BMW 3 series advice

[j-mac]

Looking at trading in the bunky old navara for something like a 2000 upwards 3 series. Missus has a little suzuki swift, and I'm tired of sweating my arse off without air-con.

Something along the lines of this:

2000 BMW 3 23i 4D SEDAN - - WA - $ 9,000.00

All that German quality, blah blah, driving's finest rubbish aside, do these things actually hold up well after 10 years and 170,000kms+ of australian drivers and conditions?

Personal experiences from owners? I'm in the market for something new and I don't really want to go down the commodore/falcon path.

I'd be paying cash up front and have no issues insuring it, but is it worth the $10k+?

[Goofy]

Bad link mate. Like anything, check for FSH and who's done the servicing. E46 BMW's need an oil change and inspection at 25000 and a full service at 50000kms. Parts aren't too bad, Auto Classics are expensive though there are independent BMW specialists around who know there stuff (3MW is Osb Park and Independent BMW in Bibra lake).

The 6 cyl motors are nice to drive, 325 and 330 are the most common. 318's are nice, but lack the urge of the bigger brothers. The 50/50 weight bias and heavy tearing make them a pleasure to drive. The 3 series is considered the benchmark for luxury cars.

Pretty sure Dubs is the best person on here to talk to regarding BMW's (Or Deej if you're looking for an M series)

[Dubs]

I'm a novice but would agree with Goof,, try to get a 6 cyl min.
Try to link us to the one you're looking at too.

I get all my parts from www.Pelicanparts.com , I just ordered front and rear brake pads, sensors and all associated for 376AUD landed. the sensors were $45.45 from auto classic and $US15 from Pelican.

Dubs

[j-mac]

Link is probably very "middle of the range" in terms of price/kms. The obvious low-kms/low price/excellent condition thing is going to suffer considering I don't have a cool $25k for a newer model.

[Dubs]

Depending on the condition I'd only look at 8k for that car.

If you're keen I may be able to scan it for codes or you can get someone like Stokes and Renk to do a pre purchase inspection.

Dubs

[Spock]

Imho the best used BMWs to buy are low-km high end models (in whatever series you prefer). ie. don't go for a 318, go for an older 330 for the same price for example. Buy according to condition and km rather than year.

[Dubs]

red book is 9600-11000 for 100k kms - 200k kms

And its prob a buyers market so you should be able to negotiate.

Dubs

[j-mac]

I appreciate the offer of help dubs! Still only a newly formed idea at the moment, I'm looking at going and driving an example of the 323 i on sunday and I'll see if it gives me a boner

I'm either going to have to resign myself to woodgrain trim or source some dash inserts. I can't stand the look of it, and it seems to be on so many of the leather upholstered models.

[Spock]

Also try to buy one with km closer to 100,000 than 200,000. At 200,000km even a BMW starts to get a little tired. Bits and pieces start to need repair and replacement - including the electronics (eg. climate control, etc) which can start to give trouble. Repairs can be expensive even if you go to smaller unofficial BMW shops like BM Technics (highly recommended btw)

Here is one I had previously (1990 535iS):

[P.J]

I had a 92' 318i and did 110k km in it. They are underpowered, other than that a well set up car. I treated it badly, bounced it off the redline religiously. Took it through a puddle in one of the forrests down south and had water lapping up over the bonnet, blew a few sensors doing it but replaced those and off it went again. Over the time I had it I replaced one clutch, a set of brake pads and rotors, a starter motor, a alternator and the cassette that drives the sun roof. Auto classic were extortionate to deal with, other than that it was a cheap car to run. People in shopping centre car parks seemed to love to bang their doors into the doors on the car, something that didn't happen when I had my sti. Merc drivers were always a pain in the arse as were magna drivers, they seemed to harbor some resentment towards the BMW.

[Brougham]

Btw 3-series aint "luxury benchmark". That's more the 5-series or even 7-series.

[j-mac]

Btw 3-series aint "luxury benchmark". That's more the 5-series or even 7-series.

Anything is luxury if it shapes up better than the sweaty back vinyl upholstered, no aircon, clattering rockers (but it's not a diesel!), exhaust rattlin', no power steering, oil leaking, fuel guzzlin', squeaky suspension ride that is my '96 Nissan Single-cab Navara!

Ok, next obvious question, considering the fluidity of my fickle desires is this:

What sort of pseudo-luxo, non-holden/ford vehicle is out there that can be grabbed for up to $12k with approx 100,000km to 150,000km(or better) and up to about 10yrs (or better) on the clock? Something that sort of fits the bill of 3 series, but isn't a 3 series?

[Spock]

One possibility is something like what I posted pics of above.

[j-mac]

it definitely looks the goods. But isn't finding anything with an M sports badge that hasn't been hacked around and abused akin to sourcing a unmodified, un-thrashed R33 skyline these days? Or does the BMW owner demographic result in less abused cars?

[Spock]

itOr does the BMW owner demographic result in less abused cars?

I'd say for sure. How many BMW owners would not have a garage for example?

[j-mac]

Valid point is valid...

[Goofy]

What sort of pseudo-luxo, non-holden/ford vehicle is out there that can be grabbed for up to $12k with approx 100,000km to 150,000km(or better) and up to about 10yrs (or better) on the clock? Something that sort of fits the bill of 3 series, but isn't a 3 series?

Alfa Romeo

[j-mac]

I get the feeling I've been top gear-ized... you say alfa and I hear "italian soul with the reliability of a politician's promise...", BUT, the 156 may be another to take for a test run to check out.

[benlikesbikes]

Never owned one but aren't modernish alfas fwd and typically Italian in terms of reliability?

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[Goofy]

Ask Nath. I believe his has been awesome.