What Should I get done 1st?
 

2004 4.8is with 99k miles on its way to me from CA and I'm in a cold climate in MN. Wondering what I should look for and what are the critical services I should do as soon as I receive it? I'm thinking get antifreeze in the radiator and winter antifreeze washer fluid. Then transmission oil change? And ?.... Im sure there are a million things but I'm looking for the most critical in your opinions?

Thx for your insights!

Full inspection including suspension and cv boots. Right after the windshield washer antifreeze

I guess general basic stuff to do would be oil change (depending on when it was done last), check the brakes, inspect for oil leak, coolant leak. The expansion tank tend to crack, so you might want to inspect that... Good luck and enjoy the ride.

start saving for air suspension issues. do you have service records? those will guide you to what needs to be done sooner than later. expect front control arms with bushings, motor/tranny mounts, valve cover gaskets and as stated above, expect cv boots/front axles.

My 4.8is, at 82k...what has been done (repair and maintenance)

Repairs:
valve cover gaskets
ps line leak
lower oil pan gasket
fuel pump
sway bar endlinks
transmission valve body (aka mechatronic)
two front air struts
two new side mirrors
cv boots
air suspension valve block
air suspension module (EHCII)
air suspension compressor
ball joints
control arm bushings

Maintenance:
tranny, transfer case, diff fluids
coolant reservoir, new coolant
brake fluid

The given:
filters, motor oil, brakes

*Having a great extended warranty company is priceless for this truck! The minor stuff that I could change, I don't even bother... just bring to the dealer and let them worry about it.

:wow: WOW!!! :wow:

I don't think I can get ext. warr at 99k! Guess I'm gonna trade her in as soon as it gets here!! :(

Thx for the insights Icer

Not to scare you, just keeping things real...

Door handles
 

Also.......Search on here regarding frozen and broken handle carriers.

Enjoy the ride!

You're a new owner and probably would like to keep this ride for another 50K - 100K miles?

A service history from the previous owner(s) would be helpful in knowing what's been properly maintained vs neglected. In absence of history at 99K I would definitely do engine oil+filter, air filter, brake fluide, coolant, power steering, transfer case fluid, differentials fluid, fuel filter, transmission fluid+filter, and spark plugs at this milestone.

Check drive belts for cracks/wear. Inspect coolant system components for small leaks (white/blue powder from dried antifreeze). Replace expansion tank before it cracks - because it more often does after 100K at the most inopportune time. Check coolant hoses for wear.

Parts don't last forever, especially on BMWs. Good luck.

Great points skeet. As for the history records, that's what I'm trying to do is locate prev owner which I have a thread on. My local dealer tells me if I know where the car was serviced, i can call that dealer and they can pull records but unfortunately I don't. Probably some dealer in CA!

What is the function of the expansion tank? Where is it? And is it easy to replace as a DIY ? I'm pretty handy and mechanically inclined?