BMW 3 service missing

Dublin18..

Hi There

A friend of mine is looking at a 3 series 320D. 141 with 3 owners. 123000km. The issue is the service history. Car is in very good condition etc. She has taken it on an extensive test drive and no issues. Her concern is the 42000km between service 2 and 3 and the car has the N47T engine. She is getting a very good price. No links as the car is not up for sale as the dealer is using it as stock car. He has a good rep as a second hand car dealer goes.The dealer is now trying to find out from the main dealer more about service history. From idrive and paper receipts it had one minor fix under warranty. Other than that general oil filter and brake fluid change and brake pads and discs.

1st service 25000km after 18months
2nd Service 50000kms 14months ltr
3rd service 92000km 14 months ltr
4th service 120000km by current seller

Looking at other cars in her price range they all have approx. 30k more km on the clock. She only wants a 3series too and this one ticks all the boxes for her.

bazz26

42k km is a very long interval without an oil change especially on that engine where the timing chain won't thank you for it. BMW usually set the oil service intervals to 30k km on those cars which is even too long imo. Is it a UK import? Was it a fleet car as it would be unusual for a fleet car to go without being serviced on schedule, unless some of the service history is missing for a reason. Has she done a comprehensive history check on it including a UK history check if applicable?

Dublin18..

She has done a cartel report and its not an import. May 2014 car. All ok bar finance still on which could be current dealer as it says stock finance. All services were main dealers.

First owner was private company who had it for 6 months. Maybe Hertz
dealer then had it for 2 months before being sold to an individual for 14 months. Then traded in I presume and dealer had it for 3 months before being sold to last owner who had it for 3 years.

Servicing looks like this.

Second owner serviced it Nov 2017 25000km. Then traded it May 2016 after 14 months ownership.

Third owner bought it in Aug 2016. Serviced it Jan 2017 50000km, April 2017 Brake Fluid change and minor repair to air con. NCT Feb 2018 Passed, Then serviced it Mar 2018 92000km. Traded in Aug 2019 to dealer who sold it to current dealer who serviced it at 120000km.

Current dealer says he is trying to see if it had a service between 50k and 92k with independent as he needs it. He also said the N47T has no issues with timing chain.

Stallingrad

I'd walk away, there are so many 320D's out there you will find one with a better SH than that.

As Bazz said, 42k km is way too long on an engine that has a weakpoint with the chain. And the N47T does, no matter what you were told.

Dublin18..

Im of the same opinion. Her own is on its last legs and she is a bit fussy with colour spec etc and this car is working out about 3k cheaper than anything else she has looked at. I told her to wait if she can. Her car failed NCT and is uneconomical to repair so she is getting desperate.