Soon to be AP2 Owner
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 408
Likes: 1
From: Manassas, VA
Soon to be AP2 Owner
Hello all!
In about one or two months, I'm going to be leaving BMW for Honda. I've owned a 2003 E39 for a little over two years now. I'm a full time electrical engineering student and the Bummer is slowly becoming a money pit instead of a joy to drive...
Since I'm leaving Bimmerfest, I looked around for a similar community for the S2k and I'm glad I stumbled upon this while doing some homework on various exhausts/suspension jobs that owners have been doing: I saw this forum dominate the Google searches.
I just wanted to ask the advice of everyone around here (if this is the right place to ask for advice): what should I keep an eye out for when purchasing a used AP2? My current budget is up to $20k which can be broken, I'd just prefer to not dump my entire savings... I know when it came time to purchase my E39, many people told me to keep an eye out for the cooling system, VANOS, oil pan leaks, low oil pressure light, etc etc all various things for the specific model. So far, all I've heard about the S2k is from an owner down the street who owns an AP1 and says it burns a little oil... other than that I'm flying blind!
I'm happy to be here though, and any advice would be deeply appreciated! I've been fairly unlucky with the Bummer and that's something I'd like to avoid with a Honda. I've always heard of Honda reliability over BMW as well as simpler level of engineering in the design of the vehicles, but it all seems to good to be true almost? Probably I'm just used to German. I've done everything on my car from cooling to drive-train with the exception of having to open up the engine (thankfully). I think the only thing that's still holding me back is that I have only driven manual three times, two of which were in traffic and it was strangely relaxing over auto? I thoroughly look forward to it. I might even keep the E39 for winter driving? Who knows. I just want a car that won't require a new part/s be purchased almost every two months and that has a personality to own and drive.
Cheers all,
Alex C.
In about one or two months, I'm going to be leaving BMW for Honda. I've owned a 2003 E39 for a little over two years now. I'm a full time electrical engineering student and the Bummer is slowly becoming a money pit instead of a joy to drive...
Since I'm leaving Bimmerfest, I looked around for a similar community for the S2k and I'm glad I stumbled upon this while doing some homework on various exhausts/suspension jobs that owners have been doing: I saw this forum dominate the Google searches.
I just wanted to ask the advice of everyone around here (if this is the right place to ask for advice): what should I keep an eye out for when purchasing a used AP2? My current budget is up to $20k which can be broken, I'd just prefer to not dump my entire savings... I know when it came time to purchase my E39, many people told me to keep an eye out for the cooling system, VANOS, oil pan leaks, low oil pressure light, etc etc all various things for the specific model. So far, all I've heard about the S2k is from an owner down the street who owns an AP1 and says it burns a little oil... other than that I'm flying blind!
I'm happy to be here though, and any advice would be deeply appreciated! I've been fairly unlucky with the Bummer and that's something I'd like to avoid with a Honda. I've always heard of Honda reliability over BMW as well as simpler level of engineering in the design of the vehicles, but it all seems to good to be true almost? Probably I'm just used to German. I've done everything on my car from cooling to drive-train with the exception of having to open up the engine (thankfully). I think the only thing that's still holding me back is that I have only driven manual three times, two of which were in traffic and it was strangely relaxing over auto? I thoroughly look forward to it. I might even keep the E39 for winter driving? Who knows. I just want a car that won't require a new part/s be purchased almost every two months and that has a personality to own and drive.
Cheers all,
Alex C.
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 1
Typically the S2000 does adhere to the Honda "reliability." However, be aware that these cars are now 5 to 14 years old. A lot of them you will find have come down into a price range where 2nd+ owners will rag them out.
Having said that, they are also very sensitive to having the oil at the correct level. Because AP1's are notorious for drinking more oil than their AP2 counterparts (which is normal, and not concerning for a well maintained engine) some of the 2nd+ owners are driving the piss out of them thinking that they don't have to check the oil level often, since they don't have to on their accord or civic. Have at least a compression test done.
06+ had tighter intake or exhaust valves (I forgot which) from the factory and had to have them adjusted around 15k-20k miles. So watch out for this. If they were adjusted soon then everything would be honkey dorey though.
AP1's had less traction control and it's much easier to lose the rear end in a turn. Be cautious if you go AP1.
If you're a car enthusiast and don't "HATE" manual gearboxes in principle, then you will most likely LOVE the s2k gearbox. It's one of the best 6-speed manual gearboxes on the maket.
You will enjoy the roadster feel of this car, I'm sure of it.
Those are just a few things off the top of my head that stand out. There is a guy on here that has a thread link in his signature (I'm sure he will chime in soon) directly towards what you need to look out for when buying, and maintaining an s2000. It's extremely helpful.
Good luck on the search.
Having said that, they are also very sensitive to having the oil at the correct level. Because AP1's are notorious for drinking more oil than their AP2 counterparts (which is normal, and not concerning for a well maintained engine) some of the 2nd+ owners are driving the piss out of them thinking that they don't have to check the oil level often, since they don't have to on their accord or civic. Have at least a compression test done.
06+ had tighter intake or exhaust valves (I forgot which) from the factory and had to have them adjusted around 15k-20k miles. So watch out for this. If they were adjusted soon then everything would be honkey dorey though.
AP1's had less traction control and it's much easier to lose the rear end in a turn. Be cautious if you go AP1.
If you're a car enthusiast and don't "HATE" manual gearboxes in principle, then you will most likely LOVE the s2k gearbox. It's one of the best 6-speed manual gearboxes on the maket.
You will enjoy the roadster feel of this car, I'm sure of it.
Those are just a few things off the top of my head that stand out. There is a guy on here that has a thread link in his signature (I'm sure he will chime in soon) directly towards what you need to look out for when buying, and maintaining an s2000. It's extremely helpful.
Good luck on the search.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,309
Likes: 245
From: Tulsa, Oklahoma USA
Welcome! 
You came to the right place. Right now, I think this thread might be most helpful to you: What to look for when buying a used S2000. Good luck!
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 408
Likes: 1
From: Manassas, VA
Typically the S2000 does adhere to the Honda "reliability." However, be aware that these cars are now 5 to 14 years old. A lot of them you will find have come down into a price range where 2nd+ owners will rag them out.
Having said that, they are also very sensitive to having the oil at the correct level. Because AP1's are notorious for drinking more oil than their AP2 counterparts (which is normal, and not concerning for a well maintained engine) some of the 2nd+ owners are driving the piss out of them thinking that they don't have to check the oil level often, since they don't have to on their accord or civic. Have at least a compression test done.
06+ had tighter intake or exhaust valves (I forgot which) from the factory and had to have them adjusted around 15k-20k miles. So watch out for this. If they were adjusted soon then everything would be honkey dorey though.
AP1's had less traction control and it's much easier to lose the rear end in a turn. Be cautious if you go AP1.
If you're a car enthusiast and don't "HATE" manual gearboxes in principle, then you will most likely LOVE the s2k gearbox. It's one of the best 6-speed manual gearboxes on the maket.
You will enjoy the roadster feel of this car, I'm sure of it.
Those are just a few things off the top of my head that stand out. There is a guy on here that has a thread link in his signature (I'm sure he will chime in soon) directly towards what you need to look out for when buying, and maintaining an s2000. It's extremely helpful.
Good luck on the search.
Having said that, they are also very sensitive to having the oil at the correct level. Because AP1's are notorious for drinking more oil than their AP2 counterparts (which is normal, and not concerning for a well maintained engine) some of the 2nd+ owners are driving the piss out of them thinking that they don't have to check the oil level often, since they don't have to on their accord or civic. Have at least a compression test done.
06+ had tighter intake or exhaust valves (I forgot which) from the factory and had to have them adjusted around 15k-20k miles. So watch out for this. If they were adjusted soon then everything would be honkey dorey though.
AP1's had less traction control and it's much easier to lose the rear end in a turn. Be cautious if you go AP1.
If you're a car enthusiast and don't "HATE" manual gearboxes in principle, then you will most likely LOVE the s2k gearbox. It's one of the best 6-speed manual gearboxes on the maket.
You will enjoy the roadster feel of this car, I'm sure of it.
Those are just a few things off the top of my head that stand out. There is a guy on here that has a thread link in his signature (I'm sure he will chime in soon) directly towards what you need to look out for when buying, and maintaining an s2000. It's extremely helpful.
Good luck on the search.
Thank you for the response!
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 408
Likes: 1
From: Manassas, VA
Welcome! You came to the right place. Right now, I think this thread might be most helpful to you: What to look for when buying a used S2000. Good luck!Those are more questions for when buying used than I could have thought of lol
