Looking to buy a 4 series

[neil5061]

Hello all. Ive been following this forum for a while. I'm not in the market for a BMW but am on a strict budget so will be looking for advice as to whether I am being realistic.

I would like to purchase a used 420d or 420i at the end of December or January.

My budget is 22K with max i could go up to around 23K.

Having looked on the used BMW website I can see cars around 24K.

1)Would it be realistic to think I could purchase one for this kind of price.
2)Whats haggling with dealers like
3) Whens the best time to buy a used car

Thanks

[neil5061]

neil5061 said:

Hello all. Ive been following this forum for a while. I'm not in the market for a BMW but am on a strict budget so will be looking for advice as to whether I am being realistic.

I would like to purchase a used 420d or 420i at the end of December or January.

My budget is 22K with max i could go up to around 23K.

Having looked on the used BMW website I can see cars around 24K.

1)Would it be realistic to think I could purchase one for this kind of price.
2)Whats haggling with dealers like
3) Whens the best time to buy a used car

Thanks

bump

[daemon]

The best time to buy the car is when you need it. ie, it will always be cheaper later.

If you're ready to buy in january i would have thought there should be cars avail then that with a bit of haggling could be bought for £23K.

[nickfrog]

Have you considered a 2-series ? Smaller footprint, weight, cost. Better performance but hardly smaller inside ?

Edited by nickfrog on Saturday 6th December 12:38

[Buster73]

My son has a 220 D M sport auto , it's a cracking car and surprisingly fast.

Don't write it off without having a road test first.

[smashy]

If you get that car with a 2 ltr diesel engine you will be getting an old engine ,the new engine B47 is in the 2 series active tourer (not 2 series coupe) and 5 series right now will soon go into the other models.
If I had bought a 220d or 320d or 420d id be gutted and the BMW salesaman keep nice and quiet about this.

[craigjm]

smashy said:

If you get that car with a 2 ltr diesel engine you will be getting an old engine ,the new engine B47 is in the 2 series active tourer (not 2 series coupe) and 5 series right now will soon go into the other models.
If I had bought a 220d or 320d or 420d id be gutted and the BMW salesaman keep nice and quiet about this.

He wants to buy a used one so even if they put a new lump in the 4 series now it wont impact on his decision will it

[smashy]

Very good point , I was speaking aloud really prompted by busters post, re buying new.

[Buster73]

smashy said:

Very good point , I was speaking aloud really prompted by busters post, re buying new.

I've just taken delivery of a 520 d M sport auto with the latest engine upgrade , and pardon my lack of skill but I'd be buggered if I can tell the difference between the two engines.

[smashy]

The difference is buster hopefully unlike the N47 it wont fall apart

[Snollygoster]

Neil, just an FYI, you will probably get half the consumption in a 20i over a 20d.

If they are £24k, and you need one for £23k, there maybe some dealer out there will do it. There's not a great deal of used stuff out there, just ex demo, head office, and ex rental cars as they haven't been out long enough yet; which most spec the M Sport trim which will obviously be higher.

Cheapest car I could see was £24.5. You could always get a 0% credit card and put the extra £1,500 on it and pay it back 12 months (or however long they are) down the line.

[daemon]

Snollygoster said:

Neil, just an FYI, you will probably get half the consumption in a 20i over a 20d.

My wife has that 2.0i turbo engine in her z4 and gets around 34mpg from it. She drives it like she stole it.

I'd say if driven "normally" it would do 37mpg.

I think in the real world a 420d might do 55mpg.

[Fox-]

Snollygoster said:

Neil, just an FYI, you will probably get half the consumption in a 20i over a 20d.

No, you won't, and its the constant perpetuation of this myth that is responsible for the enormously overwhelining relevance of diesels on the used market now

[smashy]

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/bmw/3-series-f...

Diesels are for the likes of me 25k a year plenty of motorways. ...or another poster on here who hardly gets in the car but when they do its a specific 100 mile there and back journey with motorway.
I never realised this till I got into car forums but its true,urban driving causes them pain and not brilliant mpg.

[gizlaroc]

Fox- said:

No, you won't, and its the constant perpetuation of this myth that is responsible for the enormously overwhelining relevance of diesels on the used market now

If someone gets 50mpg in the 320d they will see close to 40 in the 320i, if they average 45mpg in the 320d they will get 35mpg in the 320i.

You're talking around 20% difference for most drivers.

[medieval]

daemon said:

Snollygoster said:

Neil, just an FYI, you will probably get half the consumption in a 20i over a 20d.

My wife has that 2.0i turbo engine in her z4 and gets around 34mpg from it. She drives it like she stole it.

I'd say if driven "normally" it would do 37mpg.

I think in the real world a 420d might do 55mpg.

Not far off Daemon - my 420d is managing a steady 53mpg even including some pressing on time as it were

Fairly small fuel tank though at approximately 600 miles

[neil5061]

Hi guys thanks for the responses. I have looked at the 2 series in extensive detail but i ruled it out as the still around 21K. 3K for a four series seems like the right bet,

I would rather have a petrol if i am being honest. I currently am driving 60miles per day but from next august my commute will be less than 5miles. The 420i i test drove was only getting 21mpg which was disappointing but I have no idea how that car was being driven.

This may have been asked but how would my drive be in the winter with snow and ice. Hopefully I will miss it this year but for the future?

Thanks

[smashy]

neil ,it will be impossible on the snow and Ice without winter tyres,

[Fox-]

smashy said:

neil ,it will be impossible on the snow and Ice

Like most of us Neil probably lives in a country with a climate whereby this isn't exactly a huge consideration when picking a car.

[neil5061]

Lol I live in England. So my worry is for I will be without a car for a few weeks a year.

Not a deal breaker but still disappointing.

With winter tyres is it as if you're diving normally or is if still difficult?