Second car required - BMW E82 1 Series 120i Sport Coupé
Discussion
A decision to move out (just a fraction) to the sticks from Edinburgh brings the need for a second car. I suspect the main duty will be for the wife to leave in park and ride fashion at the local train/tram stops so didn't want anything of high value or considerable size. Budget was pretty reasonable but the risk of car park dings meant I didn't want something I cared too much about. Nor did I want a bucket hanging about the drive at home either. Other key criteria was ISOFIX points in the rear, ULEZ compliance, and petrol on account of mostly short journeys planned.
I was initially on the hunt for lower mileage BMW Compacts (soft spot for them) or something of a MINI flavour. Fortunately, I found a pretty good looking car in the centre of Edinburgh this weekend. After feeling out the seller via text I decided to check it out Saturday before a test drive on Sunday which subsequently brought us to a sale. Advertised at £4000 with 53,000 miles on the clock and an owner chatting plenty about premium tyres, replacement reluctor rings and a solid MOT history, it seemed to make sense. I'm very much into buying the seller as much as the car these days and as well as being a thoroughly pleasant and interesting chap, the local garage he has been using is one with a good reputation which was a further comfort in my consideration.
Initial observations from my first visit on Saturday (when I took these images) were positive. It's not far from my workplace so I had let the seller know I would probably swing by if I had the chance to get a look at it without disturbing him. This was just to satisfy my own curiosity that the bodywork and everything externally was in good condition without someone breathing down my neck. I was more than happy to follow-up with a test drive the next evening.
The keen eyed among you might have spotted the discolouration in the drivers wing. The seller reckons at some point prior to their ownership it has had a repair but over five years the paint has faded and discoloured somewhat. The colour is "Bluewater Metallic" and it seems like it is a silver base coat with blue on top? I can imagine it's hard enough to get this blended in perfectly but perhaps not enough lacquer was applied or the discolouration is due to UV-damage? Nonetheless, this was the only "issue" with the car and I use the term lightly as it wasn't really enough to put me off.
Air conditioning works brilliantly although I had forgotten how loud it was in the E8X-E9X era of BMW's. I was pretty pleased to see it had PDC front and rear as the wife prefers this over reverse camera systems. The interior is immaculate with black leather sport seats and the car felt nice and tight during the test drive. It's been a minute since I drove a manual and I'm so used to Hill Assist that my clutch control was embarrassing at first but I quickly found my groove. Edinburgh's roads are brutal but I felt no dodgy knocks, bumps or rattles despite throwing in some roundabouts and sleeping policemen on the test drive.
Sale below asking price agreed, deposit left and I'll collect it on my way to work tomorrow evening. Insurance is a lighter at £280 for this vehicle compared the Compacts I had been eyeing up. I'm pleased about that even if the road tax is a bit rich for my liking.
This could well become the most boring Reader's Car thread around if it is as solid as suspected. I hope I am left with not much to do! I think the initial plan is give it a good exterior clean, replace the plates for fresh ones and track down a replacement wing - they aren't too difficult to replace and will give me a chance to clean out the windscreen washer bottle too. MOT is due in November so might get a fresh one soon to help pick up any hidden issues.
Current 5 Series Touring thread.
Previous 3 Series Touring thread.
Yeah, I struggle to look past BMW...
I was initially on the hunt for lower mileage BMW Compacts (soft spot for them) or something of a MINI flavour. Fortunately, I found a pretty good looking car in the centre of Edinburgh this weekend. After feeling out the seller via text I decided to check it out Saturday before a test drive on Sunday which subsequently brought us to a sale. Advertised at £4000 with 53,000 miles on the clock and an owner chatting plenty about premium tyres, replacement reluctor rings and a solid MOT history, it seemed to make sense. I'm very much into buying the seller as much as the car these days and as well as being a thoroughly pleasant and interesting chap, the local garage he has been using is one with a good reputation which was a further comfort in my consideration.
Initial observations from my first visit on Saturday (when I took these images) were positive. It's not far from my workplace so I had let the seller know I would probably swing by if I had the chance to get a look at it without disturbing him. This was just to satisfy my own curiosity that the bodywork and everything externally was in good condition without someone breathing down my neck. I was more than happy to follow-up with a test drive the next evening.
The keen eyed among you might have spotted the discolouration in the drivers wing. The seller reckons at some point prior to their ownership it has had a repair but over five years the paint has faded and discoloured somewhat. The colour is "Bluewater Metallic" and it seems like it is a silver base coat with blue on top? I can imagine it's hard enough to get this blended in perfectly but perhaps not enough lacquer was applied or the discolouration is due to UV-damage? Nonetheless, this was the only "issue" with the car and I use the term lightly as it wasn't really enough to put me off.
Air conditioning works brilliantly although I had forgotten how loud it was in the E8X-E9X era of BMW's. I was pretty pleased to see it had PDC front and rear as the wife prefers this over reverse camera systems. The interior is immaculate with black leather sport seats and the car felt nice and tight during the test drive. It's been a minute since I drove a manual and I'm so used to Hill Assist that my clutch control was embarrassing at first but I quickly found my groove. Edinburgh's roads are brutal but I felt no dodgy knocks, bumps or rattles despite throwing in some roundabouts and sleeping policemen on the test drive.
Sale below asking price agreed, deposit left and I'll collect it on my way to work tomorrow evening. Insurance is a lighter at £280 for this vehicle compared the Compacts I had been eyeing up. I'm pleased about that even if the road tax is a bit rich for my liking.
This could well become the most boring Reader's Car thread around if it is as solid as suspected. I hope I am left with not much to do! I think the initial plan is give it a good exterior clean, replace the plates for fresh ones and track down a replacement wing - they aren't too difficult to replace and will give me a chance to clean out the windscreen washer bottle too. MOT is due in November so might get a fresh one soon to help pick up any hidden issues.
Current 5 Series Touring thread.
Previous 3 Series Touring thread.
Yeah, I struggle to look past BMW...
Edited by beambeam1 on Monday 19th June 07:17
Sold this between Christmas and New Year! Didn't even put a thousand miles on it yet somehow managed to spend £500-600 repairing a rear spring, 2 x driveshafts and a fresh MOT before letting it go for what I paid! Shame as it was a fun wee car but ultimately it wasn't getting used nearly as much as we expected. We have another kid on the way soon so figured selling it on and later down the line finding a more suitable car might be best.
It was a trader that bought it so I suspect it will be tidied up and listed at a much higher price than I sold it for quite soon! Passed it's MOT with no advisories as well, a real treat when that happens!
It was a trader that bought it so I suspect it will be tidied up and listed at a much higher price than I sold it for quite soon! Passed it's MOT with no advisories as well, a real treat when that happens!
bangerturner said:
beambeam1 said:
This could well become the most boring Reader's Car thread around if it is as solid as suspected.
You called it 100% right! 
Just had the notion to check the website of the trader that bought it and I called it:
beambeam1 said:
It was a trader that bought it so I suspect it will be tidied up and listed at a much higher price than I sold it for quite soon! Passed it's MOT with no advisories as well, a real treat when that happens!
I bought for £3450, £500 in maintenance, sold for £3450... he's sold it for what looks like £6500 after refurbishing the wheels, replacing/repainting the wing and a valet. I'm in the wrong gig!beambeam1 said:
I still fancy a little something on the side though and have been recently browsing Japan for low mile Z3/Z4's or something that piques my interest.
I've currently got my third Z4 Coupe, two 3 litres and currently an M. The six cylinder Z4s seem fairly bulletproof so I'm not sure mileage is really an issue, and rust only seems to affect wings on early ones (they are all bolt-on panels anyway) and rear brake pipes.
But Z3s do seem to suffer more with rust so might be better sourced as imports.
Good luck anyway.
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