Considering Car Change - How much Should i Pay for this?

gamesaregood

gamesaregood

gamesaregood

Soldato
Joined
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Suffolk
Hello Everyone,

I'm hoping to change my car soon and have been looking around. I have spotted a BMW 318 SE Saloon which i like the look of and would like your opinions as to how much you think i should be paying for it and if its priced fairly.

Here are some details of the car in question:

Manufacturer: BMW
Model: 318I SE
Model Year: 2000
Mileage: 84,000
Date of 1st Registration: 31 Mar 2000 (W Reg)
Colour: Silver
Transmission: Manual
Number of Previous Owners: 2
Engine Size: 1,895 cc
MOT Expiry Date: September 2007
Road Tax (MM/YYYY): Dec 2006

Alarm, Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS), Driver Airbag, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Immobiliser, Passenger Airbag, Rear seat belts, Safety Belt Pretensioners, Side Airbags, Air Conditioning, Auxiliary heating, Climate Control, Power-assisted Steering (PAS), Power Locks, Power Windows, Tilt Steering Wheel, Alloy Wheels, Catalytic Converter, Rear Spoiler

Service History:
BMW service to 62,000
Due a Service in 8,000 Miles But None between 62,000 to present.

I currently Drive a 2001(51) Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 5 Door with 56,500 on the Clock.

Thanks,

Michael
 
Its not been serviced in 22,000 miles? Is that normal? Im sure there are plenty of 318's around. I would be looking for one with a FULL history.
 
Rich said:
Its not been serviced in 22,000 miles? Is that normal? Im sure there are plenty of 318's around. I would be looking for one with a FULL history.
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As far as i understand it has been serviced but the History is not supplied... the seller has said its due a service in 8,000 miles which i would presume is what the lights are saying?
 
To give you a rough idea, my mum bought the same car only 6 months older and with about 12k more miles. She paid £5k from a dealer (non-BMW) and the car had a full BMW history up until about 60k, with a full specialist history after that.

On that basis I'd have a very rough guess at around £5500. I'd find one with a full history though, there are hundreds of them to choose from.

Or, if you could add a couple of hundred quid to that, have a look for a 320i SE. The same car only with a much more potent straight 6 engine. The 318 is decent enough for normal everyday driving conditions but it lacks enough power to be satisfying. The 320i is a much nicer compromise.
 
If he doesn't have any service history, you may be able to track some of it down if you phone BMW armed with the reg plate and VIN number.
 
There are loads of these knocking around for about £5k - £5.5k, most with FBMWSH. You hardly need to buy the first one you see. Take your time and find a good one in the best mechanical condition you can get because its not going to be the purchase price that going to cause you problems......


2001 BMW 3 SERIES 318i SE 4dr Saloon
Price:
£4,950
* SILVER
* Petrol
* 4 Door Saloon
* X reg (2001)
media

Manual, X Registration Mettalic, Silver, Fully Colour Coded, Front Fogs, Up-graded 17" Original BMW Alloys, Parking Sensors, Rain Sensors, Bi-Xenon Head Lights, Up-graded Clear Light Clusters, Original BMW Tool Kit & First Aid Kit, BMW Anti-theft Alarm System, 4 X Electric Windows, Electric Heated Mirrors, On-board Computer, Drivers Centre Armrest, Multiple Airbags, Multi-function Steering Wheel, Cruise Control, Air Conditioning With Digital Climate Control, ABS, Traction Control, BMW Business Sound System With 6 CD Changer, 1 Previous Owner, 80,000 With FSH, Years MOT & TAX, Looks And Drives As New, Immaculate Condition Inside Out, Truly A Fine Example!. £4,950. ono
 
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[TW]Fox said:
2.0 16v engine..

That one Davidstone has found looks very well specified and keenly priced.
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Yep, Im quite shocked at that. Its very well priced. Lot of car for the money (even though its underpowered).
 
That's a very good find above for £5k.

Nothing wrong with a 318 - they still push out 140bhp. They're not underpowered, they just seem it compared to the rest of the range.
 
NickXX said:
That's a very good find above for £5k.

Nothing wrong with a 318 - they still push out 140bhp. They're not underpowered, they just seem it compared to the rest of the range.
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Thanks for the imput so far guys.

From what parkers says they changed the model & engine on them on the 1st of Sep 2001, before that the 318 was a nice 118 bhp 8v model with MPG 35,
unfortunately both the one i have listed and davidstone28 are pre September 2001 :( and therefore the 118bhp models?
 
NickXX said:
That's a very good find above for £5k.

Nothing wrong with a 318 - they still push out 140bhp. They're not underpowered, they just seem it compared to the rest of the range.
Click to expand...

That's true, even with the earlier lower powered model. People are of the impression somehow that the 320i is an excellent car but the 318i is a dog awful car. Depending on peoples opinions of course, this just isn't true. If you are a motoring enthusiast then the lack of power in a 318i might make it a bad car in your eyes but to the majority of the driving public, the 318i is adequately powered. My mum for example, when she was getting her 318i I took it for a drive. Whilst I thought it was an excellent car bar the lack of power which would put me off as a buyer, she thought it was a bit 'quick' for her.

If you really don't care about rapid acceleration and are happy with average performance, the 318i is an excellent car, just like any other E46. I would go as far to say that it's the best handling car in its class and the most refined. For £5k, in my opinion, they offer great value for money. If it were me buying one, I'd definitely go for a 320i or bigger though but that's because I'm used to driving a more powerful car.
 
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