kz
Member
Registered: 9th Aug 02
Location: Southend, Essex Drives: Mini Cooper S
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Yo...
So my Impreza will hopefully be heading off this weekend. I need a new car quickly, and I won't really have means of travelling far to get another car afterwards. Just looking around local, and literally up my road there's a 330 Ci for sale but it has 150k miles on the clock, it's a very good price though. Do you think this could be worth a punt or am I completely mad? If I don't deserve to be in a straight jacket, what kinda things should I be looking out for?
By the way I've never driven more than 5k miles in a year myself so it wouldn't be increasing too much...
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John
Member
Registered: 30th Jun 03
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Just run in.
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andys sxi
Premium Member
Registered: 19th Jan 06
Location: Chester Drives:Scirocco tdi bluemotion
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it depends on what service history its got with it go and have a look at that and then you will have a better idea of what has and hasnt been done
April 08 feature car
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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I've had a petrol and a diesel engine with nearly those miles and neither have missed a beat
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Tomnova16
Premium Member
Registered: 21st Jan 06
Location: Gerrards Cross Drives: Porsche 911
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The circa £3k one.
I would buy it if I needed one 
http://www.lemass.co.uk/ for all your automotive/bodyshop needs
Located in Chalfont st Peter
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DERV-POWER
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Registered: 13th Sep 09
Location: Greenfield, Flintshire
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theres a 330ci that comes in to my work engine sounds really good and drives well but disappointed that fuel pump failed at 230000miles 
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kz
Member
Registered: 9th Aug 02
Location: Southend, Essex Drives: Mini Cooper S
User status: Offline
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Cool. Never had a German car before, heard they're meant to be more on the reliable side though... advert unfortunately doesn't mention anything about MOT, TAX or service history which is worrying! But if it turns out he just forgot to put the details on or something, it's local enough to get my friendly mechanic to have a check over for me.
I wouldn't buy without a MOT on the car, but if it was lacking history do you think it would still be worth it if I got a big discount and used the saved money to chuck it through a major service myself?
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cavmad
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Registered: 25th Feb 06
Location: Fucking annoying, unfunny, twatbag cavmad *racist
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If it's been well looked after that sort of mileage is sod all to one of those.
Just make sure it's had the subframe strengthened (common fault on 2.8 and upwards models0 or it'll be one wallet lightening experience you'll never forget.
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Eck
Premium Member
Registered: 17th Apr 06
Location: Lundin Links, Fife
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quote:
Originally posted by kz
Cool. Never had a German car before, heard they're meant to be more on the reliable side though... advert unfortunately doesn't mention anything about MOT, TAX or service history which is worrying! But if it turns out he just forgot to put the details on or something, it's local enough to get my friendly mechanic to have a check over for me.
I wouldn't buy without a MOT on the car, but if it was lacking history do you think it would still be worth it if I got a big discount and used the saved money to chuck it through a major service myself?
I'd be very apprehensive about buying a top of the range (outside the M3) Beemer without history on those miles tbh. Might be a good price to buy, but it won't be a good price if the engine fucks up.
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Steve
Premium Member
Registered: 30th Mar 02
Location: Worcestershire Drives: Defender
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quote:
Originally posted by John
Just run in.
I dont get this, i reckon its for BMW owners who try to convince themselves that there moon miled 3 series BMW is actually not on its last legs.
Even if there is some truth in the fact the load bearing parts of the engine are just run in the rest of the car will well and truely have gone past being just run in (depending how well its been looked after of course)
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Eck
Premium Member
Registered: 17th Apr 06
Location: Lundin Links, Fife
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John was being sarcastic (for a change) Steve I agree with both of you though.
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Steve
Premium Member
Registered: 30th Mar 02
Location: Worcestershire Drives: Defender
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Yeah i thought that might be the case but thought id use it as an excuse to bring it up lol
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Eck
Premium Member
Registered: 17th Apr 06
Location: Lundin Links, Fife
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I whole heartedly agree.
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Mike GSi
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Registered: 3rd Jan 07
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Drives:Astra VXR
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Ive known many 3 series to reliably get past 200k. As steve said, this doesn't mean the rest of the car is as sound. I.e rust on the E36's and bushes etc on the E46. Interior also suffers alot of abuse over 200k miles.
History is very important on any high mileage car imo. My 328 has 96k with full history, and it honestly drives like new. where as my old M3 had 145k and had shit history and had been really badly looked after and it certainly reflects on the car.
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Jambo
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Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
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I dont see why it being a bmw has much to do with it.
Buying a car with 150k on it regardless of make (Withing reason obv) Is a "risky" thing to do. Not saying it will blow up when you get it home, but the chances of a fault or parts wearing out are higher. Baring in mind BM prices can be dear, id make sure you have receipts for all bushes/steering racks/engine rebuilds etc its had. If it hasnt got history it could be a false economy
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LeeM
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Registered: 26th Sep 05
Location: Liverpool
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150k it oculd well be fucked. if its had its bushes and suspensions components renewed recently then it may be ok. the engine isnt everything.
usually leather is shagged by 100k as well in my experience
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whitter45
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Registered: 15th Nov 02
Location: Norton
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Jambo
I dont see why it being a bmw has much to do with it.
Buying a car with 150k on it regardless of make (Withing reason obv) Is a "risky" thing to do. Not saying it will blow up when you get it home, but the chances of a fault or parts wearing out are higher. Baring in mind BM prices can be dear, id make sure you have receipts for all bushes/steering racks/engine rebuilds etc its had. If it hasnt got history it could be a false economy
i couldn't have put it better myself
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harrisp
Member
Registered: 15th Dec 07
Location: Derbyshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by whitter45
quote:
Originally posted by Jambo
I dont see why it being a bmw has much to do with it.
Buying a car with 150k on it regardless of make (Withing reason obv) Is a "risky" thing to do. Not saying it will blow up when you get it home, but the chances of a fault or parts wearing out are higher. Baring in mind BM prices can be dear, id make sure you have receipts for all bushes/steering racks/engine rebuilds etc its had. If it hasnt got history it could be a false economy
i couldn't have put it better myself
jambo speaks sense. when I look at cars seriously I always price up a second hand engine and box to see if I could afford to replace either should the worst happen.
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mwg
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Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
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3CM doesn't even consider buying a car unless it has at least 150k on it and needs to spend half its life in the garage in pieces. So go for it.
[Edited on 13-10-2011 by mwg]
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3CorsaMeal
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Registered: 11th Apr 02
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by John
Just run in.
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3CorsaMeal
Member
Registered: 11th Apr 02
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by mwg
3CM doesn't even consider buying a car unless it has at least 150k on it and needs to spend half its life in the garage in pieces. So go for it.
[Edited on 13-10-2011 by mwg]
the car is 16yrs old, has been in the garage for 1yr.
its driven 194,000miles so well used.
I originally looked at a corrado with 50,000miles on it, but was £1500 more expensive, on a £4k car thats a lot of money.
you just have to buy sensibly, i've never bought a modified or played with car, has to be 100% original for me and FSH
Like Jambo says, engines aren't so much of a worry, its everything else, but if the price is right and you plan to modify suspension, brakes etc, i'd buy the worn out one and save some money
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mwg
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Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
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Ok mate. I was only on the wind up TBH
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3CorsaMeal
Member
Registered: 11th Apr 02
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Escort only had 105,000miles on it when i bought it 
just run in.
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Tom
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
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I'm thinking about something like this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3156305.htm
I have been looking at E60 520d's, I would love an M Sport but they all have well over 100k miles for 8k or so (which would be my limit tbh). I can't bring myself to do it for that money and because it'd probably need injectors and a turbo soon enough, but if you are buying an E46 n/a cheap and don't mind paying out replacing the bits that wear out then why not?
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3CorsaMeal
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Registered: 11th Apr 02
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The problem with cars like all these BMW's is all sorts of people buy them, and quite a lot of those people will just drive them, not look after anything until something falls off, then sell and move on to a similar car
At least with something old and rarer the owners are enthusiasts.
Those normal commuter people can't fathom owning something more expensive and high miles, and will rather drive something else until it feels like its going to go wrong and require maintainence
i'd say buying an average 5-10yr old BMW is more risky than an old E30 M3 etc
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