2k budget, looking at 01-02 BMW 3 Series, am I mad?

P_1

Looking for a bit of advice here folks, looking at picking up a 2nd hand 3 Series with a car budget of 2k, insurance and tax will be paid for seperatley. So I've seen a good few of these on the usual sites in and around the 01-02 vintage with about 100k miles in the clock. Am I out of my mind looking at these cars or should they still be grand at that vintage and mileage?

djimi

Get it checked out by a mechanic and verify the mileage if possible. If it all checks out and you can afford it then go for it!

ba_barabus

It depends what ones you are looking at.

4 cylinders can give trouble with oil leaks and failed timing chains. They are a lovely car though when they are working.

6 cylinders are nicer still but the road tax on them can be on the high side.

Idbatterim

Id go for a 2.2 5 series if I were you, a lot less seems to go wrong, what kind of mileage will you be doing?

P_1

Idbatterim wrote: »

Id go for a 2.2 5 series if I were you, a lot less seems to go wrong, what kind of mileage will you be doing?

Not much at all I'd say, maybe about 5k a year

Idbatterim

and is a coupe or a saloon that you are interested in?

P_1

Idbatterim wrote: »

and is a coupe or a saloon that you are interested in?

Either or to be honest but I'd be leaning more towards the coupe

Idbatterim

right, id only go for the 3 series if a coupe for looks, otherwise if going for a saloon, definitely go for the 5... Go for an 02, they engine was softer, but the one before it was just too slow and there were subframe issues rectified some time in 01 I think...

ba_barabus

Can you post some you are looking at. It may be of more help to you.

P_1

ba_barabus wrote: »

Can you post some you are looking at. It may be of more help to you.

Sure, a few that have caught my eye:

http://www.cbg.ie/Bmw_3_Series_1.7_2002_Dublin-Petrol_Black_Hatchback Price is a bit suspicious on this one TBH

http://www.cbg.ie/Bmw_3_Series_1.9_2001_Dublin-Petrol_Blue_Saloon_2 Seems reasonable enough

http://www.cbg.ie/Bmw_3_Series_2.4_2001_Dublin-Petrol_Blue_Coupe a bit above budget but something I could stretch to

Bigus

P_1 wrote: »

Sure, a few that have caught my eye:

http://www.cbg.ie/Bmw_3_Series_1.7_2002_Dublin-Petrol_Black_Hatchback Price is a bit suspicious on this one TBH

http://www.cbg.ie/Bmw_3_Series_1.9_2001_Dublin-Petrol_Blue_Saloon_2 Seems reasonable enough

http://www.cbg.ie/Bmw_3_Series_2.4_2001_Dublin-Petrol_Blue_Coupe a bit above budget but something I could stretch to

Be more assertive when haggling and the last one will fall well into budget, nice car, offer 1750, and leave your number

S28382

The 3 series coupe is nice i have one and i love it the only thing is make sure and try get one with a good service history and ask about the cooling system, wishbones, prop shaft coupling they are pretty much the things that go wrong on them. My own car is due a prop coupling fix next week its at 98000 miles so its pretty much due a cooling system overhaul aswell.

bazz26

Of that bunch then the 6 cylinder coupe is the pick. But in this price range I'd aim to buy from a private seller, preferable an enthusiast who has looked after the car. Anything from a dealer in that price or age will have very little comeback anyway.

I'd have a look at the BMWs for sale section on bmw-driver.net. It is an owners site and there are always nice example for sale on there.

Alanstrainor

bazz26 wrote: »

Of that bunch then the 6 cylinder coupe is the pick. But in this price range I'd aim to buy from a private seller, preferable an enthusiast who has looked after the car. Anything from a dealer in that price or age will have very little comeback anyway.

I'd have a look at the BMWs for sale section on bmw-driver.net. It is an owners site and there are always nice example for sale on there.

I'd have to agree here. The coupe looks fine in pictures, however I'd want to buy privately given the price range we're talking. There's not many people that want 2.5 litre BMWs, so there's good examples to be had for little money.

MetzgerMeister

Why are you only looking at BMWs? They are such a crap car it's unreal!!

CianRyan

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Why are you only looking at BMWs? They are such a crap car it's unreal!!

Damn straight, must a Mazda!

I don't think anyone could call you mad for buying a cheap 3er.

Big Nasty

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Why are you only looking at BMWs? They are such a crap car it's unreal!!

Crap cars driven by assholes

P_1

Ah I've always had an attraction to BMW's, maybe that's because I'm an asshole :P

Anyways going to leave it a few months to build the budget up a bit more and will probably go for a 04 or 05 318 coupe.

BillJ

Decently spec'd 318 2003 coupe that could be got for your budget I would think, good NCT
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-318ci-nct-06-14/5675308

Again a decent spec, year NCT, it's the 6cyl engine, not sure what the 2.2's are like. Could be bought for a little over your budget
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2001-bmw-320ci/5767625

OREGATO

Out of budget but buy this: http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-330i-m-sport-manual/5734871

I had a 318Ci a few years back and although they were a nice car to look at, they weren't the best to drive. The car was slow, 1.9 litre engine just didn't really cut it for a car that size.

Something like a 320Ci or 330Ci if you don't mind the tax would be the pick of the bunch for me and not a million miles off your original budget. Before you make up your decision on the 318, go and test drive one or two and see what you think.

Best of luck with the car hunt

Idbatterim

I had a 318Ci a few years back and although they were a nice car to look at, they weren't the best to drive. The car was slow, 1.9 litre engine just didn't really cut it for a car that size.

yeah I had the 1.9 and agree it was underpowered. the 2L engine is 143 bhp and is acceptable, its a weaker engine than the older 1.9, but to be honest, its a gamble I would definitely take at this stage, just have the car properly checked prior to purchase op...

In relation to the suggestion above, I'm driving a 2.5L, there is no way I would touch a 3L when one years tax is half if not more of the value of the car at this end of the market / age...

Idbatterim

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/04-bmw-525i-msport-nct-mint-2850/5787935

saw the above earlier op, it might be of interest...

Alanstrainor

Idbatterim wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/04-bmw-525i-msport-nct-mint-2850/5787935

saw the above earlier op, it might be of interest...

You're mad for the 5 series!

P_1

Cheers for the recommendations folks, I'm going to keep saving up till January and have a bit more of a budget to play with, plus I'll have an extra years no claims built up which should help with the insurance.

Currently casting my eye over some 05 1.9 318 coupes

Alanstrainor

P_1 wrote: »

Cheers for the recommendations folks, I'm going to keep saving up till January and have a bit more of a budget to play with, plus I'll have an extra years no claims built up which should help with the insurance.

Currently casting my eye over some 05 1.9 318 coupes

Come to the meet and you'll see a few e46, 325's the sound of the 6 cylinder might change your mind! Best of luck with the hunt either way, they're a gorgeous looking car no matter what engine is in it.

Idbatterim

You're mad for the 5 series!

yeah I drive a 325ci though. Id would take the 5 any day over the vast majority of coupes at the kind of prices the op is looking at. My first E46 coupe, well lets just say that a multiple of 2k was spent on maintenance and repair in the roughly 3 years of ownership... Dont let nct etc fool you either, it passed it just before I bought it with flying colours and there were very few previous owners, only 78k miles etc...

Also in the case of that E39 m sport, an 04 coupe m sport coupe would be asking roughly double that, despite the fact the E39 would have been more, possibly considerably more to buy new...

the only reason I would go for the coupe was looks & if it isnt a m sport, I reckon the 5 series m sport is the better looking car. I have driven numerous E46 coupes and a 520 once and the 5 was a far better drive...

adocholiday

Hi OP,

For what its worth I bought a '02 318Ci M-Sport from a dealer 6 months ago at €2300 and I love it. 90k miles on the clock when I bought it. Slightly underpowered for sure but still a lovely drive. For me the difference in tax and insurance annually didn't justify going up to the 2.2; I was looking at an extra grand per year in total! Keep that in mind when deciding on the model that you want.

Alanstrainor

adocholiday wrote: »

Hi OP,

For what its worth I bought a '02 318Ci M-Sport from a dealer 6 months ago at €2300 and I love it. 90k miles on the clock when I bought it. Slightly underpowered for sure but still a lovely drive. For me the difference in tax and insurance annually didn't justify going up to the 2.2; I was looking at an extra grand per year in total! Keep that in mind when deciding on the model that you want.

And what puts me off the idea of a 2.2 is that the tax difference between it and a 325 is about 100 quid.

Idbatterim

And what puts me off the idea of a 2.2 is that the tax difference between it and a 325 is about 100 quid.

agreed, if going for the 6 cylinder, go for the 2.5L... value for money tax wise the 320 is poor v the 325 (euro per bhp breakdown) There is one other thing with the 2L, I and most I'm assuming could afford to tax it for the year, with the 325 I could but would prefer not to part with that kind of money upfront in a lump & borrowing it with current interest rates makes no sense, better just paying the extra to revenue, so thats E510 in the difference per year on tax (as I pay the tax every quarter, you only save a few euro by doing it every six months)

vectra

Alanstrainor wrote: »

And what puts me off the idea of a 2.2 is that the tax difference between it and a 325 is about 100 quid.

And would there be any difference in fuel economy?

Alanstrainor

vectra wrote: »

And would there be any difference in fuel economy?

From what I've read the difference is minimal, as they are both very similar capacity engines with 6 cylinders. Then again I've read that they say the same about the 330 when compared to the 325.


I'd say the consumption is equally shīte across the board for the 6 cylinders!

vectra

Alanstrainor wrote: »

From what I've read the difference is minimal, as they are both very similar capacity engines with 6 cylinders. Then again I've read that they say the same about the 330 when compared to the 325.


I'd say the consumption is equally shīte across the board for the 6 cylinders!

Only asking as my son put a deposit on a 320ci yesterday :cool:

Alanstrainor

vectra wrote: »

Only asking as my son put a deposit on a 320ci yesterday :cool:

I look forward to see the pics after the DA is put to work!


I can only presume its not silver :pac:

Idbatterim

The 320ci has its pro's, its still a 6 cylinder, tax is a bit cheaper than 325. More importantly the 6 cylinders seem to have a lot less go wrong with them than the 2L...

vectra

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I look forward to see the pics after the DA is put to work!


I can only presume its not silver :pac:

Imola Red.
This one.
Looks clean enough but I will still attack it :P

Alanstrainor

Idbatterim wrote: »

The 320ci has its pro's, its still a 6 cylinder, tax is a bit cheaper than 325. More importantly the 6 cylinders seem to have a lot less go wrong with them than the 2L...

The engines are pretty bomb proof, its the cooling system that's not. But its not the worst thing to change on your own. And to be fair mines done 125,000 on the original one and its pretty alright.

Alanstrainor

vectra wrote: »

Inola Red.
This one.
Looks clean enough but I will still attack it :P

That's my favourite colour. Great looking machine! They're the wheels I want on mine, look savage. Well wear.

vectra

Alanstrainor wrote: »

The engines are pretty bomb proof, its the cooling system that's not. But its not the worst thing to change on your own. And to be fair mines done 125,000 on the original one and its pretty alright.

A friend of mine that is big into his bmw's did mention to me to make sure the proper coolant is used as the wrong stuff can cause water pump failure.

2Shae

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Come to the meet and you'll see a few e46, 325's the sound of the 6 cylinder might change your mind! Best of luck with the hunt either way, they're a gorgeous looking car no matter what engine is in it.

Come to what meet?

MetzgerMeister

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I'd say the consumption is equally shīte across the board for the 6 cylinders!

I can tell you this much, consumption in mine is a LOT better than in the MPS :eek:

Cleveland Hot Pocket

2Shae wrote: »

Come to what meet?

this one

P_1

That's a beaut of a car. I'm wary of going over the 1.9 engine myself due to the difference in the tax to be honest

lintdrummer

I'll just give my 2c on the subject:

I bought a 99 318i E46 this time last year for €700. The 1.9 block isn't going to be winning you any races but it's more than capable of a nice bit of poke for overtaking. It's certainly not slow. Car had 125k on the clock when I bought it and she's at just over 151k now. Glad to report it's been trouble free driving. The only issue I've had was a coolant leak. Bottle of radweld sorted that. Other than that I've serviced it myself and she has been a joy to drive.
NCT is overdue now and I'm preparing to put her through, couple of rear shocks is about all she wants.
If you know what you're looking at you can pick a great car at a great price. If you're not confident, bring someone who does know what to look for.
Best of luck in the search!