Age or specification?

I'd say it would also depend on how long you plan on keeping the car, more than a few years then I'd go for the older, higher spec and retro fit the bits you want to. However would this affect premiums or is the sport just a name to the insurers?

ninja edit: Just seen you've addressed the insurance part :)
 
The mods are not dead and are coverd as you advise the insurance that you had them fitted and they are geniune parts whitch where available when your car was bought, trust me i had a long conversation with insurance about it.
 
I'd like to keep it until I can afford an M5 - so it'll be here for quite some time :p

Thats another concern though - it'll be quite an old car soon :( If I buy, say, something on an S plate and keep it for 5 years at some point I'll have a car thats 13 years old. Eeek.

Whereas if I stick with a nice 01/02...
 
Depends on what I wanted from a car. The first point would be available budget, then the primary requirements (e.g. fun or economical). Personally I'd always take reliability and running costs into account.
In the example of a well specced barge, I'd have concerns about the number of things that can go wrong (and sometimes do in a very expensive way).

So for me, I'd rather have a simpler car (less to go wrong) and would chose by default the newer version.
 
Age doesnt come into it for me either, its all about the condition and specification.

For me i'd do whatever is cheaper in order to get the car that you want. For me i'd be an absolutely fully loaded prefacelift 540i SE with the M5 kit and exhausts added on.
 
[TW]Fox said:
Thats another concern though - it'll be quite an old car soon :( If I buy, say, something on an S plate and keep it for 5 years at some point I'll have a car thats 13 years old. Eeek.
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And provided that you actually maintain it rather than making a half-hearted attempt at regular servicing it'll still be going strong on that 13th birthday. Age isn't an issue for a properly-maintained car as you well know :)
 
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I basically have an overall budget of up to £10.5k to:

a) Buy the car
b) Perform any modifications needed, if any
c) Insure the car

So it's just a case of the best way to do it. Spend the full whack on a car I can just leave alone, or spend half and add bits and have some spare cash, or... I dunno really.

Got until May to make my mind up :p
 
[TW]Fox said:
I basically have an overall budget of up to £10.5k to:

a) Buy the car
b) Perform any modifications needed, if any
c) Insure the car

So it's just a case of the best way to do it. Spend the full whack on a car I can just leave alone, or spend half and add bits and have some spare cash, or... I dunno really.

Got until May to make my mind up :p
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If your in a position to be able to buy the car you want, you might as well just buy it :)
 
great advice said:
If your in a position to be able to buy the car you want, you might as well just buy it :)
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Yes thats the point at this stage I cannot decide what I want, a newish 530i or an older 528/540 :p
 
Why not save some money in running costs and get a nice 1.2 corsa, there is a bargain here for your budget of £10500 :)

media

2005 55 Reg Vauxhall CORSA 1248 cc SXi 1248cc 3 door,
Manual, Hatchback, Diesel, 6,000 miles, Black, 1 Owner(s), Air conditioning, ABS, Driver airbag, Passenger airbag, Alloy wheels, Power steering, CD player, Central locking, Electric front windows. £10,499.

You might even get it for £10000 flat if you ask nicely gicing you your insurance budget.
 
I would LOVE a car like that Jez and whilst it would be perfect for getting me to lectures in my final year, that is too pricey and leaves only £1 left to insure it :(
 
If you haggle hard you might save enough to insure it, and just think how nippy a car like that'd be compared with a big slow old mans car like a 540i :)
 
Age over high spec for me - or at least facelife over high spec. A 530 Sport facelift should come with pretty much everything you'll ever need. Plus any satnav in the post face-lift will be naff and need an upgraded Screen and Nav computer.
 
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media


Golf GTI 2.0. 3 Doors, Manual, Hatchback, Petrol, 29,296 miles, Reflex Silver, Anti-lock brakes,Driver/passenger seat height adjustment,Driver, passenger and side air bags,Remote control alarm,15in alloy wheels,Remote central door locking,Climate control,Computer,Electric/heated door mirrors,Front armrest,Front electric windows,Front/rear head restraints,Power-assisted steering,Radio/cassette/cd,Electronic stability programme,Rake/reach adjustable steering column/wheel,Immobiliser,Front fog lights,interwoven velour interior. £10,495.



Job done :D
 
Go for the older 528i.

Ensure its a one owner car with a full & detailed BMW Service history.

Check the engine block was replaced, if its old enough to be affected by the bore problems common to the M52 engine, although this should have happened via BMW's service schedule and under warranty, years back.

Door seals go on e39's (my old mans car has had 3 sets) the aircon should be icy cold, be VERY wary if your car mists up when the recirculate button on the A/C is pressed, this is 9 times out of 10, a shafted heater matrix and is seriously expensive to fix.

I looked at numerous £10k e38's when I was looking for my car equally, I looked at quite a few that were well under the £5k + p/ex that I eventually paid.

I don't regret the older & cheaper car at all, but make no mistake , the e38 or e39 2.8's are NOT cheap to run.

Happy shopping mate. :)
 
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