3 or 5 series Touring?
Discussion
Hi There,
I have brought myself my fun car, its great but not hugely practical and looking to get a car for lugging stuff around, biking etc. My budget is up to £6000 and always fancied a BMW.
The car wont do a great deal of miles, probably around 5000 a year, so I am looking at something with full service history and been looked after and I will prob keep it for 3 years..
So the 2 options are the 3 and the 5 series, looking on auto trader etc for that money there is a huge mix of age/millage etc which is pretty confusing, I guess a 5 series would be better for the space but do these then tend to more/less issues?? Petrol may be an option as is cheaper at the moment so running cost could be around the same?? What are the likely problems with BMW's at this age with a FSH, if any?
The 3 series (seems) to have held its value a little better but was wondering what you guys think is a good buy at this price, i don't need anything fast, keeping running costs low is a priority..
Sorry for all the questions....
GBR..
I have brought myself my fun car, its great but not hugely practical and looking to get a car for lugging stuff around, biking etc. My budget is up to £6000 and always fancied a BMW.
The car wont do a great deal of miles, probably around 5000 a year, so I am looking at something with full service history and been looked after and I will prob keep it for 3 years..
So the 2 options are the 3 and the 5 series, looking on auto trader etc for that money there is a huge mix of age/millage etc which is pretty confusing, I guess a 5 series would be better for the space but do these then tend to more/less issues?? Petrol may be an option as is cheaper at the moment so running cost could be around the same?? What are the likely problems with BMW's at this age with a FSH, if any?
The 3 series (seems) to have held its value a little better but was wondering what you guys think is a good buy at this price, i don't need anything fast, keeping running costs low is a priority..
Sorry for all the questions....
GBR..
The 3-series seems to hold its value better than the 5-series so I think you'll probably get a better 5 for the money than 3. Though there won't be much in it, so worth going for which you prefer.
The 5-series has a much more useful boot for big objects; as well as being simply bigger, the sides are clear. The 3-series suffers intrusion from the suspension, which means in the E46, the maximum width is only about 31-32".
Otherwise, the E46 is smaller and more fun to drive, but less refined, than the E39. There's probably not a lot between them for running costs; I was surprised how close the fuel economy of my 330i is to my old 540i, for instance. What will make most difference is buying one which has been properly looked after, had bushes replaced already, that sort of thing.
The 5-series has a much more useful boot for big objects; as well as being simply bigger, the sides are clear. The 3-series suffers intrusion from the suspension, which means in the E46, the maximum width is only about 31-32".
Otherwise, the E46 is smaller and more fun to drive, but less refined, than the E39. There's probably not a lot between them for running costs; I was surprised how close the fuel economy of my 330i is to my old 540i, for instance. What will make most difference is buying one which has been properly looked after, had bushes replaced already, that sort of thing.
My reccomendation (indeed, its what I did) would be to get the E39 5 series (1996-2003). As above, you will get more for your money, it always seems to me when looking at used 3 series that they have led harder lives. On a £6k budget you should get a very nice 530i. I would go for the SE as these are slightly less in demand than the Sports and therefore you should be able to get a better deal. I would say that on a 3 series you'd be looking at putting the bike on the roof whereas on the 5 it will also fit inside (unless you remove the front wheel at which point it also fits in the 3). Neither car is particularly spacious inside though.
Another very good option, albeit an older car, would be the W124 Mercedes (1985-1996). These are now semi classics and should even hold their value well but are still modern enough to use on a daily basis.
Another very good option, albeit an older car, would be the W124 Mercedes (1985-1996). These are now semi classics and should even hold their value well but are still modern enough to use on a daily basis.
Edited by RiccardoG on Wednesday 18th January 09:26
If I could just counter Ricardo's comments - I've got a 530d Touring SE and I feel the sports are just a cut above in terms of style, stance and rear-view mirror presence!
But he's right - you'll get more for your money if you got the SE route.
Personally - if I wasn't doing much mileage - I'd be looking for a 540 touring - there's nothing like a big engined touring! But a 530i would be a decent choice too.
I've got a 530d (i do galactic mileage) and love it.
But he's right - you'll get more for your money if you got the SE route.
Personally - if I wasn't doing much mileage - I'd be looking for a 540 touring - there's nothing like a big engined touring! But a 530i would be a decent choice too.
I've got a 530d (i do galactic mileage) and love it.
Having owned both I would probably go for the 5 series; for an estate car more space inside = better, particularly as you have a fun car as well.
That said for your budget you are probably looking at either a high spec, lowish miles e46 3 series or e39 five series, or a high mileage lower spec e92 3 series or e61 five series, so I can see your dilemma. The e92 is a great looking car IMO. The e61 seems to divide opinion in the looks department, particularly on the inside.
I doubt that you will see much difference between comparable 3 and 5 series models and specs when it comes to maintenance. More toys are more things that can go wrong; turbos can (and usually do) go at some point on the diesels which are £1k to rectify. For low mileage I would probably go for petrol, though the ability of the 3.0 diesel engine to gain speed on the motorway is very impressive. Whatever you decide I would advise getting one with satnav which is desirable come resale time. Having just sold an e39 touring heated seats were on most buyers wish lists too.
Best of luck with it - both are great cars!
That said for your budget you are probably looking at either a high spec, lowish miles e46 3 series or e39 five series, or a high mileage lower spec e92 3 series or e61 five series, so I can see your dilemma. The e92 is a great looking car IMO. The e61 seems to divide opinion in the looks department, particularly on the inside.
I doubt that you will see much difference between comparable 3 and 5 series models and specs when it comes to maintenance. More toys are more things that can go wrong; turbos can (and usually do) go at some point on the diesels which are £1k to rectify. For low mileage I would probably go for petrol, though the ability of the 3.0 diesel engine to gain speed on the motorway is very impressive. Whatever you decide I would advise getting one with satnav which is desirable come resale time. Having just sold an e39 touring heated seats were on most buyers wish lists too.
Best of luck with it - both are great cars!
TrailingThrottle said:
That said for your budget you are probably looking at either a high spec, lowish miles e46 3 series or e39 five series, or a high mileage lower spec e92 3 series or e61 five series, so I can see your dilemma.
Thanks for the info everyone, above is exactly where I am at and its pretty hard to know where to go......GBR1 said:
Thanks for the info everyone, above is exactly where I am at and its pretty hard to know where to go.....
As a light use 'chuck the bikes in' type or car I wouldn't be in doubt that getting the older cars is a better choice. This is mainly because they are relatively simpler to maintain and have less technology to go wrong. For instance, on the E60 there is an "intelligent battery" charging system which means that if you replace the battery to need to have the new one coded in by BMW. I immagine the same goes for a number of other systems on the car. In addition, general opinion seems to indicate that the build quality of the newer cars wasn't as good, I am not sure how substantiated this is though.My parents have an E91 325i, its much more fun to drive than my E39 (SE spec) but I find my E39 is quieter and has better ride. When I was looking to buy I originally wanted an E61 but I found the interior terribly bland and, in terms of comfort and ride, not substantially better than the E39. At the time the price difference was 2x so I opted for the E39 and these days I am very glad I did.
If you prefer the look of the newer models though then you should get that, however, consider that at the end of the day, they are all out of date models now.
Thanks guys,
So narrowing it down a little I have looked hard at whats around and the e61 "seems" to be best value for money, again I could be wrong on this but... Then reading through a few other posts there seems little in it between a 525d and 525i once you take into account fuel prices plus the diesels appear more to fix if there is an issue??
Not sure if any of this is true, what are your thoughts?
For the same price the 525i have less miles and in some cases slightly better speck, so would you go for the i or d??
Cheers in advance
GBR
So narrowing it down a little I have looked hard at whats around and the e61 "seems" to be best value for money, again I could be wrong on this but... Then reading through a few other posts there seems little in it between a 525d and 525i once you take into account fuel prices plus the diesels appear more to fix if there is an issue??
Not sure if any of this is true, what are your thoughts?
For the same price the 525i have less miles and in some cases slightly better speck, so would you go for the i or d??
Cheers in advance
GBR
If you are set on the E61 then I would reccomend the petrol as its generally more reliable than the diesels, particularly when buying a car with a few miles on. Having said that, I reccomended you the E39 and you're going for the E61, so I fully expect yo to get a 525d now! 
Have you been inside the E61? The dash on the more basic specced cars is quite something...
Have you been inside the E61? The dash on the more basic specced cars is quite something...
Keep in mind that the air suspension on the ageing 5 series tourers may need attention. I spanked circa £2k on my 66k E39 renewing subframe bushes, air springs, accumulators and all manner of odds and sods.
Big difference in ride quality thereafter but I suspect the 3 series wouldn't accrue such a bill.
I did have a torquey b10 touring squirming the rear end though...
Big difference in ride quality thereafter but I suspect the 3 series wouldn't accrue such a bill.
I did have a torquey b10 touring squirming the rear end though...
RiccardoG said:
If you are set on the E61 then I would reccomend the petrol as its generally more reliable than the diesels, particularly when buying a car with a few miles on. Having said that, I reccomended you the E39 and you're going for the E61, so I fully expect yo to get a 525d now!
Have you been inside the E61? The dash on the more basic specced cars is quite something...
Hi Riccardo,Have you been inside the E61? The dash on the more basic specced cars is quite something...
No have not decided anything yet, many thanks for your input.. Will have look and drive of both this weekend and see where I end up..
Cheers
GBR1
With a budget of £6k max I wouldnt go near an E61. Leaving aside my personal views that its a poor quality car, £6k fishes at the very bottom of the E61 pond or the very top of the E39 pond, along with some change as well to get the inevitable bits and bobs any used car needs tidied up.
You should - if you can find one - be able to get an immaculate 530i or 530d Sport Touring with change for this budget. This will beat the sort of ropey E61 SE you'll get for similar money.
You should - if you can find one - be able to get an immaculate 530i or 530d Sport Touring with change for this budget. This will beat the sort of ropey E61 SE you'll get for similar money.
Agree with the above tbh.6K won't be enough to bag a decent E91 or E61.8K upwards should just about get you into E91 decent territory.If anything run whichever you get out of E91-E61 with a warranty.
I like the size of the E61 to be fair but I just can't get my eyes around that awful looking back end on it.
Shame really.
Handy cars and I like them(except the back end on the E61)when my current E91 is worn out I will be having another but petrol next time.
Never had major problems with my 320d *touch wood* central locking playing up fixed under warranty,dodgy steering lock fixed under warranty.Servicing has remained cheap using indy's (6yrs old now) and stuff like microfilters and air filters I do myself.
Moving away from diesel is more of a mileage and use issue rather than engine.
I like the size of the E61 to be fair but I just can't get my eyes around that awful looking back end on it.
Shame really.
Handy cars and I like them(except the back end on the E61)when my current E91 is worn out I will be having another but petrol next time.
Never had major problems with my 320d *touch wood* central locking playing up fixed under warranty,dodgy steering lock fixed under warranty.Servicing has remained cheap using indy's (6yrs old now) and stuff like microfilters and air filters I do myself.
Moving away from diesel is more of a mileage and use issue rather than engine.
So having listend to you advise (mostly) do you think this looks like a good option??
Cheers
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
Cheers
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
Edited by GBR1 on Thursday 19th January 18:52
Edited by GBR1 on Thursday 19th January 19:26
I think you might find it helpful to decide, firstly, whether you want a 3 series or 5 series, and then worry about choosing the newer or older model of either. They are surprisingly different in terms of space and how they drive - I have owned both. Both can give great driving pleasure, but where the 3 feels more compact the 5's virtues are perhaps in its surefootedness and cross-continent capability.
How important is space to you? If you need to move white goods and regularly go on trips to Ikea or the dump then I would pick the 5. If you don't need a car that can double as a small van then the 3 is a lovely car to own. For what it is worth I would probably pick an e39 over an e62, but an e91 over an e46.
How important is space to you? If you need to move white goods and regularly go on trips to Ikea or the dump then I would pick the 5. If you don't need a car that can double as a small van then the 3 is a lovely car to own. For what it is worth I would probably pick an e39 over an e62, but an e91 over an e46.
Can pick up some reasonably priced E61 tourings these days:
Could probably haggle this one down to about £5k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
and again, haggle on this and could possibly be got for £6k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
Depends how important 'newer car' look is too you.
As the guys above have said, 5 and 3 are very different. I personally love my 3 series, as it can be quite nippy and good to fling about when required but still retain a decent MPG on the motorway, its just about refined enough too
Where as a 5 series will carry allot more due to its size but is also quite a bit more refined and 'casual' on the road.
You need to choose which size you want before you can choose which shape of the variant you need.
Seeing as you already have a 'toy', I think If I were you I would probably go for the E39 5 series as you will get something in very good trim and condition for under your budget and they're great for wafting around in pure comfort
Could probably haggle this one down to about £5k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
and again, haggle on this and could possibly be got for £6k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
Depends how important 'newer car' look is too you.
As the guys above have said, 5 and 3 are very different. I personally love my 3 series, as it can be quite nippy and good to fling about when required but still retain a decent MPG on the motorway, its just about refined enough too
Where as a 5 series will carry allot more due to its size but is also quite a bit more refined and 'casual' on the road.
You need to choose which size you want before you can choose which shape of the variant you need.
Seeing as you already have a 'toy', I think If I were you I would probably go for the E39 5 series as you will get something in very good trim and condition for under your budget and they're great for wafting around in pure comfort
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