Just bought this - What do you think?

niamhocxox

Hey I just bought a 2001 BMW 320 TD SE compact 2L diesel 150bhp. It cost €3,200 and it will be €400 to clear it.

I am flying over to get it Sunday and am really excited. The car is spotless. Full BMW service history and loaded with extras.

So if you have one of these or had one will you give me a review please

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Mr Benevolent

Looks good, not everyone is a fan of the foreshortened look but enjoy!

unkel

swirlflaps!

niamhocxox

unkel wrote: »

swirlflaps!

niamhocxox

Confab wrote: »

Looks good, not everyone is a fan of the foreshortened look but enjoy!

Thanks, Im a girl so I think its cute

Anan1

Make sure to run a full HPI check on it and call the garages who stamped the book to verify that the service history is genuine before paying for the car.

niamhocxox

OSI wrote: »

He's referring to part in BMW engines that have tendency to break off and wreck the engine. A common suggestion is to have them removed and replaced with blanks.

Can I ask why you went to the UK? Plenty of BMW 3 Series for similar or less money available here, even 4 door ones.

I bought my last car in the UK too. I'd buy Irish if I could but a spotless 10 year old car with a full service history is generally non existent here.

I wasn't looking for a car tbh, was just on autotrader browsing and fell across it. When I searched donedeal for one similar I think 4 came up and they weren't great. I just wanted to buy a really clean car and this was the best one I saw. I didn't want a 4 door by the way. In total there is only 75 3 door diesel ones on autotrader.co.uk

Oh and my cousin who bought the car for me in London is a mechanic and he changed this part yesterday thanks for the heads up though!

JimmyCrackCorn

unkel wrote: »

swirlflaps!

What i think he means is that there are a set of butterfly valves the inlet manifold that change the way the engine breaths to help fuel economy.




They have been known to come loose and get eaten by the engine causing big bills and damage.

On higher mileage cars there worth getting checked for signs of wear and are not part of the normal service checks. Some people remove them, some replace them for piece of mind, some don't know they exist.

As for it being something to be alarmed about I don't know lots of things are exaggerated on the internet.

A BMW specialist will advise you on servicing


Ogh and yes its a nice car at a nice price.

cantdecide

niamhocxox wrote: »

...So if you have one of these or had one will you give me a review please...

My feeling about them is meh, really. If you're pleased with it, that's the main thing. Well wear with it.

As posted above- leave no stone unturned. Diligence diligence diligence. Get a warranty and get it inspected the minute you get back by a good indy.

niamhocxox

JimmyCrackCorn wrote: »

What i think he means is that there are a set of butterfly valves the inlet manifold that change the way the engine breaths to help fuel economy.




They have been known to come loose and get eaten by the engine causing big bills and damage.

On higher mileage cars there worth getting checked for signs of wear and are not part of the normal service checks. Some people remove them, some replace them for piece of mind, some don't know they exist.

As for it being something to be alarmed about I don't know lots of things are exaggerated on the internet.

A BMW specialist will advise you on servicing


Ogh and yes its a nice car at a nice price.

Thank you for the helpful post! They have been replaced as of yesterday so its all good for now

Henry Ford III

Looks tidy. I hope you checked everything - history, HPI, and everything mechanical before buying.

If you did fair play and best wishes with the car!

Reloc8

That will be a very neat car to drive - good luck with it.

niamhocxox

cantdecide wrote: »

My feeling about them is meh, really. If you're pleased with it, that's the main thing. Well wear with it.

As posted above- leave no stone unturned. Diligence diligence diligence. Get a warranty and get it inspected the minute you get back by a good indy.

Hey thanks for the advice. I guess by reviews I meant fuel economy, reliability etc. I know its not everyones type of car. I think its more of a girly car

cantdecide

niamhocxox wrote: »

I know its not everyones type of car. I think its more of a girly car

My philosophy is I never like ______ cars. I like cars. You will enjoy it. All I'll say is it's a premium car, don't scrimp on the servicing and maintenace and it'll be your best friend.

BTW, this:

is a girly car

Owen

Enjoy it, and consider a remap - it transforms that engine. I'm off to the UK on Saturday morning, we could have had a boarsie car import session otherwise!

Twin-go

I have one (well a 2004 318ti msport version) for last 3 years.

Pros:
Great to drive
Solid feel
Cabin is same as other e46 BMWs

Cons:
Looks (at least when your driving it you don't have to look at it)
Sports set up can get really jaring on bumpy roads.

Issues I've had:
Injector coil
Rear wiper stopped working
Boot will now only open with Keyfob
Rip on seat due to back pocket zipper

Service Cost are about €400 per year

MetzgerMeister

Would the swirlflaps thing not be to do with the turbo?

Well wear anyway! The only thing that I hate about those BMW compacts is the headlights, I think they are horrible

niamhocxox

PaintDoctor wrote: »

Enjoy it, and consider a remap - it transforms that engine. I'm off to the UK on Saturday morning, we could have had a boarsie car import session otherwise!

Damn that could have been fun I got a €12 flight to London and I'm sailing back Sunday night

Owen

My flight's 45 Euro, Ferry back on Sat night.

niamhocxox

Twin-go wrote: »

I have one (well a 2004 318ti msport version) for last 3 years.

Pros:
Great to drive
Solid feel
Cabin is same as other e46 BMWs

Cons:
Looks (at least when your driving it you don't have to look at it)
Sports set up can get really jaring on bumpy roads.

Issues I've had:
Injector coil
Rear wiper stopped working
Boot will now only open with Keyfob
Rip on seat due to back pocket zipper

Service Cost are about €400 per year

Cool thanks! I like the look of it so thats ok and the rear wiper wasn't working in the one I bought, the guy told us that though and he reduced the price to take that into consideration I'll try to avoid wearing clothes with back pocket zippers

Thanks for your post though!

niamhocxox

PaintDoctor wrote: »

My flight's 45 Euro, Ferry back on Sat night.

I'm going to Gatwick and sailing back Swansea Cork

Harcrid

niamhocxox wrote: »

I'm going to Gatwick and sailing back Swansea Cork

That's one long ferry journey. 11 hours or so? Would you not consider Fishguard or Pembroke into Rosslare and drive to Cork from there? (Assuming you are from Cork of course)

Just back from importing my own car last week and it's a nice little adventure to go on and a nice enjoyable drive home.

niamhocxox

Celtxx wrote: »

That's one long ferry journey. 11 hours or so? Would you not consider Fishguard or Pembroke into Rosslare and drive to Cork from there? (Assuming you are from Cork of course)

Just back from importing my own car last week and it's a nice little adventure to go on and a nice enjoyable drive home.

Ya its from 8.30pm to 8am but it suits me because I get some sleep. My flight is at 7am Sunday morning so I'll be going from 4am that morning till Sunday night....3 hours sleep on the Fishgaurd or Pembroke one wouldn't be enough

I'm not from Cork but I've to go there on my way back

colm_mcm

I think the Compact will become more sought after in years to come. I actually like the way they look, and apparently some of the diesels are 150bhp. I presume most are 115 though.

niamhocxox

colm_mcm wrote: »

I think the Compact will become more sought after in years to come. I actually like the way they look, and apparently some of the diesels are 150bhp. I presume most are 115 though.

Hopefully Ya this diesel is 150bhp

Cosimo Salvatore

I'm happy for you.

MacGyver

Twin-go wrote: »

Issues I've had:
Injector coil
Rear wiper stopped working
Boot will now only open with Keyfob

Have a look at the e39 boot fixes. its a common enough issue where the wires going into the boot lid break in the join. it would make some sense if your wiper and boot button had stopped working. its not a hard fix either if your so inclined

bazz26

colm_mcm wrote: »

I think the Compact will become more sought after in years to come. I actually like the way they look, and apparently some of the diesels are 150bhp. I presume most are 115 though.

The 115bhp versions were badged 318td.

EPM

Well wear, good that you had someone to check it out and sort the swirlflaps. Friend has an almost identical one and it's never caused a problem and has a fair few miles on it now.

niamhocxox

EPM wrote: »

Well wear, good that you had someone to check it out and sort the swirlflaps. Friend has an almost identical one and it's never caused a problem and has a fair few miles on it now.

Thanks thats good to hear! It was an impulse buy really so I was worried so its nice to hear it hasn't given your friend any trouble

biko

Nice car, happy motoring

niamhocxox

biko wrote: »

Nice car, happy motoring

Aww thanks I'm currently looking through the best skangermobiles online thread, it is pretty entertaining!

I reckon I saw your car this morning OP.......... in the hard shoulder across the road from the Pfizer plant at about 8.30am. You had a lad wearing a beanie spralled across the bonnet adjusting your window squirters :pac:

niamhocxox

RoverJames wrote: »

I reckon I saw your car this morning OP.......... in the hard shoulder across the road from the Pfizer plant at about 8.30am. You had a lad wearing a beanie spralled across the bonnet adjusting your window squirters :pac:

Ha yup that was me! Had a bad morning, came down to the car to find it wouldn't start! :eek: Turns out the alarm was going off all night and it killed the battery but the crew on the deck jump started it and its been fine since.