Buying Advice Please

[Boss187]

Hi there

Im thinking of buying a E90 320i pre-owned. The reasons for me wanting that particular model is because I dont want a car thats too old or too expensive - and I hate the 1 series. I see these models are going for about R160k-R180k at dealerships for 2006/2007 models. Im looking for ones that dont have more than 60000km on the clock as well.

Any tips or advice for me? I am particularly worried about servicing/mechanical failures and those sort of things.

 

[JustNN]

If you buying a 2007 with +-60000km then motor plan will cover servicing/mechanical failure till next year 2012 with option to extend.

What car are you driving at the moment.
Check the service history and its all up to date.
Try sqeeze them for new tyres if the car needs.

Welcome to the forum:thumbsup:

 

[Boss187]

Thanks

Driving a 1.6i Fiesta so its a big move for me. How much should it cost to extend the motor plan?

 

[JustNN]

Ok reason i ask is because the 320i power is not alot if you use to driving a bigger engined car but you will notice and appreciate the power more(no offence intended).

Im not sure about the cost to extend but its not cheap, i was told is R1 a km depending on millage and year of the car years ago but best to phone Bmw direct and get a price from them.

If you dont intend on doing alot of millage, say by next year the car is on 70000km i really dont see the point in extending it because that is very low millage, rather save the money if the price is to high on extending motorplan and put it away for that "incase" time if it ever come.

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My cuzin has a 2006 320i doing 152???kms and all he has done after motor plan is regular servicing,brakes,tyres and he is still going perfect.

 

[zaleonardz]

Just dont make the common mistake in thinking that the 320i is going to be the lightest on fuel, therefore its the safest choice, cause your wrong there...

 

[Boss187]

Ok reason i ask is because the 320i power is not alot if you use to driving a bigger engined car but you will notice and appreciate the power more(no offence intended).

Im not sure about the cost to extend but its not cheap, i was told is R1 a km depending on millage and year of the car years ago but best to phone Bmw direct and get a price from them.

If you dont intend on doing alot of millage, say by next year the car is on 70000km i really dont see the point in extending it because that is very low millage, rather save the money if the price is to high on extending motorplan and put it away for that "incase" time if it ever come.

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My cuzin has a 2006 320i doing 152???kms and all he has done after motor plan is regular servicing,brakes,tyres and he is still going perfect.

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Yes searched a bit on the forum and found many people complaining about the lack of power. This is not real issue for me since my main reason for wanting a E90 is the interior and quality.

Just dont make the common mistake in thinking that the 320i is going to be the lightest on fuel, therefore its the safest choice, cause your wrong there...

Fuel consumption is actually a big issue for me... For info sake, what is the lightest model?

 

[Sankekur]

For around R180k you could probably look a early model e90 330i something like this:
http://www.junkmail.co.za/v-QZQYCat...-QZQYCatQX506QYRgnQX2QYAdQXF22988QYEdQX201106

Personally I thing you would be better off going fir a bit older car but for something like a 325i or a 330i, I can assure you won't be disappointed them. But this is of course just my opinion.

 

[JustNN]

320d is very light and has the "Power" but i cant comment on issues you may have after motor plan, i would go for 323i/325i

But if you are really worried about servicing and mach issues you may have dont go for a to old car with high millage(out of motorplan cars)

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For around R180k you could probably look a early model e90 330i something like this:
http://www.junkmail.co.za/v-QZQYCat...-QZQYCatQX506QYRgnQX2QYAdQXF22988QYEdQX201106

Thats a great buy:thumbsup:

 

[zaleonardz]

The issue is not so much on the power output of the motor, the issue is with power to weight.

Your going to find that the power to weight ratio is more or less in line with your fiesta, maybe the fiesta is slightly better...

Other then that, there is no comparison in terms of build quality safety ect.

I firmly believe that if you keep a BMW motor in good oil and cooled properly, that 600 to 800,000 on the clock is highly possible, BMW engines are out of this world.

I would guess the 323's or even the 325's are a better bet, I am not that up with the consumption figures, but the 320 is not strong enough for the body, you can work the engine a bit, but that defeats the object.

The 320d's are also perhaps something to look at, runs on a rag, and is not that much more.

If I can give you advice what I would do if I was you.

Find a E46 330 with a manual gearbox and full service history from the agents.

These are by far the best bang for buck, they are damm cheap in retrospect, they will not drop any further in resale value whereas a 07 320 still has a lot of value dropping to do.

Fuel consumption the 330i is actually so strong, that if you nurse the engine, you are going to get some excellent conumption.

Parts are reasonable, the E46 is one of the sexiest 3 series's ever made, and you will be in love with the car.

Has to be a manual though, the auto box's do give a bit crap, but you can do a manual conversion on it if that ever happens...

For under half of what you will pay for the 320 E90, you can get the 330, have cash spare. and have double the car.

Then there is of course the whole V8 discussion, but we wont go there, as I am absolutely the wrong person to ask on that front.

---

Oh ya, if you find a nice one, there are quite a few guys here that will help you look at it...

 

[Boss187]

Thanks for the advice.

Going to have a look at a few dealerships tomorrow. Will have a look at the E46's although im not in favour of old cars.

 

[ZED1]

Zaleonards is on the money, couldn't have said it better.

 

[andrewbuch]

If you dont do a lot of mileage, then to extend motorplan by time & not mileage is fairly cheap.. On my moms E46 318i it was about R3k for an extra year & we have fully made up with that by sending it in for every little thing so far the past 2 years we paid R6k to extend for the 2 years & have had R20K or more work done on the car thru BMW..


The 4cyl motors are fuel efficient on the open road but as soon as you in town you have to ride it hard to get it to go so consumption goes up.

 

[BMW M]

Get a 320d... nuff said, but thats just me...I'm on my second one, the torque is addictive, and I havent had a days issues with any of my cars. Just dont buy the sport suspension with the 18" wheels before mid 2008 as the ride is VERY hard. If you can get one with the 17" wheels, thats alot better.

My Father-In-Law just bought a '07 325i Sport with 70000km on the clock and my diesel eats it for breakfast... :thumbsup:

My avarage consumption over the last 1600km is 14.9km/lt... thats one and a 1/2 tanks of fuel. This includes town and freeway driving. The diesel gets up to 18km/lt on the open road travelling at 140km/h. Setting cruise contron to 120-130km/h I've got up to 20.1km/lt... Amazing! :thumbsup:

 

[Sankekur]

+1 for an e46, you'll just get way more car for you money than you will with a e90, and remember that you can find 2005 model e46 so that is not very old (then again I don't really consider buying a car that is less than 5 years old, but that is just me )

 

[moranor@axis]

get an e46 and keep money aside for repairs the e90 interior does seem to fall apart... my interior is 10 years old and looks almost new... if you look at what you will be saving and what you getting an e90 320i is just a waste of money...

find the right mechanic and the e46 will not be expensive to maintain through in a bit of diy and it will work out cheaper than your Fiesta

personalty i think if you get an e90 320i you will regret it, but if you get an e46 323i, 325i or 330i you will never look back...

 

[Boss187]

Thanks guys. Im going to Auto Atlantic later on to have a look.

 

[Boss187]

So guys, so for instance a dealer is trying to sell me a vehicle. Everything sounds good, maybe even too good... what questions should I be asking and is there anything I can/should check?

Btw, its a bmw dealership

 

[JustNN]

Ask for motorplan extend cost
Any comments on book/car(Accidents)
Ask if any major work has been done on the engine

Take the car for a drive.

 

[zabbo]

Found this at www.45cars.co.za - They are in Diep River.

Price R 189 950
Make: BMW
Model: 320 D Manual
Year: 2006
Milage: 66 000 Km
Colour: Silver
Vehicle Type: Sedan
Transmission:
Features:
CD Player , Parking Assist

Looks like a good option and addresses the points mentioned above.

Good luck

 

[Boss187]

Is there anything wrong in going with an automatic with steptronic?