Cheap BMWs sub £1k talk to me!

[Somnophore]

So I'm going to be selling my mk4 golf as I'm not that fussed with it, could do with the cash at the moment and only need a car to get me short distance 5 miles to work and occasional social domestic stuff.

Looking at a car around the 700-900 £ mark

now I've been thinking most cars at this price are a gamble, buy on condition etc etc

I've seen a few bmws, would have to be 318/320 insurance wise as I've got no no claims.

Wondering what's best for that budget, will they all be dogs, will they be likely to last me a year or so so I can save for a nice car. Should I be looking E30/E36 or what, I quite like the idea of a touring just for practicality don't know why, think they seem to sell cheaper too, any experiences with cheap bmws?

[911p]

[Garett]

My bro bought an E36 318i for £650, its done 175k and it runs all over, Cornwall to Lancashire and back in the last week, solid old motor. Yes its a bit scruffy inside, seats have worn and are a bit torn and the air-con doesn't work (might just need a re-gas) but it sailed through its last MOT and he's had it nearly 12 months now with no major issues.

I'm sure if you've a grand to spent you can find a much tidier example.

[Matt UK]

Find an extra £200 and buy this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1901930.htm

ETA, didn't see the insurance bit - this looks OK:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1596592.htm

Edited by Matt UK on Tuesday 27th July 00:00

[ukwill]

Somnophore said:

So I'm going to be selling my mk4 golf as I'm not that fussed with it, could do with the cash at the moment and only need a car to get me short distance 5 miles to work and occasional social domestic stuff.

Looking at a car around the 700-900 £ mark

now I've been thinking most cars at this price are a gamble, buy on condition etc etc

I've seen a few bmws, would have to be 318/320 insurance wise as I've got no no claims.

Wondering what's best for that budget, will they all be dogs, will they be likely to last me a year or so so I can save for a nice car. Should I be looking E30/E36 or what, I quite like the idea of a touring just for practicality don't know why, think they seem to sell cheaper too, any experiences with cheap bmws?

Not all BMWs, but all sub 1k and will do the job

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1798732.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1831279.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1788874.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1841590.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1835894.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1897380.htm

Edited by ukwill on Tuesday 27th July 00:03

[911p]

Shirley something like this would fit the bill nicely?

[Sim89]

E30 318 touring all day long.

[Somnophore]

What do we think about something like that

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1829592.htm

I'll look at audis too but always fancied a bimmer and audis seem to come out more to insure

[cpl_payne]

I've had 4 sub £1000 BMWs so far (e30), they've taken me all over UK - Lake District, Wales, Cornwall, Scotland. The current one went to Latvia and back on a 3000 mile roadtrip.

I can't say they've all been faultless but you can't really expect them to be, can you? All the faults have been peanuts to fix and if you can wield a spanner yourself you'd be surprised at how reasonable the part prices are, even directly from BMW.

Neither 318 nor 320 will set the world on fire but 320i is smoother engine.

[Somnophore]

Any advice on buying? What to look for, E30 a better buy at that price than a E36?

[raf_gti]

Somnophore said:

What do we think about something like that

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1829592.htm

I'll look at audis too but always fancied a bimmer and audis seem to come out more to insure

Nothing really to add but that does look a rather nice example for the money. I should imagine that for the sort of money it is unlikely you will really lose any money on it.

[cpl_payne]

Somnophore said:

Any advice on buying? What to look for, E30 a better buy at that price than a E36?

As far as advice goes you can't really do better than e30zone, quite a few people also run e36 on there. Worth signing up even if you end up buying e36.

Hard to say on which one is a better buy - depends on what you're looking for. e30 is older with some rust almost certain to appear. e36 is more modern, quieter and and won't feel as fast.

If I were you I'd look for best maintained, cleanest example and wouldn't get too hung up on spec, colour and model.

[norman156]

Somnophore said:

Any advice on buying? What to look for, E30 a better buy at that price than a E36?

Whilst the E30 is definitely the more handsome of the two and the car I'd personally prefer, you might struggle with a sub £1k budget, cheaper ones seem to be a little rare now. You're money will go much further with an E36, I bagged a 328i last year for £850 (albeit with a few niggles). Also worth considering an E34 5 series, a 525i is what I'd be looking at, though if insurance is an issue you could always try the 520 or 518

Edited by norman156 on Tuesday 27th July 10:36

[aka_kerrly]

i spent £200 on a E30 318i with 140k, some SH, obvious previous crash damage and it was a dog, but it got me to and from work everyday for 8months in which time i spent £100 on a fuel pump and £100 on a back box. Eventually i blew the engine and made nearly half my money back by selling the interior and kept a few bits including a M3 replica spoiler with brake light in it which could well be worth some £££ to the right person.

In short they are cheap to buy, cheap to run and when they do go wrong most parts from GSF are quite reasonably priced, there a lots of BMW breakers and if it does go horribly wrong most BMW are worth more in parts.

Dave