When to do a PPI?

[jyl]

Looking at a $4K BMW E28. Would you do a PPI on a $4K car?

[JJ 911SC]

Probably not...

[DanielDudley]

http://www.mye28.com/

[onewhippedpuppy]

If you aren't mechanically inclined, yes. It could cost you another $4k in a heartbeat if you are paying to have the work done. From your posts that doesn't seem like an issue. Personally I never bother but I'm pretty confident in my ability to diagnose issues, and DIY repair just about anything that arises.

[dad911]

Prob not. Risk vs reward. But I'd look it over carefully, on a lift if possible, and a decent test drive.

[sc_rufctr]

If your asking the question, to me that means you're not sure about something.

So get one anyway. How much does one cost? $200 at the most???

[recycled sixtie]

Unless you know as much as a BMW mechanic why would you not? If you don't do a PPI it is like throwing $4000+ out of the window.....

[Steve Carlton]

Do the PPI. It's the cost of the PPI vs the cost to get the car fixed. Just because it's a $4K car doesn't mean it doesn't need $8K worth of work. Don't buy a pig in a poke.

What would have happened if you had done a PPI on the Honda Element?

[speeder]

I would absolutely do a PPI on that car but a PPI does not have to cost $200. You simply arrange to bring it by a good independent shop that works on older BMWs and has at least one guy who knows those cars, put it on a lift and he walks around under the car w a flashlight for 5 minutes.

I don't care how good you think you are at looking at cars, (I'm pretty good), you cannot see the expensive repairs and maintanence needed w/o getting underneath it w some good light, on a lift. How this could cost $200, (or even $100), is beyond me.

This is how my buddy looks at any old car a client is considering buying and he never charges for it. It takes him 5 minutes, TOPS, to see any leaks, worn suspension parts and look at brakes. He sees other bad or good things as well, like the quality of previous replacement parts, previous repairs, accident/frame damage, rust, etc. Most European cars have alloy rims and you can see the condition of the pads and rotors w/o removing a wheel. Leaks can be costly on an otherwise great running car, you want to know about them and they are a good negotiating point.

Compression tests and leak down tests are completely unnecessary on a car like that, IMO. Bad compression or a weak or dead cylinder is impossible to hide, the car will exhibit obvious symptoms. Even suspension and steering condition is very obvious on a short drive. Everything should be tight.

If the car passes all of the initial driving and other sniff tests, bring it to the place to put it on a rack for a minute. Many good shops will charge you minimally or nothing at all for a quick look, they know that they will likely get some good business from you if you buy it and they like warning people off of truly needy or bad cars.

This advice is not for old air-cooled 911s costing major 5-figures, (or more), that could potentially need tens of thousands in repairs. Those are worth spending more on a more detailed and thourough PPI. All an old BMW needs is to be up in the air w the right set of eyes looking at it. Ask Seahawk about this.

[Steve Carlton]

$100-200 will probably come back to you in extra negotiated discounts, anyway. Plus you get some peace of mind. Service records are a big plus.

[ted]

Always get a PPI.

I took a cheap 928 in for a PPI.
Found it needed $5k in steering box work and that it had been run thru a chain link fence before its last paint job.

When your BMW was newer and worth $50k then $5k of repair work made sense.
But not at its current value.

[jyl]

Spoke to mechanic who serviced car since 2008. He went through file, told me all work done, dates of track day inspections, gave me his opinion of condition. Super experienced BMW/Porsche guy, my gut is he's honest.

So, next question for you guys. What is your WAG on possible cost to:
- Respray roof and trunklid in single stage black (paint failure)
- Recover two front BMW sport seats seats in leather

This E28 has some major cosmetic flaws (the above ones) and about five things not working (driver's mirror, reverse lights, tachometer, brake warning light on, missing rear swaybar). But I might get it pretty inexpensively.