Help picking from the enthusiasts!

[wayfarer86]

Hey all, looking to the Zimmer oracles for help.

35, dad of one, ex owner. Last time I had a BMW was an E46 320 M Sport.

I share a car with my wife now, we are about to sunset our Leon FR 170. Need something I can put the nipper in the back.

Budget £12-15k. Big fan of the 3 series M sports (particularly with the M Performance kit).

We live in Birmingham, so we have serious issues with theft/car gangs so don't want anything too hot or appealing and we also need to be ULEZ compliant.

Looking for sound advice, could stretch budget a little.

Any nuances to think about year wise in terms of facelifts and engine upgrades etc when buying? Also BMW used seem way overpriced, anyone had any success negotiating ticket down with them?

I don't mind 5 years old with 50k miles on if its Euro 6/7 and can get some life out of ULEZ compliance.

Oh and last but not least, happy to sacrifice some horses for tax and insurance purposes as long as its still got the M Kit etc!

[sortedcossie]

I think it'll depend on which fuel type, engine size, body type and spec level that you're interested in. For example 4 door saloon 3 series are cheaper than 5 door estates.

I've just purchased a 2016 335d touring with a really good list of options spec'd up, it's sub 50k miles but cost more than the budget mentioned. It was a BMW used car too, there was some wiggle room on price and they've also actioned all the points that I noted on test drive/inspection (tyres, refurbed wheels and few other bits) plus it has a 1 year warranty being BMW used approved.

[DJMC]

For all round usefulness BMW X1 F48 xLine xDrive 2.0d.

Quick for a small SUV, handles OK (I drive a Cayman 981) and excellent in the snow!

Downsides? Change out of OE Pirellis to Michelins as soon as you can.

And... as with all BMWs around that age - Put a warranty on it, preferably BMW extended (Allianz insured).

PS. You and I had the LAST of the driver's cars - the E46. Don't expect anything recent to be "great to drive". We've had ten BMWs over 34 years and they've gradually got worse over the years.

[Down on the Farm]

I had the F48 X1 xdrive 20d for about four years and I have to say it was a very pleasant and practical car.

Quite spacious for it's footprint and sliding rear 40:20:40 split seats helped enormously. Good storage under the rear deck too.


However, I started having problems with the EGR cooler, EGR valve and associated gubbins from just two years old!

Repairs were carried out under warranty including 're-programming the emissions equipment cycles. The car never drove the same after that and ended up gradually stuttering under acceleration more and more. This required a new EGR valve which I had done under extended warranty with some expense to me (insured warranty excess).

When it was returned it still had a slight stutter and was never the sAme car Gain. Lost all faith in it and BMW.


Did some research on the web and it turns out BMW diesel engines have been troublesome to say the least and many have been recalled to have the EGR cooler checked and replaced due to a potential fire hazard. It's all over the web. Check it out!


My car was then recalled and cooler declared all ok, but it still stuttered slightly and at that point I realised it had to go as This was going to rear it's ugly head again and again until it was scrapped! BMW dealer and BMW UK didn't want to know so I moved it on.



As I say it was a nice car and drove beautifully when I first got it. Lots of nice features, practical an d economical with a bit of punch but I just couldn't put up with the unreliability I had experienced over some 4 years and never trusted the dealer since.

Beware!

[wayfarer86]

Hey DJMC and Down on the Farm, thanks so much for taking the time to reply into this. Thats really dissapointing, should I be looking at other brands then? I've been really happy with my Seat's and Audi's but I vowed not to buy VAG again after the emissions scandal, it just doesn't sit right with me, but if in reality they have the best engineering these days then I'd be a fool not to and I suppose if anything, their standards have to be even more rigorous post scandal.

I cannot stand mercedes so thats out. Porsche - jealous of your Cayman, were it not for wife and baby I would be driving a Cayman S 981 right now!!

It doesn't leave much really in the way of choice. Whats your honest recommends? Look at the Audis?

[DJMC]

We too had the X1's EGR valve replaced early on, no problems since, but BMW did try to hide the hundreds of thousands of recalls they made for the fire hazard (not just the X1). Ours only had a diesel sensor leak two years ago into the engine bay. A £10,000+ extended warranty claim with the £100 excess waived by the dealership. As with any BMW, you'll always be a little nervous of things going wrong.

Had some Audis too. 2005 A3 diesel with a faulty EGR valve - never drove the same after that was replaced. Later 2012 A3 diesel - nice car, but value dropped like a stone due to diesel gate. Expecting maybe £5,000 from the lawyers when the class action is through next year.

Wouldn't buy another Merc. BMW & Audi about level for me if you want something which has a bit of prestige, drives OK, and goes wrong occasionally. Get a warranty.

[Sn1ckers]

430d. Or, if you prefer petrol, 428i. Gran Coupe. With the hatch it’s fine for family duties but imho looks better than the 3 and is that much sportier. Take the badge off and it’s a 420d for all intents and purposes. Look for one with adaptive suspension and you have the best of both worlds.