Buying an older used BMW - any tips?
Discussion
Hi guys,
Been round the houses on newer car vs older car over on the main forum. Having had a look through autotrader, am entirely surprised that I can pick up a 2000 - 2003 BMW 3 or 5 series for anywhere from £1k to £2k.
But I'm not sure what variants to look for. This will be a family car, so larger is better and prefer the tourers. Good fuel economy is important but so is a bit of punch, so want to avoid both the low performance engines and the high performing ones and go in the middle.
Will a BMW of this age be a money pit? I know condition will be important rather than mileage, but would be looking for around the 100k mile mark probably. Seems to be several on the market.
Any advice is appreciated. This will be replacing a 2003 ford mondeo TDCi hatchback, 190k miles which has seen better days.
Thanks
Been round the houses on newer car vs older car over on the main forum. Having had a look through autotrader, am entirely surprised that I can pick up a 2000 - 2003 BMW 3 or 5 series for anywhere from £1k to £2k.
But I'm not sure what variants to look for. This will be a family car, so larger is better and prefer the tourers. Good fuel economy is important but so is a bit of punch, so want to avoid both the low performance engines and the high performing ones and go in the middle.
Will a BMW of this age be a money pit? I know condition will be important rather than mileage, but would be looking for around the 100k mile mark probably. Seems to be several on the market.
Any advice is appreciated. This will be replacing a 2003 ford mondeo TDCi hatchback, 190k miles which has seen better days.
Thanks
Kids bikes any my bike will be needing transport so thats the main reason. Plus ikea stuff on a semi regular basis. Ive had a half dismantled bunk bed in my mondy before. Its that kind of practicality i will still require.
Id love to be able to replace suspension components myself. Not sure i have the required skills having never worked on cars before.
Looking through AT there seem to be a range of prices with the diesel and petrol engines, cant see a pattern to it.
Id love to be able to replace suspension components myself. Not sure i have the required skills having never worked on cars before.
Looking through AT there seem to be a range of prices with the diesel and petrol engines, cant see a pattern to it.
From what I've seen the petrols are around 28mpg average, compared to my 45mpg mondeo that's quite a hit doing 12k per year.
Only a couple of manual diesels for under £3k and very high mileages. Most diesels are autos.
This one seems ok on the face of it? 3 litre diesel auto with 109k miles for only £1500. According to advert mpg is 37 average.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Only a couple of manual diesels for under £3k and very high mileages. Most diesels are autos.
This one seems ok on the face of it? 3 litre diesel auto with 109k miles for only £1500. According to advert mpg is 37 average.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Guys I've reconsidered my budget and would now be looking to spend up to £6k, not the £2k I mentioned at the top of the thread.
So for £6k I can get around a 2006 to 2008 model, depending on the mileage.
I would like to know about the different engine options I have. On another thread of mine, the 530i petrol engine has been suggested, but clearly not many of these around in the first place let alone for £6k, and running costs would probably be too much.
What about the lesser 2.5 litre petrol? On the downside there are not many manuals around and the autos take a hit on mpg.
And the diesels, now on my other thread diesels have been recommended to avoid because of issues such as DMF or DPF. I had to replace a DMF on my current mondy once and it was expensive so a cost I would rather avoid. But if its a one in ten year occurance then the fuel economy difference probably makes up for it?
There is a much greater choice in diesels, hardly any choice in manual petrols. Don't know what to do.
So for £6k I can get around a 2006 to 2008 model, depending on the mileage.
I would like to know about the different engine options I have. On another thread of mine, the 530i petrol engine has been suggested, but clearly not many of these around in the first place let alone for £6k, and running costs would probably be too much.
What about the lesser 2.5 litre petrol? On the downside there are not many manuals around and the autos take a hit on mpg.
And the diesels, now on my other thread diesels have been recommended to avoid because of issues such as DMF or DPF. I had to replace a DMF on my current mondy once and it was expensive so a cost I would rather avoid. But if its a one in ten year occurance then the fuel economy difference probably makes up for it?
There is a much greater choice in diesels, hardly any choice in manual petrols. Don't know what to do.
Edited by danlightbulb on Tuesday 1st September 22:12
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