Does this align? Anything to worry about from this dealer?

Does this align? Anything to worry about from this dealer?

Author
Discussion

sunnyb13

Original Poster:

897 posts

37 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
quotequote all
Seen this nice X3 for sale

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302214...

Reviews for trader shows they took in an X3 with an oil leak in January. Anything to worry about? Reckon it’s the same one?

abucd4

523 posts

143 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
quotequote all
Do a HPI and look at the record for changes of ownership - if it was registered to a new owner in Jan you know it’s the same one.

Caveat: I’m not sure how quick these things show up and this is not advice. Ultimately if your gut feeling isn’t right just find another elsewhere, there’s plenty of X3s about.

sunnyb13

Original Poster:

897 posts

37 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
quotequote all
okay thanks will check HPI

ZX10R NIN

27,494 posts

124 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
quotequote all
I'd say do a Vcheck I find them more comprehensive.

Scrump

21,889 posts

157 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
quotequote all
I read the review as the reviewer purchased an X3 and had money knocked off the trade in value of the p/x car, the review doesn’t say what the p/x car was.
I think you are worrying over nothing.

SteveStrange

3,752 posts

212 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
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"Here we have..." just FRO.

georgeyboy12345

3,481 posts

34 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
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That X3 uses the troublesome N47 diesel engine. I wouldn't be surprised if the oil leaks, tip of the iceberg with these things. Also watch out for timing chain failure that destroys the engine, turbo wastegate failure that leads to poor fuel economy, EGR failure that can cause engine fires in some cases. The likelihood of these failures increases with higher ages and mileage, so I'd view this as a risky buy.

If you want one of those X3s, get one made after 2015 that uses the more reliable B47 engine.

sunnyb13

Original Poster:

897 posts

37 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
quotequote all
Are the 3 litres any better?

Only looking to spend under £8k so won’t get anything newer than 2012 in budget.

georgeyboy12345

3,481 posts

34 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
quotequote all
I think they are slightly less bad, but can still have issues with oil leaks, high oil consumption, fuel pump failure (N47s have this problem too).

What you’ve got to remember is BMWs are expensive cars and if you want a good one that’s reliable then you have to spend a fair bit of money.

stevemcs

8,593 posts

92 months

Tuesday 21st March 2023
quotequote all
sunnyb13 said:
Are the 3 litres any better?

Only looking to spend under £8k so won’t get anything newer than 2012 in budget.
Your budget is going to buy nothing but trouble, that blue one looks very well used inside, it has one of those awful steering wheel covers, poor seats and they are not heated.

sunnyb13

Original Poster:

897 posts

37 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2023
quotequote all
As mentioned above it ended up being a complete dog. Engine rattling horribly.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2023
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sunnyb13 said:
As mentioned above it ended up being a complete dog. Engine rattling horribly.
That's German reliability and Teutonic build quality for you.

There is a series of dodgy car dealers on the same industrial estate near me and I occasionally go for a nose if I am bored on a Saturday afternoon. I walk around and play the "If you HAD to buy a car today, which one would you buy" game, but honestly it is all last chance saloon before the scrap yard stuff.

Last time I was there they were struggling to start a diesel 1 series, they eventually managed it but the poor thing was shaking itself to pieces and smoke was poring out the back.

Never really understand why people are SO desperate to own an old needy BMW when there are much better, newer non prestige car brands for the same money?

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 22 March 16:13

VeeReihenmotor6

2,134 posts

174 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2023
quotequote all
Go for something like this if your budget is £8k. No point trying to get an end of life premium brand at that budget imo. These cars are a touch older than the BMW but much lower mileage and overall simiplier cars to maintain.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303075...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303054...

sunnyb13

Original Poster:

897 posts

37 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
quotequote all
VeeReihenmotor6 said:
Go for something like this if your budget is £8k. No point trying to get an end of life premium brand at that budget imo. These cars are a touch older than the BMW but much lower mileage and overall simiplier cars to maintain.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303075...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303054...
absolutely not

QJumper

2,709 posts

25 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
quotequote all
sunnyb13 said:
VeeReihenmotor6 said:
Go for something like this if your budget is £8k. No point trying to get an end of life premium brand at that budget imo. These cars are a touch older than the BMW but much lower mileage and overall simiplier cars to maintain.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303075...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303054...
absolutely not
Why not?

If you're working with a budget of under £8k, it makes sense to look at something that's less likely to blow that budget after purchase with hefty repair/maintenance bills.

VeeReihenmotor6

2,134 posts

174 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
quotequote all
Fair play, if they are no good add £6-8k to your budget upfront (as you'll spend that on maintenance anyway on a cheap 150k mile suv from bmw/merc/audi) and get a good one from the beginning?


HTP99

22,443 posts

139 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
quotequote all
Joey Deacon said:
sunnyb13 said:
As mentioned above it ended up being a complete dog. Engine rattling horribly.
That's German reliability and Teutonic build quality for you.

There is a series of dodgy car dealers on the same industrial estate near me and I occasionally go for a nose if I am bored on a Saturday afternoon. I walk around and play the "If you HAD to buy a car today, which one would you buy" game, but honestly it is all last chance saloon before the scrap yard stuff.

Last time I was there they were struggling to start a diesel 1 series, they eventually managed it but the poor thing was shaking itself to pieces and smoke was poring out the back.

Never really understand why people are SO desperate to own an old needy BMW when there are much better, newer non prestige car brands for the same money?

Edited by Joey Deacon on Wednesday 22 March 16:13
It's a BMW innit!!

I remember the MIL's chavvy neighbour picked up a 55 plate X3, the MIL was all, "how can she afford a BMW what with her being on benefits etc, MIL just saw the badge and assumed it was expensive, I explained it was a circa 15 year old car that is obviously tatty, would have cost her not alot, likely has mega miles and will go wrong, sure enough the following weekend the bonnet was up with a dodgy looking bloke looking under it, it was soon gone!

SteveStrange

3,752 posts

212 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
quotequote all
QJumper said:
sunnyb13 said:
VeeReihenmotor6 said:
Go for something like this if your budget is £8k. No point trying to get an end of life premium brand at that budget imo. These cars are a touch older than the BMW but much lower mileage and overall simiplier cars to maintain.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303075...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303054...
absolutely not
Why not?

If you're working with a budget of under £8k, it makes sense to look at something that's less likely to blow that budget after purchase with hefty repair/maintenance bills.
The neighbours, man, goodness me. Far less embarrassing to back the X3 (snigger) out of the driveway, even if it is on the back of a breakdown truck and leaves a puddle of oil on the herringbone, than to own a Kia. Also, mismatched ditchfinders and low spec, but it's got the right badge.



Edited by SteveStrange on Thursday 23 March 11:29

Dylano

237 posts

14 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
quotequote all
sunnyb13 said:
absolutely not
Would love to know your reasoning for such an emphatic stance.

sunnyb13

Original Poster:

897 posts

37 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
quotequote all
Dylano said:
sunnyb13 said:
absolutely not
Would love to know your reasoning for such an emphatic stance.
how can I drive a manual with one leg?