Bought a Lemon - BMW X3 with Engine Oil Leak

Hi folks, need a genuine suggestion here.

Bought a BMW X3 2006 from a private seller who offered a RWC but I didn’t check the date. Which was expired on 4/08/2022. Purchase date - 31/09/2022. Cost - $11500 all cash.

Now the engine is leaking and costing me more than $7000 to fix. I got the RWC from the local mechanic with the engine oil leak fix. But it’s not a simple fix.

Car is already registered on my name with the current RWC spent $1100 for RWC. I’m sure the seller sold me a lemon.
But there was only one thing in my mind before making purchase is that the road worthy was passed in last month then it won't take much to get the new RWC.

So now, can I go to the last RWC guy and file a case against him? Not sure what to do? Or take it as a lesson and move on?

Comments

    • Not engine sealer. Def not what god intended for Bavarian Motors. The problem is a leaking seal, the cause- age and deterioration. The fix is not a stop-gap… it just won't last

  • +1

    I'm not gonna give you crap like the other OzBs, sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants, but it'd be good to know how you missed the oil leak. Assuming it wasn't visible on the ground, oil must be leaking on a part of the car that burns it when it gets hot enough. After you took it for a test drive, wasn't there a smell?

    Did the local mechanic tell you where the leak was coming from after he did the RWC? Was it the gasket?

  • +2

    two words in latin to live by….

    Caveat Emptor

    /thread

  • time for lemonade!

  • +1

    Never buy a German car that is out of warranty! With age there are expensive maintenance services to do. Better stick to Japanese brands that are low in maintenance

  • has anyone mentioned the ~$900 tyres yet? each that is…

  • Come on guys, look at what you've all done. You've made the OP feel like a lemon as well.

  • Why would you even buy a BMW let alone an old used one? Sorry to hear about the money pit…

  • People! Always have your car checked by a mechanic, eg RACQ, before you buy. Even if it has a new RWC because that could have come from a mate. There are things you can save money on. This ain’t one of them.

  • I had a 2008 x3 at the end had nothing but issues with it this was around 4 years ago now. I would NOT PAY for the repairs, try to sell it again at a loss to someone else who could fix it without a mechanic.

    The other thing that will go in that soon if no already is the DPF diesel particle filter, another expensive fix. These cars at that age are a money pit, do not spend any money fixing it, trust me……………

  • +2

    That doesnt add up. How did you transfer into your name if the RWC had expired? VIcRoads/alike wouldnt complete the transfer if thats the case.

  • +4

    bought a 2014 x3 bmw off my mate. day he brought it over to hand over to me, it was dripping oil and and clouds of smoke were being produced. bought it anyway since we wanted a BMW. like someone said above it was just the gaskets, quite a few of them. cost about 1k to fix. all good now. best car i've ever driven, so last year i bought a 2006 X5. had it for a year no now, no problems. 7k to fix, i suggest you get a second opinion from a mechanic that knows what their doing.

    • +1

      jinxed myself. drove the X5 5klms to pizza hut yesterday and got a low coolant warning. manage to find the leak at pizza hut, and took the risk and drove it home. looks like the last monkey who worked on the car may have not clipped in the water hose to the reserve properly. it slipped off from the pressure. pushed the hose back in, cliped it down. filled up with 10 litres of coolant. should be good until the next unknown monkey issue.

  • +3

    That car has been around for 16 years and because its a BMW, its life is basically over. Not exactly a lemon now, is it?

    RWC doesn't mean that the car is in tip top shape. You must have inspected the car thoroughly with the help of an independent mechanic (a pre purchase inspection), who might have found this problem and several other issues undoubtedly.

    Given that the current year is 2022, what made you buy a 2006 BMW of all things?

  • +1

    Don't make this thread on Ozbargain, make it in Whirlpool instead.

    • +3

      Will they make fun of him less over there?

  • You got a old BMW that doesn't leak means it's a fake BMW. $7000 to fix a leak? That's more than enough for me to shave the head, fit new pistons, crankshaft balanced, all new bolts and full set gaskets. Get a second quote!

  • Reminds me of my cuzzo who bought a used beemer too and kept seeing him repair it lmao

  • sorry to hear that, but you are not the first poor bugger, and surely not the last one!

    made the same mistake in the past, was lucky that my one (Audi A4 2009 I think it was) lasted for several years

    after it finally gave in, had no choice but to sell it to wreckers - it was good while it lasted !

    no more used and complicated cars for me - either new, or something simpler :)

  • Buy comprehensive insurance and have an 'accident' to get it written off 🙃

  • +2

    What needs replacing?

    My folks 2006 Beamer needed an oil pump, engine flush, cooling flush (4 times) an oil filter and new rubber hoses and all up it was 1800 smackers.

  • Sorry , really sucks to hear this. But unfortunately i don't think you have a leg to stand on on this one, especially in terms of going back to who previously sold it to you or gave it RWC. It's one of those hindsight situations where you probably should have had someone inspect it.

    My honest recommendations are:
    Assuming you're not mechanically minded, i would recommend cutting your loses, don't even bother paying to get it fixed because you won't get that money back…..just sell it how it is with the damage. Do the right thing though, be completely honest to whoever is buying it regarding what you believe the problem to be…even if you just say "engine oil leak", and let them diagnose it themselves. You are going to cop a hit on this and won't get anywhere near your purchase price on it, but it's going to be less of a loss than if you were to get it fixed.

    If you are mechanically minded….do you think it's within your capability to fix it yourself?

    Best bet is to cut your loses, and just take this as a learning experience.

  • +3

    insure it for $15k, drive it straight into your neighbours car

    • Take a short trip to NSW where any flood waters still are…

      • It's only 2 hours from Melbourne to a flood affected vic area. Time for the yearly road trip to Rochester or Seymour potentially.

  • +1

    Lots of feedback on buying a BMW. Here I am thinking of purchasing a E46 or an E90 Coupe and now I'm thinking I shouldn't.

    • +1

      That old saying - if you can't afford a new BMW, you can't afford a used one.

      • +1

        Gonna steal that one. Thanks.

    • +2

      The E46 is a great enthusiast car, the E92/93 less so. Dont get influence by the hate and make your own judgement call.

      • +3

        I agree..

        We had a 6 cylinder 323 E46 for nearly 18 years. No oil leaks and was pretty reliable.. very easy to service too.

        I still would love a E46 2004 update 330CI coupe M Sport in a manual. Or a Manual E46 M3

        E90/92 M3 are nice but aren't so reliable. E90/92 335i will bankrupt you.

    • E46 are too old now, and e90 are not as reliable as the e36/e46 era. E92 (the coupe) are also a bit too big to be a fun runabout (imo).

      It's not just wear and tear, engine gaskets, gaskets around all the windows etc. The interior will be worn, anything plastic will be starting to wear out.

      If you are going to buy one, buy something that is actually worth repairing, it will cost the same money to maintain a 318 and a 335. In fact you shouldn't be buying a 4 cyl model in any circumstances, the whole point of buying a BMW is to get the 3L 6cyl motor.

      I would suggest buying a luxury model, something that an enthusiast would have owned, such as a 5 or 7 series. You will save money in the long run as people tend to maintain a $150,000 car

      • Yeh I hear you, unfortunately my budget won't extend beyond $20,000 for the purchase. Hoping to find a low KM 2005-2006 E46

        • +1

          Have a look at the e82 1 series. The 125i has the same engine as the e46 330, similar size car, and more recent. It's the last series with a 6 cyl engine in the midrange vehicles.

          It's the same design / era as the e90-e93 3 series, and the true update of the e46 3 series - as the e90 3 series are larger vehicles

          • @greatlamp: Are the E82 reliable or just like the stereotypical old Euro lemon?

            • +1

              @Fobsessive: Same as E90 series, so not really that reliable. Set aside 5k for repairs that will be required and enjoy it. Try to get one that has been garaged.

              Yes it's expensive to maintain, but I think it's worth it. It's basically a Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ with a bigger engine, better suspension, bigger wheels, better brakes, and a better interior. Comparing engines, 270Nm at 2500rpm, vs 205Nm at 6400rpm.

              Not many other small RWD 6cyl cars to choose from.

      • Wiki says the E46 made it to 2006, which is still ok for plastics and seals

  • Never buy euro cars outside of warranty unless you have spare change in the bank to fix things when it goes wrong.

  • 😂

  • +3

    Your RWC guy / mechanic is having you on. The engine in a 2006 X3 is primitive. To replace all parts that could possibly cause an oil leak would be under $500. $1500 fitted including labour even at $200+ per hour. I suggest you find a better mechanic or RWC guy. Unless it is pissing oil on the ground, it shouldnt even be a roadworthy issue.

  • +1

    European made cars are specifically designed for the European climate. The Australian climate is extremely harsh. It'd be nice if all European car manufacturers built cars specifically for Australian conditions and clearly advertise it, but this will never happen, they'd have to pay more for durable parts and lose out on profit, or jack the price up more and lose customers.
    I've been looking at the Alfa Romeo Guilietta lately because of all the great reviews on how they're more reliable now than ever, however, you can see a pattern in the mileage that they're sold at, they're around 40,000k or 80,000K. After further research, I discovered that they use timing belt that must be replaced every 5 years or 50,000k (under Australian conditions). It boggles the mind why manufacturers are still using timing belts rather than chains these days.
    Lucky I didn't jump on that lemon bandwagon.

    • +2

      It doesn't matter what the paid reviewers say, fiat/alfa are trash and always will be. The company doesn't invest in modernising their manufacturing, they just focus on aesthetics.
      They cannot achieve the build quality of german cars.

  • At this point it would be throwing good money after bad. Say you fix the leaks - there is probably more than oil leaks lurking around the corner. Honestly, I would try to cut your losses and sell it, even if you get $6k for it, at least you're no longer stuck with a liability.

  • +3

    Do not reply to member since post!

  • did op say it cost him $1100 just for a RWC/ that would have been a big red light

  • No, you bought a BMW, welcome to eurotrashwagon life.

    Just a side note,
    There'd be more BMW X3's driving around with oil leaks than without. Don't buy a euro car if you can't afford the euro repair bills.

    I bought an Audi Q7 (2008) and 12 months of driving and $8,000 later i couldn't wait to see the back of that thing.

    Back to a Kia Sportage and loving every minute of it.

  • I know someone who currently has a Haval as their loan car while their brand new BMW X5 gets repaired, they much prefer the Haval.

    • +2

      New X5 and prefers some CN shite 😂

  • +1

    Mate, Lesson learnt here about purchasing a second hand vehicle. Get a few quotes and repair the problem. $7K is high way robbery.

  • +4

    I once succumbed to purchasing a used Mercedes because I was blinded by the badge. Never again. Worst car I have ever owned. Engine failure at just 67,000km that required a complete rebuild. Spent a month at the mechanic.

    As for the OP's BMW, many people don't realize parts and labour costs for a $10k 15 year old car are extremely high. It's still a $100k vehicle, but now at the end of its life and falling to pieces. Buy a Japanese car from that era, or a newer Korean car. Both excellent choices.

  • +1

    omg thats the car i totally want. the issues soind minor, bit of duct tape should fix it. ill pay 10k for it

    only problem is im stuck on an oil rig…..

  • +1

    Purchase date - 31/09/2022. Huh?

  • +3

    Disclaimer - Not Legal Advice - General Info only. You should obtain independent legal advice on your circumstances.

    I work in this area of law.

    When you don’t buy from a motor dealer, you aren’t afforded the protections of consumer guarantees relating to vehicles and goods. So for starters, lemon laws don’t apply.

    That’s the risk you take when purchasing from a private seller. Want a higher level of protection when buying privately? The only way to do so is by having a lawyer draft a contract with contractual terms which protects you in certain scenarios.

    A claim against the Mechanic who performed the RWC is unlikely to succeed since they can just claim it wasn’t leaking oil on the day it was inspected, etc, and/or even if you win with the assistance of some clever lawyers, your legal fees will likely exceed your damages and no all legal costs will be recovered on an indemnity basis unless you’re really lucky.

    I would move on, but again this is not legal advice and I would recommend you seek assistance from a lawyer who can review all your materials to advice you properly (rather than seeking advice on OzB). There are lawyers who provide free consultations.

  • Yikes!

    This ones going to hurt your pocket, Black Man's Willy is no joke.

    • totally unrelated but much funnier version of the acronym : D

  • +1

    The name says it all,
    BMW - Big Money Wasters

    • +2

      Break My Wallet.

  • Does an oil leak prevent anyone from getting a rwc?

    Many cars leak oil, especially older ones.

    • Typically, any fluid leak that would end up on the road surface would fail an RWC. In Vic for example: (taken from VicRoads Roadworthy Requirements)

      "The power unit, clutch system, transmission system, differentials, axle housings and all associated pipelines must be properly sealed and free of dripping or flowing oil leaks onto the roadway, exhaust system or brake friction surfaces. Dampness, weeping or staining are acceptable but oil leaking from the underside of the vehicle to such an extent that it is likely to drop oil on the road surface (if the vehicle is parked or idling stationary for any length of time) is unacceptable."

      • Yet VIC is full of shitboxes leaking, splattering and barely functioning lights…. oh wait I forgot, you don't need a RWC in VIC unless you're selling. Crazy!

  • It's rare to find any BMWs that's over 10 years old and "not a lemon".

  • +1

    Used to own a 325ci for about 12 years in my younger days. Everyone said the control arm bushings would fail, they failed, everyone said the radiator neck would crack, it cracked, they said it will leak oil, it leaked. These problems are known in all BMW's, should have done some research.

  • +1

    Why haven’t you written the car off yet? :)
    Find some nice panel beaters, give them 2.5K cash, let them organise it for you.

  • +3

    1 post, 0 comments, yet a thread that is on the front oge and comments for 2 pages. "c'mon folks" this guys is getting his rocks off on you

  • 7k for an oil leak?! I'll be your mechanic next time.

  • +2

    Look on the bright side, your indicators have probably never been used before

  • +2

    Bought a bmw

    That was your first mistake…

  • +1

    The chances of owning a BMW that old without an oil leak are low to none. They should include it as a standard feature honestly.

  • +2

    If you're going to buy old luxury get a Lexus next time.

    Brother has an 2007 IS250. It's a tank, never has any problems. Cheap servicing. Toyota reliability.

    Euro luxury are a money sink once over 10yo or 100kms

  • Never buy BMW or euros that are out of dealership warranty or otherwise you'll be subjected more for that ego when the mechanic asses the vehicles maintenance.

  • pretty sure it's a shit post

    OP hasn't responded at all

    • +1

      OP got roasted so hard, he abandoned the post

      • they didn't even view the comments after they posted

  • Rear main seal

  • -4

    I brought a Repairable Write Off.

    I didn't know, my Bank told me they'd do a check and they said it was free. However, they only cared about finance and didn't tell me that it was a Repairable Write Off.

    Wtf?

    Whoever did the Road Worthy in Melbourne, just of be dodgy as.

    The whole industry needs a reform, it's disgusting.

    These cars shouldn't be repaired and sold, so many people doing the dodgy.

    • +3

      It's not the banks responsibility to tell you this.

    • +1

      Repairable write off costs like $2 to find out in like 2 minutes. A PPSR check will get this out and you seem to have dodged your responsibility to do this absolute bare minimum and are trying to blame the bank for your laziness.

  • +9

    OP is conducting a social experiment to document the toxicity of an online community. Let’s just say it’s a resounding success.

    Too easy. New account using trigger keywords like Lemon, BMW and $7,000 repair bill and you draw the OzB crowd, like bees to honey.

    It’s nothing but a study on social behaviour.

  • +4

    private seller who offered a RWC but I didn’t check the date

    End of thread.

  • +5

    Just fix it yourself. Here are the list of things to check / replace on a 16 year old X3.

    1. valve cover gasket
    2. eccentric sensor gasket (on the valve cover)
    3. valvetronic motor gasket (on the valve cover)
    4. oil pan gasket
    5. engine oil burning quickly? strong suction / vacuum when try open engine oil cap? with bonnet up, hear loud whistle noise when engine is idling? check or replace CCV.
    6. spark plugs and coils (6 of them).

    Try the BimmerCode app scan tool, it's quite good. The readings are as accurate as INPA and ISTA. GOOD LUCK

    • What if it’s a crank seal? Or are they pretty solid on an X3?

      • Very. They go 350k+

        If the oil is coming out of the bellhousing (in front of the transmission) it is possible, but it could be oil coming from anywhere in front/above too, from all the more likely sources

  • +7

    I'm pretty sure a lemon is a NEW car with problems, not an ancient one that's expectedly falling apart.

  • +2

    guys OP hasn't replied a single time, close it off, troll confirmed (if the fact it's a brand new account didn't make it clear enough)

  • +2

    The comments here are really savage.
    It's nice to know that all the entire OzBargain community - other than the OP - have never made a mistake in their lives.

    • +4

      OP isn't real so does it matter?

    • +1

      The post was designed to infuriate. It is why it is called a troll post. We are just all playing along with the charade, like good peasants with pitch forks.

      Burn the witch!

    • The biggest mistake most members make is buying a graphics card, total waste of money.

    • I've had a 12 year old bmw for 5 years and not a single issue once. Just your general minor service oil change every 12-14 months at the same cost as any Camry or Yaris (ozbargain fanboy favourites). Only other thing I had done was new brakes as they were worn down (like any other car). Had them replaced. Not a single issue though and happy as larry. If you have ever actually owned one then you can comment, until then everyone is just a keyboard warrior, camry grandpa car fanboy.

      • +1

        Which model do you own? I found the E36 series to be more reliable than comparable vehicles, unfortunately too old now. I sold mine at 19 years old, ran like new, but interior and window grommets were wearing out.

        Bought another BMW to replace it (10 years old), I didn't buy the cheapest one on carsales, I looked for one owned by someone who looked after it and paid a little more. No issues in 3 years, runs like new.

        BMWs seem to have this stereotype of being unreliable (from people who don't own them) when they are just as reliable as fords and holdens - just more expensive as imported.

        There are German BMWs, South African BMWs and USA BMWs. Some are bullet proof, some have issues, like any other brand.

      • Yea, but did you buy it at 12 years old or 7 years old?

        The fact that you think your single positive experience means the BMW-hate is untrue kind of makes your opinion null and void.

        • +1

          No, not only my positive experience,

          In the USA BMW scored 7/31 in the most reliable vehicle brand.
          https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-advice/how-reliable-will-yo…

          In Australia a similar survey put BMW second last, 14/15 in reliability.
          https://www.canstarblue.com.au/vehicles/reliability/

          Why the huge difference in experiences?
          Because BMW are a lot more expensive in Australia than they are in the USA, in both absolute $, and relative to competitors.

          A large proportion of BMW owners are not car enthusiasts, but people trying to buy the prestige badge, the kind of people who would buy a large vehicle like a BMW x3 with an underpowered 4cyl motor. The kind of people who would wait 25,000kms to do an oil service. Why the ridiculously long service intervals? Because it makes them look cheaper in a fleet leasing contract.

          If you buy one and look after it properly, it isn't unreliable. As I said above, buy one from an enthusiast and/or buy a luxury model. A mums taxi isn't going to be a good buy, doesn't matter what brand it is

          Btw, I bought it at 12 years old with 120k km and sold it with 230k km. In that time it needed a new engine gasket (as explained above that is a maintenance item), new control arm bushings (again, not extraordinary at 200k kms), and regular oil changes, brakes and coolant.

          The handing was excellent, much better than anything made in Australia or Japan that wasn't a sportcar and the braking performance was far better that what ford, holden or mazda used.

          I wouldn't buy a BMW today as the other brands have caught up, but the older models were not shitboxes, quite the opposite

          • @greatlamp: I was told that Australia summer is too hot therefore lots of BMW genuine parts will disintegrate much faster in this kind of environment and cause issues. not sure if that's true or not but I would personally avoid second hand BMW as well

            • @dkwon10: But other European brands are ok? Or South Korean brands? Or Japanese? They all have colder summers than Australia.

              It's just rubbish people parrot, it doesn't even make sense

            • +1

              @dkwon10: dkwon10 "I was told" … there's your answer right there.

              • @boostpak: It's an excuse because BMW drivers don't want to admit they paid a premium for a shit car.

        • @juiciness actually it's hitting 6 years of ownership next month so that's a 13 year old car mate. 6 years and not a single issue. I've owned jap, korean, us and italian cars and each of them have had way more issues than this bmw. Just because a car costs more and those who can't afford it hate on it, does not mean a car is unreliable. You can go on forums of any car brand go through their models and see every single car has issues. Some models more than others, but at the end of the day they are all machines. To say these don't cope in Aus weather, or these can't be driven on Aus roads etc is just bollocks.

          Have you guys noticed it's always people who HAVEN'T owned a specific brand are the ones commenting the most and hating the most lol. SMH

      • always will be good and bad cars, just have to think about averages. In this case the OP also seemed to have a dodgy seller that was willing to take 11k for a car with issues

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