Would you buy a car with high miles?
Discussion
I would rather take a vehicle that had completed 100k on the motorway than one that had completed 50k in town/city Traffic.
A vehicle with high mileage still has loads of life left if it has a good documented history and has spent most of its life as a motorway mile muncher.
Nothing worse than a low mileage vehicle that has always done short runs, never getting to a decent operating temperature, had loads of gear changes and never really been used properley.
The e39 has been mentioned a few times on this thread, amazing vehicles even with galactic miles.
A vehicle with high mileage still has loads of life left if it has a good documented history and has spent most of its life as a motorway mile muncher.
Nothing worse than a low mileage vehicle that has always done short runs, never getting to a decent operating temperature, had loads of gear changes and never really been used properley.
The e39 has been mentioned a few times on this thread, amazing vehicles even with galactic miles.
Well I've learnt my lesson with my last car, a VW 1.9 TDI, where everyone said, "the engines will run to 250k with very little problems", and yes they might well do. But the bits that make the engine go, i.e injectors/turbo/fuel pump, and in the case of the 1.9 VW engine, cams, don't.
So. if you are picking up a 100k diesel engine,(and to some extent) a turbo petrol engine, then, there's a good chance you are possibly going to see, as i did, within the next 30k miles;
£1200 for a new turbo
£600 x 4 for the injectors = £2400
£300 for the tandem fuel pump + extra for the lift pump.
+ numerous other little diagnostic checks around the above, they all add up.
So after my last diesel, I've gone back to petrol......nope, the savings in fuel are still way better than petrol for me, but I'm putting £2k away a year to allow me to change my SEAT sport, after 4 years and less than 100k miles, before I get into the same catch 22 situation I was in with my last motor, not knowing whether to repair or replace the car.
So. if you are picking up a 100k diesel engine,(and to some extent) a turbo petrol engine, then, there's a good chance you are possibly going to see, as i did, within the next 30k miles;
£1200 for a new turbo
£600 x 4 for the injectors = £2400
£300 for the tandem fuel pump + extra for the lift pump.
+ numerous other little diagnostic checks around the above, they all add up.
So after my last diesel, I've gone back to petrol......nope, the savings in fuel are still way better than petrol for me, but I'm putting £2k away a year to allow me to change my SEAT sport, after 4 years and less than 100k miles, before I get into the same catch 22 situation I was in with my last motor, not knowing whether to repair or replace the car.
In a word, yes. 
I bought my 2.0 Audi Coupe when it was sitting on 130k miles. I sold it when it was sat on 174k miles. I had 44k miles of motoring bliss and I'm 100% certain it would have lasted another 170k if it wasn't for the prat who bought it and killed it on the journey home.
The S2 was sat on 133k miles when I bought it 5 years ago and it's now covered 163k miles (and for sale..
) but it's in fantastic condition and really feels quite rapid, even by today's standards. I'm certainly going to miss it.
The 540i I've recently bought is sat on 124k miles and feels fairly tight and has lost all of 3bhp since 1996 when it rolled off the production line. I suspect this will last me a long while yet!
I bought my 2.0 Audi Coupe when it was sitting on 130k miles. I sold it when it was sat on 174k miles. I had 44k miles of motoring bliss and I'm 100% certain it would have lasted another 170k if it wasn't for the prat who bought it and killed it on the journey home.
The S2 was sat on 133k miles when I bought it 5 years ago and it's now covered 163k miles (and for sale..
) but it's in fantastic condition and really feels quite rapid, even by today's standards. I'm certainly going to miss it.The 540i I've recently bought is sat on 124k miles and feels fairly tight and has lost all of 3bhp since 1996 when it rolled off the production line. I suspect this will last me a long while yet!
That's the problem with reported high mileage motors, they're like Triggers Broom, Iknow, I owned one, they don't tell of the amount of work and cost to get them to those miles. I'm certain people own cars that have gone big miles, and cost them little, but I'd wager they are in the minority, and lets face it even the specialists, not dealers, say that at 150k you are looking at new injectors on the VAG PD engines, cheapest I saw them at was £450 each.
There's alot of talk and reports coming in lately from different forums, club sites, directed at the cost of the long term maintenance of modern performance diesels, like the PD/TDCI/D's, due to the costs of the injectors/turbos/high pressure pumps/DM flywheels etc, these engines are now starting to hit those high mileages, before that they were just the good old fashioned low performance diesels, and the cracks are starting to show, case of, fine when they are running, but potential money pits, for the private owner when they a not. Of course alot of this issue is covered over by the fact that the majority are run by companies and fleets and, they used to pay whatever the cost, but as the strings start to get pulled tighter, maybe this feature of modern diesels might be highlighted more, I've certainly seen it mentioned on one or two sites, and magazines.
There's alot of talk and reports coming in lately from different forums, club sites, directed at the cost of the long term maintenance of modern performance diesels, like the PD/TDCI/D's, due to the costs of the injectors/turbos/high pressure pumps/DM flywheels etc, these engines are now starting to hit those high mileages, before that they were just the good old fashioned low performance diesels, and the cracks are starting to show, case of, fine when they are running, but potential money pits, for the private owner when they a not. Of course alot of this issue is covered over by the fact that the majority are run by companies and fleets and, they used to pay whatever the cost, but as the strings start to get pulled tighter, maybe this feature of modern diesels might be highlighted more, I've certainly seen it mentioned on one or two sites, and magazines.
Edited by icepop on Sunday 24th April 00:41
icepop said:
That's the problem with reported high mileage motors, they're like Triggers Broom, Iknow, I owned one, they don't tell of the amount of work and cost to get them to those miles. I'm certain people own cars that have gone big miles, and cost them little, but I'd wager they are in the minority, and lets face it even the specialists, not dealers, say that at 150k you are looking at new injectors on the VAG PD engines, cheapest I saw them at was £450 each.
To an extent, you're right I guess.My S2 still has all the original running gear, original turbo, original and unmolested engine and the original gearbox which is pretty impressive after 160k miles and 20 years! The only things changed/upgraded is the brakes (originals were good until you used them heavily more than four times in quick succession), suspension, air-intake (replaced with RS2 air-intake) and a re-map.
If you do your homework, you can find a decent car with sensible upgrades for sensible money. Older cars often go through consumables a little more often but then again, they're just that, consumables.
When I'm sat in a slightly better situation, I'll be on the hunt for an E39 M5 that has been well maintained and looked after regardless of how many miles it has covered.
Robatr0n said:
icepop said:
That's the problem with reported high mileage motors, they're like Triggers Broom, Iknow, I owned one, they don't tell of the amount of work and cost to get them to those miles. I'm certain people own cars that have gone big miles, and cost them little, but I'd wager they are in the minority, and lets face it even the specialists, not dealers, say that at 150k you are looking at new injectors on the VAG PD engines, cheapest I saw them at was £450 each.
To an extent, you're right I guess.My S2 still has all the original running gear, original turbo, original and unmolested engine and the original gearbox which is pretty impressive after 160k miles and 20 years! The only things changed/upgraded is the brakes (originals were good until you used them heavily more than four times in quick succession), suspension, air-intake (replaced with RS2 air-intake) and a re-map.
If you do your homework, you can find a decent car with sensible upgrades for sensible money. Older cars often go through consumables a little more often but then again, they're just that, consumables.
When I'm sat in a slightly better situation, I'll be on the hunt for an E39 M5 that has been well maintained and looked after regardless of how many miles it has covered.
S8, 241k on clock when i bought her a few weeks back. 2k in and she is returning better than spec MPG, pulls like a train and handles great. Only clue as to the mileage is an occasionally rough change from neutral to reverse. Great car and any car with a decent sized engine that has been well looked after should go on for a huge milage without too much of a problem.
I have always owned quality marques. Usually high milers with full service history and receipts, low total owners and try to buy from a well heeled sort. There are a great many middle class professional people who keep their cars for several years..those are the ones I go for..and try to research original factory specs and go for one of those..never had a problem following these rules..and never needed to hpi or had any hidden problems
as long as modern cars are well serviced they should keep going..particularly the premium brands..though some modern cars do rely rather heavily on technology/electrics and I wonder what the long term cost of fettling all these gizmos will be!!?
as long as modern cars are well serviced they should keep going..particularly the premium brands..though some modern cars do rely rather heavily on technology/electrics and I wonder what the long term cost of fettling all these gizmos will be!!?
icepop said:
Robatr0n said:
icepop said:
That's the problem with reported high mileage motors, they're like Triggers Broom, Iknow, I owned one, they don't tell of the amount of work and cost to get them to those miles. I'm certain people own cars that have gone big miles, and cost them little, but I'd wager they are in the minority, and lets face it even the specialists, not dealers, say that at 150k you are looking at new injectors on the VAG PD engines, cheapest I saw them at was £450 each.
To an extent, you're right I guess.My S2 still has all the original running gear, original turbo, original and unmolested engine and the original gearbox which is pretty impressive after 160k miles and 20 years! The only things changed/upgraded is the brakes (originals were good until you used them heavily more than four times in quick succession), suspension, air-intake (replaced with RS2 air-intake) and a re-map.
If you do your homework, you can find a decent car with sensible upgrades for sensible money. Older cars often go through consumables a little more often but then again, they're just that, consumables.
When I'm sat in a slightly better situation, I'll be on the hunt for an E39 M5 that has been well maintained and looked after regardless of how many miles it has covered.
But we have to remember that buying second hand is always an unknown quantity. As it happens, I'd rather have a car that has been owned by an enthusiast rather than full having full service history. Why? Well, some dealerships don't seem to know their arse from their elbow.
Twice now I've taken the S2 to an Audi dealership and have been told that they've never made an S2 and I must mean the A2 FSi.
Maybe some cars are just screwed together better than others regardless of marques? If that is the case then I've certainly been lucky over the years.
Robatr0n said:
Perhaps!
But we have to remember that buying second hand is always an unknown quantity. As it happens, I'd rather have a car that has been owned by an enthusiast rather than full having full service history. Why? Well, some dealerships don't seem to know their arse from their elbow.
Twice now I've taken the S2 to an Audi dealership and have been told that they've never made an S2 and I must mean the A2 FSi.
Maybe some cars are just screwed together better than others regardless of marques? If that is the case then I've certainly been lucky over the years.
That is amazing, you should ask, as the car does not exsist, that it's serviced for free.
But we have to remember that buying second hand is always an unknown quantity. As it happens, I'd rather have a car that has been owned by an enthusiast rather than full having full service history. Why? Well, some dealerships don't seem to know their arse from their elbow.
Twice now I've taken the S2 to an Audi dealership and have been told that they've never made an S2 and I must mean the A2 FSi.
Maybe some cars are just screwed together better than others regardless of marques? If that is the case then I've certainly been lucky over the years.
That is amazing, you should ask, as the car does not exsist, that it's serviced for free.
I had a 181k mile 2001 330i and it felt tight and ran well. Fair enough I only had it for 6 months but when I looked at the (extensive) service history there weren't any eye-popping bills - it was still on the original clutch for instance. You could tell it wasn't new but was more than good enough for a daily.
parapaul said:
Just have done 2007 330d with 82k on it. Fully serviced, obviously maintained, and drives like the 4 year old car it is, not the 80k car it could be.
It's hardly high mileage for a diesel BMW anyway is it? Seen ex fleet examples well into 150k miles at that age 2007 330d with 82k on it. Fully serviced, obviously maintained, and drives like the 4 year old car it is, not the 80k car it could be.
Enjoy it
Acheron said:
hornetrider said:
Your fuel bill is killing you but you're spending 10k on a new car? 
Well, the part ex value obviously comes into it. Im fed up of constantly filling up, im doing more miles now, and im a bit fed up of the mondeo.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff