3 or 5 series - BMW

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Sun 31 Jul 2016 21:05
3 or 5 series - BMW - argybargy
Hopefully this is the right place for this question. If not, would someone please tell me and I'll happily move it.

Over the last decade or so I've had three charisma-free if fairly reliable cars on the bounce: Primera, Meriva and currently a Focus. I've had the Focus for about six years, so its time for a change.

As opposed to my original plan, being to buy a newish Fiesta which would have cost about 8k from a dealer, I'm now thinking of going for a 3 or 5 series BMW around ten years old. They look very affordable, with the prospect of buying something that has well under 100k on the clock for around 5 grand being a very real one.

Question is an obvious one. I need help with what to look out for when buying a BMW, aside from the obvious things anyone looks for when buying a car. Any assistance much appreciated, even if its just giving me directions to a particular BMW forum.

Thanks in advance.
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Sun 31 Jul 2016 21:56
3 or 5 series - BMW - argybargy
Meant to add that insurance costs shouldn't be a barrier, because I'm now over 60 and have recently moved to a cheaper postcode, insurance wise. I've heard that rather than a cambelt the BMW has timing chains. At what mileage they have to be changed I don't know, but obviously if you buy above that mileage or close to it then that should be checked. Other than that I know little or nothing about the model's foibles.
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Sun 31 Jul 2016 22:44
3 or 5 series - BMW - elekie&a/c doctor
I think I would stick with plan A. Buying a 10 year old Bmw could be a total money pit.All Bmw models have a timing chain,but unfortunately this can often be the weakest link (!).Take a look here.;singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/bmw-can-chain-fai...f you are looking at an older car,then perhaps a 3 seies E46 up to 2005 would suit,but must have the 6 cylinder petrol engine.
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Sun 31 Jul 2016 22:47
3 or 5 series - BMW - RobJP

Most of my BMWs have been diesels, but some petrol experience with them ..

Older stuff of the ages you mention the first really big thing is autoboxes, if fitted. BMW had a 'filled for life' policy, which basically translated as 'it'll fail when well out of warrranty, and a new one costs a fortune'. So if buying an auto, that either needs to have been done, or budget for it to be done. They aren't actually sealed, and can be serviced, but it requires a fair bit of work and time, and far too many people get it done cheaply (which translates to done badly).

Apart from that, petrol 3s and 5s aren't too bad. A good guide is to go for the 330i / 530i, as the smaller engines won't give much better economy. Expect 30mpg-ish.

As with any car, service history is paramount. The timing chains like regular (preferably annual) oil changes. Be careful of really low mileage cars, as they can go 3 years or more between oil changes. The timing chains shouldn't ever need changing, if it's been looked after properly.

Ideally, avoid anything with 'Sport' or 'M-Sport' in the description, or anything with 18" (or larger !) wheels. Rock hard suspension, terrible tramlining, and a generally uncomfortable ride await the unwary ! Go for the smallest wheels possible (probably 16 or 17 inch) and SE spec.

The 'E60/E61' 2004-2010 5 series is properly comfortable to drive. I had a 520d SE touring (E61 is touring, E60 saloon) with 16" wheels and a manual box, and it was lovely to drive. Never felt underpowered, even on long trips. Furthest day in in was 450 miles, and I got out at the end feeling great.

Check any car that you're even thinking of looking at for free on the DVLA MOT history site. www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/

Absolutely everything is recorded on there, and you only need the make and numberplate. Every advisory note, every detail of anything it's ever failed on. All for free.

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Mon 1 Aug 2016 10:37
3 or 5 series - BMW - gordonbennet
In line with RobJP's post, my son bought a 2007 325i (3 litre 6 cyl engine) petrol estate last year, manual box, its proving to be a very good buy, normal day to day driving is giving comfortably over 30mpg not at snail pace and on its 17" runflats, surprisingly cheap for good makes if you look around, its comfortable handles well and can pick up its skirts when asked.

He has a garage owner friend who doesn't just do the basics and call it servicing, he had the chap go right through the car changed all oils and fluids and strip clean lubed the brakes properly (lack of which is the prime cause of early caliper failure), so far apart from a slight misfire with the known problem of coil pack failure its been trouble free, he had the other coil packs changed at the same time, not expensive...oh and the rocker gasket was weeping, easy change whilst doing the coils, thats it.

I suspect few Diesels have been maintained as sensibly nor driven as well (swiftly when hot but allowing some of warm up cool down mechanical sympathy) as Rob no doubt does, so if you want to buy into this type of car i too would suggest a 6 cyl petrol of lower mileage possibly more likely to have been privately owned with as few owners as possible would be the best bet, i would not buy into a used Diesel unless i knew the car and its previous owner, or was cheap enough to be a throwaway gamble.

Auto bought low enough mileage is fine, but as said budget to get it serviced properly, it needs doing.

There was time when it might have been more sensible to buy ex lease/company cars because they will have been serviced on time, but now that official service intervals have been extended to some 20k miles to please the company/lease/fleet 3 year owners, that is no longer the case IMHO, as said above these cars need an annual service including engine oil change regardless of how low the mileage is.

Edited by gordonbennet on 01/08/2016 at 10:39

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Mon 1 Aug 2016 21:00
3 or 5 series - BMW - argybargy

Thanks all for some really helpful responses.

Lots to think about there, and I intend to take plenty of time about it. ;0)

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Mon 1 Aug 2016 21:57
3 or 5 series - BMW - argybargy

Sorry, that was a poor initial response to so much good information, but I wrote longish replies which crashed twice due to a bad internet connection and I gave up in the end. I'm now on a more reliable computer.

All noted re the auto boxes. My wife wants an auto because the Focus tends to jerk when changing gear, which is probably as much to do with my unwillingness to properly depress the pedal as anything else. But auto isn't mandatory, nor is a particularly big engine. The 1.8 seems good enough to me.

I'm tempted to see whether I can find a used BMW dealer who does their own servicing. My brother in law buys used Mercs and gets them serviced by the dealer (an independent) and it seems to work out pretty well, and cheaply too. I think I'd rather have the relative peace of mind of a warranty and some kind of expertise on the end of a phone, given that I know so little about the model.

My Focus has been a great car over the last six years but has developed an irritating leak of gearbox oil which has so far defied any attempts to fix it. Two new oil seals and a recon shaft later, there's still oil on the bottom of the engine after any journey over 20 miles or so. The mechanic put it up on the ramp and you could see the path of the oil from the driveshaft seal to the bracket underneath, but it seems to me that there's additional oil which is coming from somewhere else, and it may be that when the clutch was changed 2 years ago the fitting of the gasket between transmission and engine left something to be desired. Anyhow, the point of all this is that my confidence in the car has now been sapped, hence my search for something else.

Thanks again.

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Tue 2 Aug 2016 21:46
3 or 5 series - BMW - corax

Are you not tempted by a C or E class? Given that a member of your family has proven that they can be maintained and run reasonably, and you have an independent nearby. The autoboxes on Mercs are good too.

If you're set on BMW's then make sure you choose a model with no inherent weaknesses.

I don't know much about the models after E46, but I bought an E36 323i Touring at 114k and took it up to 165k over the six years I had it. Very enjoyable it was too, and the engine was a peach.

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Wed 3 Aug 2016 18:18
3 or 5 series - BMW - scott1s

I would look at a Lexus IS250. Just picked my dad up a peach of a 2007 car for £5400 which looks as good now as the day it left the showroom. Reliability is virtually guaranteed with these.

Another I would look at is the last generation Honda Legend. Loads of car for not a lot of money.

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Sat 6 Aug 2016 17:14
3 or 5 series - BMW - argybargy

Unfortunately my brother in law lives in Devon and I'm in North Wales, so its a little too far for me to travel to his local Merc garage; although I guess I could ask him to have a look at their stock for me. I've not checked whether we have a used Merc specialist around here, but I will do that.

Noted also re the Legend and the Lexus, thank you. I'm kind of backing off on the BMW idea because there are no independents around here who sell used BMWs and do their own servicing. So if I bought one and had problems, I could end up being hostage to a main dealer for repairs. Nightmare.

Edited by argybargy on 06/08/2016 at 17:16

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Sat 6 Aug 2016 18:21
3 or 5 series - BMW - RobJP

If Denbighshire - like me - then there is a very highly rated Merc independent garage in Trefnant.

BMW independent there used to be a very good one outside Wrexham, in Hope I think, possibly called Smiths ?

But to be honest, underneath most cars are just that : cars. Whether a Ford or a Ferrari, the bits that provide power and drive are very similar.

A good independent garage is just that, no matter what marque they might specialise in.

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Sun 7 Aug 2016 00:12
3 or 5 series - BMW - argybargy

I'm in Flintshire, Rob, and thanks for the info.

I've had a look online and there is a Merc garage in Trefnant which is still trading. Their website mentions servicing but I can't see any list of cars for sale, so I'll ring and check.

And you're right about Smiths as well. The website gives the impression that their stock is quite limited, but the prices look good (though no mileage is listed). Might call them too.

Thanks again.

Edited by argybargy on 07/08/2016 at 00:17

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Sun 7 Aug 2016 08:45
3 or 5 series - BMW - RobJP

Sorry - the Merc indy doesn't sell cars. They just service / repair. I meant that if you did decide to get a Merc, then they'd be far better than going to MB Chester for getting any work carried out.

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Sun 7 Aug 2016 12:02
3 or 5 series - BMW - argybargy

OK, thanks for that.

Autotrader has a number of Mercs with fairly low mileage and which are not horribly huge. Unlike my brother in law's car, which I think is an S class and absolutely gigantic. He had to buy a full set of tyres last year and paid the princely sum of £800. Gulp.

Will keep an eye on what's available.

Edited by argybargy on 07/08/2016 at 12:04

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