330i/530i Owners - Your Running Costs Please

Simmy

Simmy

Simmy

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I'm looking at 2001/2002 330i/530i Sports with 60-80k miles for around £6k. I've seen a few nice looking example on Autotrader, but I've heard several reviews saying they are expensive to service and maintain. Servicing costs don't actually sound that bad having searched around.

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...08&channel=CARS&adcategory=&largeId=880544387http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...hicleYearOfManufacture=2001&vehicleRegLetter= - Something like this is what I would aim for. Insurance on the Passat runs out in May, so I would look to buy in a couple of months. I don't suppose that one will be around for that long :p

Can you x30 owners please give me an idea of your yearly running costs and how much it has cost you in total to own the car?

The figures I have so far are as follows;

Car - £6000
Insurance - £370 fully comp
Tax - £210
Full Service - £180-200
MOT - £50
Maintenance - ??
Tyres - £100 per corner?

Some real life examples of things that have gone wrong would give me an idea of yearly maintenance costs. I live within 5 miles of Beemer-Redeemer in Keynsham, Bristol who I have heard are very reasonable for parts and servicing.

The above costs are roughly what I'm paying for my Passat now (infact servicing on the Passat is slightly more).
 
Cheers - hadn't spotted that :)

Other examples also welcome.

FAO Fox - How many miles have you done on £900 worth of tyres?
 
Just under 30k miles, although its a bit misleading as I replaced the wheels hence another set of tyres, although I waited until the rears needed replacing anyway so I only 'wasted' half a set of fronts.

Budget £500-750 a year for unexpected costs and you'll be fine IMHO. They are getting harder to buy now, they are getting older and owned by more and more moronic owners so finding a proper minter is a bit like finding a needle in a haystack. The newest 530i's Sport's are now 6 years old and they are at the stage where even an 'average miler' has had 6 years of doing 12k a year around town and whatnot so will still need bits replacing etc.
 
I've spent ~£800 in 8 months on service and repairs on my 2001 330ci. The car cost £5k.

The price of parts isn't actually bad and labour at an indie is reasonable.

I've averaged 30mpg since I got the car
 
My 330i sport needed the radiator and engine cooling replaced @600 quid, and I got the wheels refurbed for about £300. One of the wheels had a crack that needed to be welded, but also they all look nicer now :)

Other than that, I had Eagle F1s fitted @£130 a corner.
 
Do it.

If that's where you've arrived in your research in what to buy then I say go for it.
530 Sport or a 330 Sport is very hard to beat as an all rounder.

I'd like to wind Fox up that it's underpowered but in truth it's more than adequate.
 
I've owned mine for two years now and had an oil service and a mid-level service. The only thing that's failed has been the power steering pump. In addition I had my 18" alloys brought upto scratch as they were looking a bit shabby when I bought the car. In cost terms (over 20k miles):
- Oil service, £110
- Mid-level service, £250
- Power steering pump replacement, £600
- Alloy wheel refurb @ £60 per corner
- Fuel consumption has averaged around 25mpg, but is dependant upon use. Nearly 30mpg on long runs, 20mpg in town
- Tyres (Falken 452s) are £100 each for the fronts, £125 each for the rears

Overall I think the running costs are pretty good for a 3ltr auto that will do 150mph.
 
had mine for 9 month, convered exactly 15k miles in that time. It's had 4x rears and 2x fronts in that time, £750 total, probably about £300 in oil including the oil service which was otherwise £60, and a replacement wheel speed sensor @ £170 inc fitting.....so running costs of ~£1280 over 15k miles.

Average of about 24mpg.

EDIT: 330i sport, 02 plate, 125k on the clock and it's been fantastic bar being a tad oil thirsty!
 
rG-tom said:
had mine for 9 month, convered exactly 15k miles in that time. It's had 4x rears and 2x fronts in that time, £750 total, probably about £300 in oil including the oil service which was otherwise £60, and a replacement wheel speed sensor @ £170 inc fitting.....so running costs of ~£1280 over 15k miles.

Average of about 24mpg.

EDIT: 330i sport, 02 plate, 125k on the clock and it's been fantastic bar being a tad oil thirsty!
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4x Rears and 2 x fronts in 15K??? what the heck are you doing to the poor thing ;)

I didn't kill the front on my 330d and still had a fair amount of tread on the rears after 20K
 
Cheers for the replies. I'm surprised there are no outrageous costs (apart from the 4 rear in 14k!). £600 for power steering seems a bit steep - is that mostly labour costs or is the part a wedge of money too?
 
Simmy said:
Cheers for the replies. I'm surprised there are no outrageous costs (apart from the 4 rear in 14k!). £600 for power steering seems a bit steep - is that mostly labour costs or is the part a wedge of money too?
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The pump alone was £350. Thinking about it, I believe the final price was actually closer to £500.
 
Simmy said:
Cheers for the replies. I'm surprised there are no outrageous costs (apart from the 4 rear in 14k!). £600 for power steering seems a bit steep - is that mostly labour costs or is the part a wedge of money too?
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You can pay what you want to replace things like this, a power steering pump is 200 quid from gsf for example, add 2 hours max labour and its only a £300 bill. Main dealer's obviously will fleece you for more, but it depends on how much you value the service history and convenience.

4 rear tyres in 14k is obscene, dont worry about that kind of wear rates.
 
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