BMW and M Power Owners

Cristian said:
That is a pretty high price for a pre LCI, non xenon, non M sport 320d. :(
The halogen headlights are incredibly poor, I would not touch a 3 series with them unless it was sold at a significant discount. This is not. With the announcement of the new 3 series, prices for the old ones are dropping quite a bit. You can get a sub 60k mile (for the cheaper warranty) well equipped 330d for that budget, so I would really try again!
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She’s got no need for a 330d and doesn’t like the ride of the M-Sport.

Cristian said:
2 quick examples. 330d, Estoril Blue as God intended :D , xenons, pro nav, HK sound... etc.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201810071265929?sort=price-asc&postcode=ec1a7aj&model=3 SERIES&maximum-mileage=60000&radius=1500&aggregatedTrim=330d&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&year-from=2013&make=BMW&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Saloon&page=4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201805056242778?year-from=2013&model=3 SERIES&radius=1500&advertising-location=at_cars&maximum-mileage=60000&aggregatedTrim=330d&body-type=Saloon&postcode=ec1a7aj&make=BMW&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&sort=price-asc&page=3

Yes, they are not "bmw approved used" but given that you can get the BMW warranty just as easily due to their low mileage, it would be rude not to make a bit of effort. You get so much more car for the momey...
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She wants 2015 or newer with sub 30k miles....
[TW]Fox said:
it is difficult to see how that car represents a good buy. The spec is very poor and the 3 Series isn't exactly hugely bigger in the back than the 1 Series?
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The spec is fine for her needs, she’s quite happy with it, what’s the glaring omission spec wise? It’s ultimately a school run and town runabout, she hardly needs what it’s already got tbh.

As for the space, it’s noticeably more comfortable in the back for me (6’3”) and the doors allow better access for her elderly parents (the principal reason to change)

It seems your insistence to always buy these cars locally means you end up with these poor spec cars. The BMW AUC site is national, there is a huge selection of cars out there.
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Always buy locally? I bought my e38 from Peterborough, her 118 she bought from Derby?

Anyway, she’s decided she’s not keen on the colour (a bit bland after the Valencia orange 1 Series) so that’s off the list.

@Fox, if you can find me a dream spec sub 30k mile £15-£16k AUC 2015> 320D Sport Auto then by all means please do so. :)
 
Getting a pre-facelift F30 320d for £16k does not seem like a financially wise decision.

The new model is coming out next year, so you're essentially dumping money into an N47 driven timing chain failure that will depreciate in value quicker than you think due to not being EURO6 compliant and being two generations behind.

Right now, an older average mileage 330d would be a much better choice. Otherwise, I'd suggest upping the budget to match whatever the facelifted 318d/320d with auto box are going for.
 
Mr Krugga said:
Getting a pre-facelift F30 320d for £16k does not seem like a financially wise decision.

The new model is coming out next year, so you're essentially dumping money into an N47 driven timing chain failure that will depreciate in value quicker than you think due to not being EURO6 compliant and being two generations behind.

Right now, an older average mileage 330d would be a much better choice. Otherwise, I'd suggest upping the budget to match whatever the facelifted 318d/320d with auto box are going for.
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I'd say 330d yes, absolutely, but, she dosent want nor need the extra power but its certainly the better engine, agreed.

As for the N47, I thought those issues had been resolved?

I'm trying to convince her that her parents can rough it in the 118 for the few weeks they are over, yes its small in the back but its a 5 door and not that impractical imo - her dad would be in the front anyway - , I don't particularly see why she should swap a car she loves for one she feels would suit them..

I'm ultimately facing the same logic @NVP is struggling with at the moment I guess! :D

Kenai said:
If it's just a runabout does it really need to be a diesel?
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No, absolutely not, but, she liked the way her old Focus diesel drove and indeed likes the 118d too, prefers diesel over petrol (the opposite of me).

I'm hoping she realises swapping a 65 plate for a 15 with 14k more miles and no service pack (which her 118 has) for an outlay of £2600 (which is the final offer on the table to change) isn't really a good move although I must say we both vastly prefer how the 320d auto drives - its a pity she didn't look at auto's when she bought her 118, the auto box is excellent.
 
[TW]Fox said:
If all you want is a runabout to the point that spec doesn't matter then why a BMW? You'll get much more for your money elsewhere.
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Spec matters to a degree but arguably she doesn’t need very much over what’s standard, pro Nav over business for example, she’s fine with business with her current car, does she need leather? no, but it’s nice to have, same goes for heated seats on cold mornings etc etc etc.

Why a BMW? For the same reason you have yours I’d imagine - she likes them. :)
 
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Scania said:
Spec matters to a degree but arguably she doesn’t need very much over what’s standard, pro Nav over business for example, she’s fine with business with her current car, does she need leather? no, but it’s nice to have, same goes for heated seats on cold mornings etc etc etc.

Why a BMW? For the same reason you have yours I’d imagine - she likes them. :)
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For the weeks that the parents are over, your partner should drive your E38, and you "rough it" with the 1 Series :)
 
wingman said:
For the weeks that the parents are over, your partner should drive your E38, and you "rough it" with the 1 Series :)
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That would be the logical* solution of course, she likes driving it but isn’t so keen on its ~22mpg.

I’m more than happy to drive the 118 - it’s a hoot especially in the wet. :)

*Women eh? :p :D
 
As far as wifes and cars go I’ve learned that it’s just easier to get what they think they want, even down to the colour. Have always done this on the basis that I’ll hardly ever drive her car any way.

For my wife buying a car is no different to buying a fridge/freezer or a washing machine, yes she likes the price and colour.
 
IAmATeaf said:
As far as wifes and cars go I’ve learned that it’s just easier to get what they think they want, even down to the colour. Have always done this on the basis that I’ll hardly ever drive her car any way.

For my wife buying a car is no different to buying a fridge/freezer or a washing machine, yes she likes the price and colour.
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100% this.

Nothing else matters.

We skirted around the idea of the most sensible car, the best car for our needs, the most practical, and, finally, the brass tax question - "What car is it that you actually want? No BS answer as to why a Fiesta makes sense or an Ibiza looks alright. Just tell me what you bloody want!"

"A Mini, they're cute and I love them".

So I went away with this knowledge and a few weeks later we had a Mini on the drive.

Don't bring logic into this emotional equation, gents.
 
wingman said:
100% this.

Nothing else matters.

We skirted around the idea of the most sensible car, the best car for our needs, the most practical, and, finally, the brass tax question - "What car is it that you actually want? No BS answer as to why a Fiesta makes sense or an Ibiza looks alright. Just tell me what you bloody want!"

"A Mini, they're cute and I love them".

So I went away with this knowledge and a few weeks later we had a Mini on the drive.

Don't bring logic into this emotional equation, gents.
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Sounds just like my wife.

With her current car it was "I want a Yaris in this colour", found one at a dealer in Oxford, so drove her all the way to look at, I test drove it but she refused on the basis that she didn't need to as she liked it!

With her previous car which was a Civic, showed her a clean example but it was green, she was convinced it was a different model and that I was trying to pull the wool over her eyes, ended up getting a black one as that was what she was after. Have to admit for town runabouts both the Civic and current Yaris are sort of perfect so maybe there is some semblance of logic mixed in with the madness?

When you compare that to me, previous Accord took me around 6 months to find the "perfect" example, with my current 3 series took me well over a year. She sat there doing google searches with "there's loads out there why can't you just pick one?"
 
She was happy for us to spend months working out the best possible way of getting what she wanted in the spec that was right, you can't assume everyone is the same :p
 
So I had a yellow engine light on my 530D, nothing on the iDrive. Car was driving normally, not in limp-home mode or anything.

Local specialist I've used for a few years said it looked like a carbon build up that would need some EGR valve replacement and some other part and they estimated £1700

I got a second opinion from another garage, and all the computer said when he plugged it in was that the air intake was higher than normal, but everything else related to it was nominal. He said it's most likely a faulty sensor as they started using a more sensitive one in 2011 and has cleared the fault FOC.

I'll be ****** off if the other place was just trying to rip me off, as far as I know they have a decent rep - All 5 star reviews on Honest John and 30x 5 Star reviews on Google.
 
VincentHanna said:
So I had a yellow engine light on my 530D, nothing on the iDrive. Car was driving normally, not in limp-home mode or anything.

Local specialist I've used for a few years said it looked like a carbon build up that would need some EGR valve replacement and some other part and they estimated £1700

I got a second opinion from another garage, and all the computer said when he plugged it in was that the air intake was higher than normal, but everything else related to it was nominal. He said it's most likely a faulty sensor as they started using a more sensitive one in 2011 and has cleared the fault FOC.

I'll be ****** off if the other place was just trying to rip me off, as far as I know they have a decent rep - All 5 star reviews on Honest John and 30x 5 Star reviews on Google.
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this is where have carly for bmw comes in handy well worth the money.
 
My bmw is rocking up to 60k miles but isn't out of 3 years till March coming.

Phoned up BMW extended warranty services and they can't extend till it reaches 3 years so if it breaks down between now and then its not covered until I renew it in March. They can't extend till 3 years... Makes no sense.

She suggests phoning the dealer which i'm going to do but how bonkers is that!

I've got a new one coming for early January but wanted to keep this one protected till then at least.
 
VincentHanna said:
So I had a yellow engine light on my 530D, nothing on the iDrive. Car was driving normally, not in limp-home mode or anything.

Local specialist I've used for a few years said it looked like a carbon build up that would need some EGR valve replacement and some other part and they estimated £1700

I got a second opinion from another garage, and all the computer said when he plugged it in was that the air intake was higher than normal, but everything else related to it was nominal. He said it's most likely a faulty sensor as they started using a more sensitive one in 2011 and has cleared the fault FOC.

I'll be ****** off if the other place was just trying to rip me off, as far as I know they have a decent rep - All 5 star reviews on Honest John and 30x 5 Star reviews on Google.
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I had similar in my 640d. Same sort if behaviour. Bmw replaced the full valve under warranty. Cost came to less than 1k though.
 
Might either be the valve or the EGR cooler, which is prone to cracking and leaking smoke. Take the engine cover off and look at in from the front of the car (it's in the front/top part of the engine sitting diagonally in here) If you see traces of smoke on the back of it (usually cracks on the rear pipe where it's bent) then it needs replacing.

Mine cracked on my old F30 330D. I was looking at a £800 replacement part until I had a quick look on Ebay and found quite a few taken off 20-30k mileage cars (part number is the same for both N47 & N57 engines, so basically ALL diesel BMW's from the era) for a smidge over £100 (including EGR valve). It was a pretty easy decision. :D

Carly is indeed golden for all BMW owners.
 
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