High mileage E90 3-series'?
Discussion
Apologies for those who post on the BMW forum, this is a repost from there, but was hoping for a wider spec/audience here.
Looking for an E90 3 series, touring or saloon. iDrive would be a massive bonus, must not be leather and must be M Sport.
I've considered 330i but one of the reasons my ST220 pisses me off (along with having horrible leather seats) is the fuel cost.
I considered a 330d, and i suppose i get the performance, but not a massive MPG gain.
So, the only obvious choice i guess is the 320d. However, for my budget of about 8/9k, im struggling for one with iDrive. One with iDrive and Xenons is impossible at that price.
So, the next step down is a standard 320d M Sport with cloth interior. However, i'd say 95% of them have over 110k.
Is this a really bad thing? I know you buy a car based on condition, service history and all that kind of stuff, but just after general opinions on these things with intergalactic mileage. I'd probably end up doing about 30k miles before i end up getting rid, so unsure what resale will be like.
In reality, i've got a budget of around £20k, which i know would get me the best 3 series in the world, but i cant justify spending all that on a car, so have limited myself to 8k, 9k max.
smile
Eta: I know i might get one on a private sale at this price, but it means selling mine aswell, and i just find it hard to trust a private sale with this amount of money. I know some garages arent much better, and there's probably some real private gems out there, but it's being able to differentiate.
Looking for an E90 3 series, touring or saloon. iDrive would be a massive bonus, must not be leather and must be M Sport.
I've considered 330i but one of the reasons my ST220 pisses me off (along with having horrible leather seats) is the fuel cost.
I considered a 330d, and i suppose i get the performance, but not a massive MPG gain.
So, the only obvious choice i guess is the 320d. However, for my budget of about 8/9k, im struggling for one with iDrive. One with iDrive and Xenons is impossible at that price.
So, the next step down is a standard 320d M Sport with cloth interior. However, i'd say 95% of them have over 110k.
Is this a really bad thing? I know you buy a car based on condition, service history and all that kind of stuff, but just after general opinions on these things with intergalactic mileage. I'd probably end up doing about 30k miles before i end up getting rid, so unsure what resale will be like.
In reality, i've got a budget of around £20k, which i know would get me the best 3 series in the world, but i cant justify spending all that on a car, so have limited myself to 8k, 9k max.
smile
Eta: I know i might get one on a private sale at this price, but it means selling mine aswell, and i just find it hard to trust a private sale with this amount of money. I know some garages arent much better, and there's probably some real private gems out there, but it's being able to differentiate.
I have read quite a few letters etc in the motoring press regarding early 320d's blowing turbo's so I would check on that before purchasing.
Mine is a company car, and I cant fault them at all its great, however I would say the cloth interior is pretty grim, and sweet jesus dont get one without sports seats, the SE's are literally flat.
I spec'd the half leather which would be a nice compromise if you can find one as these are sports seats by default and are only a £750 premium when new (so i would guess more common)
Good luck, tbh I wouldnt want a car with 100k+ miles at all, I would be looking elsewhere but that is personal preference...
Mine is a company car, and I cant fault them at all its great, however I would say the cloth interior is pretty grim, and sweet jesus dont get one without sports seats, the SE's are literally flat.
I spec'd the half leather which would be a nice compromise if you can find one as these are sports seats by default and are only a £750 premium when new (so i would guess more common)
Good luck, tbh I wouldnt want a car with 100k+ miles at all, I would be looking elsewhere but that is personal preference...
The swirl flap issue was improved with the E90, but removing them for blanking plates is the answer, have a search for PMW in Chelmsford.
You'll get an MSport for less not wanting leather, so that's a good thing. Leather is sought after.
I had a 520D manual that would see 50+ on a run, and an average of 47.
Buying a high mileage diesel is a risk with possible costly bills. A 330i manual has a lot less to go wrong, it will be less economical - low 30s, but will be probably be more reliable. And it's a 6 cyl
You'll get an MSport for less not wanting leather, so that's a good thing. Leather is sought after.
I had a 520D manual that would see 50+ on a run, and an average of 47.
Buying a high mileage diesel is a risk with possible costly bills. A 330i manual has a lot less to go wrong, it will be less economical - low 30s, but will be probably be more reliable. And it's a 6 cyl
You have fallen hook, line and sinker into the BMW options bulls
t, a BMW brochure is porn for the car geek, proffessional this and that, Widescreen, Pro, Business, Nappa, Carbon Pack, Winter Pack, Business Plus, individual, Idrive, Xenon, Sports, alloys, courtesy pack, dual zone, its endless......
You get pretty much 90 percent of the same car, that sometimes drives better than the specced up one for less money, I think alot of people buy the car for resale and to impress than for what they actually need or want.
Amazing how a 320d can get such good reviews but is so awful unless ladled with "goodies" and then at the other end of the scale we get all frothy because they have taken all the crap off, made it lighter and called it a CSL.
I hate the way people call a car "Poverty spec", people in poverty dont have cars, least of all new BMW's of any model designation, even the lowest model 320d will come with electric this and that, air con and a radio. I reckon they will throw some paint on even if you dont spec the metallic, Pearlescent, taste the difference, individual sparkly glitter paint, in fact with white being so trendy nowadays, how do they hammer you for that as people actually want it and surely the one you want should cost extra ?
t, a BMW brochure is porn for the car geek, proffessional this and that, Widescreen, Pro, Business, Nappa, Carbon Pack, Winter Pack, Business Plus, individual, Idrive, Xenon, Sports, alloys, courtesy pack, dual zone, its endless......You get pretty much 90 percent of the same car, that sometimes drives better than the specced up one for less money, I think alot of people buy the car for resale and to impress than for what they actually need or want.
Amazing how a 320d can get such good reviews but is so awful unless ladled with "goodies" and then at the other end of the scale we get all frothy because they have taken all the crap off, made it lighter and called it a CSL.
I hate the way people call a car "Poverty spec", people in poverty dont have cars, least of all new BMW's of any model designation, even the lowest model 320d will come with electric this and that, air con and a radio. I reckon they will throw some paint on even if you dont spec the metallic, Pearlescent, taste the difference, individual sparkly glitter paint, in fact with white being so trendy nowadays, how do they hammer you for that as people actually want it and surely the one you want should cost extra ?
It's natural that diesels will tend to have much higher mileages for their age than petrols due to buyers' choices throughout a car's life based on their intended mileage. However, so passionate have buyers become about fuel economy that the used car market now makes you pretty much pay 100% upfront (at purchase) for those anticipated fuel savings. Perhaps more than 100% if you aren't doing huge miles.
To get fuel savings without a huge huge premium, you can buy a high mileage diesel, but presumably you are then closer to big ticket maintenance costs so you are simply getting a discount on mileage to reflect that.
There's no single answer that will suit everyone. You just have to choose which kind of cash flow profile and set of risks you would rather face...along with how much you would enjoy living with each of the various different cars. My personal view is that the world in general has gone far more fanatical about economy and diesel than I ever would, I don't do huge miles and I couldn't live with the tractor noises on a cold start, or the low revving leaden character of most diesels, so petrol is the obvious choice for me
To get fuel savings without a huge huge premium, you can buy a high mileage diesel, but presumably you are then closer to big ticket maintenance costs so you are simply getting a discount on mileage to reflect that.
There's no single answer that will suit everyone. You just have to choose which kind of cash flow profile and set of risks you would rather face...along with how much you would enjoy living with each of the various different cars. My personal view is that the world in general has gone far more fanatical about economy and diesel than I ever would, I don't do huge miles and I couldn't live with the tractor noises on a cold start, or the low revving leaden character of most diesels, so petrol is the obvious choice for me
Yes, a lot of buyers will pay vast amounts to buy an economical car, secure in the knowledge that it will be almost free to run compared to the petrol ones which require a visit to the petrol station that costs £100 every trip (if it doesnt break down or wear out first as diesel last for ever apparently) and will eat small children.
The reality of diesels is they are nice to drive comapred to a smaller engined petrol and are generally good on fuel but diesel costs more and they do seem to have quite a few ramdom fails like DPF's injectors, turbos etc.
The reality of diesels is they are nice to drive comapred to a smaller engined petrol and are generally good on fuel but diesel costs more and they do seem to have quite a few ramdom fails like DPF's injectors, turbos etc.
J4CKO said:
You have fallen hook, line and sinker into the BMW options bullst, a BMW brochure is porn for the car geek, professional this and that, Widescreen, Pro, Business, Nappa, Carbon Pack, Winter Pack, Business Plus, individual, Idrive, Xenon, Sports, alloys, courtesy pack, dual zone, its endless......
You get pretty much 90 percent of the same car, that sometimes drives better than the specced up one for less money, I think a lot of people buy the car for resale and to impress than for what they actually need or want.
This is true unfortunately. When hunting for an F10 I didn't want the 7" screen I wanted the 10", I didn't want an SE I wanted an ///M (yet it’s a 4-pot 2.0d) and I didn't want grey/silver/black, I wanted recession white. On a positive note I wanted free servicing for 5 years and got that t, a BMW brochure is porn for the car geek, professional this and that, Widescreen, Pro, Business, Nappa, Carbon Pack, Winter Pack, Business Plus, individual, Idrive, Xenon, Sports, alloys, courtesy pack, dual zone, its endless......You get pretty much 90 percent of the same car, that sometimes drives better than the specced up one for less money, I think a lot of people buy the car for resale and to impress than for what they actually need or want.
J4CKO said:
I hate the way people call a car "Poverty spec", people in poverty dont have cars, least of all new BMW's of any model designation, even the lowest model 320d will come with electric this and that, air con and a radio. I reckon they will throw some paint on even if you dont spec the metallic, Pearlescent, taste the difference, individual sparkly glitter paint, in fact with white being so trendy nowadays, how do they hammer you for that as people actually want it and surely the one you want should cost extra ?
Will boggo spec do? I usually say that... OP - What about looking for an SE?
Might not look as "sporty" but it will be more comfortable and if you drive on bumpy roads, better able to put it's power down and I suspect faster cross country. The M-Sport is like S-Line - too hard for the UK I think. Certainly for Yorkshire's lanes anyway!
Might not look as "sporty" but it will be more comfortable and if you drive on bumpy roads, better able to put it's power down and I suspect faster cross country. The M-Sport is like S-Line - too hard for the UK I think. Certainly for Yorkshire's lanes anyway!
I've got a 56' plate 520D M-Sport in Le Mans blue you might find a better buy then some of the 320d's :-)
It's had a full Engine replacement under BMW warranty so should be a bit more comforting then one that has just got high miles! It's also had a new DPF (£1700) and full main dealer history from new.
Take a look in the Classifieds anyway, reduced to £8495.... 1 year MOT, and 12 months tax too!
It's had a full Engine replacement under BMW warranty so should be a bit more comforting then one that has just got high miles! It's also had a new DPF (£1700) and full main dealer history from new.
Take a look in the Classifieds anyway, reduced to £8495.... 1 year MOT, and 12 months tax too!
RicksAlfas said:
OP - What about looking for an SE?
Might not look as "sporty" but it will be more comfortable and if you drive on bumpy roads, better able to put it's power down and I suspect faster cross country. The M-Sport is like S-Line - too hard for the UK I think. Certainly for Yorkshire's lanes anyway!
I probably would have an SE, but IMO, they look a total joke with those wheels, which can only be described as roller skates.Might not look as "sporty" but it will be more comfortable and if you drive on bumpy roads, better able to put it's power down and I suspect faster cross country. The M-Sport is like S-Line - too hard for the UK I think. Certainly for Yorkshire's lanes anyway!
Bmw seem to have made the SE wheels a bit bigger and more suited for the car for 2011 but these are out of my budget.
To the OP; the two 320d's we ran at work were ok cars but both of them proved costly. Injectors were over a grand to replace when they failed and then failed again! Turbo failed on one of them and also a MAF. IMO they aren't exactly quick or pleasurable to drive (320D)
Unless you are covering serious mileage then maybe look at the petrol equivalent?
Unless you are covering serious mileage then maybe look at the petrol equivalent?
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