Most reliable sub 5k 1/3 series
Discussion
Hi,
I am looking for a cheap bmw to use as a daily and family runabout. Budget is flexible anywhere from 2.5k-4.5k depending on the car.
A e90 3 series or e87 1 series look ideal especially with a nice m sport interior. I also have a megane 250 cup so am not too fussy about having a quick engine although would probably not fancy a 116i. I don't mind petrol or diesel but it will be used for alot of town driving.
However i do want something that will be reliable and am very confused over which model to go for? The early 120d seems ok but quite old now. A 130i would be nice but probably above budget and too expensive to run. So is any of those 4 cylinder diesel or petrol engines any good?
Thanks for reading.
I am looking for a cheap bmw to use as a daily and family runabout. Budget is flexible anywhere from 2.5k-4.5k depending on the car.
A e90 3 series or e87 1 series look ideal especially with a nice m sport interior. I also have a megane 250 cup so am not too fussy about having a quick engine although would probably not fancy a 116i. I don't mind petrol or diesel but it will be used for alot of town driving.
However i do want something that will be reliable and am very confused over which model to go for? The early 120d seems ok but quite old now. A 130i would be nice but probably above budget and too expensive to run. So is any of those 4 cylinder diesel or petrol engines any good?
Thanks for reading.
Most reliable is probably a 6 cyl N52 engined variant (325i or 330i).
Can be leaky (oil filter housing gasket, cam cover gasket, sump pan gasket) and the electric waterpump is expensive (£300) but otherwise quite robust.
Later N53 engined 6 cyl models have injector and HPFP issues which can be costly to sort (but once sorted, again quite a reliable unit).
I'd avoid any of the 4 cyl models.
Can be leaky (oil filter housing gasket, cam cover gasket, sump pan gasket) and the electric waterpump is expensive (£300) but otherwise quite robust.
Later N53 engined 6 cyl models have injector and HPFP issues which can be costly to sort (but once sorted, again quite a reliable unit).
I'd avoid any of the 4 cyl models.
If you're looking for reliability the 130i is probably the way forwards, given how well it did when Auto-Bild rang one as a long termer:
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/bmw-130i-named-...
Worth looking at the 125i Coupé / Cab as well as they are pretty much the same underneath - for your budget they may be on the leggier side, however mine's on 156k and is still reliable, so I wouldn't be too worried if it has a few miles. A leggy 125i would be a much better bet than anything low mileage with 4 cylinders.
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/bmw-130i-named-...
Worth looking at the 125i Coupé / Cab as well as they are pretty much the same underneath - for your budget they may be on the leggier side, however mine's on 156k and is still reliable, so I wouldn't be too worried if it has a few miles. A leggy 125i would be a much better bet than anything low mileage with 4 cylinders.
daver1184 said:
I've got an E90 330i manual with the N52 motor and it's on 223k miles at present.
It's had all the usual stuff repaired (mainly oil leaks and the water pump) but is basically still going strong (touch wood).
As long as the oil is changed regularly, they seem to last well.
The auto boxes die before the N52. It's had all the usual stuff repaired (mainly oil leaks and the water pump) but is basically still going strong (touch wood).
As long as the oil is changed regularly, they seem to last well.
Cheers for the info.
I actually used to have a 130i as my main car back when they were only a few years old. Great car but probably will use too much fuel for what we need as a family run about.
An early 120d might be a good shout if i can get a tidy one.
That's interesting that the lci 320d has been fine. I was starting to think that the most important thing is looking for good service history. I suspect that most of the problems come from only changing oil every 25k or so?
I actually used to have a 130i as my main car back when they were only a few years old. Great car but probably will use too much fuel for what we need as a family run about.
An early 120d might be a good shout if i can get a tidy one.
That's interesting that the lci 320d has been fine. I was starting to think that the most important thing is looking for good service history. I suspect that most of the problems come from only changing oil every 25k or so?
Sir_Dave said:
If you dont want the N52, id get an M57, am on my 2nd now on 200k+ miles.
My old 375bhp 335d e91 is currently on 260k miles
When I was considering a BMW in this price range this was the conclusion I came to as well. Although the M47 120d is well into shed territory now, the prices being asked are anything but. My old 375bhp 335d e91 is currently on 260k miles
We picked up a 2006 (so pre facelift and M47 engined) 320d a few weeks ago for £2,995. M sport with all of the trimmings.
The later M47 engines are pretty good by all accounts. Mine needed both thermostats doing (£90 for genuine ones and a few hours of a good friend’s time). Blanking the swirl flaps and replacing the crankcase breather are wise items of preventative maintenance. About £17 for each plus a few more hours, I really do owe this chap many beers!
Bar that it’s pretty much just the usual used diesel stuff, clutch, DMF, injectors etc. Worth noting that 2006- cars have DPFs too.
The later M47 engines are pretty good by all accounts. Mine needed both thermostats doing (£90 for genuine ones and a few hours of a good friend’s time). Blanking the swirl flaps and replacing the crankcase breather are wise items of preventative maintenance. About £17 for each plus a few more hours, I really do owe this chap many beers!
Bar that it’s pretty much just the usual used diesel stuff, clutch, DMF, injectors etc. Worth noting that 2006- cars have DPFs too.
JDB96 said:
We picked up a 2006 (so pre facelift and M47 engined) 320d a few weeks ago for £2,995. M sport with all of the trimmings.
The later M47 engines are pretty good by all accounts. Mine needed both thermostats doing (£90 for genuine ones and a few hours of a good friend’s time). Blanking the swirl flaps and replacing the crankcase breather are wise items of preventative maintenance. About £17 for each plus a few more hours, I really do owe this chap many beers!
Bar that it’s pretty much just the usual used diesel stuff, clutch, DMF, injectors etc. Worth noting that 2006- cars have DPFs too.
Spot on summary of the M47, the 4 cylinders do suffer rusty reluctor rings too.The later M47 engines are pretty good by all accounts. Mine needed both thermostats doing (£90 for genuine ones and a few hours of a good friend’s time). Blanking the swirl flaps and replacing the crankcase breather are wise items of preventative maintenance. About £17 for each plus a few more hours, I really do owe this chap many beers!
Bar that it’s pretty much just the usual used diesel stuff, clutch, DMF, injectors etc. Worth noting that 2006- cars have DPFs too.
JDB96 said:
We picked up a 2006 (so pre facelift and M47 engined) 320d a few weeks ago for £2,995. M sport with all of the trimmings.
The later M47 engines are pretty good by all accounts. Mine needed both thermostats doing (£90 for genuine ones and a few hours of a good friend’s time). Blanking the swirl flaps and replacing the crankcase breather are wise items of preventative maintenance. About £17 for each plus a few more hours, I really do owe this chap many beers!
Bar that it’s pretty much just the usual used diesel stuff, clutch, DMF, injectors etc. Worth noting that 2006- cars have DPFs too.
Thanks, i think something like this would be perfect. I am particularly fussy about seats so getting an m sport with the sports seats would make it much nicer.The later M47 engines are pretty good by all accounts. Mine needed both thermostats doing (£90 for genuine ones and a few hours of a good friend’s time). Blanking the swirl flaps and replacing the crankcase breather are wise items of preventative maintenance. About £17 for each plus a few more hours, I really do owe this chap many beers!
Bar that it’s pretty much just the usual used diesel stuff, clutch, DMF, injectors etc. Worth noting that 2006- cars have DPFs too.
Will keep looking, good thing is they are very common cars so will hopefully find something nice.
Just been shopping, looked at the front page of our local paper(Edinburgh) and it says all diesel cars registered before 2016 will be banned from the centre in next few years. So that's a cheap e90 d out the window.
Looks like our current mini r53 actually passes as it wasn't registered until November 2006 and its euro 4. Will hold on for now until they confirm the plans anyway. I will maybe end up with a 130i or 330i after all.
Nevermind this is all the excuse i need to persuade my wife that going for the 3 litre petrol is actually the sensible option😂.
Looks like our current mini r53 actually passes as it wasn't registered until November 2006 and its euro 4. Will hold on for now until they confirm the plans anyway. I will maybe end up with a 130i or 330i after all.
Nevermind this is all the excuse i need to persuade my wife that going for the 3 litre petrol is actually the sensible option😂.
Every cloud has a silver lining!
Maybe Edinburgh council have done you a favour.
I paid just under £3K for mt E91 325i (N52 engine) in 2018. It had done 132K miles but apart from the inevitable water pump it was faultless when I sold it the next year on 139K miles.
I only sold it because it just felt a bit sluggish compared to the E46 325ti Compact it replaced.
I couldn't find an E91 330i for sensible money, so I got an E90 330i (also N52) that had done 107K and that has been fine too.
Other than the water pumps the N52 seems to be pretty bulletproof (I've previously had two Z4s with N52s).
Maybe Edinburgh council have done you a favour.
I paid just under £3K for mt E91 325i (N52 engine) in 2018. It had done 132K miles but apart from the inevitable water pump it was faultless when I sold it the next year on 139K miles.
I only sold it because it just felt a bit sluggish compared to the E46 325ti Compact it replaced.
I couldn't find an E91 330i for sensible money, so I got an E90 330i (also N52) that had done 107K and that has been fine too.
Other than the water pumps the N52 seems to be pretty bulletproof (I've previously had two Z4s with N52s).
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