2003 BMW 318 MSport - High mileage - to buy?

[I Love Lamp]

I'm currently looking at getting a new car, my budget is up to £8k, though, as I'm trying to save for a house deposit, Ideally I'd like to spend around £6k.

I currently drive a Honda Civic Sport, which is probably worth around £4500-£5500.

A friend is selling his 318 (2 litre) coupe, which has around 125k on the clock.

Absolute full BMW service history, every MOT etc always been to the BMW garage.

He's selling it fairly cheap, cheaper than the going rate as his company car is coming in a few weeks time.

I have absolute no idea on the costs of BMW owenrship, I appreciate something could go horribly wrong where I'd be looking at £3k bills, but high mileage petrols? If it was diesel, I'd snap it up without question, but just unsure on high mileage petrols?

As I know the full history (excl the first 6 months) of the car, and know how he drives, maintains and the type of mileage used (90% motorway), would this be a sensible pucrhase?

I haven't looked into tax/insurance etc, but these won't be a problem

Thanks

ETA: I'll probably be doing around 20,000 a year in the car, mixed roads

ETA again: Any other suggestions on cars which are rather sporty looking, yet (fairly) economical are more than welcome. Preferably Jap or VAG (Clio 182 is great, but hit a tree and I'll probably die).

Edited by I Love Lamp on Wednesday 22 September 12:17

Edited by I Love Lamp on Friday 19th November 10:28

[MoonMonkey]

High mileage is no problem aslong as it's backed up with good history. As the car is known to you I think that box is well and truly ticked. Incidentally has he had any big bills recently..?? If it's a good price I'd be tempted to take a punt and see how it goes for a few months. Chances are you might get your money back if it's cheap to start with.

[I Love Lamp]

By cheap, we're probably talking around 4k instead of 5.5k, it hasn't been discussed, but I expect this to be the case.

Recent bills are usual wear and tear: Tyres, rear shocks/springs, cambelt, service.

Had an electronic fault (cut out) a couple of years ago, BMW diagnosed and fixed this, nothing similar to that since.

As with any car, I understand I could buy it, knowing all the history etc and the gasket fails, though I imagine the BMW service history / MOT etc would have highlighted any potential concerns?

P.S. This isn't in anyway a 'for sale' thread, as he has a number of potential buyers lined up!

Edited by I Love Lamp on Wednesday 22 September 12:54

[I Love Lamp]

Thanks for the input everybody, I've only gone and done it!

Still need to shift the civic though

Edited by I Love Lamp on Monday 11th October 11:35

[frosted]

Is it just the diesels that have chains ?

[E30M3SE]

No, they all have chains, I was wondering about the cambelt comments.

[I Love Lamp]

E30M3SE said:

No, they all have chains, I was wondering about the cambelt comments.

Please elaborate on this..?

My bad, they do indeed use chains! It must have been another belt replaced then

Edited by I Love Lamp on Monday 11th October 12:14

[BoRED S2upid]

I Love Lamp said:

E30M3SE said:

No, they all have chains, I was wondering about the cambelt comments.

Please elaborate on this..?

BMW don't use cambelts they use camchains that don't need replacing every so many thousand miles.

[Fun Bus]

You commented that the car has had a cambelt done but they don't have cambelts on this engine. Can't see the comment now so assume you've edited it out.

[I Love Lamp]

Fun Bus said:

You commented that the car has had a cambelt done but they don't have cambelts on this engine. Can't see the comment now so assume you've edited it out.

Nope, it's still in my first reply to the topic.

I didn't actually know they ran on chains, supposedly not since the 90's.

Well, that's a benefit then. I'd have imagine BMW would have replaced anything which needed replacing anyway

[Fun Bus]

So it is - I thought it was in your original post!