E46 M3 purchase advice please
Discussion
I will be looking at a couple of M3 convertibles this weekend. Both 2005 cars.
One of the cars had its running in service at 2600 miles. I believe this should have been at 1200miles. Is this likely to cause a problem?
Other services for this car were at 11k and 22k. Mileage now 35k so presumably a service is due. Is this likely to be a 'big' service?
Do BMW offer a pre purchase inspection service, or would it be better to instruct an independent specialist? Can anyone recommend a garage in the Plymouth area?
Any other things to look out for?
Can anyone tell me what the Glasses or CAP trade and retail price is for a 2005 05 plate M3 convertible with 35k miles and sat nav?
One of the cars had its running in service at 2600 miles. I believe this should have been at 1200miles. Is this likely to cause a problem?
Other services for this car were at 11k and 22k. Mileage now 35k so presumably a service is due. Is this likely to be a 'big' service?
Do BMW offer a pre purchase inspection service, or would it be better to instruct an independent specialist? Can anyone recommend a garage in the Plymouth area?
Any other things to look out for?
Can anyone tell me what the Glasses or CAP trade and retail price is for a 2005 05 plate M3 convertible with 35k miles and sat nav?
Hi There,
Don't touch the car with the late running in service, you'll never make a successful warranty claim (or get an extended BM warranty) AFAIK - I don't think there are any known attributable long-term issues to missing the running in service, but everyone knows about it and will ask when you sell it on! I'd recommend driving a few as there are some poor examples around as people try and run them on a budget - but a good one will be very good! Enjoy.
Don't touch the car with the late running in service, you'll never make a successful warranty claim (or get an extended BM warranty) AFAIK - I don't think there are any known attributable long-term issues to missing the running in service, but everyone knows about it and will ask when you sell it on! I'd recommend driving a few as there are some poor examples around as people try and run them on a budget - but a good one will be very good! Enjoy.
The late running in service will cause you problems when you come to sell or part exchange. I traded mine in last month and the dealerships main concern was the milage of the running in service. They'd give you significantly less for it, therefore you'd want to be paying less for it now. Give your local dealership a call and see what difference it would make.
If it's due a service now, theyre around 12k miles apart, it'll be an oil service.
BMW will do a pre purchase inspection if you take it to them, shouldn't be anymore than an hour or so labour.
If it's due a service now, theyre around 12k miles apart, it'll be an oil service.
BMW will do a pre purchase inspection if you take it to them, shouldn't be anymore than an hour or so labour.
If the car is priced correctly then the running in service shouldn't be the end of the world. I doubt it will have any bearing on the reliability of the engine, maybe it would if it had been missed altogether. It will affect its resale value though, so the question is how much discount you should be looking for?
Forget glasses guide, its worth what someone is willing to pay. IMO a fully loaded 2005 with 35k could be worth anywhere between £15000 and £18000 depending on condition and history. The fact it has a late running in service will alter the price, so if its mint I personally wouldn't be offering any more than £15000-£15500
As for servicing, yes it will be due a service, pretty much as soon as you buy it. It should in theory only be an Oil service - so budget about £150-£200. The service at 11k should have been Oil service and at 22k an Inspection 1. I would certainly check the history carefully to make sure those services were done, ideally by BMW but if not a decent reputable specialist. My reason for saying this is that someone was complacent enough to let the running in service slip by quite some time, so did they scrimp on other services?
In terms of pre-purchase inspections, BMW will do it and so will most decent Indys. I would be getting an Indy to look at it and asking him to pay specific attention for subframe cracks (unlikely on a car that age/mileage but still possible). If its an SMG then I'd also want them to give that a really good test to.
If you find a decent one you'll be grinning every time you drive it.
Forget glasses guide, its worth what someone is willing to pay. IMO a fully loaded 2005 with 35k could be worth anywhere between £15000 and £18000 depending on condition and history. The fact it has a late running in service will alter the price, so if its mint I personally wouldn't be offering any more than £15000-£15500
As for servicing, yes it will be due a service, pretty much as soon as you buy it. It should in theory only be an Oil service - so budget about £150-£200. The service at 11k should have been Oil service and at 22k an Inspection 1. I would certainly check the history carefully to make sure those services were done, ideally by BMW but if not a decent reputable specialist. My reason for saying this is that someone was complacent enough to let the running in service slip by quite some time, so did they scrimp on other services?
In terms of pre-purchase inspections, BMW will do it and so will most decent Indys. I would be getting an Indy to look at it and asking him to pay specific attention for subframe cracks (unlikely on a car that age/mileage but still possible). If its an SMG then I'd also want them to give that a really good test to.
If you find a decent one you'll be grinning every time you drive it.
jmn said:
Can anyone tell me what the Glasses or CAP trade and retail price is for a 2005 05 plate M3 convertible with 35k miles and sat nav?
In case you really do want it, glasses p/ex values are (assuming its manual)Excellent condition £13300
Average £12250
Below Average £10900
A lot will also depend on its spec, stuff like Nav, Harmon Kardon, and 19's all factor in the price.
the prices are affected by many things including colour combo, condition, history and a bm warranty will add value. if an owner has had, say an insp 2 with new brake pads/discs and tyres, this could easily cost £1500+ so he may add an extra grand or two to try and recoup some of the money...
SteveS Cup said:
Is it just me or is there a massive variation in prices for similar spec / mileage M3's?
I'm window shopping at the moment and they seem to vary in price by nearly £5k with only 10k miles difference!?
What are leggy M3's like? 70/80k miles?
My "leggy" M3 I'm window shopping at the moment and they seem to vary in price by nearly £5k with only 10k miles difference!?
What are leggy M3's like? 70/80k miles?
with 69k is rock solid and hasn't given me any issues, there will be big variances in price - based on spec, optimistic dealers and correctly priced tat. I would suggest for a 04/05 you are still looking at minimum 13k for a nice one (by which I mean quality and spec rather than absolute miles). Non Nav / low spec / tatty cars will always be cheaper. Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff