Buying and BMW 1 Series/ 3Series

ToTheSea

Hi All,

I’m considering getting a used BMW 1 series or 3 series between 2015-2017 in age.

I would be looking for a sport model and possibly an M Sport if finances allow.

I’ve never owned a BMW before so could anyone give me some advice on the things I should be looking out for questions I should ask when enquiring about a car, and an overview of the potential maintenance costs that I would be looking at?

Also, could someone tell me what rear-wheel drive is like?

I want to invest in a good sturdy/reliable car that could realistically last me a good 10+ years.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated and thank you in advance.

Buddy Bubs

First, 1 series and 3 series are very different. Medium sized saloon v small hatch, different segments. I'd decide which it is you want/need and not just buy for the brand and badge. Will be a bit in the price difference too.

Also, decide what engine you want/need.
Go from 1.5 petrols to 3.0 and 1.6 diesels to 3.0, again, big difference in price.

Never had a 1 series but had plenty of 3 and 5 series and liked them all.

Whether they are a car to run for 10 years if you are already buying at 4,5, or 6 years old is debatable. You dont see many 05 BMWs on the road nowadays, but there are a few all the same. Last one I had was sold in 2018 and it was a 12 year old 5 series with relatively low mileage, but it was causing serious hassle. Sold it on cheap but gave hassle to next owner too. Still replaced it with a 4 year old 5 series though, so it didnt turn me off the brand.

Dont go chasing BMW badge if you are on a tight motoring budget and it negatively affects other parts of your life.

ToTheSea

Buddy Bubs wrote: »

First, 1 series and 3 series are very different. Medium sized saloon v small hatch, different segments. I'd decide which it is you want/need and not just buy for the brand and badge. Will be a bit in the price difference too.

Also, decide what engine you want/need.
Go from 1.5 petrols to 3.0 and 1.6 diesels to 3.0, again, big difference in price.

Never had a 1 series but had plenty of 3 and 5 series and liked them all.

Whether they are a car to run for 10 years if you are already buying at 4,5, or 6 years old is debatable. You dont see many 05 BMWs on the road nowadays, but there are a few all the same. Last one I had was sold in 2018 and it was a 12 year old 5 series with relatively low mileage, but it was causing serious hassle. Sold it on cheap but gave hassle to next owner too. Still replaced it with a 4 year old 5 series though, so it didnt turn me off the brand.

Dont go chasing BMW badge if you are on a tight motoring budget and it negatively affects other parts of your life.

Yeah, that is what I'm trying to decide, has to be a 5 door whichever one I go for
There are a few features that I'm looking for that are easier to come by in the 1 series than the 3 series for example the split-fold read seat doesn't seem to be easy to get in the 3 series but much easier to get in the 1 series but on the other hand, I can get an xDrive model in the 3 series but not in the 1 series, which from want I can see online is better at handling the bad weather that the RWD.

Not really chasing a BMW badge, they appeal to me as I have driven a few before and they seemed like a nice ride. Wouldn't say I'm tight on budget, I have just found that to get an M Sport with decent mileage for the age I'm looking, there is quite a difference in price between the Sport and the M Sport.

You say BMW's made not be that reliable, would you know of brands that would have better reliability?

Buddy Bubs

They're more or less as reliable as most other things out there but are a bit more complex with electronics etc and as cars age, the less of these components you have the better! BMW, Merc and Audi will be slightly more expensive to put right than other brands too.
However, thats on the older ones I had from the 2000s when other cars had much less electronics. Now that I think of it, theres complex electronics in everything these days so might be all the one.
Some of the Japanese and Korean brands would have a much better reputation for reliability than European cars, however, I don't generally like the styling and they all bore me to the extent I wouldn't be interested.
No crystal ball but I'd suggest a plan of running it for 5 years and repeating with another 5 year old might be a more solid plan, you'll always sell them on.

Msport is actually the sensible choice, few extra quid now but you'll sell it for better money down the line too.

Leonard Hofstadter

It really depends on what you want. You might prefer the smaller size of the 1 series, and it tends to come with smaller and thus more fuel efficient engines.

What I would say is the 3 series tends to have a wider selection of engines and specs. Highly desirable M Sport is much more common on the 3 series. I wouldn't buy either without this trim, it looks better, they tend to come with more options, the sports seats are more comfortable than the flatter seats you get in the other trims, and the steering wheel is nicer. With the firmer suspension it's going to drive more like a BMW should.

BMW makes great diesels but make sure you don't buy one before 2014 as the older ones have a problem with the timing chain, this was rectified when the latest generation engine was introduced. The newer engines are a bit quieter, have more power and better fuel economy / CO2 emissions, too.

ToTheSea

Buddy Bubs wrote: »

They're more or less as reliable as most other things out there but are a bit more complex with electronics etc and as cars age, the less of these components you have the better! BMW, Merc and Audi will be slightly more expensive to put right than other brands too.
However, thats on the older ones I had from the 2000s when other cars had much less electronics. Now that I think of it, theres complex electronics in everything these days so might be all the one.
Some of the Japanese and Korean brands would have a much better reputation for reliability than European cars, however, I don't generally like the styling and they all bore me to the extent I wouldn't be interested.
No crystal ball but I'd suggest a plan of running it for 5 years and repeating with another 5 year old might be a more solid plan, you'll always sell them on.

Msport is actually the sensible choice, few extra quid now but you'll sell it for better money down the line too.

Cheers for the advice. Fully aware that BMW, Merc, and Audi will be more expensive for maintenance, it is something I'm prepared for. Fully agree with you on the Japanese and Korean brands, I find them very unappealing
How did you find the RWD in bad weather? I've never driven an RWD in bad weather so that is a bit of a concern for me and I live at the bottom of a pretty steep hill.
Also consider a Merc A class/ CLA Class or an Audi A3 as to my knowledge they are all FWD, which would be more what I'm used to.

Buddy Bubs

ToTheSea wrote: »

Cheers for the advice. Fully aware that BMW, Merc, and Audi will be more expensive for maintenance, it is something I'm prepared for. Fully agree with you on the Japanese and Korean brands, I find them very unappealing
How did you find the RWD in bad weather? I've never driven an RWD in bad weather so that is a bit of a concern for me and I live at the bottom of a pretty steep hill.
Also consider a Merc A class/ CLA Class or an Audi A3 as to my knowledge they are all FWD, which would be more what I'm used to.

Got stranded in snow twice couldn't get moving but maybe a front wheel drive would have too, it was big snow. Snows once in a blue moon here anyway.

Almost lost on roundabout only once but suspect I hit a slippy patch. Apart from that, didn't find them difficult to control, wasn't driving the nuts off it where it wasn't suitable.

Idbatterim

I'd get something with a five or seven year warranty if you plan on spending that kind of budget and keeping it that long... because while the car is newish now, it's down the road, it will cost you a good bit more in repairs than say a hyundai, Passat, superb etc

Idbatterim

Buddy Bubs wrote: »

First, 1 series and 3 series are very different. Medium sized saloon v small hatch, different segments. I'd decide which it is you want/need and not just buy for the brand and badge. Will be a bit in the price difference too.

Also, decide what engine you want/need.
Go from 1.5 petrols to 3.0 and 1.6 diesels to 3.0, again, big difference in price.

Never had a 1 series but had plenty of 3 and 5 series and liked them all.

Whether they are a car to run for 10 years if you are already buying at 4,5, or 6 years old is debatable. You dont see many 05 BMWs on the road nowadays, but there are a few all the same. Last one I had was sold in 2018 and it was a 12 year old 5 series with relatively low mileage, but it was causing serious hassle. Sold it on cheap but gave hassle to next owner too. Still replaced it with a 4 year old 5 series though, so it didnt turn me off the brand.

Dont go chasing BMW badge if you are on a tight motoring budget and it negatively affects other parts of your life.

The tax is one of the reasons you dont see many on the road today, the 520d was fine at 2l. But the petrols after 2005, were 2.5 I.e 1080 to tax or the 3l.

Wailin

Idbatterim wrote: »

I'd get something with a five or seven year warranty if you plan on spending that kind of budget and keeping it that long... because while the car is newish now, it's down the road, it will cost you a good bit more in repairs than say a hyundai, Passat, superb etc

What cars come with a 5 or 7 year warranty apart from kia?

kermitpwee

Wailin wrote: »

What cars come with a 5 or 7 year warranty apart from kia?

Focus 7 year

Wailin

kermitpwee wrote: »

Focus 7 year

Ford have a 3 yr warranty don't they?

Darc19

Wailin wrote: »

What cars come with a 5 or 7 year warranty apart from kia?

Mitsubishi 8 years.


On op, wife has a 1 series for past 7 years. Never an issue, serviced by local independent since BMW service pack ran out. Extremely efficient 1.6 diesel engine.

No plans to change it as it still runs very well

kermitpwee

Wailin wrote: »

Ford have a 3 yr warranty don't they?

7 year
But 100k

MetzgerMeister

Wailin wrote: »

What cars come with a 5 or 7 year warranty apart from kia?

Hyundai?