What bmw

[Ifor]

Hi guys
I'm looking to buy a 1 series or a 3 series bmw, 1.6 or 2ltr, probably automatic, petrol for about £10,000 but I need to know if any of these are a good reliable car, after my last car Hyundai tucson was the most unreliable car I have ever owned and had a bmw 1 series as a curtisy car please help

[rallycross]

On the older one series the 2.0’petrol N43 engine from 2009/10 onwards direct injection engine had problems with fuel Injectors and timing chains and porous sump pans, this was the 150 bhp petrol and is one to avoid (newer ones may be ok not sure but starting from 2010 avoid).

The 2.0 diesel n47 engines cars with over 177 bhp also had a lot of problems from 2008 with timing chain problems due to poor quality design.

I am talking about the early shape cars I am
Not sure about the post 2013 facelift shape as have only had the older models.

1 series can be great but I’d recommend only the 6 cylinder 125/130/135/140 models.

[HustleRussell]

It must be said that if reliability is your key consideration there are a number of brands you'd have to place above BMW, and I say that as a BMW fan and owner

[SidewaysSi]

Yep I wouldn't buy a newish German car, full stop.

[ZX10R NIN]

If reliability rather than the badge is what your looking for then with your budget I'd buy something else as this era was BMW's finest hours.

[rallycross]

Ifor said:

Hi guys
I'm looking to buy a 1 series or a 3 series bmw, 1.6 or 2ltr, probably automatic, petrol for about £10,000 but I need to know if any of these are a good reliable car, after my last car Hyundai tucson was the most unreliable car I have ever owned and had a bmw 1 series as a curtisy car please help

A good one series is more fun to drive than a 3 series (say a 130i v's a 330i).
1 series little room in the back, interior trims lower quality than a 3.
For lots of long drives would take a 3 over a 1. (have owned many of both models in all engine sizes always say the same - get a 6 cylinder version).

[Mr Tidy]

I've had BMWs for over 15 years now so am a bit of a fan - mostly because you can still get RWD with a manual gearbox!

For nearly a decade I had a couple of 4 cylinder turbo-diesels because I was getting a car allowance and the business mileage rates made diesel more sensible. And the second one was a 123d with the N47 engine, but it got past 80K miles without any cam-chain issues.

Still in 2014 with no business use I treated myself to a Z4 Coupe using a bit of a lump sum from an early pension and asked my local ex-Sytner BMW Indy what I should get as a daily and he recommended 6 cylinders, and ideally petrol.

So I got an E46 325ti that I had for over 3 years, followed by an E91 325i then an E90 330i that I have now (but only because a 130i wasn't in budget).

After two Z4 Coupes in 5+ years I finally took the plunge in December and bought a Z4M Coupe.

I've had one or two issues with them, but given they were all over a decade old nothing exceptional.

With your budget I really would recommend a 6 cylinder model assuming insurance isn't a killer.

[ChrisH72]

Probably need to give a little more info on what you want from the car as even within 1 and 3 series there are many possibilities.

£10k is actually a bit more than you need for the previous generation 6 cylinder cars. For example I paid that 3 years ago for a late model, low mileage 325i coupe. It's worth more like £6k now.

You could get a much newer 118i or if you weren't too fussed about spec how about a. F30 328i se?. For bags of fun the old 135i coupe is a beast.