E46 models to avoid

[Kingy]

I wouldn't buy it for the fact that it's in a dodgy garage in the middle of Park Royal. I wouldn't buy a used BMW from a garage that sells rusty old Escorts. Call me a snob......

I know nothing of the area, but I don't see any Escorts advertised, concours or otherwise... I do see a Q7, an A8 and a Gallardo Spyder for sale though.

I wouldn't call you a snob. You do suit the profile of an irritating pedant though. *shrug*

Buying a used BMW is like walking through a field full of landmines with a pot of money at the other side. If you are lucky, you'll be really happy. If not..

I never had any problems when looking for either of mine, nor for either of Dad's, and on three out of four of those occaisions, we were looking at the some of the cheapest, earliest examples...

To be fair are your experiences a fair reflection of the market? I mean this with total respect rather than as a cheap dig, but you do have rather exacting standards, as demonstrated by your desire to keep everything in tip-top condition, from impressions in rear leather seats to whatever it was that you spent £320 on this time.

When I bought my E46, I accepted that it only had the standard Alcantara trim, and had a small mark to one of the alloys, because it was £2-2.5k cheaper than it should have been.

When I bought Headrat's Z4, we all saw the thread after it was detailed and agreed that looked great, but closer inspection revealed a small parking ding to the wing, a front bumper that needed respraying, wheels that need refurbishing (although there is a better spare set) and a worn leather bolster, but I accepted the compromises because it was keenly priced and in otherwise excellent condition.

I'm sure you'll admit you don't fit the demographic of the typical 5 series buyer, but do you think you fit the demographic of the typical used car buyer either? Short of AUC or equivalent cars, which from all the replys to this thread, AFAIK only one poster has the money to bat in that league, unless you're prepared to travel the length and breadth of the country for 6 months to find the exception to the rule, the typical used car buyer must accept that their prospective purchase will be more compromised than that of an AUC or new car.

Again, I'm not having a pop, more power to you for putting the effort in the finding something in such good condition, and more so for spending such a disproportionate amount on keeping it A1, but I'm just contesting whether used BMW shopping is indeed as labourious as you suggest. There's certainly a lot of dodgy wide boys examples out there, but in my experience, with a bit of homework, an eye for detail (like being able to spot whacking great dents for example ) & an open mind to marginally less than A1 examples, good examples can be found at a decent price.

EDIT: I should really learn to edit rather than reply, and then learn to type quicker...

 

[Wicksta]

I know nothing of the area, but I don't see any Escorts advertised, concours or otherwise... I do see a Q7, an A8 and a Gallardo Spyder for sale though.

I wouldn't call you a snob. You do suit the profile of an irritating pedant though. *shrug*

To be fair there are some god-awful outfits in that area, I'd certainly be worried as well. Where we have a datacentre there are a load of dodgy looking car places opposite, one with half a jag poking out of the wall, I always wonder if that was originally going to be used as a cut n shut.

 

[Janesy B]

I know nothing of the area, but I don't see any Escorts advertised, concours or otherwise... I do see a Q7, an A8 and a Gallardo Spyder for sale though.

I wouldn't call you a snob. You do suit the profile of an irritating pedant though. *shrug*

When I was looking for cars in the area, Auto Capital had all manner of tat. It appears they have upped their game with rep mobiles and the odd supercar.

To be fair there are some god-awful outfits in that area, I'd certainly be worried as well. Where we have a datacentre there are a load of dodgy looking car places opposite, one with half a jag poking out of the wall, I always wonder if that was originally going to be used as a cut n shut.

I used to work opposite that place in a data centre, right near the cabin of greasy goodness

 

[[TW]Fox]

Why would you want to own a shabby BMW? Whats the point? Surely if you are going to spend thousands of pounds on a car you want an excellent example not one thats rough around the edges, on its 4th owner and has a curious mix of Wan Li and Nangkang tyres on it and comprehensive history from Bobs Mota's?

Surely you'd need to be desperate for that BMW badge if you'd rather own a shabby BMW than a mint Seat or something for the same money?

Plenty of people here obsess to the nth degree about how many miles a perpsective purchase has on it, whats the point in this if when it comes down to it you don't really care what sort of condition the car is in anyway?

Of course you think finding a used BMW is easy Kingy, you've demonstrated yourself you are able to find shiney cars on Autotrader and identify them as worthy candidates when in reality they are cars with a crushed sill and no service for 65k. Maybe I just spot the crap ones easier than you?

My standards are not that it should be indiscernable from new after 6 years, that would be slightly OTT, but just that it should be a well kept example from an owner who has obviously cared about and been careful with the car. I don't think this is too much to ask.

When buying a used BMW surely you wish to avoid ones with:

a) A shabby interior
b) Patchy service history
c) Indications of cost cutting ie 3 different brands of crap tyre
d) Fake ebay rimz
e) Fake AC Schnitzer tat
f) A powerflow exhuast
g) Dents and scrapes
h) 8 owners
i) Adverts which go on about THE AMAZING POWAH
j) Cars being sold from areas that seem a bit iffy. Don't flame me but would you rather buy a car from the back of a warehouse or from a station carpark or would you rather buy one from a nice chap in a detatched house whose wife makes you a cup of tea when you come to view it? What gives you the most confidence that it might be a good place for your money?

etc etc?

 

[Wicksta]

I used to work opposite that place in a data centre, right near the cabin of greasy goodness

Exodus/C&W? That's where our kit is.

 

[Janesy B]

Exodus/C&W? That's where our kit is.

Nope, it was Vital. We shared a building with IX Europe right next to the Croissant factory

 

[Wicksta]

Nope, it was Vital. We shared a building with IX Europe right next to the Croissant factory

Mmmmm I love the smell walking past there from the tube station.

 

[Janesy B]

Mmmmm I love the smell walking past there from the tube station.

Not on the days when they'd run a line of Oniony stuff

So anyway, I hope that proves I have a qualified opinion in the area and my reluctance to buy a car from an outfit in that vicinity

 

[Kingy]

Of course you think finding a used BMW is easy Kingy, you've demonstrated yourself you are able to find shiney cars on Autotrader and identify them as worthy candidates when in reality they are cars with a crushed sill and no service for 65k. Maybe I just spot the crap ones easier than you?

Why would you want to own a shabby BMW? Whats the point? Surely if you are going to spend thousands of pounds on a car you want an excellent example not one thats rough around the edges, on its 4th owner and has a curious mix of Wan Li and Nangkang tyres on it and comprehensive history from Bobs Mota's?

Plenty of people here obsess to the nth degree about how many miles a perpsective purchase has on it, whats the point in this if when it comes down to it you don't really care what sort of condition the car is in anyway?

My point was to speculate that Headrat's old Z4 (above average mileage, 6 owners, scuffed alloys and front bumper (less of an issue since I mullered a rabbit and trashed the mesh), worn bolster and peeling front bumper is a prime example of a car that might be dismissed as shabby by someone with such exacting standards. All I'm saying is that if you're prepared to consider that the alloys, bumper and bolster are far from uncommon faults & can be easily repaired, that the FBMWSH, spec and general condition redeem the situation sufficiently enough to be considered decent...

If you're demanding enough (again, no bad thing) to dismiss something that isn't perfect, then yes, you're likely to struggle, but otherwise, it might not be so bad...

You're right on the image though, I'm not looking forward to selling it...

My standards are not that it should be indiscernable from new after 6 years, that would be slightly OTT, but just that it should be a well kept example from an owner who has obviously cared about and been careful with the car. I don't think this is too much to ask.

When buying a used BMW surely you wish to avoid ones with:

a) A shabby interior
b) Patchy service history
c) Indications of cost cutting ie 3 different brands of crap tyre
d) Fake ebay rimz
e) Fake AC Schnitzer tat
f) A powerflow exhuast
g) Dents and scrapes
h) 8 owners
i) Adverts which go on about THE AMAZING POWAH
j) Cars being sold from areas that seem a bit iffy. Don't flame me but would you rather buy a car from the back of a warehouse or from a station carpark or would you rather buy one from a nice chap in a detatched house whose wife makes you a cup of tea when you come to view it? What gives you the most confidence that it might be a good place for your money?

etc etc?

Agree on most, bar g and h...

G: While I wouldn't entertain the idea of anything with a whacking dent to the sill etc, I wouldn't (and indeed didn't) walk away from an otherwise decent motor because of a solitary parking ding that can be pulled for £70, or a bumper with a scuff that can be resprayed, any quicker than I would because a high mileage motorway example had a pebble dashed bonnet...

H: OMG snob!!! Seriously though, and maybe this is just because I live in a rough area myself, but I usually (with exceptions) try to judge each advert on it's individual merits. While I wouldn't buy from Ajay's cars, I'd entertain a phone call to a rough area in the hope of finding a rough diamond, and actively seek out people selling from the back of a warehouse / industrial estate. I've bought two cars now from traders that had set up on their own and let the condition of the cars do more talking than fancy glass showrooms... Remember the 325i that Merlin wanted?

 

[monkey_boy]

LOL at the image of a kid rolling round in the back of a non ISOfix car with you poking your soft plastics...

It's only right and proper! . The point is more that I wouldn't just plump for a 1.1 suzuki alto ust because it's an 07 plate and has Isofix yo.

What routine costs are there for the 330i over the 330d? Are we talking specifically fuel costs? I hear what you're saying regarding performance not being a priority, but the whole point of the 330i is that you might as well get the quicker car, if you value the refinement and power delivery of the 6 cylinder engine over the 4.

You must have had the Ibiza for the best part of a year, and still haven't ticked up to 5 figures on the odometer yet... With projected annual mileage of 5, 8, or even a whopping 10k, are the extra routine costs (read extra fuel?) of the 330i over the 330d so off-putting, as to be worth gambling on the life of the turbo / injectors?

Besides, if the running costs of the 330i (and subsequently all 6 cylinder examples) are too great, and a decent 330d can't be found, then that only leaves the 318i, and just how the hell are you going to sleep at night knowing that the edges of the fins on your kidney grills aren't chrome? Dammit these things matter!

The difference in fuel cost between the 318i and the 330i is about £200 per year based on 8000 miles. I assumed (i don't know why, I thought it was a bitch to tax) that the tax for the 330i was around £320 per year and the 318i/330d were both about £200. The tax, as fox says is within about £30 of even the 318i. Add to that that the tyres on the 330i are wider than the 318i and had assumed (a lot of assumptions i know) that the tyres on the 330d weren't as wide as the 330i. So, I was thinking that it would cost around an extra £230 a year on routine costs, plus an extra £210 in insurance. Truth be told I'd rather spend £35 per month here than on the extra ~80bhp. Unless the car's a steal and it's in good condition. Then it'll be considered alongside the other options.

Why would you want to own a shabby BMW? Whats the point? Surely if you are going to spend thousands of pounds on a car you want an excellent example not one thats rough around the edges, on its 4th owner and has a curious mix of Wan Li and Nangkang tyres on it and comprehensive history from Bobs Mota's?

Surely you'd need to be desperate for that BMW badge if you'd rather own a shabby BMW than a mint Seat or something for the same money?

Plenty of people here obsess to the nth degree about how many miles a perpsective purchase has on it, whats the point in this if when it comes down to it you don't really care what sort of condition the car is in anyway?

Of course you think finding a used BMW is easy Kingy, you've demonstrated yourself you are able to find shiney cars on Autotrader and identify them as worthy candidates when in reality they are cars with a crushed sill and no service for 65k. Maybe I just spot the crap ones easier than you?

My standards are not that it should be indiscernable from new after 6 years, that would be slightly OTT, but just that it should be a well kept example from an owner who has obviously cared about and been careful with the car. I don't think this is too much to ask.

When buying a used BMW surely you wish to avoid ones with:

a) A shabby interior
b) Patchy service history
c) Indications of cost cutting ie 3 different brands of crap tyre
d) Fake ebay rimz
e) Fake AC Schnitzer tat
f) A powerflow exhuast
g) Dents and scrapes
h) 8 owners
i) Adverts which go on about THE AMAZING POWAH
j) Cars being sold from areas that seem a bit iffy. Don't flame me but would you rather buy a car from the back of a warehouse or from a station carpark or would you rather buy one from a nice chap in a detatched house whose wife makes you a cup of tea when you come to view it? What gives you the most confidence that it might be a good place for your money?

etc etc?

I agree with you fully Fox. What Kingy is saying though, is that there is a middle ground. The ad he posted wasn't that middle ground, but there is one. I don't intend to jump at the first one I see because I'm not desperate for the car, but equally I won't be wasting endless weekends looking for the needle in the haystack. I will only be choosing from the top of the pile within my budget though. If my budget won't allow that, I'll have something different.

I think unless you buy an approved used car or are willing to pay a comfortable market rate, rather than trying to get the best at the bottom end of the price range, you will always find car buying arduous whether you buy a Ford, a BMW or a Porsche.

 

[[TW]Fox]

A 330d or 330i sport will have 225/40/18 front tyres and 255/35/18 rear tyres whereas the 318i Sport will, as standard, have the 17 inch wheels with slightly cheaper tyres.

You still wont get much change from £500 for a full set of quality tyres, though.

 

[monkey_boy]

The 320i has an M54B22, the 330i has an M54B30. .....
There is a design flaw on the 320d whereby the swirl flaps on the manifold break down over time, are injested into the engine, which destroys the engine.

Does the principle of the 320d being the same engine design as the 330 carry over to the diesels? If so, does that mean that a 330d is likely to have turbo/swirl-flap problems too?

 

[iaind]

When buying a used BMW surely you wish to avoid ones with:

a) A shabby interior
b) Patchy service history
c) Indications of cost cutting ie 3 different brands of crap tyre
d) Fake ebay rimz
e) Fake AC Schnitzer tat
f) A powerflow exhuast
g) Dents and scrapes
h) 8 owners
i) Adverts which go on about THE AMAZING POWAH
j) Cars being sold from areas that seem a bit iffy. Don't flame me but would you rather buy a car from the back of a warehouse or from a station carpark or would you rather buy one from a nice chap in a detatched house whose wife makes you a cup of tea when you come to view it? What gives you the most confidence that it might be a good place for your money?

etc etc?

What about that list is BMW specific? Thats just general common sense when buying a used car

 

[Wicksta]

What about that list is BMW specific? Thats just general common sense when buying a used car

The thread is about buying a used BMW. I don't see anywhere where fox said it is BMW specific although the AC SChnitzer tat bit is.

 

[[TW]Fox]

What about that list is BMW specific? Thats just general common sense when buying a used car

It's a thread about buying BMW's, where did I say it was all specific to BMW's?

Honestly not many people on this forum irritate me because its only the internet but if there is somebody in a thread posting unhelpful stuff lately odds are its you :/

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

The thread is about buying a used BMW. I don't see anywhere where fox said it is BMW specific although the AC SChnitzer tat bit is.

I'd be even more likely to avoid a Mondeo or A4 if it had stick on AC Schnitzer tat.

 

[Kingy]

Truth be told I'd rather spend £35 per month here than on the extra ~80bhp. Unless the car's a steal and it's in good condition. Then it'll be considered alongside the other options.

That was a cheap shot and you know it! Posting meat is poor form! Besides, when you drive a six cylinder BMW, girls chase you down waving steaks to attract you! FACT!

Tip: Don't use this to convince SWMBO...

The difference in fuel cost between the 318i and the 330i is about £200 per year based on 8000 miles. I assumed (i don't know why, I thought it was a bitch to tax) that the tax for the 330i was around £320 per year and the 318i/330d were both about £200. The tax, as fox says is within about £30 of even the 318i. Add to that that the tyres on the 330i are wider than the 318i and had assumed (a lot of assumptions i know) that the tyres on the 330d weren't as wide as the 330i. So, I was thinking that it would cost around an extra £230 a year on routine costs, plus an extra £210 in insurance.

At least we know the financial difference isn't as great as first thought... Although while it would be fair to dismiss the difference between the 320i and 330i as purely power/torque, there will be noticeable differences in quality and refinement between the 4 pot 318i and the six pot 330i, and you don't have to be a petrolhead to appreciate quality/refinement, or even chrome fins!!1!

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1103710.htm

A 330d or 330i sport will have 225/40/18 front tyres and 255/35/18 rear tyres whereas the 318i Sport will, as standard, have the 17 inch wheels with slightly cheaper tyres.

You still wont get much change from £500 for a full set of quality tyres, though.

Plus you'd have the associated expense of purchasing a set of wheels that didn't make baby cry...

 

[Kingy]

Does the principle of the 320d being the same engine design as the 330 carry over to the diesels? If so, does that mean that a 330d is likely to have turbo/swirl-flap problems too?

Not in the same way as the petrols, because the 320d is a 4 pot, and the 330d is a six pot...

My understanding is that the x30d doesn't suffer as badly, but isn't immune to the issue...

 

[[TW]Fox]

Only some of the x30d's have swirl flaps and I can't remember which ones - the manual 530d doesn't but the automatic 530d does but I cant speak for the 330d.

 

[iaind]

It's a thread about buying BMW's, where did I say it was all specific to BMW's?

Honestly not many people on this forum irritate me because its only the internet but if there is somebody in a thread posting unhelpful stuff lately odds are its you :/

If thats what you think

Anyway, the point was the thread was asking for BMW specific advice - nothing wrong with pointing out that thats not BMW specific..