Cost of Running a Decent 3 Series?

Robert

Robert

Robert

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In a year or so I'll (touch wood) have two years NCB and some driving experience under my belt. I was thinking of going for a newish Focus at around £10k however I'm being drawn into the 3 series.

How much am I looking at to own a decent model (running costs and purchase costs)?
 
have a look for fox's 530i guide, that will give you an idea of the running costs.

330i, for a good one, you are looking at £8k+ probably, depending on whether you want a coupe or 'loon
 
Just under £5k a year it cost me to run a 330d excluding depreciation. 12,000 miles a year.

This includes fuel, servicing, insurance, tyres, repairs, MOT, tax.

Note that I spent £1,633; £1,200; £800; £500pa on insurance while I owned it. You will likely be paying less at 24 with 2yrs NCB.

Tyres are £500-600 a set for a Sport model (18" wheels).

Servicing averages out at about £250 every 12-15,000 miles.

Note that mine was 3yrs old when I bought it and 6.5 when I sold it. The cars you'll be buying will likely need more spent on them in repairs due to age.
 
I also worked out the same figures with Nick - my 530i was very similar. In the space of 3.5 years and 30,000 miles it has cost about £14,000 excluding depreciation but including everything else and excluding purchase price. Thats tyres, servicing, repairs, etc etc. Works out at about 40p a mile, so £4k a year if you do 10k a year.

I bought a 4.5 year old one - a decent £10k 3 Series is going to be slightly older than this I should imagine.
 
The 330d (NickXX's) has seen me run to approximately £3000~ since I've owned it, which was May 2009.

They aren't the cheapest of things to run.
 
NickXX said:
Just under £5k a year it cost me to run a 330d excluding depreciation. 12,000 miles a year.

This includes fuel, servicing, insurance, tyres, repairs, MOT, tax.

Note that I spent £1,633; £1,200; £800; £500pa on insurance while I owned it. You will likely be paying less at 24 with 2yrs NCB.

Tyres are £500-600 a set for a Sport model (18" wheels).

Servicing averages out at about £250 every 12-15,000 miles.

Note that mine was 3yrs old when I bought it and 6.5 when I sold it. The cars you'll be buying will likely need more spent on them in repairs due to age.
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Would you say in retrospect you might have been better running a ci petrol?
 
firefilesuk said:
Would you say in retrospect you might have been better running a ci petrol?
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No, as then he'd have only had two doors.

The 330 petrol would have cost similar amounts to run, but would have still used more fuel. Given the milage the car was subject to in that time I'd imagine Nick made a significant saving on fuel costs, muchlike I'm continuing to do now.
 
Over just 12,000 miles a year I'm not sure quite how significant that saving really was. I think if there was a significant saving it was only because he did a number of those miles on the continent where diesel was a useful amount cheaper.
 
Von Smallhausen said:
Would you have a 530d Fox ?
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My Dad has a 530d the same age as my 530i, and I drive it a lot.

I wouldnt swap mine for it - it isn't as quick (Unless you nail it in 5th but then, just.. change down?), it isn't as fun and its only about 7mpg more economical in any given situation really :)
 
We use them as class one vehicles and ARVs ( albeit heavily modified ) and I must confess I like them.

I am liking Beemers more and more since I turned 30.

The garage where I bought the Bora from had a 730d on a 52 0r 3 plate and it was under 10 grand. While I am pretty clueless on the technicalities of BMW, I did like the car both inside and out although I suspect the running and repair costs will be a kick in the bag.
 
When it comes to BMW's i think people often overestimate the costs or totally underestimate them.

Obviously, it's going to be better for you that you overestimate, but this stops some people from experiencing a nice car.

Alright, they do cost quite a bit to run if you have a 6 cyl., but it isn't mental.

My Insp. II Service - £240 (inc brake fluid) from a BMW specialist, or a £311 from dealers (+ brake fluid)
Insp. I service: £180 (from same Specialist)
Oil Service:about £70-80 i think
Fuel - 26mpg
Insurance - This is by far the biggest expense, i think it's going to be around £1200 this year.
Tax - £235

For comparison - my sister has a 55 Golf 2.0 GT FSI

Annual oil service (or w/e VW call it) £180
Fuel - 35mpg
Tax - £235
Insurance - No really compariable, but for me to be insured on the car it'd be around £800 i think.

And my mum pay's about the same for her SAAB 2.0t.

When you compare it to my BMW, it isn't a world of difference.

However, i will add that i am a n00b owner, and there are far more experienced people on here. :p
 
[TW]Fox;16236460 said:
My Dad has a 530d the same age as my 530i, and I drive it a lot.

I wouldnt swap mine for it - it isn't as quick (Unless you nail it in 5th but then, just.. change down?), it isn't as fun and its only about 7mpg more economical in any given situation really :)
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Have you got the facelift 193bhp? How reliable is the 3.0 unit?

I'm sorely tempted by this high mileage, but 2 owner 1 family 530D
http://www.autoscout24.de/Details.aspx?id=v14jfedptwks

It's full spec bar nav and looks lush.
Doesn't make financial sense to sell my car yet, but this 530D seems very good value for money..
 
mjt said:
Have you got the facelift 193bhp? How reliable is the 3.0 unit?
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Yes its a facelift 193bhp version. We've had it since 20k and its now on 80k. In that time it has required only a pre-supply fuel pump (and its about to need a propshaft). The manual 193bhp variants do not have swirl flaps - which are a huge design flaw which can cause engine wrecking problems.

It seems the 3.0d's begin to give injector/turbocharger trouble as they get older. We've not had this yet.
 
I agree with Gaygle *Touches wood!* :p

Although I found insurance to be very reasonable really. Mines around the £800 markwhich is a good £300ish cheaper than the Z4 was with the same engine.

I must add that I've had nothing go wrong with my BMW yet either so I'm not really in a position to tell you that they are average to run.

Mines averaging 25.5mpg now over the last 800 miles since I got it.

EDIT : But seeing as you have £10k to spend that will leave you with a a nice chunk to put to one side. Mine was £7,400 with low mileage but it is an 8 year old car so I'm fully prepared for it to need repalcements here and there in the near future.
 
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[TW]Fox;16235606 said:
Over just 12,000 miles a year I'm not sure quite how significant that saving really was. I think if there was a significant saving it was only because he did a number of those miles on the continent where diesel was a useful amount cheaper.
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I calculated that 10,000miles of that 43,000 was on the continent.

In reality though, I did no diesel specific repairs on the car so it worked out cheaper than owning a 330i over that time (plus I escaped cooling system issues).
 
I've put 2000 miles on mine since buying it a couple of months ago and so far not including insurance and petrol I have spent £30 on an MOT

My insurance is £550 per year and I'm averaging 26mpg, I have 10,000 miles until the next service which is an oils service and all the tyres are almost brand new.

But I do have 2k put away 'just in case'
 
[TW]Fox;16237124 said:
I notice you have yet to have anything go wrong nor put a full set of tyres on it ;)
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Didn't you see my disclaimer?! :p

I also forgot that - tyres are lol worthy expensive, but that said, next time i think i'm going to go with Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta's, and these are only £370 plus fitting (so let's say £400). Tyres on my last car were very average sized (16inch 195/50) and these were £70 per corner (inc fitting) for FK452's (£280 for 4) - so there isn't a LOT of difference.

Agreed though, i haven't had anything go wrong yet and my opinion is definitely subject to change, but luckily i've got a good warranty and enough money tucked away for my rainy day fund.

mr tommo said:
I agree with Gaygle *Touches wood!* :p
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:eek:
 
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