Buying a 320

billymitchell

Hi all,
I am thinking about buying a 320D tomorrow, but I am a bit unsure if I am getting a good deal or not. Its a 05 model(new shape) with 80k miles on the clock. The dealer has come down to €15,450 on the price, but I am still not sure if the price is still a little above the odds for the car. Any thoughts??
(I can post a link to the car if you want)

CarCity

Maybe PM a link instead... or just post more details without a link.

Seth Brundle

Why can't they post a link?

CarCity

kbannon wrote: »

Why can't they post a link?

Fair enough if he wants - just in case the seller is on the forum. I posted one a while ago and was advised maybe it wasn't the best idea just in case :eek:

billymitchell

Here is the link :
http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/NEW-SHAP/200915192420397/advert

Checked it out also on cartell. Its a UK import but no problems reported with it.
I will have a look at it again tomorrow and I will double check the service history to make sure there were no problem with it previously.

Moanin

billymitchell wrote: »

Here is the link :
http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/NEW-SHAP/200915192420397/advert

Checked it out also on cartell. Its a UK import but no problems reported with it.
I will have a look at it again tomorrow and I will double check the service history to make sure there were no problem with it previously.

Do a HPI check for peace of mind or a similar RAC check will only cost £5. You need the old UK reg to do this.It's probably on the cartell check you did anyway?

mick.fr

You can pick up the same car in the UK for 9000 euro. Plenty of them.
VRT on this is about 3000 euro.
Do your maths.

Johnboy Mac

mick.fr wrote: »

You can pick up the same car in the UK for 9000 euro. Plenty of them.
VRT on this is about 3000 euro.
Do your maths.

Also look at a Honda Accord diesel, better built and better value when doing the sums.

mick.fr

Johnboy Mac wrote: »

Also look at a Honda Accord diesel, better built and better value when doing the sums.

They probably keep their value better than bimmers.
That's insane how the value of bimmers have dropped recently.
That's some serious negative equity :mad:

mondeo

mick.fr wrote: »

You can pick up the same car in the UK for 9000 euro. Plenty of them.
VRT on this is about 3000 euro.
Do your maths.

You probably would get it for 9k

mick.fr

mondeo wrote: »

You probably would get it for 9k

Get what sorry?

mondeo

mick.fr wrote: »

Get what sorry?

An average mileage 05' 320D pre VRT

billymitchell

mick.fr wrote: »

You can pick up the same car in the UK for 9000 euro. Plenty of them.
VRT on this is about 3000 euro.
Do your maths.

I havent seen any cars in the UK for €9000, only £9000. This equates to about €10500. VRT on these is about €4200. Cost of getting it, say another €500, your at just over €15k, which is what I am getting this for!!

Which UK sites did you see the 320's on for €9000??

easyontheeye

there you go

http://www.theinternetcarshowroom.com/detail.asp?ID=5524

billymitchell

easyontheeye wrote: »

there you go

http://www.theinternetcarshowroom.com/detail.asp?ID=5524

Thats 9k GBP, which is, according to xe.com, is €10,200. But I'm sure the lovely banks in this country will be giving me a slightly worse rate than that. So I reckon that would cost me €11k-ish. Just check VRT.ie, and VRT on these cars is €4200!!
So that comes €15k before I even do all the other stuff, you know, like getting it here

easyontheeye

whoops... late night, my mistake thought it was 8k. the thing i notice about the e90 model is that they are a popular company car, hence the high mileage. its rare to get a low mileage e90 in the uk. although that one i posted nearly has 10k miles less

Hartyk87

Johnboy Mac wrote: »

Also look at a Honda Accord diesel, better built and better value when doing the sums.

I agree with John you get alot more for your money and imo alot more comfortable I had one of these and would not buy one again V bad electronics and way tooo much to go wrong. And very costly to do anthing with. Garrett Turbos go in these engines close to 90k miles and it is not a call back.

billymitchell

No probs. 2-3 months ago, that would have been €the same as €9k

I agree they all do have high mileage on them, i've seen ones worth £7,999 but they would have an extra 40k miles on the clock. Doing the maths on that, I could probably get it for cheaper, but I dont want to save a bit of cash in buying it and spending the next 2-3 years constantly getting stuff changed/repaired on it.

billymitchell

Hartyk87 wrote: »

..... Garrett Turbos go in these engines close to 90k miles and it is not a call back.

Sorry, not the most car savvy person here! You saying once this car gets to 90k miles, i'm paying a lot of extra cash to get the turbo sorted out??

bazz26

OP here is a higher spec lower mileage example:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1378998

Asking price is a little higher than the one you were looking at but even though they are not accepting offers on it I think you may be able to squeeze them a little bit. Even for the extra few hundred euro I think this one seems better value given the extras it has and 20k less miles.

BTW my understanding was it was the E46 that suffered from blown turbos and not the E90 as much.

mick.fr

bazz26 wrote: »

OP here is a higher spec lower mileage example:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1378998

It looks very clean alright

billymitchell

Cheers Bazz, but if you look at the price and the description(€650 extra for the alloys, but they are sweet looking), they are looking for €16,500 for it. Cant see me being able to squeeze them down too much, but I'll give them a shout anyway in the morning, see what they are willing to sell for!!
BTW, is that true about the E90 engines that they are more reliable? Actually, does anybody know somewhere I could check out more about 320's, current/previous owner stories? Had a look on here, and cant seem to find too much!

bazz26

You might want to sign up to one of the BMW forums and ask the locals about the E90.

www.bmw-driver.net

Let us know how you get on with that garage tomorrow.

billymitchell

bazz26 wrote: »

You might want to sign up to one of the BMW forums and ask the locals about the E90.

www.bmw-driver.net

Let us know how you get on with that garage tomorrow.

Eh, thanks for the link bazz! But I had a quick look on the site and the first link to a thread I saw on the site was "Show me your genitals"!! Interesting...

I'll post back tomorrow night with how I get on and all that.

Gumbo

that dealer is only down the road from me. he is ok, havent heard much bad reports from them.

they are relatively new i believe as they only took over the premise a year ago max iirc.

also the turbo problems are on th early 150bhp E46 models, havent heard of one turbo failure on the E90 but im open for correction on that.

mileage is not an issus on the diesel as long as its been well serviced!
i just picked up an Es model on Friday with full leather, CD changer MFSW and upgraded alloys for €10,900 cash with full history from Joe Duffy BMW, it was bought new from Duffys in May 05. it has 100k on it but bearing in mind the mileage i do per year it will balance out in 2-3 years.

the SE spec is higher than the ES i bought, but the SE there had standard 15" wheels, cloth interier and no MFSW although they do have PDC that i wouldnt mind having.

i searched and searched but cant get a similar new shape car from england for less thatn 14k at the moment.

billymitchell

You got an E90 from Joe Duffy for €10,900? Was it on their site or did you call out to them and have a look around?

Gumbo

billymitchell wrote: »

You got an E90 from Joe Duffy for €10,900? Was it on their site or did you call out to them and have a look around?

no, it was bought new in JD and fully maintained in JD, got it for €10,900 and it was from Haines Feet Management in Airside.
they used to be based in the joe duffy building and they used to supply JD with all their cars but have started selling to the public now.

billymitchell

kceire wrote: »

no, it was bought new in JD and fully maintained in JD, got it for €10,900 and it was from Haines Leet Management in Airside.
they used to be based in the joe duffy building and they used to supply JD with all their cars but have started selling to the public now.

Nice deal!! So would you reckon what I am paying is too much so??

Gumbo

billymitchell wrote: »

Nice deal!! So would you reckon what I am paying is too much so??

i wouldnt say your paying too much, mine has over 100k on it which is more than likely why it was sellable at that price!

considring you can have one from England at the same price, your getting the benefit of the cheaper english car without the hassle of sourcing and going over to pick up plus a dealer warrenty is a big bonus.

billymitchell

kceire wrote: »

i wouldnt say your paying too much, mine has over 100k on it which is more than likely why it was sellable at that price!

considring you can have one from England at the same price, your getting the benefit of the cheaper english car without the hassle of sourcing and going over to pick up plus a dealer warrenty is a big bonus.

Cool, thanks for the advice. Heading up to see it again at lunch time, I'll make my decision then!

billymitchell

Just wanted to say cheers to all for the advice, I'm picking up the motor on Thursday evening!!
Just gotta get rid of my old one now.....

bazz26

billymitchell wrote: »

Just wanted to say cheers to all for the advice, I'm picking up the motor on Thursday evening!!
Just gotta get rid of my old one now.....

Which one did you buy in the end Billy?

billymitchell

Got the original car I was looking at

It was looking really nice today in the sun, so that made my mind up for me!!

Gumbo

congrats billy, best of luck with it!
let me know if you wana remap her as we might get a deal for 2 from www.autoremap.ie

i was talking ti Martin yesterday and he says realistic gains are +30bhp and +50Nm of torques for 350e (but we might get 50e off if we do it in a pair )

billymitchell

kceire wrote: »

congrats billy, best of luck with it!
let me know if you wana remap her as we might get a deal for 2 from www.autoremap.ie

i was talking ti Martin yesterday and he says realistic gains are +30bhp and +50Nm of torques for 350e (but we might get 50e off if we do it in a pair )

Considering I am going from a 1.4 to a 2.0L engine, think I'll get used to my 320 for a while first before I go remap it. Also, I spend most of my time in D2 traffic, so doubt the extra bhp would be noticeable!! But I will keep it in mind next time I am on my way back up from Limerick and I feel I could get to Dublin that little bit faster!!
Best of luck with yours too mate