BMW 3 series Why so cheap?

KIPAX

KIPAX

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KIPAX Lancashire UK
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Looking at bmw 3 series used... there are some nice ones about for around 1k .. high milage of course but I dont care about that.. its not a life car ..just workhorse

dont understand why a BMW which I have always thought of as top end is so cheap..

ps looking in auto trader at a wide range of different types of sellers.. price averages out through them all.. and theres a lot..
 
Um - they're not a car that's renowned for taking mileage too well ...
 
Generally budget for engine repairs sooner rather than later at 6 figure mileages. Of course individual cars may differ - for example our 175,000 mile Renault Laguna dog-taxi has perfect working electrics - but that would be the reputation of a £1000 BMW
 
hhm I was looking at bog standard 1.8l cars and the BMW kept popping up and looks so good :) I need a man car

we have a peugot 207 1.4 ... only got 15k on clock... its a girly car.... my workhorse is an astra 1.6 with no frills but its done over 100k and looks like a shed... on its last legs... so loking to replace that...
 
Same with any motor

Attraction / Supply / Demand

No shortage of standard 3 series about so be picky. A good one might be worth a few extra quid over a similar Ford or Vauxhall but subsequent £ on work/parts on a duffer will soon take the gloss of the badge.
 
That's a 13 year old car - it can't cost any little more. And they are pretty small inside, so not very desirable in my eyes

Look for something VAG perhaps. At least standard servicing is a lot cheaper than BMW/Merc, and built a lot beter than vauxhal or ford.
 
VAG ...I wouldnt have got that in a million years.. thanks :)
 
Look at what taxi drivers use, it usually indicates a car that will do high mileage and low running costs.

And I don't mean black cabs :lol:
 
I have just bouggt an 11 year old BMW 2.2 M Roadster for just under £3K averaged <6.5K annual miles.

Its a summer runabout but I generally would not have looked twice at it except for one thing. A full and very detailed history. Full service history at the same BMW dealer, every single stamp and drop in repairs and a V5 that shows "1 lady owner" from new. So I am the 2nd owner.

Genuine parts for BMWs are horrendously expensive and hourly workshop rates can be over £100. There are independent and "pattern" parts and unless you really ewant to buy a money pit I would say give £1000 BMWs a wide berth unless they have proofed service history and you have deep pockets. My tame mechanic gave my Z3 a full check and actually saod he would have it if I did not!
Mine is a toy but seriously you would do much better with a VW Golf or Ford Focus etc for the same money.

Steve
 
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I've got a 2004 320d. 110k miles and still going strong.

Usual problems are:
front rear donut bushes. Don't use the £20 ones as they don't last. £40 or for about £50 replace with poly bushes.

In the diesels remove the swirl flaps and replace with blanks. £40 if you DIY

Make sure it has the new oil separator as the old ones can cause excess smoking.

Regular service of an oil change and its a happy car.

So apart from those bits it's a great car and rather good in fact. Doesn't use any oil. Returns around 38-40 around town and country roads. 45-50 on a run.
 
Agree with Steve. Service history is THE most important thing for any car but for top marque makes like BMW jag etc its even more important.
 
pepi1967 said:
Agree with Steve. Service history is THE most important thing for any car but for top marque makes like BMW jag etc its even more important.
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But if your budget is a grand it's going to be a lottery on most cars, even with a history as long as your arm.

If that is the budget then I probably wouldn't be looking to buy through a dealer and paying their margin. I'd go private or maybe auction and take my chances.

Was just messing around with Autotrader in T'accrington area and this came up. Mondeo bits and pieces under the skin and low mileage - I'd have to have a look for £1K!
 
KIPAX said:
VAG ...I wouldnt have got that in a million years.. thanks :)
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You're excused................they've never been VAG for years and years and I don't think it was even an official name for them.
 
I bought a top of the range BMW 3 series back in '92, it was the last new car I ever bought. For it's day, it had astonishing performance, road holding etc and I bought it more as a status symbol than anything else I suppose, with the vague idea of replacing it in a couple of years or so.

But I kept it. Eventually, it was stolen but I got it back after a couple of years, and then kept it for a few more years, then gave it to a family member, who kept it for several more years, and that car is still on the road.

The big weakness was the head gasket, I had to replace two of them, and that isn't cheap. Later, I had a 530i, same problem, I then changed to Mercedes.

I don't think that there's much money to be saved by having old cars,what you save on the capital cost you pay for in repairs and maintenance, plus old cars are less efficient on fuel - but look what you get for the money!

A quality car, well built, well designed, with all the toys. For any given amount of money, you could get a much more modern 'lesser' car, but the older luxury car will be much more fun.
 
Don't think anyone can say BM's don't handle mileage well, I recently traded in my 520i with 147k on the clock (not a huge amount) But it still drove like the day it came out of the showroom!

It did have a FSH though which won't guarantee it'll never go wrong but it's pretty much the only guarantee that it's been looked after. I would of course go for a Diesel though.
 
I was thinking of another BMW (last one, 528i, went nearly 130K), was advised by a mechanic friend that the diesels have a tendency to jump timing chains and have something wrong with their crankshaft design.
 
Gr8Shot said:
Look at what taxi drivers use, it usually indicates a car that will do high mileage and low running costs.

And I don't mean black cabs :lol:
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used to be lada riva's and chrysler alpines
 
Yves Geza said:
Um - they're not a car that's renowned for taking mileage too well ...
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Untrue. I use a 2010 330d at work with 205k on the clock and it still drives like a brand new car, and it's driven HARD all day!

Bullet proof motors.

It is services regularly and strictly though, essential for any motor.
 
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admirable said:
You're excused................they've never been VAG for years and years and I don't think it was even an official name for them.
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Actually it's Volkwagen Group at present, and the parent company is VAG, which stands for Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, not Volkswagen Audi Group as so many think... Aktiengesellschaft is the german version of a Public Limited Company :thumbs: I am a veritable hive of useless info... :D
 
My budget isnt 1k .. I just kept seeing really nice cars at 1k :)

I can go over.. the car is for work. my astra is worth a few hundred quid i guess but reliable.. starting to make funny noises though..

i alway have 2 checks per yr.. one for MOT and 6 mths later full service.. hence why my astra will go on and on..

I just wanted to treat myself to a nice ride for a year maybe :)
 
odd jim said:
It is services regularly and strictly though, essential for any motor.
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yes.. I live by that.. let the experts find anything as early as possible.. I know my way around the basics and could do a half service changing all the usual stuff.. but i couldnt find any deep down bits and bats..what springs on way out or anything too mechanicy :)
 
KIPAX said:
Might go Audi ? a4 looks nice.... or ? :)
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Where do I start.....

Having had 2 B6 tdis in our family..... (this doesnt just effect Audis but a lot of VAGs.)

EGR valve (£180 parts) BOTH CARS
Radio reception (dont bother) BOTH CARS
Diverter valve (£40 parts) BOTH CARS
Temperature sender (£25) BOTH CARS
Comfort control module (£280 parts plus £150 coding) (BOTH CARS)
DMF (±£600 parts) (documented but never effected mine)
Plenum chamber blocks (new battery £100 perhaps new brake servo £400 fitted) (BOTH CARS x1 servo)
Tail light bulbs keep going (BOTH CARS)
Airbag connectors under seat (BOTH CARS)
Speaker wiring (BOTH CARS)
Door wiring (BOTH CARS)
Glovebox release (1 car)
Aircon pump (BOTH CARS to expensive opened windows)
Door Locks (1 car)
Waterpump vanes crumble (new pump with steel vanes, new belts all round £300)


These all happened at the 100k mark. Sure not huge issues but they are hard to diagnose and some hard to fix, luckily I was able to do my own labour. Id still recommend them as overall they served us well and they return 55mpg which is great for a family car and the engines are good for a lot higher mileage once these have been sorted.
 
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Spuff said:
Blimey! It's not often you see the words "treat" and "Octavia" in the same sentence :D
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Heh! :D I clearly just have very low standards (and have owned a couple of vRS's, lots of fast for much cheapness :thumbs:)

And they go forever with no maintenance, as many a minicab driver will testify!
 
Looking for a treat guys.. a bmw or an audi... not looking for a family car (got peugot 207 for that) to last yrs.. just summat to go to jobs in... been driving an astra for yrs.. want to treat myself to a nice ride... nice looking as well..

sick of driving into car parks in a shed ..albiet a reliable shed :)
 
BMW 3 series will be your best bet I'd still say, more engaging to drive than any Audi and better looking IMO.

Even a 320d is a fun, quick drive, and will still return an average 50mpg.

And the 330d is insanely quick, a complete torque monster, and will still give you 35 mpg!
 
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