5k - 10k Miles a Year - Estate preferred

[jfly9978]

Hi All,

I need a reliable car for 5K, I'm currently without a motor so need to act quick but don't want to regret the decision. Last car was an e46 320d which eventually died with 240k on the clock, it was ultra reliable over the 7 years on ownership. Not to fussed if its petrol or diesel because of the mileage but I can't afford a 4.0 v8!

Estate preferred because of the dog.

I'm thinking a 530d pre 2007 because of the timing chain issue.
Or maybe a 2.2 accord? Reliable motor but a bit boring.

Any help much appreciated.

[Toed64]

I'd go for a pre DPF diesel, or a petrol - a friend's 2005 DPF equipped 530D is lovely, but has required hospitalisation every year to get the DPF system to regen.

Our Accord was utterly reliable and a nice place to sit, but could never be described as a driver's car.

The N52/3, 3 litre petrol BMW motor is a lovely thing - what about a 330i or 530i estate?

[coldel]

Nissan Stagea, skyline powered estate car

[jfly9978]

N52 petrol BMW would be a nice bet. That would be a pre facelift 330i?. Any horror stories for that engine. I imagine all the swirlflap shenanigans are all sorted on this engine?

I do keep being drawn to an accord, at 31 I feel like i need to be a bit boring. I've driven a couple of D5 volvo's and they are very nice so that could also be an option. So many choices but I am having a hard time on what to choose.

[jfly9978]

coldel said:

Nissan Stagea, skyline powered estate car

As much as I would love a skyline equipped estate, or any fast jdm estate!. The Mrs insists on something more sensible

[PTF]

jfly9978 said:

N52 petrol BMW would be a nice bet. That would be a pre facelift 330i?. Any horror stories for that engine. I imagine all the swirlflap shenanigans are all sorted on this engine?

I do keep being drawn to an accord, at 31 I feel like i need to be a bit boring. I've driven a couple of D5 volvo's and they are very nice so that could also be an option. So many choices but I am having a hard time on what to choose.

N52 doesn't have swirl flaps

The N52 is a lovely, lovely engine. Smooth. Plenty of torque (for a non-turbo engine), and likes to rev to 7k rpm. They're very reliable too.

IMO the N52 was/is one of the best engines ever made. For me that era (up to 2006 ish) was where engines peaked and have been on a downward slope since. Everything since then is more complicated, strangled by tighter emissions regulations, and less reliable.

The only major issue on them is the electric fuel pump can fail without warning. My 130i is on 60k and i will be changing it as a preventative maintenance thing at around 80k. They occasionally make a fairly loud ticking sound - mine did this when i left it idling on the drive for a while, but it's just the hydraulic lifters (or similar) not being bled, which they will do with a bit of a rev or a drive. The cooling system seems to go on BMs once they're 10-15yrs+ old, so that's on my watch list too.

Otherwise that's about it.They N52 seems about as reliable as a piece of granite.

[Tall_Paul]

jfly9978 said:

coldel said:

Nissan Stagea, skyline powered estate car

As much as I would love a skyline equipped estate, or any fast jdm estate!. The Mrs insists on something more sensible

Subaru legacy 3.0r. Looks sensible but still has 245bhp underneath Or an outback version for even more stealth. Same 3.0 flat 6 in all of them.

[ITP]

Tall_Paul said:

jfly9978 said:

coldel said:

Nissan Stagea, skyline powered estate car

As much as I would love a skyline equipped estate, or any fast jdm estate!. The Mrs insists on something more sensible

Subaru legacy 3.0r. Looks sensible but still has 245bhp underneath Or an outback version for even more stealth. Same 3.0 flat 6 in all of them.

This or a 9-5 aero

[Mr E]

My 9-5 aero was excellent, if a little dull. They’re a bit long in the tooth now.
Replaced with a petrol E-Class. All the space you need, lots of toys, looks like a minicab. Large petrol engine means it goes a bit better than it looks.

[redandwhite]

I have a Volvo V50 - I think its a decent car, handles well, good load capacity and it came up at the right time / right price for me.

Personally I really wanted a 330 (e46) touring but the choice wasn't great at the time. The Volvo has surprised me, done 14k in it so far.

I also considered the Accord 2.2 (K24) but I was put off by look, lack of performance for the MPG trade off (and size, they are huge)

[jfly9978]

Thoughts...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[jfly9978]

jfly9978 said:

Thoughts...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Actually that's the N53 engine which is plagued with reliability issues because of the injectors isn't it. Back to square one.

[dmsims]

jfly9978 said:

jfly9978 said:

Thoughts...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Actually that's the N53 engine which is plagued with reliability issues because of the injectors isn't it. Back to square one.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201809170581728 ?

[ZX10R NIN]

With you only doing 5-10k a year then I'd be looking for a petrol choices are limited but you can still get a sweet reliable steer for your budget:

2.5 Mazda6 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Mercedes C280 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

C180 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

E280

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

A4 S Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

3.2 A4 S Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Subaru Legacy in 2.0 form I'd buy something else but if you can find a 3.0 with sensible miles then these are worth a look.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Vectra VXR

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Saab 9-3 Vector Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Aero

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Toed64]

PTF said:

jfly9978 said:

N52 petrol BMW would be a nice bet. That would be a pre facelift 330i?. Any horror stories for that engine...

I do keep being drawn to an accord, at 31 I feel like i need to be a bit boring.
...

N52 doesn't have swirl flaps

The N52 is a lovely, lovely engine. Smooth. Plenty of torque (for a non-turbo engine), and likes to rev to 7k rpm. They're very reliable too.

IMO the N52 was/is one of the best engines ever made. For me that era (up to 2006 ish) was where engines peaked and have been on a downward slope since. Everything since then is more complicated, strangled by tighter emissions regulations, and less reliable.

The only major issue on them is the electric fuel pump can fail without warning. My 130i is on 60k and i will be changing it as a preventative maintenance thing at around 80k. They occasionally make a fairly loud ticking sound - mine did this when i left it idling on the drive for a while, but it's just the hydraulic lifters (or similar) not being bled, which they will do with a bit of a rev or a drive. The cooling system seems to go on BMs once they're 10-15yrs+ old, so that's on my watch list too.

Otherwise that's about it.They N52 seems about as reliable as a piece of granite.

Oi - never aspire to grow old! Really, our Honda was a fine car...it was really OK - no faults in 4 years up till 7 years old, but I can't remember a single drive. BLAND!

I didn't know of N53 issues - never had one. The N52 is marvellous - I've got a 130i too, and it's a highly engaging beast.

Did you mean the electric water pump? They fail - my 135i (N55 but same pump) electric water pump died at under 50,000 miles. I've not heard that the N52 fuel pump is a common fail point.

Edited by Toed64 on Wednesday 26th September 23:21