BMW 325i/330i Buying Guide
Discussion
Hello wonder if anyone had a guide on what to look out for with these cars?
In September (another student loan) I should have about 5k saved as well as my current ZR and nearly a years insurance left so will look at upgrading.
Anyway have seen my ZR will be £800 and was considering a R53 Cooper S at £1250 to insure and a Fiesta ST at £1100. However have seen I can insure a 325i/330i sport coupe for around £1400 which does not seem bad at all to me
I budget to spend a max of £4,000 on the car as don't want to spend my money as always like to have a couple of grand lying around just in case.
But just wondered what things do I need to look out for?
Also how much would running costs me generally for a year I do circa 10k fuel doesn't bother me presume will do circa 28 - 32mpg but in terms of servicing etc would £500 a year for this over 10k miles be far out?
Does look like can get a nice 325i coupe for my money or a pretty ropey 330i so seems more likely will be getting the 325i if that makes any difference something like the one linked bellow would be ideal
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
In September (another student loan) I should have about 5k saved as well as my current ZR and nearly a years insurance left so will look at upgrading.
Anyway have seen my ZR will be £800 and was considering a R53 Cooper S at £1250 to insure and a Fiesta ST at £1100. However have seen I can insure a 325i/330i sport coupe for around £1400 which does not seem bad at all to me
I budget to spend a max of £4,000 on the car as don't want to spend my money as always like to have a couple of grand lying around just in case.
But just wondered what things do I need to look out for?
Also how much would running costs me generally for a year I do circa 10k fuel doesn't bother me presume will do circa 28 - 32mpg but in terms of servicing etc would £500 a year for this over 10k miles be far out?
Does look like can get a nice 325i coupe for my money or a pretty ropey 330i so seems more likely will be getting the 325i if that makes any difference something like the one linked bellow would be ideal
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
I don't know if it's much help or not as I've only owned my 325 for 3 years (I prefer my Mustang), and the wife has had it most of that time. But it's been a really reliable car, it's only needed one ball joint repaired but I just did both anyway. I replaced the suspension on it, but it wasn't something that had to be done same with the tyres. So roughly 4 full services and the cost of two ball joints in 3 years of ownership.
It does ok fuel wise, though I do wish 5th gear was a bit taller as I feel the RPMs are a bit high for my liking at 65+mph. If I'd been the primary driver I could tell you what the actual economy is, but I've never been able to get my wife to take the numbers down consistantly. I'm actually sad we're selling it, the few times I've "had" to drive it, it's been a real blast even if it's missing a few hundred HP from my normal daily.
It does ok fuel wise, though I do wish 5th gear was a bit taller as I feel the RPMs are a bit high for my liking at 65+mph. If I'd been the primary driver I could tell you what the actual economy is, but I've never been able to get my wife to take the numbers down consistantly. I'm actually sad we're selling it, the few times I've "had" to drive it, it's been a real blast even if it's missing a few hundred HP from my normal daily.
I have had a 330ci Clubsport for nearly two years do I feel well positioned to answer.
32mpg on a run but as soon as you mix driving up it will be a lot less. Mixed driving I get 24mpg and it's approx £80 for a full tank at current prices.
Tyres mid range are upwards £275 a pair, roughly same for brakes/pads.
I have been very lucky with mine and had one minor split hose which was £70. Rest has been servicing and consumables, if you bought a lemon I reckon it could get very expensive very quickly. Service, MOT, suspension and tyres I reckon you would be getting on for £8-900 or to look at it another way a quarter of the price of the car!
32mpg on a run but as soon as you mix driving up it will be a lot less. Mixed driving I get 24mpg and it's approx £80 for a full tank at current prices.
Tyres mid range are upwards £275 a pair, roughly same for brakes/pads.
I have been very lucky with mine and had one minor split hose which was £70. Rest has been servicing and consumables, if you bought a lemon I reckon it could get very expensive very quickly. Service, MOT, suspension and tyres I reckon you would be getting on for £8-900 or to look at it another way a quarter of the price of the car!
Okay thanks for the reply looking September time to replace my ZR will consider a 330i as well noticed can get a nice facelift saloon for around £4,500 which seems tempting just worried going from 103bhp to 231bhp may be quite a leap.
And yeah tyres do seem a bit steap but saying that the tyres for my ZR arent excatly cheap being a 215 17"
What are the common problems with these cars to look our for? Heard something about suspension bushes when looking and the rear subframe. Also heard arches can corrode but thats easy to spot I suppose do the 325i/330i suffers from VANOS issues at all heard that can be pricey?
Thanks
Greg
And yeah tyres do seem a bit steap but saying that the tyres for my ZR arent excatly cheap being a 215 17"
What are the common problems with these cars to look our for? Heard something about suspension bushes when looking and the rear subframe. Also heard arches can corrode but thats easy to spot I suppose do the 325i/330i suffers from VANOS issues at all heard that can be pricey?
Thanks
Greg
£500 per year for servicing/maintenance on an older BMW may be optimistic. I think my 528 has probably cost me that already this year. I once spent £1100 in one month. Just make sure it has full service history. I think 2010 was it's cheapest year at about £450. But then it only did about 6000 miles.
Ah s
t :/
Well whilst I could afford 1k a year running costs along with insurance £1,400 and tax £250 talking nearly 3k a year which is a lot for 10k miles motoring may be something better to look at when I am 21 and insurance is cheaper as well as university being out the way as the mini will be back on the road soon and running two expensive cars will kill my dispossable income...
Think may go with original option of a Fiesta ST as they are cheap to buy run and insure have that a year and then hopefully get something like a 130i when I am 21 with the money I have saved
t :/Well whilst I could afford 1k a year running costs along with insurance £1,400 and tax £250 talking nearly 3k a year which is a lot for 10k miles motoring may be something better to look at when I am 21 and insurance is cheaper as well as university being out the way as the mini will be back on the road soon and running two expensive cars will kill my dispossable income...
Think may go with original option of a Fiesta ST as they are cheap to buy run and insure have that a year and then hopefully get something like a 130i when I am 21 with the money I have saved
greggy50 said:
Ah st :/
Well whilst I could afford 1k a year running costs along with insurance £1,400 and tax £250 talking nearly 3k a year which is a lot for 10k miles motoring may be something better to look at when I am 21 and insurance is cheaper as well as university being out the way as the mini will be back on the road soon and running two expensive cars will kill my dispossable income...
Think may go with original option of a Fiesta ST as they are cheap to buy run and insure have that a year and then hopefully get something like a 130i when I am 21 with the money I have saved
why not just keep the current car for another 12 months mate, instead of wasting money on what will purely be a "stop-gap" solution?t :/Well whilst I could afford 1k a year running costs along with insurance £1,400 and tax £250 talking nearly 3k a year which is a lot for 10k miles motoring may be something better to look at when I am 21 and insurance is cheaper as well as university being out the way as the mini will be back on the road soon and running two expensive cars will kill my dispossable income...
Think may go with original option of a Fiesta ST as they are cheap to buy run and insure have that a year and then hopefully get something like a 130i when I am 21 with the money I have saved
There are loads better 1990's 325i's out there than mine (for a bit more of course), but have the rest of you just had bad luck or have we been lucky? We've put maybe 15k-ish miles on the car in 3 years and it runs like a dream, it's actually been the most reliable car for us out of 3 (though one being a Rover 214 makes almost anything else more reliable). The Mustang has cost me loads more than the BMW and it's done maybe 7K miles in 4 years.
Maybe I'm wrong, but if you wanted a 325 or 330 I'm sure there are some out there in your price range that are in good order for the type of mileage you are doing. Though it is always a gamble when purchasing a used motor. I think doing all the springs/shocks only cost 400ish quid including mates rates labour (with trade price), and they are BM parts not cheapos. Tyres were really cheap too, but I didn't go with a performance brand since the wife doesn't drive cars like I do (I think it was sub 150 for all 4 mounted/balanced). I would guess that certain mechanical bits could be quite costly compared to a different brand car of a similar age, but we've not needed to go that route. I know the badges and centrecaps are outrageously priced so I'd also assume other similar visual items are costly as well.
Maybe I'm wrong, but if you wanted a 325 or 330 I'm sure there are some out there in your price range that are in good order for the type of mileage you are doing. Though it is always a gamble when purchasing a used motor. I think doing all the springs/shocks only cost 400ish quid including mates rates labour (with trade price), and they are BM parts not cheapos. Tyres were really cheap too, but I didn't go with a performance brand since the wife doesn't drive cars like I do (I think it was sub 150 for all 4 mounted/balanced). I would guess that certain mechanical bits could be quite costly compared to a different brand car of a similar age, but we've not needed to go that route. I know the badges and centrecaps are outrageously priced so I'd also assume other similar visual items are costly as well.
E38Ross said:
why not just keep the current car for another 12 months mate, instead of wasting money on what will purely be a "stop-gap" solution?
Bored of my ZR I get bored of cars quickly only keep them for a year if that and its on 73k miles now and may struggle to sell it on 85k + To be honest only car I will ever keep is my MINI which I dont intend on selling till the day I die
When it comes to my other car want to just keep hold of them for my 9 - 10 months so I can own and try as many different types as possible
However saw a 330ci covertible just go past and it sounded so nice
Reason for getting the BMW was to get used to RWD as noticed 350z are decent prices now and could hopefully afford one in a couple of years MyPonyRocks said:
There are loads better 1990's 325i's out there than mine (for a bit more of course), but have the rest of you just had bad luck or have we been lucky? We've put maybe 15k-ish miles on the car in 3 years and it runs like a dream, it's actually been the most reliable car for us out of 3 (though one being a Rover 214 makes almost anything else more reliable). The Mustang has cost me loads more than the BMW and it's done maybe 7K miles in 4 years.
Maybe I'm wrong, but if you wanted a 325 or 330 I'm sure there are some out there in your price range that are in good order for the type of mileage you are doing. Though it is always a gamble when purchasing a used motor. I think doing all the springs/shocks only cost 400ish quid including mates rates labour (with trade price), and they are BM parts not cheapos. Tyres were really cheap too, but I didn't go with a performance brand since the wife doesn't drive cars like I do (I think it was sub 150 for all 4 mounted/balanced). I would guess that certain mechanical bits could be quite costly compared to a different brand car of a similar age, but we've not needed to go that route. I know the badges and centrecaps are outrageously priced so I'd also assume other similar visual items are costly as well.
Yeah good point I think will see how my saving goes over summer from work if I get a good amount of O/T in will consider it as will have a 2/3 grand left for if something fMaybe I'm wrong, but if you wanted a 325 or 330 I'm sure there are some out there in your price range that are in good order for the type of mileage you are doing. Though it is always a gamble when purchasing a used motor. I think doing all the springs/shocks only cost 400ish quid including mates rates labour (with trade price), and they are BM parts not cheapos. Tyres were really cheap too, but I didn't go with a performance brand since the wife doesn't drive cars like I do (I think it was sub 150 for all 4 mounted/balanced). I would guess that certain mechanical bits could be quite costly compared to a different brand car of a similar age, but we've not needed to go that route. I know the badges and centrecaps are outrageously priced so I'd also assume other similar visual items are costly as well.
ks up. If not will look at a cheaper option i.e. clio 182/fiesta st both of which are great cars. However think if I drove a 330i would find it hard to consider a ST after that http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic77882.html
This guy is struggling to sell his so might be a good way of getting yourself a bargain as the perfect stop gap leaving money in the bank for fixes or the start of the 350z fund
This guy is struggling to sell his so might be a good way of getting yourself a bargain as the perfect stop gap leaving money in the bank for fixes or the start of the 350z fund
I've had an '02 (E46) 330i Sport (78k miles) for 1 month/1000 miles now. Averages about 29mpg on mixed commute. Suspension hard, but acceptable. Performance good, but drive-by-wire throttle can feel a bit strange. Surprisingly easy to work on (probably a good thing, but time will tell!).
In my very limited experience (looking for one for a year before buying) major things to look out for, in no particular order are:
1) Knackered cooling systems (replaced mine as a precaution, but it was indeed knackered) Known weak point.
2) Crap gearchange on manuals. Notchy feel and fairly common for the lever to be stuck over to the right of the gate. Can be improved by removing CDV and changing tranny oil, but it's just a pretty unrefined 'box IMO.
3) Thumps when shifting into reverse or first from standstill, or through the gears - knackered propshaft donut (£) or diff mounts (££).
4) Auto boxes suit the car better IMO, but seem to be prone to failing.
5) Rust around wheelarches and boot lid.
6) The BIG one: boot floor cracks where the subframe mounts. Walk away if it's gone.
7) Electric windows not working.
8) Oil consumption can be stupid (1 litre per 500 miles has been quoted somewhere as being within manufactureres limits).
I'm sure there are others, just my experience.
Hope this helps.
In my very limited experience (looking for one for a year before buying) major things to look out for, in no particular order are:
1) Knackered cooling systems (replaced mine as a precaution, but it was indeed knackered) Known weak point.
2) Crap gearchange on manuals. Notchy feel and fairly common for the lever to be stuck over to the right of the gate. Can be improved by removing CDV and changing tranny oil, but it's just a pretty unrefined 'box IMO.
3) Thumps when shifting into reverse or first from standstill, or through the gears - knackered propshaft donut (£) or diff mounts (££).
4) Auto boxes suit the car better IMO, but seem to be prone to failing.
5) Rust around wheelarches and boot lid.
6) The BIG one: boot floor cracks where the subframe mounts. Walk away if it's gone.
7) Electric windows not working.
8) Oil consumption can be stupid (1 litre per 500 miles has been quoted somewhere as being within manufactureres limits).
I'm sure there are others, just my experience.
Hope this helps.
Dr Gn thanks for the help just what I was looking for
Will be going for a manual cant deal with automatics at my age to be honest really don't like them at all
Just comes down to how much o/t I get at work to see whether I get one or not but seeing as they are cheaper than I expected may very well end up with one may try and work my arse off though so can get the extra 40bhp the 330 brings
Will be going for a manual cant deal with automatics at my age to be honest really don't like them at all
Just comes down to how much o/t I get at work to see whether I get one or not but seeing as they are cheaper than I expected may very well end up with one may try and work my arse off though so can get the extra 40bhp the 330 brings
greggy50 said:
Dr Gn thanks for the help just what I was looking for
Will be going for a manual cant deal with automatics at my age to be honest really don't like them at all
Just comes down to how much o/t I get at work to see whether I get one or not but seeing as they are cheaper than I expected may very well end up with one may try and work my arse off though so can get the extra 40bhp the 330 brings
I can only compare my 330i Sport with the equivalent 320 which I test drove. Will be going for a manual cant deal with automatics at my age to be honest really don't like them at all
Just comes down to how much o/t I get at work to see whether I get one or not but seeing as they are cheaper than I expected may very well end up with one may try and work my arse off though so can get the extra 40bhp the 330 brings
As you might expect, the difference feels huge in terms of performance - in fact probably more than expected (just my opinion!).
Don't know anything about the 325.
Whatever you decide - absolutely definitely check the boot floor subframe mounts before you buy one - especially on earlier (pre-'00) cars from what I've read.
Mike mal said:
Mike mal said:
Hi can i have some advise .
Im looking at buying a 2004 Bmw 325 i se auto
Its got 125k on the clock but has full service history .its priced at £900.00
Full leather .
Does this sound like a good deal
Thanks
Mike
Im looking at buying a 2004 Bmw 325 i se auto
Its got 125k on the clock but has full service history .its priced at £900.00
Full leather .
Does this sound like a good deal
Thanks
Mike
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