Low usage as bad as high miles?

[parkerbink]

My car has very low miles, but since I have been driving it things have been breaking (waterpump, cruise control) is it as bad to have low usage as normal usage? the car never sat for any extended period, my Mom just drove very little but she did use it daily.

What should I replace so I do not get stranded again? I would rather replace things now and not have this happen again. the hotel, bus & plane tickets will cost me close to 1000.00 so it is cheaper to replace things you guys think are likely to die.

The timing belt was done 10k ago but looks a littlle odd at the edges (I saw it when they took the cover off to replace the water pump) is that normal? Should I replace it?

[Erick]

Maybe your mechanics are doing a shitjob on the car.

Then again.... 100k miles ( give or take 30k ) is where most important things will need to start being replaced. There's no such thing as an extremely low mileage anymore ( only SykoBMW can be considered that ) and most cars with "low mileage" will now end up in that area of things needing attention.

[parkerbink]

I think 63k on a 14 year old car is low milage. and until things break there is no mechanic involved except for the guy in L.A. that used to maintain it before I got it and he never touched the cc or waterpump.

[Erick]

until things break...

Preventive maintenance?

[parkerbink]

That is what I am asking about now. The car has 63k the belts, hoses, timing belt etc were all done at 53k What else would you suggest I do?

The reason for my post is I live where there are no parts easily available. That is why the car is sitting in a shop 600 miles from here waiting for a water pump from BMA to get to Laredo so it can be brought to the shop.

I am asking what else is a candidate for replacement PREVENTATIVELY so I do not go through this again.

[AdironRider]

dude, youve got a 14 year old car. Shit breaks. Its just something your going to have to live with. Change the fluids, do as much prevenative maintenance as you can, and pray for the best. It seems like your doing all you can, but if its still frustrating, maybe you should drive something other than a 14 year old BMW

[trent]

I think 63k on a 14 year old car is low milage. and until things break there is no mechanic involved except for the guy in L.A. that used to maintain it before I got it and he never touched the cc or waterpump.

You hit the nail on the head. 63k on a 14 year old car isn't shit. But you said 14 years old. Time plays just enough in failure as mileage does.

[parkerbink]

dude, youve got a 14 year old car. Shit breaks. Its just something your going to have to live with. Change the fluids, do as much prevenative maintenance as you can, and pray for the best. It seems like your doing all you can, but if its still frustrating, maybe you should drive something other than a 14 year old BMW

Fife maybe you didn't read my post. I am not complaining about a 14 year old car having maintenaince needs, just asking this question: What is most likely to break due to age.

Obviously time takes it's toll. I am looking for what other components are more likely the be affected by time (like the waterpump which is what broke) so I can replace them before this happens again.

[KDZROK]

Your Timing belt concerns me, only because of the shape you say it is in...

I have been told the rule of thumb on timing belts is 55k OR 4 years. Less if you drive your car hard.

I would get it checked out.

[Erick]

You have the wrong view on preventive maintenance. If you were to swap a whole part out and call it preventive maintenance, you might as well order every single part BMA has in stock and replace it on your car.

Preventive maintenance is ensuring your car is in running parameters. Check your fluids, make sure the lack thereof wont cause any damage to what depends in those liquids. Diagnose any noises that you have..... find out what they are, what's causing it and if it needs to be replaced ASAP.

If your car is running fine, then that's it.

[parkerbink]

There are 10k on this belt I would rather replace it than lose the engine, but I have no clue what it should look like. the radiator side edge seems to have some small amount of material missing.

[parkerbink]

My car was runing like the day we bought it in August of 90 before the waterpump siezed, destroyed the belt and caused all of the idiot lights to come on.

I regularly replace the oil, check all fluids and listen for any odd sounds.

As I live where parts are a problem I was simply asking what is a likely candidate for failure so I can replace it now so as to minimize being stranded.

[nando]

dude, youve got a 14 year old car. Shit breaks. Its just something your going to have to live with. Change the fluids, do as much prevenative maintenance as you can, and pray for the best. It seems like your doing all you can, but if its still frustrating, maybe you should drive something other than a 14 year old BMW

haha, shit breaks on month old cars too.. :roll:

[Erick]

what is a likely candidate for failure.

Everything is.... it varies from car to car.

[parkerbink]

haha, shit breaks on month old cars too.. :roll:

Exactly! in 1979 my Dad got a Lincoln Town car one of the last huge boats, on the way home the ignition died. It had to be towed back to the dealer with 4 miles on it!