Which BMW for your £3000?
Discussion
Hi,
I have about £3000 to spend on my next car and I'm thinking of getting RWD (It'll be my second car, my first was a 1.8 Focus)
Someone mentioned on e36coupe I'd be better off getting an E46 for that kind of money as the E36 will have loads of 'Old car problems?'
I'd rather get an expensive old minter rather than a cheap newer shed
328i Sport Saloon/Cabrio/Coupe ticks all my boxes
I have about £3000 to spend on my next car and I'm thinking of getting RWD (It'll be my second car, my first was a 1.8 Focus)
Someone mentioned on e36coupe I'd be better off getting an E46 for that kind of money as the E36 will have loads of 'Old car problems?'
I'd rather get an expensive old minter rather than a cheap newer shed
328i Sport Saloon/Cabrio/Coupe ticks all my boxes
What a question!
I recently sold a 328i convertible and have to say although it was fun there was a lot of scutle shake in comparison to the E46/Z3 convertible.
Engine was fantastic so would recomend that part. The e36 interior was never that flash but won't date as it never looked modern when new.
Lots of people say the saloon is the best handling as it has the most rigid body but in fairness I would opt for the coupe. Make sure you get a late plate car (without nikisal issues) and if you can find a sport go for it. Does make a difference to the stance/drive.
Though if I was looking for a real weekend motor I would seek out an older e30 325i coupe or touring. Raw RWD fun!!!
Whatever you get it'll be fun.
Good luck
Chris
I recently sold a 328i convertible and have to say although it was fun there was a lot of scutle shake in comparison to the E46/Z3 convertible.
Engine was fantastic so would recomend that part. The e36 interior was never that flash but won't date as it never looked modern when new.
Lots of people say the saloon is the best handling as it has the most rigid body but in fairness I would opt for the coupe. Make sure you get a late plate car (without nikisal issues) and if you can find a sport go for it. Does make a difference to the stance/drive.
Though if I was looking for a real weekend motor I would seek out an older e30 325i coupe or touring. Raw RWD fun!!!
Whatever you get it'll be fun.
Good luck
Chris
It'll be a workhorse if that helps, occaisional long trip, commuting to work, occaisionally transporting things like my mountain bike, I like gadgets and toys and winter comfort would be good (heated seats, etc)
I do about 10k PA. and have a motorbike as well
I don't have massively deep pockets, so reliability would be nice and reasonable mpg!
Am I asking too much? 328 coupe with it's folding rear seats seems to fit the bill! I would be keeping the car for 1 or 2 years so I can save up for something special
I do about 10k PA. and have a motorbike as well
I don't have massively deep pockets, so reliability would be nice and reasonable mpg!
Am I asking too much? 328 coupe with it's folding rear seats seems to fit the bill! I would be keeping the car for 1 or 2 years so I can save up for something special
I have an E36 328i Saloon and E39 523i Saloon, both on a 98 plate, with 112k and 91k and I picked the pair up for less than your budget.
Have run them for 30k miles and all well (changed the waterpump on the 5 Series but they are a know weak point).
Anything around that vintage would be great.
Have run them for 30k miles and all well (changed the waterpump on the 5 Series but they are a know weak point).
Anything around that vintage would be great.
£3000 will get you a very nice 1999 E39 528 with about 100k and a nice spec, don't settle for cloth, get leather and make sure its an SE, a £3000 Sport is likely to be a bit leggy. As soon as you get it I would seriously suggest changing all the coolant parts if they haven't been already, i.e radiator, thermostat and hoses, £400 should do it. They fail in most older E39s, including mine. Fantastic cars, go for the 2.8 at the very least, the 520 and 523 all have the same fuel consumptions as the 528 but are a fair bit slower, may as well get the bigger one.
Cost wise the E39 isn't bad although, parts are somewhat inexpensive and I pay £35 per hour labour and don't use BMW or an Indoe if I can help it. My 99 528 has just had to have over £1000 of work on suspension, anti roll bar links, cam shaft sensor and a valve was sticking making the engine light come on and casuing quite a bit of rough running at lower speeds and idle. Decent tryes on the normal Turbine style wheels are about £350 for a set. Expect 35 MPG on a run, 40 if you are taking it easy and use Super Unleaded like me (I get 2-3 mpg more in my Auto on the same journeys from when I wa susing unleaded and the car is a little more responsive) and about 22-25 MPG around town. I haven't driven a manual, but the Steptronic is wonderful, has full manual selection and is very smooth. Don't worry about mileage, go by condition and service history. At around 120-140k I would say suspension and cooling work would likely need doing if it hasn't been done already, but if looked after the engine should be fine. Good luck!
Cost wise the E39 isn't bad although, parts are somewhat inexpensive and I pay £35 per hour labour and don't use BMW or an Indoe if I can help it. My 99 528 has just had to have over £1000 of work on suspension, anti roll bar links, cam shaft sensor and a valve was sticking making the engine light come on and casuing quite a bit of rough running at lower speeds and idle. Decent tryes on the normal Turbine style wheels are about £350 for a set. Expect 35 MPG on a run, 40 if you are taking it easy and use Super Unleaded like me (I get 2-3 mpg more in my Auto on the same journeys from when I wa susing unleaded and the car is a little more responsive) and about 22-25 MPG around town. I haven't driven a manual, but the Steptronic is wonderful, has full manual selection and is very smooth. Don't worry about mileage, go by condition and service history. At around 120-140k I would say suspension and cooling work would likely need doing if it hasn't been done already, but if looked after the engine should be fine. Good luck!
t84 said:
Are the E36 and E39 similar? (Just I imagine the E39 being bigger inside?)
It might make more sense for me to get a 5, having a motorbike, as then I have something for comfort and the bike for thrills?
The E39 is better built and more luxurious and has aged better although both are very good looking cars. The E36 is more involved to drive and is more sporty than an E39. Interior space is more plentifull in the E39. It might make more sense for me to get a 5, having a motorbike, as then I have something for comfort and the bike for thrills?
Edited by t84 on Saturday 14th November 17:12
Edited by sparks_E39 on Saturday 14th November 17:37
t84 said:
This is what I'm worried about, I can't be dealing with a £1500 bill randomly at any point 
If your budget is that tight you might be better off spending much less on the initial purchase and keeping a £Grand or so up your sleeve. As said above almost any second-hand car of this nature can suddenly spring a few nasty surprises on you and it wouldn't take too much for those to stack up to £1500.Something similar to this might be a better way to go?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2009...
t84 said:
This is what I'm worried about, I can't be dealing with a £1500 bill randomly at any point
Apart from the engine, the only component that will cost you that much to fix will be the auto gearbox.No one component on my 535i has cost more than £100 to repair/replace, in my three years of ownership (although I do all my own repairs)
Or if you want to go for the full budget something like this might be nice?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2009...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2009...
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff