100,000 PLUS MILE BMW OK?

[callywally18]

As title suggests have limited finds and there is plenty of cheap well specced bmws arounf dor less than 2 grand, all with 100k plus miles.

just after some advice and experience on what to look out for and if theyre ok with these kind of miles on??

thanks

[Phil Dicky]

Buy on condition ..and service history,

[irish boy]

Totally depends on the model/engine? Are you talking early 90's 7 series or e46 320d's?

[callywally18]

sorry, late 90's early 00's 3 series petrol, 320 up to a 325

thanks

[Baz Tench]

I bought my e46 M3 when it was on 136000 miles.

I had no qualms about it. As said above, I bought on condition and service history. It's not mint, but it just felt like an honest car and still feels great now.

[Caruso]

I've run an E34 525i Touring with 145k+ miles. Had no significant problems.

I've run an E34 530i V8 with 112k miles. Only kept it for a year but that involved an expensive service.

I'm currently running an E39 540i Touring with 163k+ miles. Had a fair amount of bork.

[richyb]

My E38 is on 164k now. Had it five years, since 126k. Absolute bargain barge. I think any of the 6, 8 or 12 cylinders will be good to 250k if you service on schedule.

[Altrezia]

My E39 has 192000 and is still going like a train =)

[ScoobyChris]

I'd agree with the above advice about buying on condition. One thing to also bear in mind though is that if you're buying a "premium" car, expect any bills/parts to also be premium.

Chris

[E24man]

Buy on condition and history. All four of my BMW/Alpina's have well over 100k miles but if you can do a few bits and pieces by yourself you can get cheap-ish running on some amazingly good cars.

[Sir Bagalot]

Check MOT history online as well. Fair few Beemers are clocked

[johnny fotze]

As above, it's all about the history. Be aware that 100,000 miles seems to be the point that things like dampers, brake lines, drop links, bushes, etc need replacing (though it could easily be 30,000+ mls either side of this, depending on how it's been driven) so the more that's already been replaced the less you'll have to do. Again, as someone has already said; parts are not cheap.

[jasesapphy]

E46 330d remapped and decatted at 32k when purchased 4 years ago, clicked over 200k tonight

[BrownBottle]

johnny fotze said:

As above, it's all about the history. Be aware that 100,000 miles seems to be the point that things like dampers, brake lines, drop links, bushes, etc need replacing (though it could easily be 30,000+ mls either side of this, depending on how it's been driven) so the more that's already been replaced the less you'll have to do. Again, as someone has already said; parts are not cheap.

I've recently purchased an E39 530d with 225,000 miles.

In the last 3 years/40,000mls it has had the following amongst others replaced:
Replacement Turbo (from Turbo Technics)
Head Gasket set (genuine BMW)
All springs and shockers replaced (genuine BMW sport suspension parts used)
Various front and rear suspension arms (genuine BMW)
All front to rear brake lines replaced.

There's more but that's some of the main stuff, it's safe to say the previous owner spent a lot of money keeping the car in the right condition and if I'm lucky I might reap some of the benefit of that.

It cost me £1300...if something major does go wrong it's almost disposable

I really hope it doesn't though as it's such a nice car, I've fallen into the trap already as it's going to the body shop to get new wings and most of the car repainted.

I fail at bangeromics

[ajb85]

I've run all my bmws well into six figure mileages without complaint. As has been highlighted, expect the perishables to perish. If somebody else hasn't already, then just beware that it'll be you that will be footing the cost of a general suspension refresh; arms, bushes, drop links, that sort of thing. 5 series and automatics go through discs and pads faster than a 3, which is self explanatory. I've only had one four pot, the rest have been sixes. Biggest bang for buck has to be an E39 5 series, preferably a Sport if your budget will allow. Don't buy a diesel unless you have to. My old 530d, sold at 165k was the one and only Bmw so far I didn't feel confident with, wasn't quite sure if there were injector issues, there was a turbo and swirl flaps to worry about, and the auto box. But tits to all that; I gleaned the above only from reading horror stories about the pitfalls of high mileage bmws on here, when in reality it never once put a foot wrong, took me to France and back 3 times and still pulled like a train when I sold her. I've since gone back to petrol and bought a e46 Touring to run alongside a V8 CLK. Funnily enough I've never owned a V8 Bm, but only ever heard great things about the 4.4.

Anyway, I'll echo the opinions of everybody else here - buy on condition and history. At this vintage you might find a smattering of rust and parking sensors that are in-op, but if that's as bad as it gets then you don't have a great deal to worry about. Good luck and enjoy!

[callywally18]

against all odds and sense, im buying an 04 mazda rx8.

[Caruso]

callywally18 said:

against all odds and sense, im buying an 04 mazda rx8.

What could possibly go wrong.

[slipstream 1985]

Caruso said:

callywally18 said:

against all odds and sense, im buying an 04 mazda rx8.

What could possibly go wrong.

Wheres that irony thread gone...

[ajb85]

callywally18 said:

against all odds and sense, im buying an 04 mazda rx8.

I can see why you've fallen for one. The whole package looks a lot more exciting than your run-of-the-mill 3 or 5 series. The RX-8 are a lovely drive, but you'll soon fall out of love with it, hence why you often see more owners than a football team on the logbook.

[BrownBottle]

callywally18 said:

against all odds and sense, im buying an 04 mazda rx8.

Don't worry it'll be fine, most petrol station's sell engine oil as well, it'll just be a case of which one will you spend more money on