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Sedans BMW 3-Series Buying a Used 3-Series
455 messages, Last post on Oct 16, 2009 at 6:36 PM
You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: cardude_2009 (Jan 10, 2009 8:36 pm) Roadburner's advice is, however, a GREAT way to improve your odds. So a lot depends entirely on how well it was cared for in the first place (not in your control) AND how well YOU care for it in the future (totally in your control). Let's be real here---a car with this mileage is like a man who is 75 years old. Could live to a hundred, could drop on the tennis court tomorrow. Statistically, (and statistics are often misleading) the average car in America lasts 10-11 years. If we assume 15,000 miles a year, then there you go. But that includes mishaps like accidents, theft, etc.---also not in your control half the time. (I read somewhere that even if our bodies could be made disease-free and we couldn't die, that within 200 or 300 years we'd get blown up or something anyway).  Speaking only with anecdotal evidence, which proves nothing, in my appraisal work I rarely see an older car of any type at 300K, but I do see them at 225K or so fairly frequently. And the rare ones at 300K have certainly had an investment of maintenance and/or repair. So it may turn out that your budget will determine the car's ultimate longevity. BMWs are tough cars but they don't like neglect. This isn't a '65 Chevy. Visiting Host |
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Replying to: cardude_2009 (Jan 10, 2009 5:01 pm) roads. I can remember doing a 720 (turned a circle twice) when it slid and fortunately there was almost no traffic on the suburban road where I was at because it was about 6:50 AM. There are a few sites where you can buy many used parts for these BMWs on the internet. I can remember the dealer quoted us $ 1,600 for a new air conditioner compressor in 2006. Someone else fixed the ac for us without replacing the comp for about $ 200. The dealer also missed recommending a repair that was actually needed and was unable to re-set the dashboard light for the brakes which the buyer from us told me that he was able to do. Remember that parts fail not only due to high miles but also just age and rust. |
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Replying to: cardude_2009 (Jan 10, 2009 5:01 pm)
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Replying to: 04350 (Jan 11, 2009 11:10 am) Indy shops, wrecking yards, BMW club, internet--this is the way to go I think. I kept my 735 alive for pretty cheap--the previous owner spent a fortune. The AC was the biggest challenge to make truly efficient, and also the usual electrical glitches you get with old German cars.
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 11, 2009 11:42 am) |
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Replying to: cardude_2009 (Jan 11, 2009 11:50 am) If you want a really "nice" BMW, save up your money and buy one already done. This one should be for transportation, tinkering and learning IMO. If something really BAD happens to the car (engine failure, transmission failure) just junk it and start over. But a clutch, well you can deal with that yourself and shop for a cheap clutch pack on the internet. Also learn to love eBay. My Old Used Car With a Gazillion Miles on It Rules of Thumb: 1. Check under the hood A LOT. Look for leaks, problems, looseness 2. If the temp needle goes in the red, STOP RIGHT THERE. 3. If the oil light comes on, STOP RIGHT THERE 4. Change your own oil and filter 5. Never listen to advice about a BMW from someone who has never owned one. 6. Never listen to advice in an Auto Parts Store 7. Shop around for everything. You'd be amazed at how much money you can save. 8. Do not abuse an old car. Be easy on it. It is like an old dog, don't throw the stick too far. 9. Fix things as they come up. Don't defer until you have a list of 15 defects. 10. Your tachometer is your best friend. Pay attention to it as you shift.
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 11, 2009 11:59 am) I have basically no budget and I need a car that runs (preferably manual, easier to work with in my opinion). Your advice has helped quite a bit and now I am armed with knowledge on what will most likely go wrong with this car. Thanks for your help. |
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Replying to: cardude_2009 (Jan 11, 2009 11:50 am) You're looking to buy a comparable car with more mile than mine, so be prepared to cough up some bucks for maintenance or repairs. BTW, my AC doesn't work either, but I can live with that. Both front control arms have been replaced, as has the steering rack. Timing belt and water pump were replaced at the 144K miles mark. Mr. Shiftright's reference as to what thing to look for seems pretty much in agreement with my experience. |
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Replying to: srs_49 (Jan 11, 2009 5:02 pm)
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Replying to: cardude_2009 (Jan 11, 2009 5:23 pm) If you already have a second car that will get you to work pretty regularly when this one is waiting parts (or waiting for you to have the time to put them in) then - maybe. My wife's 98 328i is a pampered child - never parked outside day or night- has 50K miles on it since 1998 - she only drives about 6 K a year but drives it regularly to work and back. Maintained, literally, by the book. However, when I go through the "things that are gonna happen" checklist that Mr. Shiftright has provided, it's a near perfect match for the things I've done for her car. The radiator, the bushings, the window regulator, the leaky valve cover gasket, and now last weekend, the thermostat (fortunately in the open position). The next ones will be (according to the check list) the water pump, and then the fan clutch. None of these are a big deal individually as, fortunately, I can afford them, and they don't pop up very close together. Still, just for routine maintenance like this, and then adding in tires, brakes, etc, I'm probably averaging $200 a month over the course of a year. Unfortunately, that's nothing for six months and then $800 and then nothing for a few months and so on. You'll spend less dollars since you can do your own work, but you'll spend more hours, and during those hours you won't be driving. Final note of experience. If you don't have a garage to work in - you're parking outside - then this car won't be practical. Some jobs are going to take you two or three days at a minimum - to get the part you didn't know you needed when you started, or the tool that you have to borrow from somebody, halfway through the job. Me? I'd hold off and wait a little. Given economic conditions, you should be able to pick up a better old BMW for a few K more that will allow you to skip some of the maintenance anything this old will need. Better to invest the money up front for a better car, than to spend the same money later for parts. When I was young and thin, and poor, I owned an old Alfa Spider, so I come by these opinions honestly. Still, in the end the decision has to be yours. "The heart has its reasons that the mind knows nothing of"
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