Buying my first E34.

[kev535i]

greetings michael check the advertiser theres often a BMW mech listed to do inspections in the cars for sale section on sat. the RAA do an ok job and will give you a good basic report but obviously a bmw guy will know what to look for you could try BMWise in mile end they may be able to help. good luck that is a great price

[Zeuk in Oz]

GJPinAU, Where would i locate a BMW tech that will drive out to do an inspection?
I live in Adelaide SA, so neither RACV or NRMA available to me.

Should i contact a BMW dealership?

Must agree with GJPinAu that what you need is a BMW specialist to look at the car. There must be at least one that is not a dealer in Adelaide. This is especially true if there is no proper history or if there are no receipts for the engine rebuild or whatever was done.

Organise the car yard to take the car to him and get him to go over it thoroughly. It would not be a bad idea if you could be there while he looked at it.

Don't be in a hurry. If the seller won't play ball, look for another one. Don't buy it without having it thoroughly inspoected.

To find a specialist do some yellow pages searches and get on the phone and don't give up until you find one. Avoid dealers would be my advice.

If all else fails get a RAA inspection but it will not be as worthwhile as getting a BMW specialist to look at it.

I would be a little wary of an engine that had been rebuilt 4k ago without full history of who did it, why, what else was done.

These cars require constant maintenance and replacement of various components before they fail.

Poor prior maintenance might indicate a car to stay away from.

Good luck.

[rob101]

3 thumbs up for zeuk's (bo's) post.
also dealers are a pain
I hope never to buy another car from one. For one, at least in this state they rort the RWC's something shocking. i've seen dealers get RWC's on cars that has PITTED brakes with kickback so bad i could feel in the passenger's seat.
anyway my recommendation is to buy privately but get it inspected. and learn how to learn service records. if it doesn't have regular services tell them to get lost it isn't worth it.

[Michael999]

Okay ive found "motor check" (no website sorry), and i talked to their main guy there, and he says he has alot of bmw experience, and he will go out to the car and do an inspection, and talk to me about it. (RAA just fax a report, cant talk to mechanic).

Ill get the check if im happy with the car myself when i see and drive it this sunday.
(making a list of all the things you guys suggested and ill check as much as i can)

The dealer/wholesaler doesnt have any of the paper work, he says he is still chasing it up from the previous owner, i wont give him any money until i have at least the receipt from the motor rebuild though, and ill try ring the mechanic that did it and hopefully he can maybe tell me something about the car.

[Zeuk in Oz]

The dealer/wholesaler doesnt have any of the paper work, he says he is still chasing it up from the previous owner

Sounds like a load of BS to me.

If the paperwork was available, the dealer would already have obtained it, IMO.

Unless the mechanic gives it an absolute all clear, walk away and find a nice one privately. These cars have done so many kms that at least in NSW, the warranty you might get from a dealer means very little, if there is one at all.

I would rather buy a car from a fanatic who has done his or her own amateur maintenance properly, than a car maintained by a dealer or worse, a non BMW savvy mechanic.

Welcome to the forum, by the way !

[pundit]

Don't be in a hurry.
Look at several and get a feel for a good car.
Look for service records and an owner that is fussy.
E34 prices are now dropping to the point where $8-$10k should get you a decent car.
Be careful of the $4000, "Yeah, she just needs a service and a bit of a tickle up!"

[Michael999]

Full story on what i was told.
The dealer is a private seller who resells alot of cars out of his backyard and is a mechanic. He said he likes the bmws and has had quite a few 5 series before.
He bought the car at an auction, the previous owner was a lady whose husband died. She cant find the service history, and as soon as it was sold, she has become slack and slow in trying to find them.
She says she has the Recipt for the motor rebuild/repair, but has yet to send it to the Guy who bought it.
He told me that he is happy to give me her name so that i can ask her myself.
He has been waiting 2 weeks for the paper, and she is "still trying to find them".

I will get the inspection done, and try get in contact with the previous owner, so that i may hopefully get a hurry on the papers she has, and be able to ring the cars mechanic and ask some questions.

The dealer said he has a list of things he would fix if he was to own the car, a small dent, bubbled tint on the rear window, and a hardened engine mount.
All these things wont cost much to fix, so im hoping i can keep talking abut them and work his price down

[Paul in NZ]

190,000 ks is nothing for these cars IF THEY HAVE BEEN SERVICED.The fact that it has "had a rebuild" means it hasnt been serviced and has been overheated,OR its had some parts replaced which most of us would regard as normal maintenance but Honda owners wont.In my experience a BMW dealer will actually give a very thorough check of a car for a reasonable fee.
DONT bug the lady for the service records,she likely has other things on her mind right now.

[ThoreauHD]

The engine mount will cost close to a grand if you can't fix it yourself. That is not a small item. Yes, an inspection would be necessary if you are serious about this car. If the engine mount is toast, odds are the guibo is also toast.

[pundit]

190,000 ks is nothing for these cars IF THEY HAVE BEEN SERVICED.The fact that it has "had a rebuild" means it hasnt been serviced and has been overheated...

What Paul says is true.
For an M30 to require a rebuild at 190,000kms means either neglect or.... neglect.
Also what do they mean by 'rebuilt' and who rebuilt it?
I think I'd keep looking unless you can get a positive independant inspection from a BMW specialist.
NEVER!... and I mean NEVER take the word of a used car salesman