BMW and M Power Owners

Looking at getting a new car and have decided to up my budget to around 5.5K.

From my previous thread, I have viewed both a Saab 9-3 and a A4 Avant. I wasn't a fan of the Saab and the A4 was a bit of a mess inside.

I am considering BMW after spending some time in a friends, something like this:

BMW 3 Series 2.0 320i M Sport 5dr

Whilst I have been pretty set on getting an Estate I am starting to think that maybe a Saloon size car will be adequte for my needs.

BMW 3 SERIES 2.0 318d SE 4dr

Are the cars I have selected a reasonable price and reliable? I am presuming the running costs would be that similar to an Audi? Is there certain models or engines I should be avoiding?
 
olv said:
You're right, no idea why I was thinking 14.

Have you had any positive news on yours yet?
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On the head gasket? Yep they did 2 compression tests (hot and cold) and it's fine so now they believe it to be the valve timing. I've left it with them as I'm not in a rush to get it back and hopefully they'll get round to it this week. I still have a list as long as my arm but can't wait to get it done. Brakes and suspension will be next.
 
lynchy6789 said:
Is considering a 10+ year old BMW a bad choice then? Really like the look of the 320i touring.
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It depends why you are considering it.

Because you are an enthusiast and want one and don't mind tinkering with it and feel the additional risk is outweighed by the enjoyment of owning it? Not a bad choice.

Because you want reliable, dependable and economical transport with a posh badge? A bad choice.

I really don't understand who buys stuff like old 320i's. They have no appeal to the sort of people who can justify an old BMW, that one you've posted hardly looks worth the effort really, it's a base spec 3 Series with a not-particularly-great 4 pot petrol engine in it.

I had a 320i for 8 weeks from new as a loan car back in 2006 - so exactly the same model - it was barely any more economical than my 530i was at the time.
 
Glad I bought the OEM discs when I did for £579 from Ocean BMW. They're currently up from that price at £610!
 
Loving the 330d!!! What a car!

Few things, the LED's I got for the angel eyes of my mate don't fit. So I'll have to source some. But after seeing the 40w on a X5. I've 100% decided to go for 20w, 40w is just way too much so I'm glad my mates didn't fit in a way.

The engine pulls like a train, so, for the moment, the mapping has been postponed until next year. I'll probably get it done in 1 year. I'll appreciate the jump more then.

The body, upon closer inspection is damn good. A couple of scratches down to primer (white), nothing insane, maybe 3 in total? All of which an inch or few. Also, little dents (size of a penny) from carparks. 3 on rear driver side and 1 on rear passenger side.

So I'll call a body specialist to come out and sort them dents and scratches out.

Ummm, what else... Fuel, been booting it here and there, but so far just gone below 3 quarters of a tank. Filled it up the moment I got it and have done around 150 miles. So not too bad! Getting 35mpg around town and about 45-50mpg on the motorways. VERY happy with that. Again, figures might be a bit unrealistic as reported from the onboard computer. I'll calculate once I've filled it back up again.

Over all, very, very, very happy with the car.

One question, is there anyway to select side lights to be on all the time when in auto mode without also engaging low beams? Can't see the option on the PC.
 
agnes said:
One question, is there anyway to select side lights to be on all the time when in auto mode without also engaging low beams? Can't see the option on the PC.
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Don't think so - you'd probably need to wire them to a switched live. Whic h then creates the obvious problem of not being able to turn them off easily. If the facelift or coupe can do it there's a possibility it is controlled through the actual switch - if so you could probably code one to the car
 
You can enable them as daytime running lights via coding. I have a dongle and app that can enable this if you're local, otherwise at the next meet :p
 
mrk said:
You can enable them as daytime running lights via coding. I have a dongle and app that can enable this if you're local, otherwise at the next meet :p
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I live in a tiny little town called Waltham St Lawrence, it has a Post Office open on Wednesday, 1200-1500 run by 2 old ladies who never actually post anything. And 1 pub.

BUT, the pub has some damn fine ales :D

Ummm, but yea, Berkshire. If your around the area, I'd trade beers/beer tokens for the time.
 
'Pulls like a train' is one of the most annoying diesel comments in the universe.

A train pulls heavy loads and takes several minutes to get up to cruising speed.

If your 330d pulls like this book it in to be fixed :p
 
Odd, for some reason I thought the LCU had something to do with it on the earlier cars and couldn't deal with/wouldn't leave them being permanently on
 
There's an option for it even on the E46 coding even though the E46 doesn't have angel eyes, and as we never got the side strips on the bumpers for DRL use like the USA, it simply uses the sidelights for us. The angel eye cars would just use the angel eyes instead really.

I've never enabled it on such a car though so it might actually "do" something different to what is assumed from the name of the setting :p
 
What are a BMW bodyshop going to charge me to get a slight dent out of the front bumper, it's minor but noticeable. Just a rough idea?
 
Only they can quote you after seeing the car itself, any posts here will be a vague guess at best. It might cost £100. It might cost £600!

We need to see a pic either way so anyone who has had similar work done can post their quote.
 
Here:

YKRUtSAl.jpg


I don't think it looks too bad, but it is on the edge so may create problems?
 
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