Help with a used car buying question

[Paulwick]

Hi

I am in the process of trying to find a used BMW 1 series

My question to ask is which of the following two conditions is the best to buy.

1. An older model with low mileage

Or

2. A newer model with higher mileage


As the price in most cases is fairly similar

Thanks in advance

[Paulwick]

Forgot to add I'm looking at diesel models

[Deerfoot]

I guess it depends on how long you intend to keep it, how many miles you do etc.

How many more miles have the younger cars got?

[HustleRussell]

BMW 1 series? Try to find one with an engine which isn't a ticking timebomb! Good luck.

[GenePoolReject13]

Option number 2 for me, diesels like to be used, short and infrequent journeys not good for the engine in comparison to longer trips getting up temp properly. As long as the car has been cared for and well serviced the mileage wouldn't worry me too much.

[Paulwick]

Hi
Just an example from car giant

2 models same spec

2008 with 46000 on the clock @ 9800
And
2010 with just over 70000 on the clock @ 10200

Thanks

[B'stard Child]

Miles per year?

[Paulwick]

B'stard Child said:

Miles per year?

Do you mean how many I will be doing? If so about 8000 to 10000 a year

[B'stard Child]

Paulwick said:

B'stard Child said:

Miles per year?

Do you mean how many I will be doing? If so about 8000 to 10000 a year

And you are sure diesel is the way to go?

[Mustard]

I'd go earlier,low miles

As it will have a sorted M47 (but check as your getting near the change) rather than the later N47 which could have issues,

The M47 won't be quite as economical, it' won't have a DPF and if you buy one under 60k you can put a BMW warranty on it for not a great deal for peace of mind

Edited by Mustard on Tuesday 28th January 21:47

[davepoth]

Mustard said:

I'd go earlier,low miles

As it will have a sorted M47 (but check as your getting near the change) rather than the later N47 which could have issues,

The M47 won't be quite as economical, it' won't have a DPF and if you buy one under 60k you can put a BMW warranty on it for not a great deal for peace of mind

Edited by Mustard on Tuesday 28th January 21:47

Yup, sweet spot is somewhere around 8-12,000 miles a year when looking at a car, especially if it's more than a few years old. If it's only got a few miles on the clock it's lived in town all its life, which means never warming up properly, parking scrapes and suspension abuse. If it's got intergalactic miles it's a repmobile, which isn't too bad if it's been serviced properly, but once you get up towards 100,000 miles you get to the point where expensive things tend to start needing to be done.

Given the miles you are doing I think you'd be better off with a petrol. The crossover point is somewhere around 12k, and in my opinion it's creeping up with all of the DPF/DMF issues that seem to crop up with newer engines.

[Paulwick]

Sorry. What is PDF and dmf mean

[Jip]

Sorry to hijack the thread slightly but I'm also looking at a 58 plate 120d with 52k - is this a safe bet?

[Jip]

Sorry to hijack the thread slightly but I'm also looking at a 58 plate 120d with 52k - is this a safe bet?

[Mustard]

Paulwick said:

Sorry. What is PDF and dmf mean

Dpf .. Diesel partticial filter

Dmf... Dual mass flywheel (& clutch)

[Mustard]

Jip said:

Sorry to hijack the thread slightly but I'm also looking at a 58 plate 120d with 52k - is this a safe bet?

Best advice

Www.bmw-warranty.co.uk

Sub 60k so won't be too expensive (do it on monthly continuos policy though) all the peace of kind you need

[golfer19]

Recently bought a 2004 118d with 116k as a runaround.No problems so far.

[B'stard Child]

davepoth said:

Given the miles you are doing I think you'd be better off with a petrol. The crossover point is somewhere around 12k, and in my opinion it's creeping up with all of the DPF/DMF issues that seem to crop up with newer engines.

I agree - it's taken me 10 years to get my father out of diesels into a petrol as his mileage didn't justify it and he was just looking at the mpgs

[Paulwick]

Ok what about your opinions with the same cars but petrol ?

What would be the best bet , the older with less miles or the newer with more miles?

Thanks

[Jip]

I'm coming out of an R56 cooper S due to gearbox and engine problems - thought a 1 series was a safe bet!!