Buying a 10 year old BMW 123d?

FL630

FL630

FL630

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Am I mad?

I've found a 123d (The engine I was lead to believe was the "one to get") in the right spec, colour, miles and price.

I used to have an excellent X-reg e46 320ci which I sold 18 months ago which, apart from a new water pump, was an excellent car, but I also only paid £1700 for it.

Would I be stupid to buy a 10 year old 1 series?

This is the one: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classi...l&maximum-mileage=80000&model=1 SERIES&page=2
 
The right spec? It has pretty much no spec?

Looks like all it has is heated seats and leather.

I am struggling to understand why you'd want to buy that.
 
[TW]Fox said:
The right spec? It has pretty much no spec?

Looks like all it has is heated seats and leather.

I am struggling to understand why you'd want to buy that.
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The right spec, sorry, I mean 123d, coupe, m sport, nice wheels, colour. I'm not worried about a huge amount of equipment levels, at this price point what car realistically does?
 
the 2.0 litre diesel engines from around that year are well known for timing chains issues even on low mile cars and it isnt cheap to fix, it would be worth googling the issue before buying as it seems quite common.
 
Wow 7.8k on a near 11yr old 1 series :eek: I could think of better cars to spend that kind of money on. What is it about the 1 series coupe that meets your requirements?
 
Dav4 said:
Wow 7.8k on a near 11yr old 1 series :eek: I could think of better cars to spend that kind of money on. What is it about the 1 series coupe that meets your requirements?
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I'm just a fan of them. It does seem expensive, but I'm unsure what else to get, I don't mind age of a car so long as they're reliable. My dream would be an M2, but I'm a few years off one of those!

BurningHorizons said:
130i hatch or 125i/135i coupe would be my choice. Avoid the derv. (used to own a 130i. still miss it.) :(
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Point taken, I do prefer petrol, but from what I've read the *23d engine was superb.

If anyone has recommendations of cars around this price point I'd happily take some pointers!
 
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FL630 said:
I'm just a fan of them. It does seem expensive, but I'm unsure what else to get, I don't mind age of a car so long as they're reliable. My dream would be an M2, but I'm a few years off one of those!



Point taken, I do prefer petrol, but from what I've read the *23d engine was superb.

If anyone has recommendations of cars around this price point I'd happily take some pointers!
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Imo the 3 series Coupe is nicer looking and seems a better buy there are a few 2008 3.0 325i’s on AT with similar mileage for 6k ish not sure why the 1 series Coupe commands such a Premium.
You could also get a low mileage 2008 Audi TT 2.0T, Audi A5 Coupe if you up your budget slightly. Or if petrol consumption and insurance is not a issue Nissan350z if your after sporty coupe’s
 
Dav4 said:
Imo the 3 series Coupe is nicer looking and seems a better buy there are a few 2008 3.0 325i’s on AT with similar mileage for 6k ish not sure why the 1 series Coupe commands such a Premium.
You could also get a low mileage 2008 Audi TT 2.0T, Audi A5 Coupe if you up your budget slightly. Or if petrol consumption and insurance is not a issue Nissan350z if your after sporty coupe’s
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I thoroughly agree the 3 series coupe is a looker. This is only a mile down the road, looks in good nick but you're still paying 7.5k for a 11 year old car. The value is only going to fall through the floor in the next year or two. I'd also be worried about repairs to the auto box if it were to go to pot.

Could also get a 10 plate Megane RS250 for £7,500 with 60k on the clock, if I knocked £500 as I'll be paying cash, throw that into a remap and I could have a 300hp pocket rocket, if a little unrefined. I could keep this and use it as a track car in the future when I finally am able to buy a proper car potentially too.

Cant say I'm an Audi fan so couldn't see myself in an A5 or TT. Nissan 350z isn't my thing either.
 
Don't bother with the 123D and just get a 130i from the era if you must. The 123D has a better power delivery than the 120D as the gearing ratio is much better than the 120D and doesn't rev as hard in higher gear but like others said nothing special. The 130i is a brilliant engine from that era as drives well. I've had all 3 in the past and know what I'll have again and it ain't the diesels!
 
FL630 said:
This is only a mile down the road, looks in good nick but you're still paying 7.5k for a 11 year old car. The value is only going to fall through the floor in the next year or two. I'd also be worried about repairs to the auto box if it were to go to pot.
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I don't think it'd fall through the floor at all - a nice, low mileage E46 is still £4-5k, and they're an entire generation older than that car. The auto box isn't known to be particularly unreliable either. I don't like the black wheels or grey interior but that's just personal preference: it looks to be a decent example otherwise.
 
If I was going to buy an "old" 1 series I'd either pay a good wad wnd get a 135 (hoping it'd it'd retain its value) or pick up a cheap, semi decent 130i.

The 123d is a bit forgotten about and based on a relatively fragile engine.

If you really have to have one make sure you get a car with xenons and idrive - you may not care too much about them but the car will stand out come resale
 
Joe T said:
That's hardly a balanced comment is it? It's quite a long way from a 116d!
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It's the same engine as a 116d just with an additional turbocharger and a higher state of tune. Given that the downsides of the 123d are not really about it's outright performance then I'd say it's not at all a long way from a 116d.
 
The engine choice really depends on what the car is going to be used for. There is no point getting a 3 litre 6 cyl car for commuting and sitting in traffic all week.
 
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