Missing 1200mile break-in service?

[gatoman39]

Looking for a 07/08 M Coupe. Found a nice one but it's missing the 1200 mile break-in service. Would that be a deal breaker for you?
Used 2008 BMW M Coupe - 35k

[SCHMOUPE]

at that price yes. You can find a similar year with less miles with good service record around 35k easily

[thekurgan]

Dealbreaker for me; it's a very important service for many reasons, but most importantly, the rear diff (which has a strange history with people, weird noises, two different fluids available for TSBs released, etc.)

Was the service never performed or just omitted from the service records accidentally? I guess there may not be a way to tell, but 35k miles on a diff never serviced would worry me. How are the rest of the service records on it?

[gatoman39]

Originally Posted by thekurgan

Dealbreaker for me; it's a very important service for many reasons, but most importantly, the rear diff (which has a strange history with people, weird noises, two different fluids available for TSBs released, etc.)

Was the service never performed or just omitted from the service records accidentally? I guess there may not be a way to tell, but 35k miles on a diff never serviced would worry me. How are the rest of the service records on it?

OK, so I talked to my SA and he pulled up the VIN. The car did not receive the 1200 mile M break-in service. I asked him to see if there were any other red flags and he said the rest of the service history looks pretty standard, oil changes,brakes,brake fluid, wiper blades, etc. there was an inspection done at 5k, he cant tell what was done and a oil change at 10k miles. you can see the car fax here:
CARFAX 2008 BMW M COUPE
With that being said I asked him point blank, would you EVER buy a M car without the 1200 mile service, and he said, "Probably not".

[Finnegan]

HOG4DNR posted a FS Interlagos Blue on a 15k coupe extended leather , and there's Nikki's higher mileage but very well maintained coupe (rare Sepang Bronze) FS right here on this forum. Why bother with this one when there are these to choose from? Cars can be shipped, trips to buy/drive home can be done--deals can be worked!

No break in service on an M? Aside from the metals in the oil, tranny, and diff (1,200 clears these out), the main is is that the car's prior owner just didn't care. Probably floored and over-reved when cold, etc.

I wouldn't buy it in a million years.

HOG4DNR's car
Nikki's car

[jophish17]

agreed there may not be a ton for sale, but I'd skip this one

Inspection I at 5k??? Or just "an" inspection? Cause if the former... it must have been at the track the whole time to burn fuel that fast to require such an early inspection

[KevinM]

I was going to post this in your other thread, but since you created this poll -

I would not. I also solicited the opinion of my BMW guru/mechanic and he concurred. Not to mention, as he pointed out, if the owner didn't bother to get the 1200 mile service, s/he probably did not maintain the car appropriately.

Plus, if you sell it, then YOU (if honest) will have to disclose this fact. It's probably not an issue in the short term, but long term, who knows.

Find another car.

[Pheonix]

Definitely a deal breaker for me. You might have a shitloads of problems later on. Especially the 1st owner was dumb/lazy enough not to bring the car in for FREE and REQUIRED services then who knows how well the car was taken car of. Listen to us and the SA and just walk away. As Finnegan said, the two cars from HOG4DNR and Nikki are both better choices. Just be patient and you will find the right car.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by jophish17

Inspection I at 5k??? Or just "an" inspection? Cause if the former... it must have been at the track the whole time to burn fuel that fast to require such an early inspection

Seems to me that they bumped up the Inspection I to get the oil changed, so it was done 3800 miles later than it should have been. I don't know how catastophic that would be, as I can recall dealers telling people they were good until 2000 miles if they needed to postpone.

That said, yes, it's a red flag and I'd likely choose another car rather than "settle."

[gatoman39]

I have a call into a BMW indy here in LA. The guy is going to ask his head mechanic. to get his professional opinion.

[krusty]

So the M's have a 1200 mile inspection. Interesting.

The non-Ms do not have a 1200 mile break-in service --- they don't require anything for basically 2 years (oil service) ... unless you drive a lot.

[Pheonix]

Yes sir. I found this article about BMW break-in...
http://www.bimmerfile.com/2011/09/16...ar-or-any-bmw/

[doozyj]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

HOG4DNR posted a FS Interlagos Blue on a 15k coupe extended leather , and there's Nikki's higher mileage but very well maintained coupe (rare Sepang Bronze) FS right here on this forum. Why bother with this one when there are these to choose from? Cars can be shipped, trips to buy/drive home can be done--deals can be worked!

No break in service on an M? Aside from the metals in the oil, tranny, and diff (1,200 clears these out), the main is is that the car's prior owner just didn't care. Probably floored and over-reved when cold, etc.

I wouldn't buy it in a million years.

HOG4DNR's car
Nikki's car

How do you know the 2 seller's cars mentioned have had their break in service done, or is that an assumption since they are forum members as their for sale ads do not mention the service history.

[GammaZeta]

Knowing that the 1,200 service was done was a nice thing to have when I purchased my Z4M.

It was actually done at 1,600 miles, but there is a record of it.

[mousitch]

Also have a record of mine at 1248 miles. Im grateful.

[gatoman39]

I asked Mike Miller and here's what he says:

In my opinion lack of simple basic maintenance is the single biggest factor in modern BMW drivetrain longevity today, and the break-in service issue is both critical and not limited to M cars. In fact, this is why I special-ordered a 2005 325Ci built to my specifications -- so I could maintain it from birth, according to the attached Lifetime Maintenance Schedule. I plan on keeping my car for the rest of my life.
Moreover, if the previous owner couldn't take this one simple step to ensure his car's longevity, one has to wonder what else he did to it or neglected.
I would say, do not limit yourself to your geographic area or this particular point in time. Be patient and ready to wait for the right car, and be willing to travel when you think you've found a viable prospect.

[inTgr8r]

^
The comments above are bang on!

[thekurgan]

"Moreover, if the previous owner couldn't take this one simple step to ensure his car's longevity, one has to wonder what else he did to it or neglected." ... not to mention, the fucking service is free.

[G80indy]

Lack of break in service = I'd move on.
Since I picked mine up with 100 miles on it in 2008 after it was sitting waiting patiently for its first buyer in a warehouse garage for 18 months after dealer took into inventory in 2006, I had all the fluids changed on time intervals, twice before it reached 1200 miles.
Extreme precaution yes.
But peace of mind is so worth it especially when you're driving the %#=! out of it!

[G80indy]

Originally Posted by krusty

So the M's have a 1200 mile inspection. Interesting.

The non-Ms do not have a 1200 mile break-in service --- they don't require anything for basically 2 years (oil service) ... unless you drive a lot.

I gave my e46 330i ZSP a 1200 mile break in, as any other vehicle I have purchased new, including the 2011 Pilot.
That's oil and diff, gearbox, and transfer case (Pilot)
Before I ever heard of Mike Miller, I have been doing this, since my twenties. I guess I heard it from a mechanic and never looked back. That was also when I learned about synthetic oil, so it was about 1988.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by doozyj

How do you know the 2 seller's cars mentioned have had their break in service done, or is that an assumption since they are forum members as their for sale ads do not mention the service history.

I don't know that they did or did not have their 1,200 service done. But it's rare for any M car to not have the service done, especially recent cars--like ours--that were covered under free maintenance plan. (Which is why it's a red flag that the car the OP was considering did not have it done--it points to other concerns and issues.)

Since the OP was concerned there weren't many available it was just a heads up about options that might have been missed. Nothing more was meant or assumed--just trying to be helpful is all since it can be hard to wait once you've got your heart set on something.

[GammaZeta]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

I don't know that they did or did not have their 1,200 service done. But it's rare for any M car to not have the service done, especially recent cars--like ours--that were covered under free maintenance plan. (Which is why it's a red flag that the car the OP was considering did not have it done--it points to other concerns and issues.)

I don't think it's a problem of the M cars actually having the 1,200 inspection done, I think it's more of a problem PROVING that they had the inspection done. After a 6 month search for a Z4M, I can tell you how few dealers and sellers will: A. go through the trouble of trying to get a service history B. actually get a service history from BMW / BMW dealership C. already have a service history on hand.