Buying An M4 That Has Been Sitting For 3 Years?

[Jjoynt]

Looking at an M4 from someone that moved to another country from 2018 to 2020. It was serviced before then but hasn't been since. The seller said a family member drove it occasionally and put about 3k miles on it during that time. Other than that, the car has been sitting for three years.

I would obviously change the oil and other fluids right away. Also would get a PPI done before hand.

Would this be a deal breaker to anyone? I'm definitely concerned about it, or is this fear overblown as only a few thousand miles were put on it?

[BloomRunsDubs]

Wouldn’t be a deal breaker for me. Should be just fine. Car might need a battery if it was not properly tended, which will run you $1000+

[rmanm4]

It's not a problem at all. If it was left out in the elements you might want a mechanic to check every bushing and whatever gasket he can see. You wanna check for oil or any type of fluid leaks. Cars need to go thru heat cycles but left in the cold will dry up seals. Have a good mechanic take a really good look and give it some TLC. If it was kept inside, good chance it's in better shape!

[Poiseuille]

what model year is this M4? do you know the build date and in-service date? how many miles were on it before storage? total miles now? are maintenance records available? if not, can you get the key read at a Dealer?. (ignore Carfax etc.) these answers are more likely to produce useful input from members.
anyway, good chance this car will be no problem at all but due diligence is recommended.
if the battery was not on the correct tender ALL THE TIME then assume you need to replace it at +\- $1100. if it was on the charger then 50/50 it's OK.
after three years of non-use assume all fluids need to be changed, especially the brake fluid.
not possible to overemphasize the importance of obtaining maintenance record hard copies AND/OR a key read. again, Carfax etc are completely unreliable for this purpose.
below is the BMW CBS schedule for your car. make sure (key read) that every single service was done on time, including the very important 1200 mile service that does not appear on the CBS. in addition to the obvious reasons for checking on service interval compliance, a poor result is a good indicator that the previous owner was a meatball.

edit: suppose i should add that outdoor storage would be a deal breaker for me, if i was able to know.

[buster84]

Add break fluid to the list, thats usually changed every two years.

[alex2364]

If it's been sitting indoors I don't see what the problem is. Change fluids and it'll be in better condition than cars that's been daily driven.

[bsmf8x]

Originally Posted by Poiseuille

what model year is this M4? do you know the build date and in-service date? how many miles were on it before storage? total miles now? are maintenance records available? if not, can you get the key read at a Dealer?. (ignore Carfax etc.) these answers are more likely to produce useful input from members.
anyway, good chance this car will be no problem at all but due diligence is recommended.
if the battery was not on the correct tender ALL THE TIME then assume you need to replace it at +\- $1100. if it was on the charger then 50/50 it's OK.
after three years of non-use assume all fluids need to be changed, especially the brake fluid.
not possible to overemphasize the importance of obtaining maintenance record hard copies AND/OR a key read. again, Carfax etc are completely unreliable for this purpose.
below is the BMW CBS schedule for your car. make sure (key read) that every single service was done on time, including the very important 1200 mile service that does not appear on the CBS. in addition to the obvious reasons for checking on service interval compliance, a poor result is a good indicator that the previous owner was a meatball.

edit: suppose i should add that outdoor storage would be a deal breaker for me, if i was able to know.

What's so bad about outdoor storage? The paint etc would be damaged?

[buster84]

Originally Posted by bsmf8x

What's so bad about outdoor storage? The paint etc would be damaged?

Paint can fade, rust if it’s cold enough in the winter, wires can get damaged from animals that make a home out of the car or engine bay, tires can warp if it’s been sitting in the same spot for years getting low on air ect... a car sitting outside should be inspected very thoroughly

[Jjoynt]

Originally Posted by buster84

Paint can fade, rust if it’s cold enough in the winter, wires can get damaged from animals that make a home out of the car or engine bay, tires can warp if it’s been sitting in the same spot for years getting low on air ect... a car sitting outside should be inspected very thoroughly

Yeah I gotta ask where it was kept for sure

[Jjoynt]

Originally Posted by Poiseuille

what model year is this M4? do you know the build date and in-service date? how many miles were on it before storage? total miles now? are maintenance records available? if not, can you get the key read at a Dealer?. (ignore Carfax etc.) these answers are more likely to produce useful input from members.
anyway, good chance this car will be no problem at all but due diligence is recommended.
if the battery was not on the correct tender ALL THE TIME then assume you need to replace it at +\- $1100. if it was on the charger then 50/50 it's OK.
after three years of non-use assume all fluids need to be changed, especially the brake fluid.
not possible to overemphasize the importance of obtaining maintenance record hard copies AND/OR a key read. again, Carfax etc are completely unreliable for this purpose.
below is the BMW CBS schedule for your car. make sure (key read) that every single service was done on time, including the very important 1200 mile service that does not appear on the CBS. in addition to the obvious reasons for checking on service interval compliance, a poor result is a good indicator that the previous owner was a meatball.

edit: suppose i should add that outdoor storage would be a deal breaker for me, if i was able to know.

Yeah I just got a CarFax for it and it says that it hasn't had service in 15k miles - confirmed with the owner. Haha that certainly changes things... much more scared of that than the car sitting for three years

[Suds]

Small animals like to move in, rats / mice.

Originally Posted by bsmf8x

What's so bad about outdoor storage? The paint etc would be damaged?

[Eurosonly]

Originally Posted by Jjoynt

Yeah I just got a CarFax for it and it says that it hasn't had service in 15k miles - confirmed with the owner. Haha that certainly changes things... much more scared of that than the car sitting for three years

is the car really cheap or something? also if you do buy id have it flat bedded to the dealer to get fluids changed right away.

[Jjoynt]

Originally Posted by Eurosonly

is the car really cheap or something? also if you do buy id have it flat bedded to the dealer to get fluids changed right away.

I wouldn't say that it’s cheap, but definitely not priced high. $41.5k 34k miles 2015 fully loaded except CCBs. Located in another state. Really like the spec but concerned about the condition.

[Eurosonly]

Originally Posted by Jjoynt

I wouldn't say that it’s cheap, but definitely not priced high. $41.5k 34k miles 2015 fully loaded except CCBs. Located in another state. Really like the spec but concerned about the condition.

what spec are you looking for? also id hafta say pass sadly its probably just not worth the headache. + you will be probably spending a few k in servicing and tires if it needs them.

[doug_999]

Originally Posted by buster84

Paint can fade, rust if it’s cold enough in the winter, wires can get damaged from animals that make a home out of the car or engine bay, tires can warp if it’s been sitting in the same spot for years getting low on air ect... a car sitting outside should be inspected very thoroughly

How does the temperature cause rust?

[robbo mcs]

Would you prefer it if the car had been driven everyday and had done 50,000 in the last 3 years?

It is not like the car has not moved in 3 years. 3,000 over that period is more than enough to put the car through a few heat cycles. It will just need new fluids and will be ready to go

[maddmatth]

I see a few people assuming the battery will be dead of it wasn't on a tender. The standard battery in these cars is a lithium one rather than lead-acid, I think it's more likely that it's just fine, maybe just in need of a charge.

[LuvMyE92]

Definitely get a PPI done for the obvious issues. Hard to say how much of the "3K over the past three years" is true. Was it a 10 mile trip every week, or a 500 mile trip twice a year? Sitting is not good, period. How old are the tires?

At that price, add in the cost of shipping, new tires (maybe) deferred service and maybe it's not such a great deal after all?

[6spd4lyfe]

What is the key read about?

[McIntoshMotorSports]

Originally Posted by Jjoynt

I wouldn't say that it’s cheap, but definitely not priced high. $41.5k 34k miles 2015 fully loaded except CCBs. Located in another state. Really like the spec but concerned about the condition.

Last month I paid $41K for my '16 Tanz Exec with 60K miles but it has a blown trans.. I'd be cautious at that price

[Poiseuille]

Originally Posted by 6spd4lyfe

What is the key read about?

there are codes stored on your key that allow BMW SAs or techs to open your vehicle's entire service and repair history regardless how many dealers worked on the car. obviously, this won't include work done at an Indy shop or in your own garage.

[J-Pizzle]

3000 miles over 3 years is considered "sitting"? I have had mine since new (August 2018) and have ~3300 miles on the clock. As others have mentioned, it's more about the service history. For me oil changes every six months since the RIS and fires up like a champ every time the weather is nice and I take it for exercise. Longest my vehicle sits without starting is ~3 weeks.

I don't have a battery tender, but sounds like that's something I should be investing in? Anyways, for the OP validate the service history and a PPI to have peace of mind.