Advice on this BMW..

Kotek Besar

Lads I'm looking at this BMW in England and wondering if I could get your advice. Looks in great condition and seems to be very well equipped. Any thought welcome!
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201402031525972

Idbatterim

is there a reason you are looking in the uk as opposed to here?

Kotek Besar

Idbatterim wrote: »

is there a reason you are looking in the uk as opposed to here?

I'm on a course in the UK at the minute. Going to buy here and drive back to Ireland. I know they'll be VRT to pay but it's hard to find this type of spec in Ireland.

bazz26

Very nice spec on that car including upgraded Professional Sat Nav and electric sunroof, had a similar spec 2008 model myself for 3 years relatively trouble free. However these engines can suffer from timing chain failure which is expensive to repair, however I think it was sorted from 2011 onwards depending on the build date.

Also worth noting that you will be paying VRT on those extras. It's calculated on the extras on cars up to 4 years old.

Bigus

Have you priced something similar on BMW.co.uk, if you can find one within 2k for similar spec year it'd be much safer buy.
Some great deals every week on ex bmw fresh cars you have to be quick with the credit card though for deposit.
Difference is,its safe to buy sight unseen from an official BMW dealer

bazz26

Idbatterim wrote: »

is there a reason you are looking in the uk as opposed to here?

Very unlikely that you will buy a 3 Series with that spec over here.

Idbatterim

I believe the vrt on that would be 17%, given that the 320 would put out good bit more bhp for only 1% more vrt I believe, would you consider one of them? or is it just cause of the spec and condition of the 318 that has you so interested in it?

deandean

OSI wrote: »

3 owners in 3 years on a high spec 3 year old BMW. What's going on there I wonder.

It's the rule of threes.

Mc1981

The bonnet doesn't line up well with the grille and drivers side headlight in the head on pics. I would suspect it has had a bit of an accident at some point.

sawdoubters

3 owners looks bad

Henry Ford III

As always - get a HPI check done. Just in case.

delly

Just in relation to the extras and vrt, my brother who would bring a BMW in every two to three weeks, has said they are only charging for extras up to two years now instead of the four.

Kotek Besar

So I rang the guy, he says it's not been in any accident as far as he's aware, when I asked about the bonnet not lining up he said he's not noticed but since I came to mention it that I'm right, it does look a bit misaligned so he's going to take it to BMW tomorrow to let them take a look. He says his has the HPI clear cert from the previous owner.

Apparently the first owner was a fleet arm of BMW, as it was originally a BMW management car. It was then sold by BMW to a guy in Essex whose wife became pregnant with twins so they wanted to sell it and get an X5. The third and current owner is from Yorkshire and he bought it from the Essex guy and has had it a year, he loves it but his missus wants a white car so his plan is to sell this and buy a white one.

Seems a genuine enough guy. Going to take a look tomorrow afternoon.

Idbatterim

I wouldnt touch it without having it checked by a bmw dealership or without an AA or Rac etc test first...

ronaneire

Looks okay in the pictures. Pictures mean nothing. If you can get the reg number from him, go and do an online history check. They are well ahead of us here for recording history.

Sobanek

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201311290225899

would rather this :P


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201401171084810

or this

bazz26

The gap between the bonnet and top of the grill on the driver's side is definitely too big to leave the factory like that. It seems to get narrower on the passenger side. Shame really as it seems like a nice car other than that.

Leonard Hofstadter

The panel gap on the bonnet is a bit odd. Otherwise, why not consider a 320d - they are a good bit more powerful and there's so many of them to choose from over there.

Henry Ford III

Kotek Besar wrote: »

....He says his has the HPI clear cert from the previous owner.....

An out of date HPI check is of no value at all.

Kotek Besar

So I had a look at the car - it's absolutely gorgeous. Turned out the bonnet just wasn't closed properly. A gentle push and it lines up perfectly. Car drives great and is immaculate inside. Seller wouldn't come down from £17k so I said I'll think about it and walked away. Not sure what to do now!

Anan1

bazz26 wrote: »

Very unlikely that you will buy a 3 Series with that spec over here.

I'd describe it as a slightly funny spec, as opposed to a good one. The sunroof takes a couple of inches of headroom, the sat nav won't be as good as a Garmin, and it doesn't have xenons. It's also described as having heated seats, but the switches are missing in the photos. Finally (and this would be the big one for me) it's manual.

Kotek Besar

I've heard BMW professional sat nav is top of the range, better than Tomtom / Garmin, no? The heated seats are definitely there as I tried them out. Buttons are just below the A/C button in the centre console and on the opposite side for the driver's seat. I know sunroofs are not usual for this spec as it's a paid option, as I understand, but I didn't know it was a disadvantage due to headroom?

Anan1

Kotek Besar wrote: »

I've heard BMW professional sat nav is top of the range, better than Tomtom / Garmin, no?

Factory sat nav is always bordering on obsolete at launch, and it never gets any newer. It does look far better than a Garmin, but it won't do the job as well.

Kotek Besar wrote: »

The heated seats are definitely there as I tried them out. Buttons are just below the A/C button in the centre console and on the opposite side for the driver's seat.

I see them now - they moved them in the facelift - they used to be at either end of the row of six buttons at the bottom of the centre console. That's good news anyway!

Kotek Besar wrote: »

I know sunroofs are not usual for this spec as it's a paid option, as I understand, but I didn't know it was a disadvantage due to headroom?

Some drivers like sunroofs, but that number has fallen with the advent of air conditioning. It does take away from headroom though, and it'll be a bit noisier than a car without a sunroof at speed.

bazz26

Anan1 wrote: »

I'd describe it as a slightly funny spec, as opposed to a good one. The sunroof takes a couple of inches of headroom, the sat nav won't be as good as a Garmin, and it doesn't have xenons. It's also described as having heated seats, but the switches are missing in the photos. Finally (and this would be the big one for me) it's manual.

Compared to your typical Irish spec 3 Series it is a palace. The SAT NAV is the upgraded Professional wide screen system which has pretty good detail and uses NAV TEQ maps, this is about £3k of an extra on the 3 Series. It also has voice activated Bluetooth as well as a built-in HD and DVD player. Upgraded Dakota leather seats over the cheaper leatherette normally on offer even on the 5 Series. Sunroof intruding as well as manual v auto may not be deal breakers for a fair share of people.

Kotek Besar

Already gone. That'll teach me to waste time deliberating!

bazz26

Kotek Besar wrote: »

Already gone. That'll teach me to waste time deliberating!

Plenty of fish in the sea. Don't ever jump without looking first, just for the sake of it.