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ODO's was e28 (535i) Buying advice....

Is the odometer we see (on the dash) the only place where a BMW keeps 
mileage I have a friend that had a broken speed sensor and when fixed 
had not put on any mileage for the week it was broke. is there somewhere 
else he can get the true mileage from? this is a E36 318

Jeff

PS Is it true the Z3 body has been named E40? 
if so we can strat refering to it as such



>Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1999 11:03:33 -0700
>To: [email protected]
>From: Pearson-Franks Family <[email protected]>
>Subject: e28 (535i)  Buying advice....
>Cc: [email protected], [email protected]
>
>Hi, Charles.
>
>Just a random aside as I cut-and-paste your e-mail addresses:
>Why two?  Don't you trust your Juno account.  Just curious . . .
>
>On to questions:  please pardon my memory (I had a _real_
>good time in the '70's!); did I send you my 3 part epic on E28's?
>If not, let me know privately and I'll let fly.
>
>Another question:  you mention BMW dealers being able to just roll
>back odometers as if it is a common phenomenon.  Is that your
>experience?  Do you have a story to share there?  I would love
>to hear it.  It is _my_ experience that it takes an odometer
>shop dissassembling the beastie to set it back - I have been
>into a number of them for the frequent tripmeter gear failure,
>and setting the odo back would be a physical pain.  One could
>easily swap speedo/odo assy's to put in another mileage, but
>where do you get low-mile odo's?
>
>Couple observations:
>
>1)  The car tells the tale; _not_ the odometer, and certainly
>    not the salesperson (gag!).  Look closely at the finish,
>    windshield glass, seat bolsters, pedal pads, heel wear
>    under the gas pedal, driver's inside door pull, etc. for
>    signs of lots of wear.  Almost all of these items are
>    replaceable, but they collectively give clues better than
>    the odometer as to how long and hard the car was used.
>2)  I have purchased the majority of my used Bimmers from dealers
>    of one flavor or another.  They are certainly no worse in
>    my experience than an individual who either doesn't know
>    jack, or the one who _does_ know about defects in their
>    car and doesn't tell you.
>3)  A pre-inspection is worth gold.  Have it done by an E28-
>    savvy third party, and get written details - the more the
>    better.  I can send you my own checklist, harvested from
>    several local ones and my own experiences, as a private Word
>    file attachment.  (Just ignor the Volvo-specific lines!).
>4)  My local (Seattle-area) dealers offer guaranteed, pre-owned
>    cars, but not as old as E28's.  Your local dealers may vary.
>5)  Re:  your #2:  the only PM I can envision for a head gasket
>    is frequent coolant changes with non-phosphate coolant.  Some
>    may retorque heads, but opinions vary.
>6)  Bad bushings drive bad, but won't leave you at the side of
>    the road, unless you lose control braking hard at high speed
>    as your first test (hint:  don't do this).
>
>Have fun, Larry F.
>
>>Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1999 23:36:17 -0800
>>From: [email protected] (Charles S De Jesus)
>>Subject: e28 (535i)  Buying advice....
>>
>>I just wanted to thank all the folks for responding for my request for
>>information regarding an e28 (535i)  in email.
>>
>>I am currently trying to be very patient in searching for a  535i 
5spd.
>>
>>1.  Would you folks purchase from a pre-owned non BMW dealer (usedcar)
>>knowing they can just turn the odometer back?  Does BMW have a used 
car
>>safety inspection program and is it really worth the money?
>>
>>2.  Quick Maintenance question:  How do you perform preventive
>>maintenance on your headgasket? To avoid coolant and oil mixture which 
I
>>have been reading recently on digest?
>>
>>3.  Regarding bushings. If these fail / disentegrate does this mean
>>catastropic failure and a tow to the shop?
>>
>>**New future e28 / 535i owner...eyeing my neighbors pristine 535i 
e28***
>>
>> [email protected]
>>
>
>Larry Franks
>Issaquah, Washington
>'86 535i x 2
>'83 245 GLT (Swedish iron)
>
>
>


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