Sorry - yet another BMW thread....

GeezerButler · 13 Oct 2008 at 23:26

After missing out on the A3 3.2 DSG I am still looking for a nice automatic car that's practical but not too big....

So, I've just been looking at an advert for a 2000 'W' 330i M Sport - it has 53K on the clock and apparently a BMW FSH. Here is the ad:

http://www.sprintonline.net/bmw_330 MSPORT.htm

As I'm a E46 noob .... Fox / NickX / anyone else any opinions on this car? Anything I should look out for particularly on this model? Does this price look about right?

Thanks in advance for any responses and help.

Skeeter · 14 Oct 2008 at 01:36

Am I being a n00b or is there no price on that page?

Crizzy · 14 Oct 2008 at 02:25

Skeeter said:
Am I being a n00b or is there no price on that page?

Top right of the page - £5990

triggerthat · 14 Oct 2008 at 05:49

How much is the tax on this car? And what would it be post 2001?

paradigm · 14 Oct 2008 at 09:04

I can tell you one thing. It's not an "M" Sport, as they didn't exist pre-facelift.

needmorespeed · 14 Oct 2008 at 09:30

triggerthat said:
How much is the tax on this car? And what would it be post 2001?

currently £185 after 2001 about 190

Booner! · 14 Oct 2008 at 09:31

Interesting.....the tab in my firefox says: "BMW 325ci SE coupe" but the advert says it's a 330i M sport.... dodgy

:confused:

PMKeates · 14 Oct 2008 at 10:47

According to the RAC it's a 330 I SPORT AUTO. Which also means it's 231hp, not the 193hp the guy seems to think it is!

Howard · 14 Oct 2008 at 10:49

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2979CC

[TW]Fox · 14 Oct 2008 at 10:53

It is not a 330i M Sport, as M Sport only appeared in 2004, but it is a genuine 330i Sport. Looks fairly priced given its mileage, only downside is that it isnt a facelift model so doesn't have the nicer front end and the facelift bodykit/steering wheel. You do, however, escape the cruddy road tax.

Kingy · 14 Oct 2008 at 10:57

The 328 was 192bhp, the 330 was 231bhp. It's a saloon, not a coupe, or a 325 as advertised, it's also not the 'proper' sport which later came with a better bodykit.

You could do a lot better than this for six grand.

[TW]Fox · 14 Oct 2008 at 11:00

Kingy said:
it's also not the 'proper' sport

It is a 'proper' Sport. Just because it isn't a little newer with the specification revisions doesn't make it not 'proper'.

You could do a lot better than this for six grand.

I rather think you probably cant do THAT much better, really. It's a low mileage car, which always gives a premium, and the bumpers can be fixed with a few hundred quid anyway. I'd take it over a shabby 6 owner facelift 330. When buying cars of this age it becomes increasingly hard to find a minter and sometimes 'low mileage' is the only way.

Howard · 14 Oct 2008 at 11:03

To be fair there's nothing wrong with low mileages, if the car feels OK when you drive/fiddle with it. I can demonstrate this with my 40k 18year old MX5, lol. There's just nothing wrong with high milers, either - the same applies. That one looks like a good deal to me.

Kingy · 14 Oct 2008 at 11:14

[TW]Fox;12690657 said:
It is a 'proper' Sport. Just because it isn't a little newer with the specification revisions doesn't make it not 'proper'.

It lacks the sport bodykit available on slightly later but pre-coupe-facelift. It looks like an SE, and imo, the 'proper' sport looks considerably better.

[TW]Fox;12690657 said:
I rather think you probably cant do THAT much better, really. It's a low mileage car, which always gives a premium, and the bumpers can be fixed with a few hundred quid anyway. I'd take it over a shabby 6 owner facelift 330. When buying cars of this age it becomes increasingly hard to find a minter and sometimes 'low mileage' is the only way.

You, of all people are advocating an advert for a car that gets the power, title and bodystyle wrong?

What on earth happened to buy on condition rather than mileage?

Are those headlights angel eyes?

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...del=3+SERIES&min_pr=&max_pr=7000&max_mileage=

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...del=3+SERIES&min_pr=&max_pr=7000&max_mileage=

[TW]Fox · 14 Oct 2008 at 11:20

Kingy said:
It lacks the sport bodykit available on slightly later but pre-coupe-facelift.

It just has a different Sport bodykit, thats all. They changed it. This doesn't make it any less of a 'Sport'.

You, of all people are advocating an advert for a car that gets the power, title and bodystyle wrong?

It's from a reputable trader who I've seen plenty of adverts from - it's probably just a mistake as he's used a similar template.

What on earth happened to buy on condition rather than mileage?

He is buying an 8 year old car. At this age, the number of absolute minters with 7 previous owners and 100,000 miles significantly diminishes. Sometimes, the easiest way to guarantee a car in perfect cosmetic and mechanical order is to bite the bullet and pick up something like this.

At half the age it's totally different as there are numerous one owner long distance cars around. But the market is different with cars that you are buying at 8 years old.

Are those headlights angel eyes?

No, they are not. They are standard prefacelift 6 cylinder Halogen headlights.

4 Doors, Automatic, Saloon, Petrol, 82,000 miles, SILVER. Full BMW Main Dealer Service History, Electric Sunroof, Factory Sat Nav with TV, Full Grey Sports Leather, Air Conditioning with Climate Control, Mint 18" MV Alloys, Rear Parking Sensors, New Rear Tyres, Immaculate Condition, Stunning Car in every respect, New MOT, Viewing by Appointment Only, £6,250

Lovely. Any idea on its condition? Me neither. If it's a local car, great, you'd be daft to ignore it. But if it isn't the chances of getting all the way to find out the reason why its 6 grand for a loaded 52 plate facelift Sport is becuase its a big of a dog outweigh the chances that its a genuine bargain.

It's also from a private seller, or at least appears to be, whereas the other one is from a trader. I don't tend to bother with traders but they do justifiably increase the value of a car slightly.

He asked if it was a reasonable buy - I beleive it is. There is always another car, somewhere, that might be a better buy. But if he doesn't have the time or ability to go scouring the country looking for the needle in the haystack of 3 Series BMW's then the one he's posted is hardly a complete ripoff, is it?

Kingy · 14 Oct 2008 at 15:04

[TW]Fox;12690766 said:
It just has a different Sport bodykit, thats all. They changed it. This doesn't make it any less of a 'Sport'.

We could argue this until the cows come home. If it helps, I retract my previous point, perhaps it would be better to say that at this budget, the updated, and imo better, sport kitted versions are available.

[TW]Fox;12690766 said:
He is buying an 8 year old car. At this age, the number of absolute minters with 7 previous owners and 100,000 miles significantly diminishes. Sometimes, the easiest way to guarantee a car in perfect cosmetic and mechanical order is to bite the bullet and pick up something like this.

At half the age it's totally different as there are numerous one owner long distance cars around. But the market is different with cars that you are buying at 8 years old.

I see your point, but I disagree. He's buying a six grand car, this car is in budget and is eight years old, but he's trading off age for mileage. As my other two examples (second link fixed, and repeated below) showed, it's possible to find younger cars, either better specced pre facelift, or similar spec post facelift, and over 2 years newer for similar cash.

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...del=3+SERIES&min_pr=&max_pr=7000&max_mileage=

[TW]Fox;12690766 said:
Lovely. Any idea on its condition? Me neither.

Fair point, but we don't know the condition of the car in the OP either.

I've seen 80k cars in far better condition than 40k cars, and I imagine you've seen even more extreme cases during the search for your 5...

[TW]Fox;12690766 said:
If it's a local car, great, you'd be daft to ignore it. But if it isn't the chances of getting all the way to find out the reason why its 6 grand for a loaded 52 plate facelift Sport is becuase its a big of a dog outweigh the chances that its a genuine bargain.

It's also from a private seller, or at least appears to be, whereas the other one is from a trader. I don't tend to bother with traders but they do justifiably increase the value of a car slightly.

He asked if it was a reasonable buy - I beleive it is. There is always another car, somewhere, that might be a better buy. But if he doesn't have the time or ability to go scouring the country looking for the needle in the haystack of 3 Series BMW's then the one he's posted is hardly a complete ripoff, is it?

The loaded example was a 2001/Y pre-facelift.

Rip-off is a strong term, but given that cars with either more kit and the better bodykit, or post-facelift and over 2 years newer are available for similar money, I stand by my previous statement that he could do much better for the money.

Kingy · 14 Oct 2008 at 15:10

@OP

You'll get a newer Saloon rather than Coupe for the money, but depending on your definition of practicality, the coupe might be a better bet as the rear seats fold flat. Obviously its more hassle getting people in the back, but I got a triple wardrobe home yesterday, and a 14sqm laminate floor home the day before, which simply wouldn't be possible in the saloon...

[TW]Fox · 14 Oct 2008 at 15:14

Kingy said:
I see your point, but I disagree. He's buying a six grand car, this car is in budget and is eight years old, but he's trading off age for mileage. As my other two examples (second link fixed, and repeated below) showed, it's possible to find younger cars, either better specced pre facelift, or similar spec post facelift, and over 2 years newer for similar cash.

But none of these cars are a world apart - they are slightly better, and as I said, he couldnt be expected to do MUCH better. And where are they in the UK? The market isn't exactly brimming with 6k 330i Sport's and even if he is prepared to travel long distance to view them he must be prepared to be dissapointed with many of them.

Fair point, but we don't know the condition of the car in the OP either.

I've made the assumption the car is local and he's seen it. A flawed assumption, perhaps..

I've seen 80k cars in far better condition than 40k cars, and I imagine you've seen even more extreme cases during the search for your 5...

Oh of course, infact I'd be as bold as to say I doubt even that 50k miler is in quite the condition my 150k miler 5 is in, but the whole age thing clouds it. If the cars were younger I'd be steering him away from the low mileage car - there are numerous 3-5 year old 1 owner 3 Series and 5 Series out there in absolutely fantastic condition because they've been driven by one chap up and down the Motorway where you dont get trolley dents, you dont wear the seats getting in and out and you dont fill the passenger seats with kids.

BUT..

The older a car gets the less likely this is to be the case. MOST people who fall into the above criteria get rid of their cars at 3, 4 or 5 years old at the most. Then they pass into the hands of more and more 'average usage' owners and the condition starts to detoriate.

Therefore finding a minter when the cars are 7-8 years old is harder than when they are 3-4 years old, my point is simply that a 1 owner low mileage car of 8 years old is likely to be the rare 'cherished by an older guy' car that will buck the condition trend at this age

Most 8 year old 100k mile 3 Series have had at least 4 owners all with varying ideas on what constitutes looking after your car.

[TW]Fox · 14 Oct 2008 at 15:14

Kingy said:
You'll get a newer Saloon rather than Coupe for the money, but depending on your definition of practicality, the coupe might be a better bet as the rear seats fold flat. Obviously its more hassle getting people in the back, but I got a triple wardrobe home yesterday, and a 14sqm laminate floor home the day before, which simply wouldn't be possible in the saloon...

Many Saloons have folding rear seats as well - it was a cost option on the 3 Series.

Kingy · 14 Oct 2008 at 15:25

[TW]Fox;12692396 said:
But none of these cars are a world apart - they are slightly better, and as I said, he couldnt be expected to do MUCH better. And where are they in the UK? The market isn't exactly brimming with 6k 330i Sport's and even if he is prepared to travel long distance to view them he must be prepared to be dissapointed with many of them.

I've made the assumption the car is local and he's seen it. A flawed assumption, perhaps..

Oh of course, infact I'd be as bold as to say I doubt even that 50k miler is in quite the condition my 150k miler 5 is in, but the whole age thing clouds it. If the cars were younger I'd be steering him away from the low mileage car - there are numerous 3-5 year old 1 owner 3 Series and 5 Series out there in absolutely fantastic condition because they've been driven by one chap up and down the Motorway where you dont get trolley dents, you dont wear the seats getting in and out and you dont fill the passenger seats with kids.

BUT..

The older a car gets the less likely this is to be the case. MOST people who fall into the above criteria get rid of their cars at 3, 4 or 5 years old at the most. Then they pass into the hands of more and more 'average usage' owners and the condition starts to detoriate.

Therefore finding a minter when the cars are 7-8 years old is harder than when they are 3-4 years old, my point is simply that a 1 owner low mileage car of 8 years old is likely to be the rare 'cherished by an older guy' car that will buck the condition trend at this age

Most 8 year old 100k mile 3 Series have had at least 4 owners all with varying ideas on what constitutes looking after your car.

But again, we're only looking at 8 year old cars because the mileage is so low (~50k rather than the 100k you mention), higher mileage cars are likely to be substansially younger.

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...del=3+SERIES&min_pr=&max_pr=7000&max_mileage=