Bought a BMW

Sounds like ...your Mum got a good deal there :D

I like black cars myself, on many cars black is best as far as I am concerned :) ...what is the rest of the spec like then?, nav & comms pack? ...heated seats ?
 
Should higher millage, say 130K+ put you off a 3 Series if it has a full history?

Seems there's a huge premium for lower millage examples.
 
Orange Peel said:
Should higher millage, say 130K+ put you off a 3 Series if it has a full history?

Seems there's a huge premium for lower millage examples.
Click to expand...

If its a nice example with only 1 or 2 owners max, comprehensive history and excellent condition, no.

The problem is that as mileage increases, so does the number of owners, each one with a slightly less intelligent view of how to look after a car.
 
[TW]Fox;15877749 said:
If its a nice example with only 1 or 2 owners max, comprehensive history and excellent condition, no.

The problem is that as mileage increases, so does the number of owners, each one with a slightly less intelligent view of how to look after a car.
Click to expand...

Makes sense :)

I was quite shocked that a 2002 50K 330ci with reasonable spec would command a 8K+ price where as the same year/model/spec 120K car would be anywhere from 4K, with similar owners.

The time is getting closer where I'll be looking for a nice 330ci so want to answer as many questions as possible :)
 
I am slightly more nervous about older cars with high mileage than I am with newer ones. Both of my high miler 'success stories' have been with 4 year old cars where there is no real question as to how it was looked after and how the mileage was acrued.

Of course a 130k mile 9 year old car has obtained these miles following a pretty much average usage cycle so is never going to be in the sort of mechanical or cosmetic condition that the a 4 year old car with the same mileage would be.

To this end the search for my replacement car will, for the first time ever, have a mileage stipulation on it unless I am lucky enough to find a 1 owner car.
 
[TW]Fox;15878059 said:
I am slightly more nervous about older cars with high mileage than I am with newer ones. Both of my high miler 'success stories' have been with 4 year old cars where there is no real question as to how it was looked after and how the mileage was acrued.

Of course a 130k mile 9 year old car has obtained these miles following a pretty much average usage cycle so is never going to be in the sort of mechanical or cosmetic condition that the a 4 year old car with the same mileage would be.

To this end the search for my replacement car will, for the first time ever, have a mileage stipulation on it unless I am lucky enough to find a 1 owner car.
Click to expand...

Oh Very much so indeed.

I actually looked at a silver 540i Sport the other day, 2000 x plate, had done 103k, the engine and gearbox were great, no problems at all, and went like a bat out of hell.

But, the car had, had 3 owners, the last one since 2006 iirc, but the one prior to that had the car for less than 3 months, oddly. It had a FSH, but only BMW main dealer up to about 86k, then it was done by an independent who wasn't even a BMW specialist.

Furthermore the bodywork was a long way from mint, it was pretty much what you'ed expect of a 10 year old car though I suppose, had a bit of surface rust around the fuel filler cap, and had a tiny bit on the edge of the boot lip, few scuffs here and there, paint looked tired and flat.

The interior wasn't bad though, but the steering wheel was quite shiny, although the pedals and seat were fine, everything worked, but the drivers seat made a groaning sound part way through it's motion (was electric) and the electric steering wheel made a groaning creaking sound in the lower part of it's motion too.

Had wide-screen satnav and xenons, electric everything, rear sunblind, parallel alloys. The slightly tatty bodywork had already put me off it, as had the shiny steering wheel and lack of FMDSH. But what really made me walk away and not regret it was the mismatched tyres, had pirelli's on the front, which was fine, but had Hancook or something on the back, and they would need replacing before too long as well. I got the dealer to £5.7k from the £6k they were asking but I still thought that was too much for what it was, especially as it'd require about £900 to make it 'right' ...i.e. some bodyshop work and a full set of new premium tyres. So I walked away. I still want a 540i though, I feel I have to own one sometime.

Orange Peel: Good E39s are like gold dust now, good 540i Sports in particular are very, very rare, E46s are not, so you have a lot of choice and you will find a top notch one sooner or later.
 
Last edited:
Moeks said:
Orange Peel: Good E39s are like gold dust now, good 540i Sports in particular are very, very rare, E46s are not, so you have a lot of choice and you will find a top notch one sooner or later.
Click to expand...

Unless you are talking about 2004-2006 ones I'm not sure this is the case. There are certainly more E46's around but if anything the percentage of shabby ones is even higher. It's the default choice for somebody who wants a BEEMER INNIT which is a shame.
 
One odd thing I have noticed is that the handbrake seems to apply when I let off the brakes, its like there is a moments delay between me releasing the brakes and it engaging which feels a little odd.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom