BMW 3 or 5 Series

JP85

This question has probably been asked tons of times but currently on the look out for a BMW. I am looking at an 08/09 3 series or an 08 5 series. I wont be doing a huge amount of driving mainly evenings and weekends as I work in Dublin city so bus it. Why is the 5 series nearly the same price as the 3 series, i have the feeling there is a catch?

I really like the spec of the 5 series but just want to make sure that i dont pay €14/15k or so on a 7 year old car and i have a load of trouble with it.

The 5 series i am looking at is:

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/5-series/used-2008-bmw-5-series-automa-dublin-fpa-147014248661636850

bmwguy

The prices converge as they get a little bit older making them more or less the same price, 5 series depreciate quicker due to a perceived higher cost of running it (they probably are slightly more expensive like for like but not by much). As they get older they will be the same price as much less expensive cars, i.e. a 2004/2005 Golf would fetch as much if not more than a 2004/2005 5 series despite being only about half the price new. Depreciation on expensive cars is savage and brutal from new.

If you want to save a good bit of money, buy an 06 or even an 07, they will be far cheaper than the 08s but annual tax will be 700 euro instead of whatever these are, about 250 or something? Thats 450 a year extra but I guess the savings on purchase will be 10 times that. Watch out for the timing chain issue too if you are not aware of it, huge amount of info on it here with a certain engine model that you will find with a bit of googling.

TBi

bmwguy wrote: »

Watch out for the timing chain issue too if you are not aware of it, huge amount of info on it here with a certain engine model that you will find with a bit of googling.

Not an issue on older (< 2007) bmw's with the M47 engine. The M47 isn't as powerful or economical as the N47 but much more peace of mind!

bazz26

Unless it's a 330d or 335d then 15k for a 7 year old 3 Series is nuts, there should be about 2k difference in prices between similar 5 and 3 Series.

166man

You'd also be off your trolley to consider buying a diesel if it's just for weekend use. Find a nice 2006 523/525i petrol, save yourself about €5k and enjoy.

Those 2008/2009 BMW diesels are really best avoided.

JP85

bazz26 wrote: »

Unless it's a 330d or 335d then 15k for a 7 year old 3 Series is nuts, there should be about 2k difference in prices between similar 5 and 3 Series.

Here you go and this isnt even the most expensive one on there...

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/3-series/used-2008-bmw-3-series-318i-editi-dublin-fpa-145414242396203480

Idbatterim

my opinion would be to get an 06 or 07 3 or 5 series, preferably. The emissions based cars are massively overpriced to save a few euro on tax. If you are borrowing this money, the thousands you will save on purchase price and hence interest, will pay for the extra yearly tax. You could get a nice 05 525 for one third of the below and there is no comparison IMO...

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/3-series/used-2008-bmw-3-series-318i-editi-dublin-fpa-145414242396203480

if this is a pleasure car go for the classic straight 6 petrol that bm are renowned for! far less to go wrong, far nicer to drive, far cheaper to buy!

JP85

Idbatterim wrote: »

my opinion would be to get an 06 or 07 3 or 5 series, preferably. The emissions based cars are massively overpriced to save a few euro on tax. If you are borrowing this money, the thousands you will save on purchase price and hence interest, will pay for the extra yearly tax. You could get a nice 05 525 for one third of the below and there is no comparison IMO...

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/3-series/used-2008-bmw-3-series-318i-editi-dublin-fpa-145414242396203480

if this is a pleasure car go for the classic straight 6 petrol that bm are renowned for! far less to go wrong, far nicer to drive, far cheaper to buy!

My problem is with the bank they are saying that i can only purchase a car that is maximum of 7 years old, plus is it not the case that the older the car the more problems are going to occur along with the fact that the mileage is going to be significantly higher - My head hurts

Idbatterim

ok what kind of mileage are you going to be doing, you say light driving, so I am imagining nowhere near that to justify a diesel? do you need to borrow all of the money? The credit union do car loans of 6.7% currently AFAIK...

I am telling you know from first hand experience, that by far the biggest waste of money on a car is depreciation and loan interest! I would nearly be inclined if I were you to go out and buy a 05-06 car outright if it is an option... The diesel and petrol engines in the 2008 bm's plus are not as reliable as the pre 2008 ones...

bazz26

JP85 wrote: »

Here you go and this isnt even the most expensive one on there...

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/3-series/used-2008-bmw-3-series-318i-editi-dublin-fpa-145414242396203480

You are comparing a 5 Series being sold by an non franchised dealer with a 3 Series being sold by a BMW dealer. The BMW dealer will give a 2 year warranty with his car but in reality he ain't going to get that sort of money for the car.

Caliden

JP85 wrote: »

Here you go and this isnt even the most expensive one on there...

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/3-series/used-2008-bmw-3-series-318i-editi-dublin-fpa-145414242396203480

Christ that's crazy. For 5k less you'd have a well kitted out 07 325. More tax but at least it has some poke to it.

Idbatterim

christ that's crazy. For 5k less you'd have a well kitted out 07 325. More tax but at least it has some poke to it

or a 2006 merc S500 from a dealer! E15,000 for a 318, to save E320 in motor tax over a 2007 2L engine! LOL LOL!

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/mercedes-benz/s-class/used-2006-mercedes-benz-s-class-s-dublin-fpa-147314249528874440

bazz26

Idbatterim wrote: »

or a 2006 merc S500 from a dealer! E15,000 for a 318, to save E320 in motor tax over a 2007 2L engine! LOL LOL!

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/mercedes-benz/s-class/used-2006-mercedes-benz-s-class-s-dublin-fpa-147314249528874440

There are some big differences in the running costs of a S Class over a 3 Series other than just motor tax though. While it's only costing €15k to buy 9 years later it's still probably a €100k to repair and maintain.

mossy50

weekend car get yourself a 840i