Higher mileage 330i - 2001/2 vintage
Discussion
I'm quite interested in picking up a 2001/2002 330i estate as my daily runaround and I've seen a few at 125,000 miles that look in good nick. Assuming that these cars have a verifiable service history is there going to be much life left in these cars? They look in very good condition and I'd want to run it for a number of years. I realise that moving one of these cars on after putting on even more miles will be more difficult but they are priced well so seem like a good car assuming I won't be buying a car that will need lots of work.
Thanks,
Mark
Thanks,
Mark
trust me, 125,000 is not high mileage. On cars like this I would judge on condition and history. If its been well looked after, full and comprehensive history this is barely run in. Mine is on 176,000 and honestly drives like new (drive a E60 530d regularly too).
Its the low mileage, shoddy history, poor condition and dare I say it clocked examples I would avoid like the plague!!
Its the low mileage, shoddy history, poor condition and dare I say it clocked examples I would avoid like the plague!!
Mark,
I had a 2002 330i Sport which had 127k on the odometer when I sold it. Never missed a beat and only needed regular servicing throughout its life with me. It did have a replacement clutch at about 120k, but that was it. 330i's have a bit of an oil "habit" but mine would get through a litre every 3k miles or so. Lovely car and lovely engine. One of BMW's best IMHO.
Should last a long time if well maintained.
Matt
I had a 2002 330i Sport which had 127k on the odometer when I sold it. Never missed a beat and only needed regular servicing throughout its life with me. It did have a replacement clutch at about 120k, but that was it. 330i's have a bit of an oil "habit" but mine would get through a litre every 3k miles or so. Lovely car and lovely engine. One of BMW's best IMHO.
Should last a long time if well maintained.
Matt
As everyone else has said I wouldn't worry about 125k at all. I bought 2003 330Ci nearly 3 years ago on 105k and it now has roughly 134k and hasn't had anything go wrong which I would consider to be a significant problem (Recently had a new radiator & the DISA valve broke a year or so ago).
This is my first "high mileage" car and I would certainly have another as it allows you to go for a newer / better specced car. Also at around 100k most cars will probably have had suspension work done which means it will probably drive better than something with 60-80k on the clocks.
Although as said above - you need to ensure (as much as you can) that it has been looked after. Lots of paperwork, regular servicing, previous MOT's etc are a good indication of how it has been treated.
Only downsides I would say are it uses quite a bit of oil (which worried me when I first found this out, but apparently is common) and it seems to have a habit of warping front disks.
Good luck with your search!
This is my first "high mileage" car and I would certainly have another as it allows you to go for a newer / better specced car. Also at around 100k most cars will probably have had suspension work done which means it will probably drive better than something with 60-80k on the clocks.
Although as said above - you need to ensure (as much as you can) that it has been looked after. Lots of paperwork, regular servicing, previous MOT's etc are a good indication of how it has been treated.
Only downsides I would say are it uses quite a bit of oil (which worried me when I first found this out, but apparently is common) and it seems to have a habit of warping front disks.
Good luck with your search!
Mark_J_W said:
As everyone else has said I wouldn't worry about 125k at all. I bought 2003 330Ci nearly 3 years ago on 105k and it now has roughly 134k and hasn't had anything go wrong which I would consider to be a significant problem (Recently had a new radiator & the DISA valve broke a year or so ago).
This is my first "high mileage" car and I would certainly have another as it allows you to go for a newer / better specced car. Also at around 100k most cars will probably have had suspension work done which means it will probably drive better than something with 60-80k on the clocks.
Although as said above - you need to ensure (as much as you can) that it has been looked after. Lots of paperwork, regular servicing, previous MOT's etc are a good indication of how it has been treated.
Only downsides I would say are it uses quite a bit of oil (which worried me when I first found this out, but apparently is common) and it seems to have a habit of warping front disks.
Good luck with your search!
+1 as he said should have years of happy motoring! Let us now how the search goes This is my first "high mileage" car and I would certainly have another as it allows you to go for a newer / better specced car. Also at around 100k most cars will probably have had suspension work done which means it will probably drive better than something with 60-80k on the clocks.
Although as said above - you need to ensure (as much as you can) that it has been looked after. Lots of paperwork, regular servicing, previous MOT's etc are a good indication of how it has been treated.
Only downsides I would say are it uses quite a bit of oil (which worried me when I first found this out, but apparently is common) and it seems to have a habit of warping front disks.
Good luck with your search!
Sir_Dave said:
matt21 said:
Sir_Dave said:
Currently contemplating doing an LPG conversion it.
Do it, I have, its great!!Do tell me more!!
Filling is a pain, but all else is ok. 300 mile range. Got a BRC system which is one of the best out there.
very happy!
Provided you are content to keep pouring money into them they'll go on for ever - quite literally.
When stuff breaks due to age just buy new stuff. The bodys wont rot away so really the only thing that will kill them is you deciding you cannot justify a repair job.
And don't add up all the bills.
Works for me. My E39 530i is now on a staggering 180k miles and is still absolutely immaculate inside and out, just like it was the day I bought it when it was 4 years old.
When stuff breaks due to age just buy new stuff. The bodys wont rot away so really the only thing that will kill them is you deciding you cannot justify a repair job.
And don't add up all the bills.
Works for me. My E39 530i is now on a staggering 180k miles and is still absolutely immaculate inside and out, just like it was the day I bought it when it was 4 years old.
While (as has been said) the engine itself is very, very strong, the ancillaries are not - so budget for a new water pump, thermostat, expansion tank and radiator. You then will simply not need to think about the entire cooling system.
Check the aircon condenser to make sure it's not holed.
If it drinks oil there's a scavenger pipe that gets blocked and can be replaced. Part itself costs little but it's in a hard to get at place.
Possibly change the 'sealed for life' gearbox oil.
Suspension will be knackered, you can replace a couple of bushes or do more. Wishbones may have excessive play in them by now
Done
Check the aircon condenser to make sure it's not holed.
If it drinks oil there's a scavenger pipe that gets blocked and can be replaced. Part itself costs little but it's in a hard to get at place.
Possibly change the 'sealed for life' gearbox oil.
Suspension will be knackered, you can replace a couple of bushes or do more. Wishbones may have excessive play in them by now
Done
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