[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Let me preface this by saying that I don't know much at all about the BMW four-cylinder motors.

But I'd be quite concerned about any motor that used a quart of oil in 800 miles! Heck, that's getting near to the limit that Porsche sets for their air-cooled cars--which I think is too much oil consumption for them! (I think it's 1 l./1000 km.; ~1 qt/~600 mi.)

At a minimum, I'd get a compression check and probably a leakdown test. The compression to tell you the overall health of the top end, the leakdown to tell you where the oil is going. (Listen for the air escaping; tailpipe or intake snorkel or oil filler.) Check with people who know more about these motors to see what usually causes whatever to leak, then judge how likely it may be that the engine will need major work soon. Balance that with the cost and with the time and money it would take to do the work (if any).

I'd say a PPI is a good investment in this case! Your "too cheap to check" car could easily turn into a money-pit, and it's good to have a heads-up on the possibility first.

--DD