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I'm looking at purchasing a 2001 NB with 135,000km

The owner informed me that he hasn't changed the oil or filter in last 5 years,
due to 'only dríven 1,500km in that time'.

I have searched online for info on lack of oil changes, but I have found nothing definitive.

Should I walk away from this car considering the lack of maintenance?

All feedback will be appreciated.

Just go and drive it, if it sounds right, smells right and runs right its ok. Just do a change soon.

Dann

That means he also hasn't changed the brake fluid or radiator coolant so check those as well.

Rocky wrote:That means he also hasn't changed the brake fluid or radiator coolant so check those as well.

And the gearbox and diff oil as well.

Wolfgang wrote:And the gearbox and diff oil as well.

I wouldn't be too concerned about those things but the tyres are probably battery cases by now.

Has the owner run the engine on a semi regular basis?

You might also find that the air-con has leaked & be an expensive repair bill due to cracked seals that havn't been kept lubricated from cycling the air-con gas.

Maybe the battery isn't good either, unless it's kept on auto trickle charger.

I don't think there'll be any damage done to the lack of maintenance, mostly because it hasn't been dríven to cause any damage.

But, make sure you factor in the cost of that overdue maintenance in your negotiations. You've got a lot to do, and most of it's been mentioned. You may also need to consider the timing belt and water pump service is likely due, possibly the radiator as well. Basically, you could be facing $2k of maintenance or more, if radiator, tyres, timing belt all need doing!

NitroDann wrote:drive it, if it sounds right, smells right and runs right its ok.

^+1 - And assuming rest of maintenance has been similarly intermittent, do a full base-line service asap so that you're dealing with as much of a known quantity as possible.