Car buying advice

[LukeHawk]

Hey guys.

I'm fairly new to the world of BMWs, and I bought my first one about 8 months ago without doing much research. I ended up buying a 118i F20 which I like, but after awhile and becoming more and more "into" BMWs.. I want something else.

Anyway, so I was wondering what you guys would do if you were in my shoes. With a max car budget of about R260k (approximately half of which will be financed), what direction should I take?

I've been looking at 2012/13 F30's and F20's so far. Is it best to buy from an authorized BMW dealership? Should I avoid cars that are just out of motorplan?

 

[cOlDFuSiOn]

The thing is the F30 is already older car as well.. Even with the LCI being out the new one will hit the shores in not much time.. How long do you usually keep your cars? We keep them 4 years max.

What is your primary concern with your 118i? We had one too, nice car. Traded it on the F30 318i LCI about 3 months ago..

What are you after? I would steer clear of the 2012 F30s as I owned one of the very first ones made and that car had many teething issues.. So 2013 onwards would be the best bet.. My 2c!

 

[LukeHawk]

The thing is the F30 is already older car as well.. Even with the LCI being out the new one will hit the shores in not much time.. How long do you usually keep your cars? We keep them 4 years max.

What is your primary concern with your 118i? We had one too, nice car. Traded it on the F30 318i LCI about 3 months ago..

What are you after? I would steer clear of the 2012 F30s as I owned one of the very first ones made and that car had many teething issues.. So 2013 onwards would be the best bet.. My 2c!

The new one will be out of my price range at this point anyway.
Im only 25, had a golf before hand as my uni car. Then I was aboad for work. So technically MY first car is my 118i, 80000kms owned for only 8 months about. I plan on holding on to my next car a lot longer..

The main reason I want to trade is that I simply want more out of my car. Better looks, better feel. I want to go into an M-sport car with a larger engine. I dont necessarily need a sedan, I dont have kids or anything, but in terms of appeal and resell-ability, a 3 series seems better than a 1 series.

Thanks for the advise about the 2012 models, will keep that in mind for sure.

 

[cOlDFuSiOn]

The thing is the F30 is already older car as well.. Even with the LCI being out the new one will hit the shores in not much time.. How long do you usually keep your cars? We keep them 4 years max.

What is your primary concern with your 118i? We had one too, nice car. Traded it on the F30 318i LCI about 3 months ago..

What are you after? I would steer clear of the 2012 F30s as I owned one of the very first ones made and that car had many teething issues.. So 2013 onwards would be the best bet.. My 2c!

The new one will be out of my price range at this point anyway.
Im only 25, had a golf before hand as my uni car. Then I was aboad for work. So technically MY first car is my 118i, 80000kms owned for only 8 months about. I plan on holding on to my next car a lot longer..

The main reason I want to trade is that I simply want more out of my car. Better looks, better feel. I want to go into an M-sport car with a larger engine. I dont necessarily need a sedan, I dont have kids or anything, but in terms of appeal and resell-ability, a 3 series seems better than a 1 series.

Thanks for the advise about the 2012 models, will keep that in mind for sure.

Having driven both the F20 and F30 a lot I will agree the F30 is a more solid feeling car bit again I have a limited reference point so that is my opinion on the matter. The F20 is a fun car nonetheless I miss the 118i we had too. Nippy car!

Hmm I am sure there should be F30 320i's in that range which will suit your budget, go drive a few and see how they feel would be my best advice before you choose. Best of luck! O yes and BMW approved used is good, as long as the car has plan you should be good. :=):

 

[Dizzo]

2012/13 120d

 

[dvst8]

Im pretty sure you would find a F20 125 MSport in that range.

I had one and a perfect little hatch. Enough power and great consumption.

 

[ASH]

Think F30 320d with M-Sport would be cool, if you can find one which falls in line with budget. Good mix of performance, fuel economy, space & good looks. I've driven the F30 320i, and I felt it a bit flat in comparison to our family car which is a Volvo S60 T4

220d MSport will cost more I think, as it was fairly recently released.

 

[LukeHawk]

Think F30 320d with M-Sport would be cool, if you can find one which falls in line with budget. Good mix of performance, fuel economy, space & good looks. I've driven the F30 320i, and I felt it a bit flat in comparison to our family car which is a Volvo S60 T4

220d MSport will cost more I think, as it was fairly recently released.

It's surprisingly hard to find a 320d in my price range. So many 320i's though. But I see people tend to not like them around here

 

[dvst8]

Think F30 320d with M-Sport would be cool, if you can find one which falls in line with budget. Good mix of performance, fuel economy, space & good looks. I've driven the F30 320i, and I felt it a bit flat in comparison to our family car which is a Volvo S60 T4

220d MSport will cost more I think, as it was fairly recently released.

It's surprisingly hard to find a 320d in my price range. So many 320i's though. But I see people tend to not like them around here

Ignore those people. F30 320i is a good car.

The n20 found in the 320i is also in the 125 @ 160kw and 328 @ 180kw. So as a 320 will still strap most of what they drive and there is also still has some tuning potential.

 

[Sheldonaitor]

Ignore those people. F30 320i is a good car.

The n20 found in the 320i is also in the 125 @ 160kw and 328 @ 180kw. So as a 320 will still strap most of what they drive and there is also still has some tuning potential.

The N20 in the 320i is not 160kw, it's around 134kw if I'm not mistaken.

 

[dvst8]

Ignore those people. F30 320i is a good car.

The n20 found in the 320i is also in the 125 @ 160kw and 328 @ 180kw. So as a 320 will still strap most of what they drive and there is also still has some tuning potential.

The N20 in the 320i is not 160kw, it's around 134kw if I'm not mistaken.

Yea, 135kw, was pointing out to the OP that the same motor is found in other models at a higher power raiting.

 

[ASH]

Yeah but the 320d has more torque to shift the weight of the F30 body........its not a small car.

Think the 125i hatch with MSport also makes a good buy if its within budget. It's not as common as a 320i MSport and more power 160kw vs 135kw

Ignore those people. F30 320i is a good car.

The n20 found in the 320i is also in the 125 @ 160kw and 328 @ 180kw. So as a 320 will still strap most of what they drive and there is also still has some tuning potential.

The N20 in the 320i is not 160kw, it's around 134kw if I'm not mistaken.

Yea, 135kw, was pointing out to the OP that the same motor is found in other models at a higher power raiting.

 

[martiniesandbmws]

You could buy a 135i