ex police 530d but cheap...

[Cardiff_Exile]

Dads mate has been offered an auto 2007 530d touring with 180k on the clock for £3k. He mentioned this to my dad over a pint and my dad thinks I should get it as a daily hack as I tend to ruin cars driving a 60 mile round trip each day that includes a 5 mile section more akin to a rally stage.

My dad went to look today as it is 10 doors away from him (100 miles from me!) and it seems in 'ok' shape. From the photos he sent me it has the silver gear stick (registered oct 07) so is it the facelift LCI? I'm not that clued up on BMWs.

Obviously no leather and in 'gleaming white' but at this price point is it worth a punt as a daily snotter? my expectation is 20k PA for 2 years and scrap it...
I've looked online and it seems cheaper that the usual ex plod snotter - if it was £6k i would not be interested at all. what are the general thoughts on this?

[M3greg]

Under no circumstances would I buy an ex police car. Whilst they've been maintained, they've been used exceptionally hard. Whilst it may be a bargain, I'd be amazed if if lasted your planned 2 years without major work (and expense).

[rix]

It does sem cheap. Complete gamble but then most 3k cars are, irrespective of mileage. Buy on condition etc. I'd be very tempted. Yes that does sound like an LCI. LED tail lights and revised interior are other clues.

[AudiSport]

Is it worth 3k? Yes.
Would I buy it? No.

[hornetrider]

Is an LCI E60 530D worth 3k? No - more.
Would I buy it for 3k? Hell yes!

[MissChief]

Ex police motors seem to give responses that swing wildly from one way to the other. Some say as it's been maintained (almost) regardless of cost and has always been serviced on time, probably at the main dealers to boot that they can represent decent value and you're likely to get something with proven history.

Then there are those that say 'Steer well clear' as they've no doubt been thrashed from cold, been over speedbumps at speeds that would make most cars take to the air and possibly have had various unsavoury types in the back seat leaking or expelling lord knows what all over the back of the car. Judging by the mileage this was a traffic car so while it's probably been driven with typical 'work tool' disregard it will have been kept very well and anything that it needed would have been done. Would I? Probably not!

[hornetrider]

At 180k miles a 530D will be a motorway traffic car, the odds are it's led a busy but relatively easy life imo.

[theaxe]

Not a BMW but this might be worth a read.

[martin mrt]

Try buying a non police 530d for 3k and you'll end up with an E39 with slightly less miles.

I'd bite his hand off at 3k for an LCI E60 it's worth more in bits

[redtwin]

I would want to know why it was so cheap. If it was a good example wouldn't one of the ex-police car type traders snap it up and try to double their money?.

Who is offering it to your Dad's mate?. Someone who bought it from an auction, realized it has major issues and is now trying to cut their losses?.

[Tea Pot One]

I've been driving police 530d's for years ... at 3K I would buy it.

They are not treated like 'beat / response' cars .... being traffic they are driven to different types of thing to normal police cars and generally have a far easier life - albeit with higher mileages.

I would happily buy any of the 530d's I have driven at that price and anticipate it going on for many, many more miles. The engines are superb.

Would I buy a 'normal' police car as opposed to traffic - no way !

[Cardiff_Exile]

Thanks for all the responses, the story goes it was purchased as a stop gap by the seller. The seller is an old chap and amongst the group of people involved have all known each other for years. My Dads mate tends to have 4 cars on the go at once and likes a bargain he is an ex PSV fitter and likes a tinker. On this basis I don't think its a nail. below is the, great, photo my dad took of the interior. there seems to be not many dials at the centre - is this normal? Also the tax is nil due to the owner having a blue badge, does this cause a problem?

[hornetrider]

Yep normal, most things operated by the idrive (knob by gearstick). Looks to have nav too - nice. In like Flynn.

[Manicminer]

Need to know much more than just a few words from someone trying to sell it and a blurred photo.

It's ex-Police but also sounds like it has been in private ownership since?

Has it been accident damaged/repaired? Are there any faults with it currently that might cost an arm and a leg to fix? Can the mileage be verified?

In my experience, if something is too cheap there will be something the seller isn't telling you.

[Cardiff_Exile]

Agree with you Manicminer, I'm speaking to the chap lunchtime so I will report back.

EDIT - left a message as he is out so will report back when he calls

Edited by Cardiff_Exile on Sunday 19th January 12:41

[DaveyBoyWonder]

At that price even if I was a hundred miles away like you said I reckon it'd be worth a look if thats the kind thing you're after...

[MrMoonyMan]

I'm in the 'go buy it' camp.

£3k is very little money for what you're getting and it could just turn out to be the most reliable car you've ever owned.

Anecdotal evidence of these ex-motorway cars mostly seems positive and has been pointed out its worth more than that in parts.

[dingg]

as long as the roof isn't full of holes - I'm in the buy camp (I love a bargain me)!

[Cardiff_Exile]

From the pictures my dad sent (about 30 all at odd angles) the roof looks fine. There is a scratch on the plastic front bumper that looks like it has been touched up with tip ex and a an strange scrape on the c pillar.

When the bloke calls I have the usual questions, the plan then is to send my dad and a mechanically minded mate over this week to take a drive and a better look while armed with a deposit.

There is a funny 'shark fin' on the roof so maybe has nav, also do these all have cruise as standard?

[hornetrider]

They all have a fin. Nav giveaway is central bulge in the upper dash.