2013 BMW 3 Series - 111km

palong88

Hey all,

I'm in the market for a new car, and I've come across this offer. It's BMW approved warrenty for 2 years. Full service history, low enough millage and car seems in great shape. It's not the cheapest but, nothing crazy over other dealers.

I'm worried about the potential cost of maintenance and servicing. Is it epically blown out of proportion?

Has anyone purchased a used BMW, can you give your experience?


Thanks

bazz26

What are you currently driving now?

dmcsweeney

palong88 wrote: »

Hey all,

I'm in the market for a new car, and I've come across this offer. It's BMW approved warrenty for 2 years. Full service history, low enough millage and car seems in great shape. It's not the cheapest but, nothing crazy over other dealers.

I'm worried about the potential cost of maintenance and servicing. Is it epically blown out of proportion?

Has anyone purchased a used BMW, can you give your experience?


Thanks

Main dealer servicing is expensive. Google BMW service and you can get an online quotation. My 520d came with the balance of a service pack so it was free to begin with. When that ran out I bought a service pack extension for €800, which would cover one major and one minor service, but not brakes. Front pads and disks set me back another €500. I could service the car in my sleep in my workshop, or have a independent garage do it cheaply, but I've stuck with BMW so that I can sell it with a full service history. If that doesn't bother you, or you plan to keep it until it is more or less worthless, then an independent garage will be much cheaper than BMW. Genuine service parts are eye wateringly expensive, but aftermarket items should be much cheaper, and they're easy to work on so labour costs won't break the bank. Most BMWs have run flat tyres, which to be honest are not that much more expensive than normal premium brand tyres (mine are €170 ea for Pirelli). Do budget to get it tracked at least every 10k miles though or it'll chew those tyres to bits. If it's a diesel it'll return excellent economy. Only other word of caution, if it is diesel, the N47 engine suffered timing chain failures. Rare by 2013, but still worth keeping an eye out for. BTW if the car had no service pack to begin with, or has been serviced since the original pack ran out, you'll have to pay full whack for servicing at they won't allow you purchase a new pack or extend the existing. Check with the dealer!

palong88

bazz26 wrote: »

What are you currently driving now?

I have a 08 Mercedes b class, it's in good condition and low mileage. I'll be keeping it for the other half.

palong88

dmcsweeney wrote: »

Main dealer servicing is expensive. Google BMW service and you can get an online quotation. My 520d came with the balance of a service pack so it was free to begin with. When that ran out I bought a service pack extension for €800, which would cover one major and one minor service, but not brakes. Front pads and disks set me back another €500. I could service the car in my sleep in my workshop, or have a independent garage do it cheaply, but I've stuck with BMW so that I can sell it with a full service history. If that doesn't bother you, or you plan to keep it until it is more or less worthless, then an independent garage will be much cheaper than BMW. Genuine service parts are eye wateringly expensive, but aftermarket items should be much cheaper, and they're easy to work on so labour costs won't break the bank. Most BMWs have run flat tyres, which to be honest are not that much more expensive than normal premium brand tyres (mine are €170 ea for Pirelli). Do budget to get it tracked at least every 10k miles though or it'll chew those tyres to bits. If it's a diesel it'll return excellent economy. Only other word of caution, if it is diesel, the N47 engine suffered timing chain failures. Rare by 2013, but still worth keeping an eye out for. BTW if the car had no service pack to begin with, or has been serviced since the original pack ran out, you'll have to pay full whack for servicing at they won't allow you purchase a new pack or extend the existing. Check with the dealer!

Thanks for the info, given me something to think about

I've just checked out the service site, 100 for a pollen filter change........ wtf. I'm.happy changing a lot of the simple stuff myself.

I have a good independent mechanic for services, he does most of my family. I'd be hoping to keep the car for 6-7 years, at least, so having the car serviced by dealer for resale value wouldn't bother me.

dmcsweeney

palong88 wrote: »

Thanks for the info, given me something to think about

I've just checked out the service site, 100 for a pollen filter change........ wtf. I'm.happy changing a lot of the simple stuff myself.

I have a good independent mechanic for services, he does most of my family. I'd be hoping to keep the car for 6-7 years, at least, so having the car serviced by dealer for resale value wouldn't bother me.

€180 iirc for the 520 and it's changed every service! Apart from the fuel filter being located under the floor, I've never seen a car that's so easy to service. My old '96 Mondeo TD would take me about 3 times longer to do! The only things that spring to mind are the rear pads (need the software to rewind the caliper pistons) and the auto box is also a specialist job (BMW say it's service free and sealed for life, ZF say every 75k miles).

dmcsweeney

One thing I'd add for consideration. As per my previous posts there were some issues with the N47 engine. The worst of the issues were prior to March 2011. The issue is with the timing chain, which is located at the rear of the engine and can snap/jump/rattle. Its an engine out job to replace a rattling one. Anyhow the net is full of posts on the subject. Later engines are far better and failures were rare by 2013 but not unheard of. Then you have the other issue of the expert down the pub telling you your engine is going to go bang. The new B47 was launched mid 2014 and it may be worth considering going a bit later to avoid the N47. It would be easier to sell after, you wouldn't have to listen to every man and his dog telling you it's a ticking time bomb, and you won't find yourself listening for rattles. Just a thought, but then again I've put 40k kms a year on my 2013 N47 without a niggle.

tototoe

How can you check if one is the n47 engine?

dmcsweeney

tototoe wrote: »

How can you check if one is the n47 engine?

Not 100% sure to be honest. It was July '14 in the 5 series, but a google tells me that it didn't end up in the 3 series until 2015. An online search should give you the answer. Considering it was 2 years after the car you're looking at it may not make as much sense to chase it. Again, as I've said, the problems were limited after 2011 and we only hear about the bad ones.

Apologies, thought I was responding to the OP. If its a 520d its typically cars built after July 2014 and the build date is on the ID sticker on the drivers side B post. Engine covers are also different. Not sure about other models.

bazz26

The 3 Series didn't get the B47 engine until the facelift (lci) in mid 2015. Easiest way to tell the facelift is by the rear light cluster which have a curved LED signature strip through the centre of the light cluster. The pre facelift doesn't:




B47 engine in the 320d would be 190bhp whereas the N47 was 184bhp.