Possible new car ideas.
Discussion
Following a non fault accident at the weekend, there's a strong possibility my quite low value car will be written off.
I'm now starting to look around for a replacement to save myself a mad rush should the worst happen to mine. I need the car for work and it is the main family car so can't be too long without.
I've been looking at e46 BMW 330i/d and 320ds, but the ones with sport kits that I like the look of are all 100k+ with the exception of one 330i on 65k up for £5k.
I know the 100k mark isn't a huge problem id just rather avoid a relatively high miler as I'd likely be keeping the car for the foreseeable future.
My budget is £5k at the very max and that would be at a slight push.
I need 4/5 door to get the little one in, my ST was starting to become a huge annoyance due to this.
I want something that looks good and is nice to drive.
I'm currently in a 140bhp Passat hire vehicle, and don't think I'd like to have any less power than that.
Thanks in advance!
I'm now starting to look around for a replacement to save myself a mad rush should the worst happen to mine. I need the car for work and it is the main family car so can't be too long without.
I've been looking at e46 BMW 330i/d and 320ds, but the ones with sport kits that I like the look of are all 100k+ with the exception of one 330i on 65k up for £5k.
I know the 100k mark isn't a huge problem id just rather avoid a relatively high miler as I'd likely be keeping the car for the foreseeable future.
My budget is £5k at the very max and that would be at a slight push.
I need 4/5 door to get the little one in, my ST was starting to become a huge annoyance due to this.
I want something that looks good and is nice to drive.
I'm currently in a 140bhp Passat hire vehicle, and don't think I'd like to have any less power than that.
Thanks in advance!
BorkFactor said:
You will get a lovely E46 330i sport for that money, watch for cooling problems, suspension knocks, and rust and focus on condition and history rather than mileage.
Finding a saloon is difficult. I've a couple on autotrader but I can't help but feeling a car on 110k isnt going to last long, but I'm probably wrong to think that.How would I spot potential cooling issues? Is it as simple as watching the temp gauge? Or is there something you can visibly see wrong when under the bonnet?
Suspension knocks I pressume would be duff bushes?
(Eta: just looked on your profile, says your in Scotland. There's and absolute minter up there but I'd be looking at a 600 mile round trip
)Edited by justanother5tar on Tuesday 3rd February 09:37
come-on - how could you turn one of these down?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Mondeo-3-0-2005MY-S...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Mondeo-3-0-2005MY-S...
justanother5tar said:
Finding a saloon is difficult. I've a couple on autotrader but I can't help but feeling a car on 110k isnt going to last long, but I'm probably wrong to think that.
How would I spot potential cooling issues? Is it as simple as watching the temp gauge? Or is there something you can visibly see wrong when under the bonnet?
Suspension knocks I pressume would be duff bushes?
(Eta: just looked on your profile, says your in Scotland. There's and absolute minter up there but I'd be looking at a 600 mile round trip )
They do pop up occasionally, worth the wait I reckon. A mint 330i sport saloon, with manual gearbox, in blue with a black and walnut interior would be perfect for me if budget allowed. My 328i is bloody good though! How would I spot potential cooling issues? Is it as simple as watching the temp gauge? Or is there something you can visibly see wrong when under the bonnet?
Suspension knocks I pressume would be duff bushes?
(Eta: just looked on your profile, says your in Scotland. There's and absolute minter up there but I'd be looking at a 600 mile round trip
)Edited by justanother5tar on Tuesday 3rd February 09:37
Mine is on 133k, another PHer has one closing in on 150k, and there are other members on here with 6 pot petrol BMWs with over 200k on them so if it has been properly looked after it should go on for a long time yet.
Check coolant levels, see if the car gets up to temperature and stays there, and look for leaks etc. There is something about the bottom of the radiators arching which hopefully someone on here will be able to explain. I have had mine 3 years with zero issues, so they don't go bang all the time.
Yeah bushes, track rod ends, and suspension arms. Handbrake backplates go which make a hell of a noise but they are cheap to sort. I have done all of that on mine - cheap parts and easy to work on!
It would be a great drive, the roads are good up here!
This one looks good - marmite interior and a bit of blistering on the rear arch but cheap enough to account I reckon:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-330i-2002-M-Sport-Ex...
BorkFactor said:
They do pop up occasionally, worth the wait I reckon. A mint 330i sport saloon, with manual gearbox, in blue with a black and walnut interior would be perfect for me if budget allowed. My 328i is bloody good though!
Black/grey with metal/carbon trim would be my choice.BorkFactor said:
Mine is on 133k, another PHer has one closing in on 150k, and there are other members on here with 6 pot petrol BMWs with over 200k on them so if it has been properly looked after it should go on for a long time yet.
Sounds promising. Hopefully some of those PHers will notice this thread and contribute.BorkFactor said:
Check coolant levels, see if the car gets up to temperature and stays there, and look for leaks etc. There is something about the bottom of the radiators arching which hopefully someone on here will be able to explain. I have had mine 3 years with zero issues, so they don't go bang all the time.
Just like my leaky Fiesta ST with its duff water pump/ stat housing. BorkFactor said:
Yeah bushes, track rod ends, and suspension arms. Handbrake backplates go which make a hell of a noise but they are cheap to sort. I have done all of that on mine - cheap parts and easy to work on!
Easy to DIY? Have you had any issues with snapped springs or the subframe cracking? I'm not sure exactly with models this affects.BorkFactor said:
It would be a great drive, the roads are good up here!
They sure are. I was up there a while back for a wedding. I'm not sure a Passat CC or a 1.1 Seicento will be terribly exciting though. BorkFactor said:
This one looks good - marmite interior and a bit of blistering on the rear arch but cheap enough to account I reckon:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-330i-2002-M-Sport-Ex...
I LOVE that interior. However, the Mrs practically threw my phone at me when I showed her it. It's a family car so I can't really do that to her. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-330i-2002-M-Sport-Ex...
irocfan said:
come-on - how could you turn one of these down?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Mondeo-3-0-2005MY-S...
I did look at those, and that particular one is a 10 minute drive from me. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Mondeo-3-0-2005MY-S...
The subframe cracking/ boot floor tearing is theoretically a weakness across the entire e46 range but from the reading I did it seems early M3s, 323i and 328i coupes were the worst affected by it. If you're looking at a facelift saloon (which you will be as a 330i) you'd be very unlucky to come across it I'd say 
For what it's worth I had a 325i coupe on 195k. The interior was the best condition-for-mileage I've seen and the engine was roaring along. No subframe mount problems.
edit: for the money though I'd be hard pushed to not buy an ST220. Sound glorious, handle brilliantly and you can fit boatloads of stuff in them. Still a special car despite being a mondeo, and I'd be in one if it wasn't for 20k miles a year and an MX-5 as the toy.
For what it's worth I had a 325i coupe on 195k. The interior was the best condition-for-mileage I've seen and the engine was roaring along. No subframe mount problems.
edit: for the money though I'd be hard pushed to not buy an ST220. Sound glorious, handle brilliantly and you can fit boatloads of stuff in them. Still a special car despite being a mondeo, and I'd be in one if it wasn't for 20k miles a year and an MX-5 as the toy.
luckystrike said:
The subframe cracking/ boot floor tearing is theoretically a weakness across the entire e46 range but from the reading I did it seems early M3s, 323i and 328i coupes were the worst affected by it. If you're looking at a facelift saloon (which you will be as a 330i) you'd be very unlucky to come across it I'd say
For what it's worth I had a 325i coupe on 195k. The interior was the best condition-for-mileage I've seen and the engine was roaring along. No subframe mount problems.
edit: for the money though I'd be hard pushed to not buy an ST220. Sound glorious, handle brilliantly and you can fit boatloads of stuff in them. Still a special car despite being a mondeo, and I'd be in one if it wasn't for 20k miles a year and an MX-5 as the toy.
Excellent, thanks.For what it's worth I had a 325i coupe on 195k. The interior was the best condition-for-mileage I've seen and the engine was roaring along. No subframe mount problems.
edit: for the money though I'd be hard pushed to not buy an ST220. Sound glorious, handle brilliantly and you can fit boatloads of stuff in them. Still a special car despite being a mondeo, and I'd be in one if it wasn't for 20k miles a year and an MX-5 as the toy.
Looks like I'll have to consider another ST too then.
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