Thoughts on this BMW 3 series?

zweton

http://www.cmcsales.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1344121&r=

Atlantic Dawn

I hate a velour interior, this alone would make me not buy it. UK import too, do a history check.

Very decent presentation from the dealer to be fair, some of the best I have seen from an Irish dealer.

zweton

yeah was thinking the same about interior too, would prefer the cream leather.

pablo128

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I hate a velour interior, this alone would make me not buy it. UK import too, do a history check.

Very decent presentation from the dealer to be fair, some of the best I have seen from an Irish dealer.

It's suede.:cool:

zweton

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I hate a velour interior, this alone would make me not buy it. UK import too, do a history check.

Very decent presentation from the dealer to be fair, some of the best I have seen from an Irish dealer.

saying that, do you think its reasonably priced.

Atlantic Dawn

pablo128 wrote: »

It's suede.:cool:

A similar dryish feeling I don't like

Gumbo

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I hate a velour interior, this alone would make me not buy it. UK import too, do a history check.

Very decent presentation from the dealer to be fair, some of the best I have seen from an Irish dealer.

zweton wrote: »

yeah was thinking the same about interior too, would prefer the cream leather.

That's the standard MSport interior. It's actually better in the flesh, a bit like the gti tarten interior, it doesn't photograph well IMO.

triple nipple

Atlantic Dawn wrote:

I hate a velour interior, this alone would make me not buy it. UK import too, do a history check.

I totally read that in Zap Branigans voice

zweton

i like this one, nicer colour too:)

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/3-series/used-2008-bmw-3-series-320-e90-d-dublin-fpa-201114375602846890

XsApollo

Not related to the car but cmc are a qualified BMW independent,
Might give you some peace of mind if purchasing.

zweton

yes very true.

drunkmonkey

Considering the other 2 he has have had timing chains replaced I'd be cautions, are bmw covering them now as long as there a fully bmw service history, heard of 1 main bmw doing it for traders cars.

drunkmonkey

Would this be a safer option and put the savings towards the extra tax
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/BMW/3-Series/325D..M-SPORT..ONLY/177514363751717830/
Or find a 330 or 335d

zweton

not gone on the one you linked, the coupes are nice.
whats the nicest 3 series coupe?

bazz26

That's mad money for the first 08 M Sport imo. I sold my similar but higher spec 2008 E90 M Sport over 2 years ago for €15k, with lower mileage too.

You'd nearly buy an E60 M Sport for that sort of money.

Idbatterim

my thoughts are the emissions based cars are massively overvalued v cc in most cases, according to motortax.ie the rate for a manual 2008 318d is E390 so saving E320 a year v the cc syste. So less than a grand saved over 3 years, yes resale value will be higher than a 2007, but a 2008 in 3 years is going to be 10, nearly 11 years old, it's value will be near worthless...

millington

zweton wrote: »

i like this one, nicer colour too:)

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/3-series/used-2008-bmw-3-series-320-e90-d-dublin-fpa-201114375602846890

Nicer colour alright but pre facelift model so very expensive for what it is

bazz26

Idbatterim wrote: »

my thoughts are the emissions based cars are massively overvalued v cc in most cases, according to motortax.ie the rate for a manual 2008 318d is E390 so saving E320 a year v the cc syste. So less than a grand saved over 3 years, yes resale value will be higher than a 2007, but a 2008 in 3 years is going to be 10, nearly 11 years old, it's value will be near worthless...

Motor tax on 2008 318d/320d is €280 but your general point is still valid.

pablo128

Idbatterim wrote: »

my thoughts are the emissions based cars are massively overvalued v cc in most cases, according to motortax.ie the rate for a manual 2008 318d is E390 so saving E320 a year v the cc syste. So less than a grand saved over 3 years, yes resale value will be higher than a 2007, but a 2008 in 3 years is going to be 10, nearly 11 years old, it's value will be near worthless...

That is a good point, while not worthless completely, it would be at least 10k less in value. A sobering thought alright.

zweton

can ye guys post a few 3 series coupes that i should be looking at, as in reliable engine, good general all rounder:) etc

drunkmonkey

Reliable engine is the 3.0L diesels or the petrol, the ones your looking at are chancey with the timing chain issue.
335d couple would be your very own rocket ship but I think your looking at €750 tax on a 2008 and €1500 on a 2007, but you can pick up at 2007 for nearly 10k less than a 2008.
If you can justify the tax someway you won't regret it. Test drive one while your looking.

This seems cheap and gets over the tax justification hump http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/BMW/3-Series/330-330D/201523233984762/
It's not a msport it's an se but it'd be a lot more comfortable to drive than the msport.

zweton

lovely car allright, liking the tan leather lately as apposed to the cream.
what would the tax be on that though? was hoping for cheap tax bracket.

drunkmonkey

€1500, now how do you justify it, think really hard and you'll find a way..
First off it's nearly €4000 cheaper than what you were looking at, there's nearly 3 years tax free
If you smoke you could give up smoking there's another 4k a year etc

bazz26

As others have been saying, cars that are cheap to tax cost substantially more to buy.

zweton

guys just wondering what your thoughts are on this one?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/07-bmw-325i-sport-coupe-only-59k-miles/10380216?offset=23

Special Circumstances

XsApollo wrote: »

Not related to the car but cmc are a qualified BMW independent,
Might give you some peace of mind if purchasing.

Qualified by who, how?
They could badly do with some customer service qualifications from what I've seen!

zweton

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Qualified by who, how?
They could badly do with some customer service qualifications from what I've seen!

do tell.

Idbatterim

thats a nice straight 6 reliable engine, the tax is E1080, same as my E46, I find the 2.5L the best all rounder given the BS motortax system here, decent balance on tax and performance front. Just make sure you have any car checked by a bmw specialist prior to purchase. You should be able to get that for E9500 or less...

that car is priced ok, there is another option below... I wouldnt be a fan of the interior colour, but ad looks genuine and its asking E3000 less! it is an auto though, so that could be pro or con for you, or maybe you dont mind... 6 months tax left too, that is worth, €540 alone, nct until Jan 2017 is nice too...

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-325i-business-model/9831237?offset=19

just seen this one now, very nice IMO... sport seats, sun roof...

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-3-series-upgraded-sport-seats-fac/9855861?offset=26

bazz26

zweton wrote: »

guys just wondering what your thoughts are on this one?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/07-bmw-325i-sport-coupe-only-59k-miles/10380216?offset=23

Higher spec model here with iDrive:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/BMW/3-Series/*AUTO*-325i/201614389508308430/

Special Circumstances

zweton wrote: »

do tell.

PM sent!

millington

zweton wrote: »

guys just wondering what your thoughts are on this one?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/07-bmw-325i-sport-coupe-only-59k-miles/10380216?offset=23

Not a Sport, hate when dealers advertise them wrong :mad:

zweton

bazz26 wrote: »

Higher spec model here with iDrive:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/BMW/3-Series/*AUTO*-325i/201614389508308430/

yip im really liking this one, excuse the ignorance but whats iDrive.
would this one be low tax? only thing is beacon motors seems to have a bad rep.

bazz26

zweton wrote: »

yip im really liking this one, excuse the ignorance but whats iDrive.
would this one be low tax? only thing is beacon motors seems to have a bad rep.

Low tax only applies to cars with low emissions registered from 2008 onwards. That car as its 2007 costs just over 1k to tax per year as it's taxed on engine size. iDrive is the menu driven centre console screen that was an expensive option on that model 3 Series.

zweton

cheers, so do you think this one would be reliable. anything wrong with this particular model? known problems etc

zweton

which is better, 320i or 325i ?

bazz26

zweton wrote: »

cheers, so do you think this one would be reliable. anything wrong with this particular model? known problems etc

It's the older 2.5 litre 6 cylinder engine so they are pretty solid.

zweton wrote: »

which is better, 320i or 325i ?

325i without a doubt. BMW six cylinder engines are much nicer and overall better than the smaller 4 cylinder units.