Convince me to buy a high miler.

[Acheron]

Looking at shifting on the ST220 (2004/04). Out of the last 8 cars ive bought, one was private and the rest part-ex.

Just browsing around and found a staggering 320d, (2004/54) with 115k on the clock. Looks totally mint with tons and tons of extras, and the price is reasonable. In reality i would hope for around the £2750 mark on ebay, which is where it (the st) would go, id proably have to find a grand for the beamer, which is no issue.

Bit reluctant about private sale, 70+ miles away according to autotrader, even though my last private purchase was a minter. And the mileage puts me off a little bit too

Anyone else have constant autotrader/ph/ebay dilemas?

Edited by Acheron on Monday 6th June 22:38

[Six Fiend]

Not even run in if it's been serviced properly

[saladdodger]

personally i wouldnt spend over 1500 quid on anything with over 100k, why, something that ive just been brought up with by family, drummed into me i guess, but saying that, the BMW diesel engines are probably the best on the market and will do well over 200k, its just turbos and wear and tear to look out for.

My friends by VW MERC BMW with over 130k on the car as long as the history adds up. All are like new.

Questions to ask are:

can you deal with a car running that sort of mileage

What else could you buy for that money

[p4cks]

My Z4 Coupe is on 107k and feels like it's done a third of that. FBMWSH helps.

[soad]

That's not a huge mileage- just seems high initially. Get it bought, providing all is well condition and service history wise

[Jubal]

I have just moved on a 196k 320d auto I'd had from new. It served me very well and has only needed a minor suspension refresh, injectors and one turbo over the years. I think they are fine cars if you can live with replacing parts as they wear and service them as needed.

[TomS09]

Rather have a high mileage well serviced car than one with low miles thats probably been used on a lot of short journeys, still on original old tyres and brakes, barely had the oil changed etc.

My previous car only had 22k but was alot more trouble than my 120k plus one I have now. Although that may be because I have a Honda now and not an Alfa.

[Swoxy]

320d? I'd rather have a high miler with FSH than a low miler that might've been clocked.

[VolvoT5]

115k on a BMW Diesel... IMO not a problem if it has been serviced properly.

I'm looking to buy an automaticc one of these (either a 320 or 330), I'm very suspicious of 8/9 year old cars with low milage and patchy service history, it is so easy to have the milage 'adjusted' these days.
I would consider (and actually prefer) anything upto 150k with a full service history and evidence of recent maintenece. Much more than 150k and it would have to be cheap.

[stoocake]

I love high mileage cars...I've had a few around the 30,000 to 50,000 mark and comparing them to the majority of cars I've owned at around the 140,000 to 160,000 mark (and one that was over 200,000 miles when I bought it!) there's not a lot in it providing it's been looked after. Most of these have been Honda's however, which seem to age better than other cars - my current Audi doesn't seem like it'll make it past 150,000 without getting too expensive to repair.

Anyway, I'm rambling. My point is, DO IT! People are far more put off by mileage than they should be.

[BMWBen]

p4cks said:

My Z4 Coupe is on 107k and feels like it's done a third of that. FBMWSH helps.

Really? In my experience they're all just a bunch of cowboys. Don't care where the car has been serviced, just that it's been done.

£170/hr they charge round me... It's much cheaper to get a solicitor. Or divorced.

And the reason is because of people like you

[TTwiggy]

My Jag is approaching 160k and feels fresh as a daisy.

We have problem in this country with the magical 100k mark. It's as if we expect cars to fall to bits as this magic mileage rolls around.

Similarly, we believe that 99mph is perfectly safe, while hitting 100 is a recipe for fiery death...

[SteveS Cup]

TTwiggy said:

My Jag is approaching 160k and feels fresh as a daisy.

We have problem in this country with the magical 100k mark. It's as if we expect cars to fall to bits as this magic mileage rolls around.

Similarly, we believe that 99mph is perfectly safe, while hitting 100 is a recipe for fiery death...

A bit like £2 is to much but £1.99 is a bargain!

I've had a few high milers, the highest was an e36 and I sold it on 160k miles. Felt very fresh! BM's need nice new bushes and they feel tight again!

[GreatGranny]

I've had 3 cars recently which have had over 100k on the clock when bought. All were fantastic cars and all had FSH and had preventative maintenence carried out. They were a Volvo V70, MK2 GTI and E36 318is which I am still driving. As has been said buy on condition and make sure its been looked after.

[Rovinghawk]

My mondeo is going strong at 180k- I'll probably keep it until about 250k. Don't worry about miles, worry about condition.

RH

[Bill]

Is that the 2l diesel BM with a reputation for lunching turbos?

[thinfourth2]

Any car with over 100K miles on the clock is basically knackered

Try instead to find one that has only done 10K being ragged along farm tracks at high speed by a drunken blind farmer as it will be in much better condition.

[Celt]

There's a member on here who has a 182 trophy on 176,000+ miles.120 on a diesel beemer wouldn't bother me.

[PaulB81]

My 320d has 90k on the clock now. About 20k of that is mine, still feels very fresh, everything tight. I wouldnt be put off by 120k on a similar car at all.

[Dracoro]

Serviced well, most half decent engines will cope with high mileage.

However, suspension, brakes, clutches, sensors etc. are another matter.

Check the history, a high miler that's recently had a load of suspension (esp if a large car) replaced may well be a great buy.