Buying advise 2012 BMW 640d, 69k miles, 5+ owners

[benallenuk]

Hi guys, need some advise. Have been in the market for a new car for a while now and have spotted what seems to be a BMW 640d that’s too good to be true.

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

It doesn’t have the troublesome LED adaptive headlights which is a bonus, has full service history, new tyres all round, new MOT, recent service at BMW and recent front discs.

Thing that make me a bit worries are:

1. 5+ owners
2. Reports of uneven tyre wear from MOT
3. MOT reports “emissions too low to test”

We also have a 2010 X5 40d, so I know the engine well, have had the inlet manifold off and cleaning it all out, replaced swirl flap motor and reset adaptions and replaced DPF pressure sensor. I’ll be doing all my own maintaince/repairs so running costs aren’t an issue for me.

Any advise would be kind.

Thanks

[cerb4.5lee]

Uneven tyre wear wouldn't worry me because that is pretty common with Bmw's. I don't recall my old 640d having a dipstick and it was just the electronic gauge on the idrive. Great cars and I miss mine, the ride is pretty unforgiving on the 20" wheels though.

[benallenuk]

I would prefer the 19” wheels now you come to mention it, have heard the 20” ride is a bit harsh.

What about the 5+ owners?

[cerb4.5lee]

It does seem quite a few owners to be fair, I guess when you see it in person you will be able to tell if its been looked after or not.

[Charlie Croker mk2]

I have a 2014 one that looks identical to the one in the advert , its a unique car in that is so fast , economical of fuel and road tax . the number of owners seems odd but at that price its a new low for this model .

[Court_S]

There's a similar car on the BMW website with less miles for similar cash - might be slightly less worrying given that it'll have a warranty.

I'm really tempted by one of these myself this summer when I leave our company car scheme - I'm slightly put off by the sheer size of them and that I'm possibly a tad young to drive one! I think it'd by a lovely place for my 30 mile commute and probably more sensible than the M135's that I'm currently looking at.

[CSK423]

It only has 2 options (privacy glass and 20" wheels) from what I can see and read, not that it's a bad thing as they are well optioned to start. The price also reflects this.

I had a 2015 GC from new for 45k miles and never had any tyre issues. I replaced the originals at 35k miles all round. The exception being a pothole strike around 20kmiles which bent a wheel and knackered a tyre. Even after this I had no alignment issues.

I notice the tyre valves are not TPMS, for monitoring the tyre pressures. This car is an earlier model than mine but I believe they should still be fitted.

The only way to see if has had a shunt is to pay it a visit. Pics and on paper it looks a good deal.

[benallen123]

So, went to see it today. Lovely young chap selling it to put towards stamp duty etc for his new house.\

Newish midrange tyres all round and reasonable conditions discs and pads. Drives nice, body works and wheels look great too.

Logbook says 7 owners, so next owner makes it 8. Was told a story that it was bought by a dealer who paid off the HPI from the previous owner and then sold it, however this only adds one additional owner. HPI check says that its had 2 private plate changes, but that shouldn't add owners right?

Service history is all independent, apart from the last minor which was at a BMW garage. They did an idrive/software update, advised a few possible applicable recalls and checked over the EGR valve that didn't need doing. Lots of stamps in the service booklet but not many receipts.

Did a diagnostic scan using Carly and nothing major to report, just a few shadow faults that boiled down to nothing.

If it wasn't for the 7 previous owners i would have made a sensible offer, instead went in low at 15k which is still generous seeing as its private with no warranty.

Any advise?

Edited by benallen123 on Saturday 12th January 20:26

Edited by benallen123 on Saturday 12th January 20:29

[chillo]

Just want to add my experience with my 2012 640d cab as had it 4.5 years now. Bought 2.5 years old with 17k miles and now on 183k! Issues I’ve had are reverse camera module failed 3 years back, headlight module about 2.5 years back and low pressure turbo replaced about a year ago (slight whistle when cold). All done under warranty, I extended the warranty at 3 years old with bmw insured warranty with £100 excess. Was £70 month and goes up a few £ each renewal and currently is £84 month.
Car has been fantastic and soaks up my daily motorway commute round trip of 190 miles effortlessly. HUD is a must have option imho and soft close, comfort access, rear camera, dab and pro-hifi(HK). I get 39-42mpg with cruise @90.
Binned the run flats on the 20” wheels which improved the ride loads and have a set of 18” winters.
Car is quick, comfortable, more than enough tech+luxury and in sport can hustle along really well. Quick enough that I’ve not had it remapped.
Plan on doing another 180k miles in it!
A car that truly ticks every box if you had to compromise on 1 car.

Edited by chillo on Sunday 3rd February 12:40

[snake_oil]

Blimey that is some mileage! Kudos!

640GCs around the 20-25k mark seem amazing value at the moment for what you get.

[ThunderSpook]

It’s the sort of car that a lot of people will buy when they get to a certain age and then find they’re suddenly having a family and need more doors.

As long as it’s been looked after why does the number of owners matter. I’d say if Carly can’t find anything after a drive then it looks fine. Not recording emissions is fine for a clean diesel, I used to get that with my E61 525d.

[Pica-Pica]

cerb4.5lee said:

....I don't recall my old 640d having a dipstick and it was just the electronic gauge on the idrive.

There is a dipstick on the F30 335d, as well as the iDrive info.

[Vroomer]

benallen123 said:

Logbook says 7 owners, so next owner makes it 8.

Edited by benallen123 on Saturday 12th January 20:26

Edited by benallen123 on Saturday 12th January 20:29

That would put me off, for sure.

[cerb4.5lee]

Pica-Pica said:

cerb4.5lee said:

....I don't recall my old 640d having a dipstick and it was just the electronic gauge on the idrive.

There is a dipstick on the F30 335d, as well as the iDrive info.

That is interesting thanks I didn't look for one because my E90 330i didn't have one and I just used the digital one. I just presumed that the 640d was the same.

[KPB1973]

snake_oil said:

Blimey that is some mileage! Kudos!

640GCs around the 20-25k mark seem amazing value at the moment for what you get.

Agreed - absolutely tons of choice from ex-Alphabet lease cars with the M Sport package (20in, HUD, HK etc) floating around car supermarkets too.

I've just got one. Absolutely love it, bar the Dunlop runflats.

[S8QUATTRO]

I've had a 2012 640d since October, decent cars, great on fuel/tax as someone mentioned. 36-40mpg on a motorway run 80-90mph, more if you drive in eco mode. Interior is nice but the seats in the m sport cars are not as comfortable as and older 635d i had, less adjustment and no lumbar support which is odd on a fairly expensive car new. I think they still look fairly modern and sleek too. Considered a remap too, but its quick enough in sport for a cruiser..

Good luck with your choice, there are so many to choose from on Trader

[KPB1973]

S8QUATTRO said:

I've had a 2012 640d since October, decent cars, great on fuel/tax as someone mentioned. 36-40mpg on a motorway run 80-90mph, more if you drive in eco mode. Interior is nice but the seats in the m sport cars are not as comfortable as and older 635d i had, less adjustment and no lumbar support which is odd on a fairly expensive car new. I think they still look fairly modern and sleek too. Considered a remap too, but its quick enough in sport for a cruiser..

Good luck with your choice, there are so many to choose from on Trader

That's odd. My 2016 has lumbar as standard. It could do with adjustable bolsters though.

Mine is also remapped to 360bhp/730nm, but to be fair in normal driving modes doesn't seem much different to standard.

Sports mode is a different story though - warp speed but strangely serene. Almost like an F10 M5.

[S8QUATTRO]

KPB1973 said:

S8QUATTRO said:

I've had a 2012 640d since October, decent cars, great on fuel/tax as someone mentioned. 36-40mpg on a motorway run 80-90mph, more if you drive in eco mode. Interior is nice but the seats in the m sport cars are not as comfortable as and older 635d i had, less adjustment and no lumbar support which is odd on a fairly expensive car new. I think they still look fairly modern and sleek too. Considered a remap too, but its quick enough in sport for a cruiser..

Good luck with your choice, there are so many to choose from on Trader

That's odd. My 2016 has lumbar as standard. It could do with adjustable bolsters though.

Mine is also remapped to 360bhp/730nm, but to be fair in normal driving modes doesn't seem much different to standard.

Sports mode is a different story though - warp speed but strangely serene. Almost like an F10 M5.

I'll check my seats again, unless there is a manual way to adjust the lumbar....

Who did the remap?

TBH it feels quick enough as is, and easily returns a decent mpg. The only reason i'm considering a remap is its not that expensive to get the 360/370bhp. I remember when 360bhp in my old 2002 Audi S8 was a huge number!

Has the mpg suffered with a map? Thanks

[KPB1973]

S8QUATTRO said:

I'll check my seats again, unless there is a manual way to adjust the lumbar....

Who did the remap?

TBH it feels quick enough as is, and easily returns a decent mpg. The only reason i'm considering a remap is its not that expensive to get the 360/370bhp. I remember when 360bhp in my old 2002 Audi S8 was a huge number!

Has the mpg suffered with a map? Thanks

Re: the lumbar support, mine has a little disc-shaped control which lets you adjust the position and amount of support it gives.

My remap was £349 from Simon at eMaps in the West Mids. Awesome bloke - very highly rated in the BMW scene for many years.

On reflection I think the map has given more ooomph in modes other than Sport, but the character of the car hasn't changed much, so it is deceptively faster but not eye-openingly quicker as per some remaps.

In terms of MPG - perhaps a slight drop but not one that I can accurately attribute to the map as my driving patterns are quite varied. On the few occasions I do a longer trip i'm still getting about 44mpg+ in Eco @ 70. I'm confident it would go higher in the right conditions.