as a whole) should you need to do that. I read a terrible story of someone noticing a bulge in the tyre (was a z3 driver) so they swapped it out and had the offending wheel sitting in the seat with the passenger, the tyre burst causing the passenger to be fatally injured.

 

[zedzen]

RF's definitely off the menu. Generally, are people DIY'ing Ultraseal?

Ro

 

[board]

The M's don't have the spare at all and come with the BMW sealant cannister/inflation kit which is supposed to be replaced every few years. Mine still has the original it came with

The one time i had a flat it was from a piece of metal (from an industrial estate through a new tyre) and the hole was that big there was no way the sealant would have worked anyway so it was a back of the truck job.

 

[Frank.A]

RF's definitely off the menu. Generally, are people DIY'ing Ultraseal?

Ro

Try this link for opinions on Ultraseal aka Puncturesafe.

http://www.zroadster.net/forum/search.p ... =ultraseal

 

[DangerousDave]

I would treat a 7,000 miler the same as a 100,000 miler.

Inspection 2 + all fluids (engine / gearbox / diff / power strg / coolant and brake).

Check all hoses and tyres for perishing. I know you've already started on this.

How is the petrol (how old is it?) Run it to near empty, refill. Run to near empty. Replace fuel filter. Fill and enjoy.

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

Bensten St Ives it is then....unless someone knows another Indie you all rave over along the M11 corridor?

rob

I have taken both of my Zeds to this Guy, they do take a personal interest in the car they are dealing with and have promised to take my 2 litre Mora Red Individual under their wing They are quite hard to find, buried deep in an industrial estate. So use your satnav.

Badman gee also recommended an indie in Peterborough, but I can't remember the name :-!

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

I would treat a 7,000 miler the same as a 100,000 miler.

Inspection 2 + all fluids (engine / gearbox / diff / power strg / coolant and brake).

Check all hoses and tyres for perishing. I know you've already started on this.

How is the petrol (how old is it?) Run it to near empty, refill. Run to near empty. Replace fuel filter. Fill and enjoy.

I would also run it in like a new car, gradually increasing the revs every 200 miles, to let the mechanical parts bed in properly.

That's a good find, a rare car with that kind of mileage ^^ :ymapplause:

 

[badman gee]

id love a car with that mileage.

the place in peterborough is twg, they are very very good.

im very fussy who i let loose on my car, ask the east anglian crew!

pamper it and get some pictures on here!

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

pamper it and get some puctures on here![/quote]

You've been on the booze again?!!!