Buying advice BMW 318D 2014 160000 miles

There is no servicing of a timing chain. They probably meant that it was replaced as it's a very common problem on those engines for the timing chain to stretch and start rattling before snapping and then kill the engine. I'd look for evidence of it having been changed, i.e. receipts otherwise it's just words from a seller.

I'd also look for any service history on the car to give you an idea of how it was cared for. Any previous main BMW dealer service history would be digitally stored within the car's infotainment system rather than in a service book. But at the end of the day it's an 11 year old car so judge it on current condition too.

But we don't know if it is a blatant lie by the dealer or if it's the OP's misinterpretation of what the dealer said.

I agree, I wouldnt touch it… The mechanic right next to me, its always the usual suspects. I just laugh when the next typically older bmw is on the ramp, typically the ones with the rubbish timing chain. Opels are another one, the older ford focus. Im driving my mums older micra at the moment, the things are just so ridiculously reliable and good, for what they are. I dont think the older BMW's are worth driving and paying the premium for, unless its actually a proper bmw in the first place…

Then what value does that NCT have? christ, one of my mates, not in the trade, can throw a lad working there E50 and has done, and he gets his pass. They went over my car the other day, with the finest tooth comb, work being done now, then Ive had it, where Ive barely sat down, with the same car the year before, their back in "thats a pass"… My mechanic will then have it on the ramp and tell me, look at this, this needs to be sorted, if its anything safety related, I am getting it done immediately. This could be a few weeks after an nct…

I am aware there is no way you can get a perfect system, but a car having an nct for me, wouldnt mean a thing… Is it great that it wont have to go to the nct until a certain period? yes.. Would I trust the nct as far as I could throw it? no and thats before you get to the issue of garages and how fallible a system like the nct is to abuse…

I wouldn't bother. From a dealer, you'll be paying way over the odds for what is a high miler that could go wallop a week later. Now if the car was a private sale and the seller was desperate to get rid, that would be a different matter. You could maybe take a punt on it if the price was very favourable and the history was good.

TBH, if you're in the market for 160k mile BMW's you're as well buying something a bit older from a private seller. If you find an honest one, with low number of owners, good history, the chain replaced with receipts etc etc, you're only looking at a €2 / 3k outlay. I bought a 5 series during lockdown with the 2l diesel engine known for chain trouble. It was a one owner car, bought on the man's driveway and judging by the house, he wasn't short of a bob. It was looked after and serviced religiously. He needed it gone to make way for his new car and because no one could travel from outside the county to see it, he took a big hit on the price. I'm still driving it and it's been an 8/10 for reliability. There were wear and tear items to solve and a few DPF related issues that are now sorted but it's going great and I'd struggle to find a better 5 series if I was looking to "keep up in the years" - I'd just be buying a heap of trouble and starting off with a long repair list.

If you're looking at 10 - 12 year old saloons, I'd go with Korean or Jap, with lower mileage and a smaller price tag.

You should probably just buy another Octavia then and avoid BMW. You’ll get something a lot newer and more reliable for the same cost

12k kms annual, mostly city driving. Mpg important....

I'd be going for a sporty hatch, 1 or 1.1L, 3 cylinder engine, 5 speed minimum. Good economy without the headaches of diesel.

The second gen Yaris is a great runabout. Great build quality, bulletproof, v good mpg with the 1L and very nippy for town driving with 5spd gearbox that can sit at 120k on motorway without strain. Have one here with only 60k miles on it, would never sell. Yes, I'd probably rather something a bit sporty but I have enough cars that have a problem every 3 months!

Prius can easily do 500k km with no problems

Sounds cheap

I am just going to post this here, the nct with is worthless, in terms of if the vehicle had been properly checked. It does mean you dont need to go back for a check until its due, that is the only thing, its buying you...

Also buy that car from the dealer today and see what you get for it tomorrow privately, half the figure...