Where to look for used 320i?

Ocean Breeze

Ocean Breeze

Ocean Breeze

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I have been looking on Autotrader for a while now for a 320i M Sport, approx 4 years old, sub 40k mileage and hardly anything has come up. This is nationally. All I can find is 318i's.

Where else should I be looking? I'm not buying privately. At this rate I may as well buy a 4 series and be done with it.
 
They're probably a pretty rare beast as most folks were buying diesels, or as you've found, bog standard entry level 318i. Check BMW approved used, and you can set an alert up on there to notify you if any come up.
 
Can you clarify what you want?

A 4 year old 320i is - just - going to be an E90. These are fairly crap in 320i form hence why there isn't many of them around. The F30, of which the 320i is better and has a newer turbocharged engine, did not come out until just under 4 years ago. I don't think the M Sport appeared until late 2012 meaning the oldest are only just past 3 years old, not 4.

Are you looking for an F30 or an E90?

Here is one, but sadly being a 320i most of them are going to be fairly poor specification examples:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif..._to_4_years_old&sort=default&page=2&logcode=p
 
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Don't buy an E92 320i Coupe from 2012 onwards.

Buy an E92 325i/330i Coupe from 2009 onwards instead. It's the same car (2009-2010 models have the older lights, but all MY09 onwards cars will have the newer iDrive) only with a much better engine that uses no more fuel really.

The old 20i engine is rubbish. It isn't very quick, it doesn't sound very good and it isn't particularly economical so what's the point?

For example:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...-mileage=up_to_40000_miles&make=bmw&logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...&page=2&sort=default&model=3_series&logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...&page=2&sort=default&model=3_series&logcode=p
(As an aside, lol at how much these things still cost for a car that dates from 2005 really!)
 
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I have been advised to buy the older 325i and 330i before. Dropping that much cash on older cars scares me a bit and also 3.0 litre is not an engine size I would ever really consider due to economy. Sound and power is nice but not a must have for me. I have read many forums and there are people who are happy with the more recent 320i's.
 
NinjaSeb said:
Dropping that much cash on older cars scares me a bit and also 3.0 litre is not an engine size I would ever really consider due to economy. Sound and power is nice but not a must have for me. I have read many forums and there are people who are happy with the more recent 320i's.
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This is what I am trying to explain to you - there is almost no difference in economy. The 2 litre engine is poor, it isn't very good. By contrast the 3 litre engine is not poor and is actually very good.

The result is that the combined consumption figure for a 2012 320i Coupe is 42mpg and the combined consumption figure for a 2012 325i Coupe is 39mpg.

Now we all know the combined figures are pie in the sky fantasy but they are pie in the sky fantasy for both models so the overall difference is fairly constant.

The car you are looking at is NOT a 'more recent 320i'. It might say '12' on the numberplate but it's a car that came out in 2005 in 4 door form (2006 as a Coupe). The engine in it originally appeared in 2004. There is nothing recent about it.

The 'more recent' 320i is the completely new model with completely new engine that appeared in 2012 as a saloon and 2013 as the 4 Series Coupe. This is a totally different story entirely but this is not the car or engine you are looking at.
 
I'd avoid that generation 320i like the plague.

Timing chain guides go at 60k+ miles at random, get ingested into the engine = write off

Very common issue, I'd really say to get the newer 320i or stick with the bulletproof 325i
 
Kiethton said:
I'd avoid that generation 320i like the plague.

Timing chain guides go at 60k+ miles at random, get ingested into the engine = write off

Very common issue, I'd really say to get the newer 320i or stick with the bulletproof 325i
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Assuming you've had a terrible experience and swapped your 320i for a 325i? Or not owned either?

The 320i isn't that bad - its easy to suggest larger engined and on the whole more expensive to run cars without being in the buying position.

Ensure you purchase warranty to avoid injector/sensor bills.
 
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NinjaSeb said:
I have been looking on Autotrader for a while now for a 320i M Sport, approx 4 years old, sub 40k mileage and hardly anything has come up. This is nationally. All I can find is 318i's.

Where else should I be looking? I'm not buying privately. At this rate I may as well buy a 4 series and be done with it.
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afaik the oldest models are 9 years old now, any reason for sub 40k, bearing in mind that the cheaper warranty threshold is sub 60k?
 
nas said:
The 320i isn't that bad - its easy to suggest larger engined and on the whole more expensive to run cars without being in the buying position.
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The point here is that the 6 cylinder alternative is not 'on the whole more expensive to run'.

Nobody is saying 'Don't buy a 1.6, get a V8'. People are pointing out that the 2 litre isn't very good but the 3 litre is, therefore there is little reason to opt for a 2 litre over a 3 litre. It isn't noticeably more fuel efficient nor is it more reliable. It therefore offers almost no benefit.

Ensure you purchase warranty to avoid injector/sensor bills.
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I agree with this.
 
[TW]Fox;29355995 said:
The point here is that the 6 cylinder alternative is not 'on the whole more expensive to run'.

Nobody is saying 'Don't buy a 1.6, get a V8'. People are pointing out that the 2 litre isn't very good but the 3 litre is, therefore there is little reason to opt for a 2 litre over a 3 litre. It isn't noticeably more fuel efficient nor is it more reliable. It therefore offers almost no benefit.



I agree with this.
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Whilst I agree the 3l provides the driving pleasure/refinement, the OP is likely gearing to this car for the looks alone: 2.0l, m sport trim and 19'' mv4s at a guess is the desired car here.

As much as suggestions can be provided on here, I still reckon that the above exterior features are taking priority here.

manual 320i m sport > auto 325i se with drive of course :p

Given the age, I don't see there being much of a variance in price now (pre lci)
 
You are probably right but that doesn't mean I can't cling to the fading glimour of hope that some people still buy BMW's for what they are not purely what they look like :D
 
Listen to what Fox is advising you to buy. I was like you at one point looking for the 318 because of the looks. Then I woke up and got me a 330i, and if driven sensibly I can achieve similar figures to those who have the poverty specced 318s and 320s.

The e9x is a dated car now, so there is literally no point of spending 16K (lol) on one. Go for a facelift (MY09+)
 
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