BMW 3 series Why so cheap?

DECISION MADE!

BMW 3 series 320d (Just had a long chat with a current owner)
Prefer SE but will go for ES if bargain
Looking for 2002 or newer

Budget around 2k plus my shed of an astra (100k 2002, used cond but not dented or owt.. should be worth a couple hundred in PX)

Budget in place.. decision made.. going to look in earnest next week and will post a pic as soon as bought..

Wifes happy I wont be using our pretty newish Peugot 207 for work and getting mud and stuff inside :)

A sincere thanks for all the helpful replies.. much appreciated :)
 
158k might be slighly higher.. seen some in my range with less... obviously I am going to be a minimum 120k I guess given my spec.. However that looks a very nice car you linkled to.. looks tip top condition..full service history and 12mths mot.. hmm tempting actually..

what do we think of that milage.. OTT or?
 
but this doesn't translate as "my Skoda Octavia is basically a Porsche 911"
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Of course not, everyone knows a 911 is just a fancy Beetle :lol:
 
My advice when looking for a car is just put money in the search boxes and see what comes up

In the last 10 years I've lost about £2000 on 10-12 cars all bought using this method

Last one was a 56 plate focus bought cheap with a dpf problem, ran it for 7 months and sold it for what I had in it after fixing it

Look on the autotrader website and move the sliders to £500 either side of your budget

I recently decided to spend a bit more and get something newer after my wife rang me from Asdas car park because she couldn't remember what she'd driven there in
 
If it has got a pukka fsh then it is much better than a lot of the others. I'd rather have a slightly leggy car with a known history than a lower mileage one with a patchy history.
 
These days, in that reps drive, I would rather go for a relatively high mileage car than a low mileage one. Far better to take on something that's spent its life at near optimum temperature and revs on the motorway while being serviced regularly (the last thing a rep needs is a breakdown so they tend to keep their tools sharp...) than a school runner that's never warmed up properly and has spent most of its life in warm up mode...
 
nilagin said:
BMW don't rate very well for reliability on either of those links and neither do a few of the other "premium" brands compared to other makes.
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its a bit like holiday search.. you can find horror stories about anything if you look hard enough :)
 
Audi, BMW, Merc, Lexus and Jag were all in the top 10 manufacturers in the 2012 JD power survey if I recall correctly?

I've only owned one BMW (a 330D) and had a fair bit of bother with it but in general it was a great driving car... have since had a Golf and 2 Audi A3s. Not a single issue with any of them - granted my current A3 is only 3 months old, but so far it's an amazing wee car!
 
KIPAX said:
its a bit like holiday search.. you can find horror stories about anything if you look hard enough :)
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I don't mind seeing the odd bad review, but if there's consistent problems being reported then it's worth a closer look. The user submitted reports are usually more to my liking as they will also cover older cars so you can get a better feel for the long-term. The official surveys I don't pay so much attention to as warranty claims etc can be easily manipulated.

I think most cars will be fine if you look after them well. It's faults from inherent bad designs and the use of very poor quality components that are hard to prevent - and if it's something which causes your whole car to shut down whilst driving (i.e. piezoelectric injectors) then I'd be a little worried, but if it can be fixed then that's not so bad I guess.

Then there's always the problem with how people treat their cars. Servicing alone isn't enough to keep a car from having problems as the way which some people drive will knacker things also (speed bumps, pot holes, slipping the clutch etc). For me, when it comes to a vehicle's history I find receipts far more valuable than a stamp in a service book by a main dealer whose mechanics are on a time-bonus.
 
chiffs said:
Looks alright that.
If you get it just get the swirl flaps removed or diy it. Couple of hours work and plenty of guides online of how to do it.
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I will look into that.. no idea what it is but if i get then will look into as not first time heard that..

gotta see if i can do a deal..they do PX so hopefully.. plus my insurance goes up 400 quid so thats to be factored in..

fingers crossed though :)
 
chiffs said:
Here you go chap, swirl flap removal

http://www.bmwforums.info/general-guides-how-tos/1129-e46-320td-320d-swirl-flap-replacement.html
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Yep, absolutely recommend you get this done.

Sure, you will probably get folk telling you not to worry as percentage of failures is low... but tbh it is not worth the risk. Family member had one fail on his 320D and the engine needed replacing. That is the most likely outcome.

They are a weak spot in an otherwise rather solid engine.
 
Someone might be able to confirm - did this model 3 series have the Teves Mk60 ABS unit? Failure of this has plagued large numbers of VW group cars and even with third party solutions is still an expensive thing to fix.

If so just double check that the ABS light is off (and that it's functioning i.e. when you first turn the ignition on).

Otherwise nice looking car. Did you see this one too? Doesn't mention mileage though.
 
Garry Edwards said:
Hmm.. that seller prices high.
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I have looked at hundreds (well seems like it) same model.. thats a good price compared to the rest.. for the age and milage..

PS .. Plus theres no way in a million years I would buy a used car at exact asking price...
 
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Spuff said:
Someone might be able to confirm - did this model 3 series have the Teves Mk60 ABS unit? Failure of this has plagued large numbers of VW group cars and even with third party solutions is still an expensive thing to fix.

If so just double check that the ABS light is off (and that it's functioning i.e. when you first turn the ignition on).

Otherwise nice looking car. Did you see this one too? Doesn't mention mileage though.
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Apparently so: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring...th-Teves-Mk60-ABSESP-systems-Honest-John.html

I know VW fix it free as long as the car has a service history, but BMW might not be so nice!
 
Decent leather seats are supported and handle the sun fine.
Seat heaters for winter :)
Easier to clean (especially chocolate lol)
Gives the car a more premium feel (that's just my opinion)
Tends to stand up to wear and tear better (especially at the edges)
 
Dont like leather....

Well.......


Bought it! :)

bmw.jpg


12 mths MOT
Full service history
3 mths warranty
104k on clock 2003 car
Cant find a mark on the car.. perfect condition..

Paid £2200 plus my astra whcih was recently quoted at worth £400

pick up friday afternoon...getting the mot done tommorow..
 
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KIPAX said:
Bought it! :)


12 mths MOT
Full service history
3 mths warranty
104k on clock 2003 car
Cant find a mark on the car.. perfect condition..

Paid £2200 plus my astra whcih was recently quoted at worth £400

pick up friday afternoon...getting the mot done tommorow..
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Hope you enjoy it - sounds like a good deal :thumbs:
 
Mileage sounds about right, 10K a year. Is it their own 3 month warranty or is it one with AutoProtect or similar? I'd spend the next few weeks driving it in every which way possible and keeping an ear out for any unsual noises etc whilst in warranty.

Good luck and hope you enjoy it! :)
 
Its all big hills and country lanes for 15 miles.. then half an hr on moteerway to get home... I have acontact who has same car but 04 .. stright to his house and compare... reasoning being.. after 5 yrs he knows what it should sound like.. i dont..

its the same for any used car though isnt it.. get a short warranty and you should know in that time if anyhting serious going on.. MOT day before you pick it up helps..
 
KIPAX said:
MOT day before you pick it up helps..
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Make sure you get a report of anything that needed doing to get it through an MOT.

Because you can be completely sure it will have been done with the cheapest parts going, and will need doing properly in a few months.
 
Looks a nice motor. Hope all goes well with it.

<boring mode> Would be quite interested on what sort of mpg you get out of it once you've had it a while. </boring mode>
 
DorsetDude said:
<boring mode> Would be quite interested on what sort of mpg you get out of it once you've had it a while. </boring mode>
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I get 60 miles for 10 quid in the 1600 petrol astra... I will be happy to get that or better in a 2ltr deisel.. both around same age and milage.. I dont do too many long m-way trips but do go from town to town.. dual carriageways ect


PS what a gallon of petrol or a gallon of diesel.. about 5 quid?
 
I reckon you'll get 70 miles for your tenner once the novelty of Huhning it has worn off.

Gallon of petrol is £6.08
Gallon of diesel is £6.27

(assuming 1.34 and 1.38 per litre respectively)
 
Spuff said:
I reckon you'll get 70 miles for your tenner once the novelty of Huhning it has worn off.
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hehe if it does.. when i passed my driving test loads of peopel said the novelty will wear off... a lifetime later and i still love driving :)

Spuff said:
Gallon of petrol is £6.08
Gallon of diesel is £6.27

(assuming 1.34 and 1.38 per litre respectively)
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wow.. wasnt even getting 30mpg out the astra then...


ta.....
 
oh wow... double triple wow :)

just got back.. 9 miles of coutry lanes wiht steep hills twists.. then moterway.. an hrs drive home... what a car... tell you what its nippier than the astra.. touch that peddle half way up a steep hil and yer off


its by far the comfiest car i ever drove..

passed the mot.. no jobs and no advisories...


so far so good.... big smile on my face.. its a used 10 yr old car.. still the dogs whatsists though ... I ahve a nearly new peugot 207 1.4 ... i dont think i will be drivign that much.. let the wife look after that haha :)
 
KIPAX said:
oh wow... double triple wow :)

just got back.. 9 miles of coutry lanes wiht steep hills twists.. then moterway.. an hrs drive home... what a car... tell you what its nippier than the astra.. touch that peddle half way up a steep hil and yer off


its by far the comfiest car i ever drove..

passed the mot.. no jobs and no advisories...


so far so good.... big smile on my face.. its a used 10 yr old car.. still the dogs whatsists though ... I ahve a nearly new peugot 207 1.4 ... i dont think i will be drivign that much.. let the wife look after that haha :)
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Did you get to sleep last night? :lol:
 
KIPAX said:
oh wow... double triple wow :)

just got back.. 9 miles of coutry lanes wiht steep hills twists.. then moterway.. an hrs drive home... what a car... tell you what its nippier than the astra.. touch that peddle half way up a steep hil and yer off


its by far the comfiest car i ever drove..

passed the mot.. no jobs and no advisories...


so far so good.... big smile on my face.. its a used 10 yr old car.. still the dogs whatsists though ... I ahve a nearly new peugot 207 1.4 ... i dont think i will be drivign that much.. let the wife look after that haha :)
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Happy Motoring and enjoy!
 
A few years ago my youngest son bought a top of the line Mercedes 2.3 litre petrol engined supercharged car, it was a bit older than yours at the time.

He still has it, loves it to bits and it has cost him virtually nothing to keep on the road (apart from insurance:)) And the performance and roadholding is amazing.

Enjoy your car, you'll never want to drive an ordinary family car again!
 
en out and about tonight... compared it with a 2004 same model .. sounds just the same.. i didnt know what mine was supposed to sound like...so its nice to know it compares well..

thats my first ever cruise control experience...

found the cd player in the boot.. thats wierd


turned the mat over in the boot so its rubber side up ready for my dirty peli case this weekend if its wet..

so..done 80 miles... country lanes. hills. moterways.. around town and a traffic jam.. done the lot.. still happy... busy work weekend ahead so no time to play until next week..
 
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