[CarJunkie]

The car is owned by a professional colleague who is relocating to Asia, single owner, 63,000 miles, automatic, always maintained. I will probably take the car to my local dealer (who I trust) for a pre-purchase inspection. Any specific issues I should be looking for? I have never owned one of these. It would be for a teenager to learn with, while being tolerable for me to use with him while on his learners permit. I obviously can’t teach him in the 1M or the CS. 😝

Thanks!

[BenutzerErpict]

N52’s love to leak from same places as n54’s. Oil filter housing, valve cover, oil pan, front of block coolant hose, and i’ve even had issues with thermostats having hairline cracks. Besides that pretty reliable simple cars from my experience working on them. Good luck!

[lordnikon]

Soon you'll need to replace the water pump; might as well do the t-stat; coolant expansion tank; crappy plastic flange connector at the same time.

[StradaRedlands]

Sounds like it will be great. Oil leaks suck but are 100% normal and shouldn't disqualify anything. Just get them fixed. It is due for a transmission service, so budget for that and don't put it off. Change all your other fluids as well. Battery may go soon, but as all the above, that's just a normal service item at this point. If the price is friend & family discount, I think you should get it!

[PichaDis11]

A low mileage N52 you won't see much of and if cared for, should last a very longtime. The car coming from a colleague should also give you an upper hand on getting previous repair history etc.. The comments by others above are also key points.

[CarJunkie]

Thanks a lot guys! I am selling my beloved RX-8 tonight to make room. The 328 is scheduled for a PPI at my local dealer next Thursday and I hope to own it shortly thereafter, .

Totally agree about leaks…. It’s a BMW! 😂 My 1M has had OFHG and rear main seal at earlier mileage, probably due to tune and track abuse. I also had to replace the serpentine belt and tensioner due to the OFHG leak….replaced water pump and Tstat prophylactocally right around 60k miles.

On this car I will plan to have all fluids changed, and the cooling system weak points as noted above, before we start relying on it.

[CarJunkie]

Update:
Well, that didn’t work out. PPI revealed about $6400 worth of necessary work. Some of it was expected, but much of it was not, and the estimate did not include prophylactic replacement of thermostat, waterpump and all fluids, which I also would have wanted to do. I passed on the car.

[lordnikon]

Looks like you dodged a bullet

[tcphoto]

I’m amazed how many pass on the inspection and then call their newly acquired a money pit. I can see passing it up only if you know the platform and take the time to drive and go over it.

[CarJunkie]

All true. I do a lot of work myself, but do not have the time to invest in a fixer-upper. Been there and done that (my tow rig, prior e30 325e, recent rx8) and also of course I personally do all maintenance and track prep work on my 1M. Do I want a 4 page to-do list for a student driver car? Hell no! 😂

[NorthernDancer]

WOW, I'm shocked; obviously "always maintained" is not really true. AND, $6400 for a car with 63K miles, must be a dealer doing everything, even minor stuff.

1. my 08 128 with about 64K miles that I've had for 12 years. Other than tires & brakes-only 1 repair in it's lifetime [OFHG]
2. My new to me 06 BMW 330xiT 6MT imported into Canada from Germany. Driven home 900 miles from sea port w/o any issues. Week after home, passed safety w/o any work needed [at a BMW indy with 60 years of experience]
3. my sons about to be purchased 2014 Subi Crosstrek w/150,000 miles. 1 owner, impeccable maintenance records, 20 oil changes in 9 years, expect it to easily pass inspection.

Look for another car-they are out there

[lordnikon]

Originally Posted by NorthernDancer

WOW, I'm shocked; obviously "always maintained" is not really true. AND, $6400 for a car with 63K miles, must be a dealer doing everything, even minor stuff.

2. My new to me 06 BMW 330xiT 6MT imported into Canada from Germany. Driven home 900 miles from sea port w/o any issues. Week after home, passed safety w/o any work needed [at a BMW indy with 60 years of experience]

I'm not surprised given Ontario's safety inspection is a joke compared to German TÜV

[CarJunkie]

Originally Posted by NorthernDancer

WOW, I'm shocked; obviously "always maintained" is not really true. AND, $6400 for a car with 63K miles, must be a dealer doing everything, even minor stuff.

1. my 08 128 with about 64K miles that I've had for 12 years. Other than tires & brakes-only 1 repair in it's lifetime [OFHG]
2. My new to me 06 BMW 330xiT 6MT imported into Canada from Germany. Driven home 900 miles from sea port w/o any issues. Week after home, passed safety w/o any work needed [at a BMW indy with 60 years of experience]
3. my sons about to be purchased 2014 Subi Crosstrek w/150,000 miles. 1 owner, impeccable maintenance records, 20 oil changes in 9 years, expect it to easily pass inspection.

Look for another car-they are out there

People obviously have different personal definitions of “maintained.” As soon as I opened the hood I found obvious problems (OFHG, power steering reservoir wet) but the PPI found far more including struts and other chassis components. I trust this dealer service dept.