BMW and M Power Owners

rare said:
12 grand for a 2003 car with 86k. What the heck. 8 sounds more realistic.
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8k is as unrealistic as 12k. If he put that up for £8k on autotrader it'd be gone within 30 minutes.

That car is well sorted in all areas with a very desirable colour combo to boot. It's worth about 10k.
 
That car is worth no more than 10k and the advert is pretty poor. If you're going to ask for top money then write a more informative advert and not come across as an arrogant prat.
 
Gaygle said:
I'd keep an eye on this. I don't think it is the airlock.
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I don't think it is either. I can't see how that would randomly happen for no reason. There is a fault at the centre that has either caused an airlock or been misdiagnosed as an airlock. It is a closed system, the level only drops and air only gets in if there is a fault somewhere.

It should never need airlocks resolving or the level topping up unless something else is wrong.
 
Gaygle said:
I'd keep an eye on this. I don't think it is the airlock. When my water pump needing replacing it would suddenly after about 10 miles of driving go from a steady 90c, to then feeling the air from the vents suddenly going cold and water temp steadily going up to around 120c followed by it then saying it was overheating. All I had to do was stop the engine and restart it and the temperature would suddenly fall back down to 90c and I'd be fine for the remainder of my journey, however long it was.

It's almost like the water pump would just suddenly stop, then when the engine had been restarted it would kick back to life and work fine again. Strange symptoms but fixed with a new water pump, which are common items to fail.
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Thanks for this, most appreciated.

Will keep an eye on fluid levels this week and also vents as you mention. Topped it up yesterday.

It was odd, I'd get the overheating/overheated error. Turn off and then back on again and it would drive fine immediately. I'd only driven a few miles on before reaching my destination both times but surely it can't have cooled significantly by pulling over and restarting in 20 seconds :confused:

I've only got short journeys until Friday evening where I've got a couple hundred miles to do over the bank holiday weekend so hopefully it behaves.

Can't fault the service from Emergency Service/Mondial Extended Warranty though :)
 
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Yep, just checked my coolant on my lunch despite refilling it this morning and it's dropped.

Turned it over and could see the pump working with the cap off but the radiator fan kicked in almost immediately :/

Edit: A bit of googling as also revealed I might have some contamination/carbon build up on the valves as I get some lumpy power delivery when pulling away semi-regularly and have noticed decreased economy recently too. Anyone experience similar with the N55?
 
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2 years is a reasonable amount of time to own a car for, I tend to get the itch to change after this amount of time, M3 or no M3 there's always something else out there.
 
Start a new job in a few weeks and have inherited a battered 58 plate Vectra 1.9CDTi (150bhp) Auto. It's on its way out, autobox not going to see out the year and will probably get around £1500ish for it part ex.

New job will be 16,000 miles per year commute, mainly 40-50mph A roads. Around 4k per year at weekends for personal use.

Am I stupid for looking at 12-13 year old, 120k+ mile, E46 320i/325i/330i's? Around the £2-3k mark as a replacement? I remember my 330ci getting high 30mpg on a run

I really miss my E46 coupe, but unsure how they are holding up with high mileage nowadays?
 
pepsilol said:
Depends how long the current owner has had it.

If he's had it for 3-4 years then it's ok.

Just saw the advert, wouldn't buy it as owner sounds like a douche however all M3 owners are so it's complicated. Honestly, who actually puts 'bruv' in their advert. What an embarrassment.
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To be fair to him, he doesent sound that much of a douche, more somebody who does not want the "innit bruv" types wasting his time......

The Boring Bits – I’m in a no rush to sell, I won’t entertain clowns offering stupid money. Ill give you 10K bruv blah blah. No Part ex’s either I have enough cars. It’s the only one for sale in the country with this spec and the piece of mind. Please don’t waste my time and I won’t waste yours.
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Given the wording of the advert, it seems pretty plain why in this instance he's put those words in.

Still, he wants too much for it and indeed comes across as something of a muppet!
 
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mr tommo said:
Start a new job in a few weeks and have inherited a battered 58 plate Vectra 1.9CDTi (150bhp) Auto. It's on its way out, autobox not going to see out the year and will probably get around £1500ish for it part ex.

New job will be 16,000 miles per year commute, mainly 40-50mph A roads. Around 4k per year at weekends for personal use.

Am I stupid for looking at 12-13 year old, 120k+ mile, E46 320i/325i/330i's? Around the £2-3k mark as a replacement? I remember my 330ci getting high 30mpg on a run

I really miss my E46 coupe, but unsure how they are holding up with high mileage nowadays?
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I think you'd be wiser to source a replacement 'box for the Vectra tbh (if indeed it needs a new box) The Vectra is far better suited to 20k pa useage, my old e46 325i Touring got high 30's on a run if driven like a saint,more spirited driving was more like 30 at best.

Bland as it undoubtedly is, I'd sort the Vectra, use it as the commute hack and perhaps find a 3 for the weekend.

The e46 will be the nicer to commute in bar when its off the road having inevitable faults put right, it will take the miles with ease so long as you can put up with it requiring work to do so, pretty much as the Vectra will albeit whilst being better on fuel.

The Vectra is already an ideal commuting hack, a 12+ yr old 120k+ e46 isn't really.

Yes, I have a ~15 year old 530i and commute in it but barely do 10k pa total mileage in the car so its age / mileage related issues - wheel bearings getting noisy for example - are not that much of an issue, I think were my mileage to double I'd change the car.
 
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So today my car goes in for a service and I notify them that the coolant is leaking.
They call back this morning informing me a faulty hose is the source but the leak has contaminated the clutch and gearbox and they will both need replacing.

Pretty happy it's still in warranty... Just :)
 
SDK^ said:
So today my car goes in for a service and I notify them that the coolant is leaking.
They call back this morning informing me a faulty hose is the source but the leak has contaminated the clutch and gearbox and they will both need replacing.

Pretty happy it's still in warranty... Just :)
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If you don't mind me asking, was there much equity in your 118i, assuming you PCP'd it?
 
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