First BMW; advice needed

DoctorStrange

Looking to buy my first BMW and not too sure where to start.

Budget is 5k - including around 1k to get some work done.

Mpg not really an issue and could justify up to 2.2L, 2.5L maybe

So far looked at:

2003 318ci sport, 60k miles with verified history.

2002 520 msport 150k miles, well looked after.


Any advice on what to go for as a first / starter BMW?

I'd be hoping to keep this car for a year or two and then get something newer / better when financial situation improves.

Atlantic Dawn

Service history or evidence of regular oil changes. Check to see if the current owner is running the car on a shoe string budget, ie the tyres are non brand names or mixed brands on the same axle. If it was me I would go for a 520 M Sport over the 318CI.

bazz26

I'd go for the E39 (5 Series) over the E46 (3 Series). The E39 was one of BMW's best cars but it's getting harder to find a good clean one these days. With your budget you should be able to get a mint M Sport. Biggest BMW bug bear though is the cooling system, it will probably need an overhaul if not already done.

Something like this maybe:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/BMW/5-Series/520-I/134314226384229140/

Idbatterim

ok my advice would be to not do what most of us do, start out on the 4 cylinder 318 etc, just go straight for the good stuff, ideally the 2.5L engine, as it is a good balance between power and motor tax. If going for a saloon, the E39 or E60 5 series all day long, forget the 3 series in saloon form IMO. If going for the coupe, go for the m sport, reason being is that the SE are nothing special to look at, in that case far better to go for a 5 series SE...

Can you link to the cars that you are interested in?

wandererz

Here's a 2 owner 2005 318CI with leather and all electrics.

Seems great overall.

Only thing is its an auto. Probably traded in by someone upgrading to newer.

These guys get main dealer trade-ins from the BMW dealer down the road.

There's a 316i on there as well which I traded in. That too was well taken care of.
http://www.dunnemotorservices.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1178864&r=%26amp%3Br%3D

DoctorStrange

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd go for the E39 (5 Series) over the E46 (3 Series). The E39 was one of BMW's best cars but it's getting harder to find a good clean one these days. With your budget you should be able to get a mint M Sport. Biggest BMW bug bear though is the cooling system, it will probably need an overhaul if not already done.

Something like this maybe:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/BMW/5-Series/520-I/134314226384229140/

That looks very nice, great spec, the heated seats would help persuade the OH about the tax! but says NCT 3/14 - i'd ideally be looking for around a year NCT

Idbatterim wrote: »

ok my advice would be to not do what most of us do, start out on the 4 cylinder 318 etc, just go straight for the good stuff, ideally the 2.5L engine, as it is a good balance between power and motor tax. If going for a saloon, the E39 or E60 5 series all day long, forget the 3 series in saloon form IMO. If going for the coupe, go for the m sport, reason being is that the SE are nothing special to look at, in that case far better to go for a 5 series SE...

Can you link to the cars that you are interested in?

Going to look at this later today, have looked at a couple of coupes but this is the first 5 I'll be looking. Serviced by the guy, selling it for a family member he says. Should be able to get the price down a bit from 3k.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-520/8403515?offset=5

bazz26

DoctorStrange wrote: »

That looks very nice, great spec, the heated seats would help persuade the OH about the tax! but says NCT 3/14 - i'd ideally be looking for around a year NCT

According to the NCT website it expires this month so I would expect the garage to put it through as a condition of the sale. Interesting that according to the motor tax website it's down as white in colour.

Foxhole Norman

I have an E39 525i Sport myself, something you need to do if it hasn't been done recently is the cooling system. It pretty much goes on all of them. If you're handy with DIY stuff it can be done for less than €500. Seeing as the head was done recently I'd say it had overheated at some point in it's life, if the head goes on these most say the engine could still be nackered, even with the new head.

Suspension is another weakness on these and they usually need a refresh as they come up in miles/age. Check for any weird noises, take it over speed bumps/rough roads when testing it.

Make sure all the electronics work, especially the ABS as if that's out you won't have any traction either and you'll have to either replace the whole module or wheel sensors depending on the severity of the fault.

Rust can be a huge problem on these, the most common areas to look are around the boot keyhole or above the rear plate. The wheel arches are prone to rust too especially if the car had Mud Flaps fitted previously as moisture/dirt gets trapped behind them without getting cleaned.

DoctorStrange

bazz26 wrote: »

According to the NCT website it expires this month so I would expect the garage to put it through as a condition of the sale. Interesting that according to the motor tax website it's down as white in colour.

I saw that - thought it might be some filter they put on the pics but doesn't look white to me

DoctorStrange

Thanks for the rust tips Norman, had heard about the other common things. Hard to know about the new engine alright - suppose depends on why engine was changed in the first place

or why they claim they changed the engine.


I think I'm leaning towards the 520 or 525 m sport. Probably was anyways but when you say to people that you are thinking of a 2L+ petrol they give you some strange looks

Foxhole Norman

DoctorStrange wrote: »

Thanks for the rust tips Norman, had heard about the other common things. Hard to know about the new engine alright - suppose depends on why engine was changed in the first place

or why they claim they changed the engine.


I think I'm leaning towards the 520 or 525 m sport. Probably was anyways but when you say to people that you are thinking of a 2L+ petrol they give you some strange looks

I'd definitely be looking for a 525i if you can find a decent one. The 2.2 is good and nippy but the 2.5 has a decent bit more Torque/Hp for not a lot more tax.

I know how you feel when you say you want to buy anything above 2.0, people think you're insane!

DoctorStrange

bazz26 wrote: »

Something like this maybe:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/BMW/5-Series/520-I/134314226384229140/

Sold today they said!

Idbatterim

I think I'm leaning towards the 520 or 525 m sport. Probably was anyways but when you say to people that you are thinking of a 2L+ petrol they give you some strange looks

probably the same people who think nothing of losing thousands in depreciation and loan interest a year on their crap box! While you drive around in a formerly expensive luxury car for a fraction of what they are driving their crap for!

DoctorStrange

So have had a spin in a couple of 318ci, a 520, a 320 and 325.

Front runner now is 325 ci msport.

Anyone got an idea of fair price one one of these, assuming it's been checked out and 100%?

For example

http://m.carzone.ie/used-cars/BMW/3-Series-325-CI-E46-SPORT-2DR/201448228995940

PokeHerKing

Would this be a realatively cheap price for this BMW?

http://cars.donedeal.co.uk/cars-for-sale/bmw-e39-520i-2003/8917560?offset=9

Whis is more preferable in the E39, Auto or Manual?

Cheers

Foxhole Norman

Personally having tested Manuals and having gone for an Auto, most of the time I prefer my auto but *sometimes* I find myself wishing I bought a Manual, especially in Sport form, mind you, I'll be putting a paddle shift into mine which should make it a bit more fun

PokeHerKing

http://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=1194062&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D10%26o%5B%5D%3D87%26f1%3De39%26g%3D0

This back up at 1k cheaper, claiming low compression in one of the cyllinders. Should I be steering clear?

DoctorStrange

I picked up a 325 yesterday and loving it so far.

A lot of the older cars are in really bad shape - I went to look at around 10. 2 of them I didn't even bother driving as they were in such bad condition.

A lot of the ads say immaculate condition, full service history, no expense spared on this car!

I saw one car that claimed to have a FSH - turned out when I got there that he had the receipt for an oil change and nothing else.

Ask loads of questions on the phone before going to look, try to weed out the spoofers.

Have a mechanic lined up to have a look at the car - I found that if they're not willing to bring it to a garage then walk away.

I found that any of the nice ones I saw, well looked after and full history, weren't going cheap.

bazz26

I always take the sellers description with a pinch of salt. At the end of the day it's in their best interest to make what they are selling more attractive to a buyer which unfortunately includes telling them what they want to hear.

PokeHerKing

Congratulations on the purchase, hopefully it's a hassle free future!

Would people say this is fairly priced if the description is legitimate? I was hoping to pick up an 03/04 for that price but then what's a few years if it's in pristine condition?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-m-sport-e39/8961838?offset=2

Foxhole Norman

That looks very, very clean, I think it's owned by someone on BMWHaus or Driver.

DoctorStrange

Thanks!
Take it for a good long drive, different types of road with the radio off and listen for engine / suspension noises.

As long as you get a mechanic to have a good look at it, preferably get it up on a ramp. Any problems can be very expensive.

Agree on a price after that based on the mechanics inspection.

Fairly short NCT on that one you linked

Also, don't bring money with you on a first viewing, can get carried away!