Buying 130k millage 640d

[itsHarveylike]

Hi guys I’m new here,

I’m 24 and have really wanted a 640d have wanted one for years , there is a beautiful one for sale near me that I have gone and seen and it looks and drives amazing but it’s done 130k miles and I’m just worried that when I get it I’ll ether have loads of issues or something will break I just flat out won’t be able to afford , what do you knows thing ? Thanks

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106073...

[lost in espace]

That is an awful lot of car for the money! How is the insurance for a young chap like yourself?

[itsHarveylike]

Honestly not crazy its like £1300 for the year which im really not too fussed about , the dealer ship said they would also throw in a year waranty for £400.

A crazy amount of car, coming from a BMW 1 series it was a big change to say the least haha !

Im wanting to keep this car for as long as it lasts tbh as its basically my dream car i just dont know if im being stupid as i have seen on some fourms people saying matinace has cost them 12k over the years and crazy things like that , im your avrage guy not crazy rich so dont want 1 problem financily cripping me , whats your thoughts ?

[A500leroy]

A car of that type can hold a higher mileage, if i were you hold say £1500 back in case of any drama after youve brought it and open a little savings account of around £50 a month that you dont touch unless the car needs maintenance/repairs and go and get it brought.

[NicheMonkey]

It's definitely at that age & mileage where it can throw up a big bill, if it had a full history maintained by a main dealer or a specialist then that would offer some piece of mind.

It's a great spec though but at that mileage it's very cheap for a reason...

[A500leroy]

Tax and mot check

W7 GPA car couldnt be found no records

[Tall_Blk]

A car of that age with that mileage suggests there a lot of motorway driving which is a good thing. Has it got full service history with evidence of any works carried out? If so, I personally wouldn’t worry as with that engine size, i doubt it was been worked/ stressed.

You mentioned that on the forum people there has been discussions of high repair bills, was this from a car with comparable mileage? Of not, perhaps this isn’t car for you as complex cars can throw up expensive bills at any mileage.

[itsHarveylike]

Thanks for your advice guys really appricate it !

Here is the REG checker i also paid for
https://www.carvertical.com/gb/report?id=02998884-...

also here is the orignial REG
MK63KZC

[itsHarveylike]

Tall_Blk said:

A car of that age with that mileage suggests there a lot of motorway driving which is a good thing. Has it got full service history with evidence of any works carried out? If so, I personally wouldn’t worry as with that engine size, i doubt it was been worked/ stressed.

You mentioned that on the forum people there has been discussions of high repair bills, was this from a car with comparable mileage? Of not, perhaps this isn’t car for you as complex cars can throw up expensive bills at any mileage.

He told me he had all this inforamtion ill touch base with him tomorrow and ask to see all the service history and paperwork ect ect , he said he bought it back from the last person he sold it to a few years back.

[The Road Crew]

Just bear in mind it was a 50(?)k car new. It'll always have the associated running costs of a 50k car, regardless of its used purchase value.

[itsHarveylike]

The Road Crew said:

Just bear in mind it was a 50(?)k car new. It'll always have the associated running costs of a 50k car, regardless of its used purchase value.

Yeah i will do thanks , i think im going to get it serviced in the first week i get it and see what the results are and if its terrible just give it back haha !

[The Road Crew]

itsHarveylike said:

The Road Crew said:

Just bear in mind it was a 50(?)k car new. It'll always have the associated running costs of a 50k car, regardless of its used purchase value.

Yeah i will do thanks , i think im going to get it serviced in the first week i get it and see what the results are and if its terrible just give it back haha !

I've seen a few friends and relatives fall into this trap over the hard. Thinking that an older luxury motor can be ran on the same budget as a new fiesta - not a prayer unfortunately!

[markymark34]

Don't want to put you off as I was the same not that long ago and loved loads of cars despite massive bills but this is potentially a heart breaker.
£950 for an abs failure and the price of replacement discs and pads was unpleasant as well.

[anonymous-user]

My advice if you're in the boat most will be, look for something that ticks boxes but is from a cheaper brand. Talking from experience, running a premium brand car for cheap car money never happens, you end up spending a fortune and kidding yourself you are in too deep so you have to keep going.

[ZX10R NIN]

2012 640d M Sport with 83k on the clock for £200 more than the one you're interested in:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108025...

Or there's the E350d AMG Line:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107064...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107074...

[samoht]

I think the key to running an old premium car is to be able to find a trustworthy specialist who knows them well. There are quite a few about and I assume the engine is in other BMWs too, so it's a matter of taking the car to someone who knows what goes wrong and knows the cost-effective ways to fix the common problems. Someone who can clean up or fix a part rather than replacing a whole assembly, that sort of thing.

Don't get me wrong, it still won't be as straightforward or cheap as a Fiesta, but it'll also likely depreciate a bit slower than spending 12k on a Fiesta, so swings and roundabouts.


Anyway, if you can, try and get a prospective purchase taken to a specialist for a pre-purchase inspection. That way you should be able to get not just a yes/no advice, but also some kind of guidance on what it's likely to need over the next year or two in terms of servicing and parts, get an idea of the costs.

[nobrakes]

1300quid for a 24y/o to insure that?

The garage is in reading - I’d guess you live in deepest Wales (for the lowest theft/accident rates) just a blast along the M4 away.

Try calling a couple of local indy garages (even better to go along?) and have a chat and tap them for advice. They’ll either laugh or buy it from under your nose.

[Jamescrs]

I'd think very carefully about the warranty offered in this case. I'm assuming it's not a BMW approved one, and is from Warranty Wise or wimilar?

On a car that age with the mileage as it is the warranty company will duck out of most claims stating wear and tear so you may be better keeping your £400 in the bank as part of a reserve for running costs.

[anonymous-user]

Your comment about “just give it back” if things are wrong with it is a bit worrying. It is highly unlikely to be that easy. Do your checks before you buy the car, not afterwards.

[KomodoWagon]

samoht said:

I think the key to running an old premium car is to be able to find a trustworthy specialist who knows them well. There are quite a few about and I assume the engine is in other BMWs too, so it's a matter of taking the car to someone who knows what goes wrong and knows the cost-effective ways to fix the common problems. Someone who can clean up or fix a part rather than replacing a whole assembly, that sort of thing.

Don't get me wrong, it still won't be as straightforward or cheap as a Fiesta, but it'll also likely depreciate a bit slower than spending 12k on a Fiesta, so swings and roundabouts.

Anyway, if you can, try and get a prospective purchase taken to a specialist for a pre-purchase inspection. That way you should be able to get not just a yes/no advice, but also some kind of guidance on what it's likely to need over the next year or two in terms of servicing and parts, get an idea of the costs.

I agree with all of this.

In addition, I highly recommend running a 'slush fund' to cover upcoming problems. My car's coming up to seven years old now and I stick a couple of hundred quid in an account every month as a kind of preventative thing. It covers things like servicing, tyres, MOTs, other maintenance. I had to put four new tyres on it a few months back -- at £200 a corner -- and this fund meant that I didn't have to bung an eight hundred quid bill on my credit card.

If you can't afford to do that, you can't afford this car, in my opinion. (Others may have a different view.)