Cost of Running a Decent 3 Series?

I think the general view is that, whilst a warranty gives good piece of mind, it is better to put say £600 a year in a savings account to cover issues with the car. I think most people find that over the course of 5 years there'll be (at least a little) cash left in the account.
 
Which kind e46 are you looking for? A powerful one? An economical one or a cheap one?

For example you could pickup an 318i in Sport or SE form. Won't set the world on fire but enough power to live with. Also it's cheaper to run and buy.
 
I concur with the above suggested costs.
Had ours for 3 years now. Excluding standard running costs, we did also change the front wishbone bushes (very common on higher mileage E46s) and had the power steering pump replaced last year (cost of nearly £500 from a main dealer).
Those issues don't strike me as being that terrible in 3 years, and in some ways I'll be sad to see ours go. For all that, we're now going to buy something a bit more relaxed and ours is up on Auto-trader and Pistonheads.
 
Still contemplating this.

I really want my next car to be something nice.

Will probably end up keeping my current one until a year in august, but just trying to get an idea of costs.
 
Thing is in a years time the E46's are all going to be getting on a bit. If you want a saloon, in a years time, the absolute newest are going to be almost 7 years old.

Now owning an older BMW is fine, but in my honest opinion the best way to own an older BMW and still enjoy the benefits a nice car is to.... buy it as a newer BMW and keep hold of it.
 
Muffin` said:
Which kind e46 are you looking for? A powerful one? An economical one or a cheap one?

For example you could pickup an 318i in Sport or SE form. Won't set the world on fire but enough power to live with. Also it's cheaper to run and buy.
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I would agree too, a woman at work who has an E46 318i lpg'd ( she and her husband drive about 40.000km per year), said she spends less than 500€ per year on servicing & fixing it. This is of course without insurance, tax and fuel.
 
blun said:
I think the general view is that, whilst a warranty gives good piece of mind, it is better to put say £600 a year in a savings account to cover issues with the car. I think most people find that over the course of 5 years there'll be (at least a little) cash left in the account.
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Hmmm, /chuckles to self ...that's is the general thought yes, however ...it can go totally the other way, generally though, if you buy a good one, it's better to go without the warranty and bank the money for when it does throw a curve ball your way ...and it will.

The 330CI I had never cost much to run really, the only things I ever had to replace where some brake pads and tyres ...I didn't even need a disc change in my time with it. The BMW experience I am having now is rather different though, basically if it can brake, fall off or go wrong in some way ...it is/has or probably will.
 
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Damn...been looking at cars again. It currently costs me £1000 to insure a Rover 25 1.4 after 1 year of NCB (had a license for 6 years but only driven for 1).

I've just checked to see what my insurance would be with a BMW 320 and it'd only be £300 more...which should get lower as I'm 25 next month.

It's seriously tempting. I was looking at spending £10k on a focus...but that would buy what looks like a good 3 series.
 
£1000 on a Rover 25 1.4?!

£1300 on a 320??!!

My insurance was under a grand on a 325 when I was 24 with no NCB! Maybe you should try someone else...
 
My 330d is in garage again, water pump being replaced. £300.
No idea how that compares v a focus.
 
Since I bought my 525d in May 09 I have spent the following (excluding MOT/tax/insurance):

Tyres x 4 = £800
Servicing = £600
Front discs/pads = £330

Re-coding to fix problem with central locking = £180
Replacement steering rack = £2000 (warranty company paid)
 
The scruffy ones are not cheap either..... :o

Mine - 1996 e36 328i Auto SE - cost me £460 when its cooling system failed - Water pump, viscous fan & assembly, seals, hoses etc but I did have new rear pads & ABS sensors at the same time.

Insurance is £230 fully comp for me. :)

Another £300 odd is on the cards as its next service is the Inspection II.

26ish MPG depending on mood, and it'll want 4 new tyres in a few months.
Owned it for about 16months and covered about 14k in that time.
 
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My wife has had her 335i for just over a year now.

Insurance 1200 (1 year NCB)
Tyres around 900
Service 250 + 250 to fix a few bits
Extended guarantee 600
MOT 30
30 quid per month to keep it clean
Road tax 225

Thats about it really
 
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