![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Even badly looked after examples can look good on the surface because they are so well built. Look for the key signs that its been owned by a cheapskate - no-name mismatched tyres, patchy history or stamps from Bobs Motors, etc.
advice when looking at a 2002 530i
- Thread starter ca9phoenix
- Start date
Even badly looked after examples can look good on the surface because they are so well built. Look for the key signs that its been owned by a cheapskate - no-name mismatched tyres, patchy history or stamps from Bobs Motors, etc.
hay my focus is well looked after but has 4x budget tyres and plenty of stamps from bobs motors!
that's what happens when your wife has full control of the servicing and maintenance of her own car!
my SEAT always had 4x AVONS (OK so not premium but i liked the characteristics) and stamps from my local independent.
any rattle and clunks specifically to listen out for that might give me an indication that it's going to set on fire when i drive it away or that the wheels are likely to fall off.
or is it just the standard check the suspension, breaks no noise under acceleration and nothing out of the ordinary?
that's what happens when your wife has full control of the servicing and maintenance of her own car!
my SEAT always had 4x AVONS (OK so not premium but i liked the characteristics) and stamps from my local independent.
any rattle and clunks specifically to listen out for that might give me an indication that it's going to set on fire when i drive it away or that the wheels are likely to fall off.
or is it just the standard check the suspension, breaks no noise under acceleration and nothing out of the ordinary?
He said he wants to keep it for 4 years.
Taking a punt is all very well when you are a loaded car salesman who can simply palm it off in the trade if it turns into a pit of money. When you are a private buyer buying a car for yourself if you buy it and it explodes into a pile of bolts you are left stuck with a car you cant easily get rid of without losing a pile of cash.
Taking a punt is the sort of thing you do when you can afford to lose whatever you take a punt with.
Your Focus isn't a 5 Series though
Have a read of the post I linked to in my reply - I wrote a huge guide a few years back
I'm not one to buy something new every year. the lease car is replaced every 3 years, my car whenever I'm ready to move on.
the seat (i liked it even with its faults) lasted 4 years,
the focus ( i hate it even though there's nothing wrong with it) 4 months
the seat (i liked it even with its faults) lasted 4 years,
the focus ( i hate it even though there's nothing wrong with it) 4 months
Soldato
[TW]Fox;17478012 said:
My point is, this £3k car could prove to be more reliable than the £5k car with this type of car at this kind of budget.
We sold a 02 Plate 530i Sport Auto with Nav - done 100k miles for £3995, the guy who bought it stuck it on eBay for £4995 and he was a private buyer!
The car might be worth £4995 but I'm not greedy and I don't like stock hanging around forever so I was happy getting £3995 for it and making my wage on it, the fact that it is now £1000 more expensive doesn't make it a better car!
thanks FOX i'd missed that link,
just printed it for a propper read in the morning. it's a bit too comprehensive for this time of night
thanks for all the advice and guidance as always. i might get lucky but i highly doubt it.
oh and keep an eye out for my kitchen build log thread starting soon and imagine what i could have bought with the money!
just printed it for a propper read in the morning. it's a bit too comprehensive for this time of night
thanks for all the advice and guidance as always. i might get lucky but i highly doubt it.
oh and keep an eye out for my kitchen build log thread starting soon and imagine what i could have bought with the money!
Please do not waste your money on an ill perceived bargain. My housemate bought a 7 year old £3k mondeo diesel of good spec with reasonable mileage and service history 6 months ago. You might think "That's a lot of car for the money, good show" but it has pained me to watch him almost have to spend that again on things that have broken and gone wrong. No matter how well it looked when he bought it or how well it drove there was no accounting for it falling off of the rails just due to age*. And just think the servicing costs (as testified by a 530i owner no less) will be on another level just due to the car it is.
You appear to be letting your heart do the leading on this one, do yourself a favour and before you run a risk on flushing £3000.00 down the toilet take an objective step back and think how much that money could get you if spent on other things. Failing that, put the 3k towards a better value and lower running cost car (it can be done while still being interesting!)
*Yes I know this isn't a thread about diesel mondeos, but quite often the bargains you think you are buying are the complete opposite when two years down the line the car is worth as much as a king sized mars bar yet you've somehow managed to spank the cost of the car again just on keeping it working
You appear to be letting your heart do the leading on this one, do yourself a favour and before you run a risk on flushing £3000.00 down the toilet take an objective step back and think how much that money could get you if spent on other things. Failing that, put the 3k towards a better value and lower running cost car (it can be done while still being interesting!)
*Yes I know this isn't a thread about diesel mondeos, but quite often the bargains you think you are buying are the complete opposite when two years down the line the car is worth as much as a king sized mars bar yet you've somehow managed to spank the cost of the car again just on keeping it working
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Soldato
[TW]Fox;17478078 said:
Yeah but he's looking at a manual and I would imagine without nav, and I'd guess it's probably done quite a bit more than 100k.
E39s go through trade for peanuts these days, I paid £1000 for a 99 528i SE Auto with 92k on it for example 2 owner, history, leather and a decent spec!
So for dealers selling these type of cars, they are only interested in making their margin and not bothered what the car could potentially fetch!
Permabanned
[TW]Fox;17478050 said:
Or wait and buy your one.
Soldato
[TW]Fox;17478158 said:True but then prefacelift E39's really are unloved these days so I'm not suprised. You wouldnt have got a facelift Sport for that as you well know
I can probably go and buy tired looking X/Y Poss even a 51 Facelift Sport for around £1800 - £2500 with significantly over a 100k miles and 3+ owners.
That 02 which was a nice car was less than £3k!
Permabanned
3k to you in the trade, not 3k retailed to this chap.
Soldato
That's true, this particular car I bought from BCA in Newcastle.
And any old Joe could have bought it!
Permabanned
Thats true.
Im not saying they aint out there but i think the good ones are getting thinner on the ground.
This. If I was old enough I would defiantly have it of you Fox.
Absolutely you could - and then you'd punt it out at 2995 for a quick sale. Which I would imagine is exactly the story with this one
Its just my opinion that this sort of car should be left to other people and that you should go for a nice one
Soldato
[TW]Fox;17478306 said:Absolutely you could - and then you'd punt it out at 2995 for a quick sale. Which I would imagine is exactly the story with this one
Its just my opinion that this sort of car should be left to other people and that you should go for a nice one
Yes but it doesn't make it a bad motor or a money pit!
My advice is make sure everything works, no unusual noises - no matter how small! And make sure car drives smooth and straight.