Pre-reg 1 series or used 3 series
Discussion
I've been looking out for a used 3 series, budget max £14k probably a 3 year old 320d SE or a 320i SE but ideally a 330d SE. We've got two young children aged 2 and 4 but don't need a family bus as we've got a Focus estate for that. A coupe would be my choice as I had a 320is coupe some years back which was a fantastic car, the kids can get in and out OK and mostly the car is for my commute. Probably looking at a high mileage coupe for my budget. Anyway I'm off to a dealer tomorrow to test drive a couple of 3 series. They mentioned on the phone that they have few pre-reg 1 series coupes at good prices and could probably do a deal down to £14k. I know nothing much about the 1 series coupe but assume its a fun car to drive. Do you think a pre-reg old model 1 series coupe is a better buy than a 3 year old 3 series?
Just got back. They only had 116i pre-reg cars and all 2 door models. Great prices (£15k to £16k) but not for me. Tested a 3 year old 318i saloon in SE trim. Nice but a bit slow feeling. Think I would prefer a 320d. They are taking delivery tomorrow of an 08 model in SE trim with some extras and an auto gearbox. Will try it. He mentioned £13k - its done 40k miles, full main dealer history, titanium silver, black leather interior. Not an amazing bargain but not bad for a main dealer, especially if its tidy. Just need to be happy with an auto, should be fine as my commute is 12 miles usually in traffic and I quite liked having an auto box on a Merc a few years back.
I just paid £15k for a 123d M-sport coupe from a main dealer, 50k miles, full service history, leather, heated seats, actually pretty much everything on the options list was ticked by the first owner.
Cracking little car and a much nicer interior and general feel than my mates 56 plate 335i SE. Certainly not as quick though but for overall feel it beats it hands down. Something that even he mentions when he's in it.
There are bargains out there if you haggle and don't mind above average mileage.
Cracking little car and a much nicer interior and general feel than my mates 56 plate 335i SE. Certainly not as quick though but for overall feel it beats it hands down. Something that even he mentions when he's in it.
There are bargains out there if you haggle and don't mind above average mileage.
PipPip said:
Just got back. They only had 116i pre-reg cars and all 2 door models. Great prices (£15k to £16k) but not for me. Tested a 3 year old 318i saloon in SE trim. Nice but a bit slow feeling. Think I would prefer a 320d. They are taking delivery tomorrow of an 08 model in SE trim with some extras and an auto gearbox. Will try it. He mentioned £13k - its done 40k miles, full main dealer history, titanium silver, black leather interior. Not an amazing bargain but not bad for a main dealer, especially if its tidy. Just need to be happy with an auto, should be fine as my commute is 12 miles usually in traffic and I quite liked having an auto box on a Merc a few years back.
Don't even consider a diesel at all if it has dpf fitted with a 12 mile commute. I,m not telling a horror story or being reactionary to a recent watchdog programme either lol.A diesel fitted with a dpf on a 12 mile commute is heading for dpf failure for sure.The sales people probably won't tell you this.
I,m running a non dpf (56) 320d on a similar commute and still take that out on a run at weekends to give it a nice hot engined blast.
I,m also looking to change my car and due to all diesels from 2007 (option to be fitted on earlier models) have a dpf fitted - choosing a petrol engine is a no brainer for me.
Later 320i are running at 170bhp and if you want a bit more a remap could easily sort that.
I do drive to another office, around 70 miles each way, once and occasionaly twice a week so I hope the DPF is not an issue. Also quite a lot of long runs at weekends and 1500 miles round trip to the alps a couple of times a year. I've had turbo diesels for the last 6 years and found the petrol engined 318 felt so flat in comparison. I was more concerned about having an auto gear box than diesel but have decided I'm going for it.
Thanks. I've had quite a few cars including minis, merc CLK, mx5, a few japanese 4 wheel drives, peugeots, passats, golfs etc. But the best all round car was a 1998 bmw 3 series coupe which I bought new at the time. Sold it with regret when we went to Oz for a couple of years and have wanted another bmw ever since but we've been mostly living Paris since then where you don't have a nice car unless you can cope with heartache. We had an old Focus there deliberately which was the right choice as in three years whilst parked both wing mirrors have been knocked off twice, back bumper was smashed in and the doors have dozens of dents from other drivers swinging their doors open in car parks without a care for the car next to them. Now we are back in the UK where other peoples cars are treated with a bit more respect its time for another bmw.
mekondelta said:
We bought a pre-reg and got 7k off the list price (orig 23k). Came loaded with extras (inc service package) and only 4k on the clock.
4k on the clock?? So when does pre-registered become 'used' then? I normally assume pre-registered to be delivery mileage, unless your car was driven direct from the factory tO the dealer via the scenic route
.tonys said:
4k on the clock?? So when does pre-registered become 'used' then?
I normally assume pre-registered to be delivery mileage, unless your car was driven direct from the factory tO the dealer via the scenic route.
Sorry, it was an AUC I suppose. Pre-registered was a little optimistic in terms of description...I normally assume pre-registered to be delivery mileage, unless your car was driven direct from the factory tO the dealer via the scenic route
.I test drove a 320d SE auto a few days ago and have changed my mind about an auto, just feels too unengaging to me adn riminded me that I did find my auto merc very "nice" but no fun. Also changed my mind about a 320d, would prefer something more punchy. I'm testing a 330d manual this afternoon. Looks like a pretty good deal. Its from a car supermarket (Imperial in Southampton) so is an ex lease, a 2008 (08 reg) with 52k miles, full BMW history, dark metallic grey, SE trim with black leather interior and a few extras like auto lights/wipers. Price is 13.5k which seems pretty fair to me given condition is apparently very clean.
Well I just test drove the 2008 330d SE. That's more like it, plenty of power, nice engine noise for a diesel too. The car is immaculate inside and out with the colour/trim that I want. Almost impossible to believe its done 50k miles, drives like its straight out the factory. However they had no BMW log book - they had made up their own based on a phone call to BMW. Rather than trust a car supermarket to be completely honest I phoned BMW and in fact the car has more main dealer service history than they put in their home made log book, complete main dealer service history in fact. So I'm buying it and will buy a BMW log book and take it to the dealer for the stamps. Roll on Saturday when I become a proud BMW owner again!!
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