"Dru" (therealkennyd)
07/05/2017 at 14:47 • Filed to: E46, M3
1
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"Dru" (therealkennyd)
07/05/2017 at 14:47 • Filed to: E46, M3 | 1
| 36 |
Before I go and spend way too much on a ZHP, you fine folks suggested checking out an M3.
The only way I know to preemptively check for bad rod bearings, the S54's favorite snack, would be an oil analysis with Blackstone.
Would that be a weird request?
Steve in Manhattan
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 14:50 |
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It shows you are not to be messed with - the only weird thing is if they say ‘no.’
Klaus Schmoll
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 14:52 |
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Do you ask for stool, blood, and pee samples before a first date?
Honeybunchesofgoats
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 14:52 |
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Isn’t there normally a pretty long turn around on those, though?
awmaster10
> Klaus Schmoll
07/05/2017 at 14:55 |
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Questionable analogy
diplodicus
> Honeybunchesofgoats
07/05/2017 at 14:55 |
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They’ll expedite for a fee.
Tripper
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 14:58 |
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Definitely not unreasonable if you’re paying for it.
CalzoneGolem
> Klaus Schmoll
07/05/2017 at 14:58 |
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Should I stop doing this?
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CalzoneGolem
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 14:59 |
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To a normal person yes it is weird.
To a gearhead yes it is weird, but it makes sense.
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Honeybunchesofgoats
> Klaus Schmoll
07/05/2017 at 14:59 |
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Hey, if it’s good enough for our president, it’s good enough for me.
BigBlock440
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 15:03 |
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Not necessarily unreasonable, but depending on who the seller is, obtaining that sample and waiting on you to get results may be more than they want to deal with. You’d risk having the car sold while you waited on getting the results back. On the other hand, you risk buying a car that has upcoming problems.
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Klaus Schmoll
> CalzoneGolem
07/05/2017 at 15:05 |
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Does the pope dip a toe in first before jumping in headfirst?
facw
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 15:05 |
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I’d think it a bit weird just because of the turnaround. Also, unless you have a pump for pulling samples, it seems like you’d lose enough oil that you probably need to pay for an oil change together with the PPI. If those bases are covered I don’t see why they wouldn’t let you do it.
razorbeamteam
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 15:10 |
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It’s only weird if you make it weird. Putting a deposit down pending the results might make it easier to hold the car.
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Dru
> Klaus Schmoll
07/05/2017 at 15:12 |
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I’m guessing yes is the wrong answer here.
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Dru
> Honeybunchesofgoats
07/05/2017 at 15:13 |
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I was concerned about that. Don’t know.
Ssfancyfresh
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 15:16 |
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Not unreasonable for you to ask.
Not unreasonable for the seller to say no.
Nothing
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 15:18 |
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As a seller, what would you think?
I would find it odd. I’d think “this person is going to nit pick every. single. thing. Picky buyers, I avoid if possible, even if I have a perfect car.
AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 15:19 |
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Seems reasonable to me. I wouldn’t even charge for it as part of my normal PPI process because it would only take a few minutes extra. Just make sure the seller is fine with it and put down a deposit to hold the car pending results.
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Dru
> Nothing
07/05/2017 at 15:27 |
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Yeah I get that. But were it my car, and given the known issue of rod bearings, it wouldn’t be the worst idea to have the oil analysis on file. Not to say I wouldn’t be put off by being asked for the oil, but I would at least understand it.
ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 15:39 |
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Blackstone has an expedited service for prospective vehicles. You overnight the sample and they run it the same day they get it. Normally is does take a week or two for a sample to get there and for them to run it.
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Tripper
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 15:42 |
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Also even if you don’t buy the car, having the blackstone report is a plus for him as the seller. You’re not going to be the first or last fanatical prospective buyer he encounters with a car like that.
BeaterGT
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 15:44 |
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If I were the seller, I would not want to be bothered with it as someone else could easily come along and not request one and still buy the car. From your perspective however...nothing ventured, nothing gained. If he says no, ask for maintenance records. If you get another no, then it’s probably not an M3 you want anyway? Good luck!
BLCKSTRM
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 16:08 |
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I’d almost be worried if the current owner DOESN’T just have the last one on hand. He should be monitoring it for sure.
Is this the actual car?
Especially if it is a true competition package car (vs just competition wheels), he ought to be enough of an enthusiast to understand.
When was the last valve adjustment?
An even if it shows lead / tin (/ copper?), rod bearings aren’t the hardest thing in the world to service. I’ve had two friends with older E36 track cars replace theirs in the last year or two, and it’s somewhat time consuming but not too terribly difficult or risky.
At best it’s a non-issue, at worst it gives you something to haggle about (quoting retail prices for the work, of course).
notsomethingstructural
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 16:11 |
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I would meet the owner first and assess the situation. Any owner who says no is not an owner I would want to buy a performance car from. I would not ask in advance by email unless you’re coming from 2-3 hours away. Show up to prove you’re not some sort of scammer and ask then.
Alternately, if you ARE from far away, try to get a dialogue going by phone or email first, and if you’re comfortable, explain that you’d like this done before you make such a long trip so no one is wasting their time. Be prepared to do all the legwork and spend a decent amount of money - E.g., overnight them a prepaid express mail label with whatever info the lab needs for the test so they can just drop it in the envelope and send it. Show you’re willing to put some money into this and make their life very easy. If I’m a seller who loved the car and a buyer is doing their due diligence, I’d be happy about that. But offer to pay for whatever is needed on the expectation you’re not getting it back. If you don’t want to be upfront about it and spend a hundred bones with no promise it’ll get sent to the lab, then doing it remotely isn’t for you.
All that said, I would never in a million years hold the car for you if I’m a seller.
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Dru
> BLCKSTRM
07/05/2017 at 16:19 |
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The one pictures is at a quasi enthusiast oriented dealer in Raleigh.
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Dru
> notsomethingstructural
07/05/2017 at 16:20 |
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Good points. Yeah I get the not holding the car thing. But this ones at a dealer.
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BLCKSTRM
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 16:24 |
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The short answer is no, especially if it’s at a dealer. But even if not, rod bearings are a known issue, and how do you know how it’s been driven? At least an oil report will tell you if it’s imminently required, which would be rather important to know.
I’d ask, and not even feel bad about asking. Especially if you feel like doing them yourself is a little over your head. It’s dirt cheap to do yourself, and quite expensive to have it done.
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BLCKSTRM
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 16:38 |
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Hey, someone on Oppo just mentioned getting their E46 ready to sell.
GTRZILLAR32-Now drives a M3 just posted this.
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/facebook-marketplace-1796653226
You should at least see where he is. Match made in Oppo heaven!
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notsomethingstructural
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 16:48 |
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Then I definitely wouldn’t hold the car.
Oh, and if I’m a dealer, I’m giving you a very, very hard no. If you have a lab study done on something in their inventory and it’s super-duper bad and you walk away, what happens with that dealer now? Believe it or not they would have an obligation to disclose that, and if they don’t, there’s now a dated document floating around saying the car was a hand grenade with no pin and eventually a buyer with an exploded car just looking to find a copy of it and take me to court.
No fuckin’ way am I taking that chance. Hell naw. Nuh uh. Hard pass.
404 - User No Longer Available
> notsomethingstructural
07/05/2017 at 17:04 |
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But that’s not too much different than asking to take the car to your own mechanic for a PPI? If the car is crap the independent PPI results would also be documented as well.
The one I bought from had no issues with me taking the car out of town to my own mechanic, except the guy had to come with me.
Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 17:07 |
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They’re in the business of selling cars. Clean oil, inflated tires, nice wash and wax and even the windshield washer reservoir will be full.
You want to run the lab sample on the oil coming out during a change. Testing what’s in there at the moment won’t tell you a thing.
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Dru
> notsomethingstructural
07/05/2017 at 17:19 |
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Yeah. Right legal mess that could be. But I think you’re talking Armageddon situation. I’m 3 hours away from the dealer. The report would either be put in my filing cabinet and forgotten, or thrown away. And if even if it did surface, and evidence the rod bearings were bad came to light, wouldn’t the dealer only be liable to repair the bad bearings? Or is the liability greater than that? I’m no legal mind
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notsomethingstructural
> 404 - User No Longer Available
07/05/2017 at 17:21 |
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PPI’s are much more opinion based than a lab test. A known defect in the engine would also (probably) be a material latent defect that (probably) isn’t considered within the ordinary scope of a buyer’s due diligence. E.g., most PPI’s aren’t going to come back and say the car needs an engine. A car needing a pair of struts isn’t likely to impact the price by $10k. That pair of struts may be material to your choices but ultimately I don’t think it’s something where a court would say “no reasonable person would conceivably buy this car at the price offered.”
As an aside, I am not a lawyer.
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notsomethingstructural
> Dru
07/05/2017 at 18:07 |
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Now knowing this is a dealer, I would talk to whoever is doing the PPI in advance and just have them take the sample. Gun to your head, if the dealer’s rep asks, just tell them you want to make sure nothing from the sample starts to separate after a few hours, or some other half-plausible BS where they’ll just think you’re an idiot and won’t question you. Some times, smart people have to know when to be stupid.
I’d think the liability would be to have BMW replace the bearings (since they would be the mechanic of your choosing), or take the car back. I’m not a lawyer though.
pip bip - choose Corrour
> Dru
07/06/2017 at 07:57 |
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no harm in asking, all they can do is say no.
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CalzoneGolem
> Klaus Schmoll
07/06/2017 at 08:32 |
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Is this one of those sex moves from urbandictionary?