3 series Estate - Buying Advice
Discussion
Hi All
Looking for a practical daily motorway muncher, that isn't completely dull to drive. Criteria:
3 series estate preferred as mrs will be mostly driving and thinks 5 series is too big and coupe not practical.
Max £10K spend (would prefer around £7K)
Manual, estate.
Any advice on engines, models, specs, buying tips, common faults, is high mileage an issue etc.
Thanks, Warp9
P.S. Live in S. Brum if anyone has something peachy that meets the above!
Looking for a practical daily motorway muncher, that isn't completely dull to drive. Criteria:
3 series estate preferred as mrs will be mostly driving and thinks 5 series is too big and coupe not practical.
Max £10K spend (would prefer around £7K)
Manual, estate.
Any advice on engines, models, specs, buying tips, common faults, is high mileage an issue etc.
Thanks, Warp9
P.S. Live in S. Brum if anyone has something peachy that meets the above!
B17NNS said:
Oh, and don't dismiss the auto. A 330d Sport tourer auto would get my vote every time.
Other than the convenience around town, does the auto box involve the driver like a manual would?Have found a couple of what seem to be tidy examples:
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/Send...
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/Send...
Any thoughts on these and buying privately?
I've got an '04 330d SE Touring with Auto and would totally recommend one. Plenty of power, quite economical (average 36MPG and I don't pootle about) and a relaxed mile cruncher.
It's personal choice to go for the SE or Sport. My views are:
SE's cheaper (normally a couple of grand)
SE's a much better ride on motorways
Sport: firmer suspension, which I prefer on B roads but can become tiresome on motorways.
Sport: much better seats
Sport: better chunkier steering wheel.
My wife has an '02 330d Sport Auto saloon so I do get the benefit of both Sports and SE.
The auto box does had a manual option, basically an up/down lever but I've found it to be not very responsive and quite lathargic. By far the better option if you want 'fun' is just stick it in Sport mode.
Oh, and if you can afford it, go for the newer 204bhp lump - it's noticably better than the older 185 bph one.
It's personal choice to go for the SE or Sport. My views are:
SE's cheaper (normally a couple of grand)
SE's a much better ride on motorways
Sport: firmer suspension, which I prefer on B roads but can become tiresome on motorways.
Sport: much better seats
Sport: better chunkier steering wheel.
My wife has an '02 330d Sport Auto saloon so I do get the benefit of both Sports and SE.
The auto box does had a manual option, basically an up/down lever but I've found it to be not very responsive and quite lathargic. By far the better option if you want 'fun' is just stick it in Sport mode.
Oh, and if you can afford it, go for the newer 204bhp lump - it's noticably better than the older 185 bph one.
Edited by mikey-r on Friday 5th December 11:50
Got to be a 330i, there are some stunners about, M-Sport with nav etc. and lowish miles for the same price as you would pay for the 330d with mega miles and no nav.
The 330i will return 26mpg all day long in auto guise, and 28mpg in manual guise.
You will see 35mpg on a run.
The 330d will give you about 2mpg more than that.
I have had both.
With petrol now 15% cheaper it is now cheaper to run the petrol car.
Plus you have much nicer handling, it is quicker, it sounds sublime and the engine is almost bullet proof, which can hardly be said about the diesel!!
Also don't write off the 530i, I think it is the best BMW that has been made, it does everything so well.
The 330i will return 26mpg all day long in auto guise, and 28mpg in manual guise.
You will see 35mpg on a run.
The 330d will give you about 2mpg more than that.
I have had both.
With petrol now 15% cheaper it is now cheaper to run the petrol car.
Plus you have much nicer handling, it is quicker, it sounds sublime and the engine is almost bullet proof, which can hardly be said about the diesel!!
Also don't write off the 530i, I think it is the best BMW that has been made, it does everything so well.
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