Would you entertain a 160,000 mile car?

[Derp]

I've just seen advertised, a 2005 E90 330d with this mileage on the clock. Looks very clean, however seems modestly overpriced at £7690.

I've also seen a 330i (2007) for £10k, with the same 160,000 miles on...

I know PH is a lover of 'condition not mileage', so tell me PH, at what point would you have to draw the line?

Edited by Derp on Saturday 8th September 03:09

[obob]

Yes for bangernomics, no for that price point.

[VWAUDI]

I bought an 180k mile car. Has been mechanically reliable, though be warned that bushes, suspension and other items will probably need replacing. The 180k car was worth 2k-3k at the time but was significanly cheaper than the others with less miles. I wouldn't buy a car with so many miles if it cost more than a couple of grand because it won't be worth anything by the time you're done.

So no, I wouldn't spend nearly 8k on a car that's done that sort of mileage.

[TheTurbonator]

Not at those prices no. Mind you they've probably spent most their lives on the motorway with the engine warmed up. So no short trips, not much cold running, gearbox just left in the same gear, hardly any use of the brakes etc. etc. So in actual fact, in terms of wear they may not be much worse than a car with half the miles.

[clonmult]

My A6 feels as good now at 150k on the clock as it was when I bought it with 80k.

If its been regularly serviced, that 330d should be fine. But as others have said, not at that price.

[SuperHangOn]

I'd wager a very good percentage of "low mileage" cars do in fact have 150k on the clock, their drivers just don't know

At that price the resale value would concern me more than the car itself.

Edited by SuperHangOn on Saturday 8th September 07:49

[FreeLitres]

TheTurbonator said:

Mind you they've probably spent most their lives on the motorway ... hardly any use of the brakes etc.

Been on a motorway recently?

[Welshbeef]

We bought a Leon Cupra with similar milage but it was 10 years old and c£1k. One owner FSSH loads and loads if not all receipts.

Had it two years you'd never know its milage which is remarkable.

My 330d is nearly on 100k and it's a 56 reg. it's like new wars for nothing

[dave stew]

I would hope the suspension has some work before 160,000 miles... My trusty T5 has 172,000 up but has had most of the front suspension renewed well before that.

Engine, turbo and all that is fine.

I think a modern car with decent set of service/repair records is quite able to clock these sort of mileages with no probs.

[Welshbeef]

Id say 300k is where exec cars might need to work

[Vvroom]

obob said:

Yes for bangernomics, no for that price point.

I'd agree. I had a BMW 840 with 167k and it felt tight as a drum and still did at 190k when I shifted it.

It wasn't a daily driver though and I only dropped £4k on it.

[Tant]

Have you got the link to the ad? If it's in Leicestershire, it sounds like my bosses car....

[Welshbeef]

Vvroom said:

I'd agree. I had a BMW 840 with 167k and it felt tight as a drum and still did at 190k when I shifted it.

It wasn't a daily driver though and I only dropped £4k on it.

Not much between 4 and 7k though..

[surveyor]

Tis an interesting subject. Have a 520d know at 138K. Wondering when the right time to sell is.

I'm not keen to sell really as it's a decent car only just 4 years old. Nothing clonks no obvious wear - it really does feel tighter than some much lower mileage cars that I have driven.

[g3org3y]

Yes, I have and I did. However, slightly different context as it was a 1986 325i Cabrio. Bought it 3 years ago with 150kish on the clock (less than average miles if you consider the age). Now currently on 180k.

IMO, condition is more important than miles.

EDIT to add, important to check the SH to see what has been done. At those miles, there is potential for big bills as bushes, ball joints etc all start needing replacement.

Edited by g3org3y on Saturday 8th September 09:38

[Engineer1]

You may well find a lot of those types of cars up at that mileage I've spotted that a lot of exec and salesman type cars are coming up on autotrader at 100K miles plus I strongly suspect the economic climate has companies keeping their cars on longer or running them right till the mileage limit on their leases.

[VolvoT5]

What about a 300k 530d?.

I wouldn't purely on the basis that my 130k car has had one minor problem after another. Sure modern engines can run forever but you end up replacing all the other parts one at a time.... trigger's broom situation.

[Vvroom]

Welshbeef said:

Not much between 4 and 7k though..

There is for me- mentally anyway.

I'd spend £4k on a whim, but not £7k. Man maths/man logic in action!

[Welshbeef]

surveyor said:

Tis an interesting subject. Have a 520d know at 138K. Wondering when the right time to sell is.

I'm not keen to sell really as it's a decent car only just 4 years old. Nothing clonks no obvious wear - it really does feel tighter than some much lower mileage cars that I have driven.

Surely it now comes a question of what's due to be replaced next. Each job extends the life by x miles or x years.

New set of boots 1-2 years
New discs and pads 3 years
New radiator 7 years
New thermostat another 140k
New DPF another 140k
New bushes

Frankly if it's a good car and still meets your requirements and is reliable ignore the milage and just keep running it. At some point in the future it will become uneconomical to maintain based on its market value but even then you have to think this job continues its life can I really buy another car for te same outliegh???

Your in the really meaty end of getting the max value out of the car. Keep it going I can assure you in two years time when you pass 200k it will still be fine provided you continue to service it as per the idrive.

[Blackpuddin]

Agree with everyone else, mileage isn't a problem on a correctly serviced car, our 320d is a nipper at 122k but feels great after its service.
Interesting though how we all agree there's nowt wrong with a high-miler but at the same time we all expect to pay no more than threepence for it!