Is there a genuine cheap alternative to a 04 330I?

[Jamaica]

The 330 seems like a great all rounder car, just seems a bit unreliable. Are there any other cars under 2k that could be a good all arounder, good jack of all trades, good for short journeys and decent on longer drives?

[smn159]

I've got an everyday 330i touring and don't find it unreliable - cost me £1800

Not sure you'll get guaranteed reliability with any 15 year old sub £2k car though, but maybe something Japanese would be better than most?

[d_a_n1979]

Jamaica said:

The 330 seems like a great all rounder car, just seems a bit unreliable. Are there any other cars under 2k that could be a good all arounder, good jack of all trades, good for short journeys and decent on longer drives?

Honda Accord Type S if you want Japanese reliability...

Buying an E46, like E39s, at that price & lower is asking for risks/trouble IMO, unless it’s off an enthusiast owner & they’ve paperwork to show its maintenance etc

Any car at that price is risky unless it’s got rafts of paperwork/receipts/history etc

[Mr Tidy]

I bought an E46 325ti Sport for £1,995 in 2014 - a great car!

But by 2018 it was getting tired and crusty so I spent a bit more and replaced it with an E91 325i, but it just didn't feel like it performed as well as my E46 so in April I replaced it with an E90 330i - much better (but budget was creeping up, again).

[Jamaica]

Mr Tidy said:

I bought an E46 325ti Sport for £1,995 in 2014 - a great car!

But by 2018 it was getting tired and crusty so I spent a bit more and replaced it with an E91 325i, but it just didn't feel like it performed as well as my E46 so in April I replaced it with an E90 330i - much better (but budget was creeping up, again).

What has the reliability been like on your cars?

[Jamaica]

smn159 said:

I've got an everyday 330i touring and don't find it unreliable - cost me £1800

Not sure you'll get guaranteed reliability with any 15 year old sub £2k car though, but maybe something Japanese would be better than most?

Got a 04 celica as my daily, very reliable. May go jap

[g3org3y]

Jamaica said:

The 330 seems like a great all rounder car, just seems a bit unreliable. Are there any other cars under 2k that could be a good all arounder, good jack of all trades, good for short journeys and decent on longer drives?

I think any 15 year old BMW purchase must be made with your eyes open. Could be fine, could be an arse ache.

If you want super reliable I suppose you could go Jap?

Otherwise Golf worth a look? Anything Merc flavoured that takes your fancy?

[Mr Tidy]

Jamaica said:

Mr Tidy said:

I bought an E46 325ti Sport for £1,995 in 2014 - a great car!

But by 2018 it was getting tired and crusty so I spent a bit more and replaced it with an E91 325i, but it just didn't feel like it performed as well as my E46 so in April I replaced it with an E90 330i - much better (but budget was creeping up, again).

What has the reliability been like on your cars?

My E46 was on a 52 plate and had done 80K miles when I bought it in December 2014. Shortly after I got it the radiator started leaking (a common problem on these, they bow at the bottom) so I had a full refresh of the cooling system while I was at it (radiator & cap, expansion tank, thermostat, temperature sensor and alternator drive belt). Not much change from £500 at an Independent specialist. Then in November 2016 a power steering pipe split and that was another £300 (the pipe itself cost over £200).

But other than that it was just normal servicing for oil and filters. I did 23K miles in it and sold it in March 2018 for £1,450.

Overall I didn't think it cost silly money to run (it even managed to average over 32mpg) and it was a great drive.

[BFleming]

A genuine alternative - maybe a Saab 9-5 Aero...

[LasseV]

Lexus IS300

[SiT]

BFleming said:

A genuine alternative - maybe a Saab 9-5 Aero...

These are great value for money and quite wafty in auto guise.

Si

[Jamaica]

BFleming said:

A genuine alternative - maybe a Saab 9-5 Aero...

What about a 93 auto aero? I guess because it is the smaller car it will have better handling?

[NickGRhodes]

A4 V6 or Volvo S60, both less fun though, but better wafters on our less than perfect roads.

Edited by NickGRhodes on Sunday 17th November 17:15

[sjc]

MG ZT V6?

[finlo]

ST 220