BMW advice

[Connor]

Before you say, yes i do understand this is a VAUXHALL NOVA forum, but seeing as theres been a few bmw threads popping up thought id try my luck on here :)
After driving a 1.2 nova for nearly 4 years (with this being my 4th nova and all them being a 1.2 bar a 5 month stint in a 1.6 nova and a few months in a 1.2 corsa c sxi, i know not the most exciting car history :roll:) purely to keep costs down whilst im at uni i think its time i got abit of a nicer daily.
Been looking at e46 320/330 ci models even diesel options but i will struggle to get a diesel with my budget, will have a budget of 2/3k maybe. Insurance is now not a big issue, so was wondering if anyone was clued up on these, any advice, what to look out for. Or even other models or cars within my budget i should consider, my ears are open and i am open for new ideas.
Ps no old school sh1t, modern cars please, already have 2 novas, dont want any more lol. Heres what i've been looking at, currently on a popular auction site BIN for 2.2k
http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo218/connorlake_2008/Picture11.png

[turbojolt]

Redtop it.

[Nova_Tek]

^ Small block = better handling.

1.3 twin carb it :thumb:

Not a bad motor for the price

[Nova-nation]

You can find a diesel for that price, personally I would go for a diesel, hold there money better

[Novasport]

Pretty good cars TBH, look out for....

Broken rear coil springs
Corrosion on brake pipes
Play in front lower arm ball joints & bushes
Blocked engine breathers/oil seperators can bring the EML on and knacker up AFM's
Coil packs
Water pumps and stats on 6 cylinder engines
Autos are very good but check all gears and kick down etc

Usual stuff

Try and get one with full BMW or BMW specialist service history
Check history with HPi etc
Check for body repairs and corrosion, usually a sign of poor repair
Verify mileage where possible, check for the manipulation dot by the mileage

[Connor]

Pretty good cars TBH, look out for....

Broken rear coil springs
Corrosion on brake pipes
Play in front lower arm ball joints & bushes
Blocked engine breathers/oil seperators can bring the EML on and knacker up AFM's
Coil packs
Water pumps and stats on 6 cylinder engines
Autos are very good but check all gears and kick down etc

Usual stuff

Try and get one with full BMW or BMW specialist service history
Check history with HPi etc
Check for body repairs and corrosion, usually a sign of poor repair
Verify mileage where possible, check for the manipulation dot by the mileage

Spot on mate, just the advice i was looking for, noted
+rep :thumb:

I seen a couple with airbag lights on, and they say that its on because the battery was either replaced or disconnected? Sound right?
And i will be getting a manual, i hate autos (imo)

[Novasport]

I had one of the last of the E46 Coupe's as my demo back in 2005/2006, loved that car. 320d Coupe M-Sport in Graphite with black leather like this...

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt42/DMH-01/BMWPIC1800x600-3.jpg

[Connor]

Would LOVE one of those, touch out of price range, those facelift 320d's (especially in that colour) are awesome dailys imo

[Novasport]

Spot on mate, just the advice i was looking for, noted
+rep :thumb:

I seen a couple with airbag lights on, and they say that its on because the battery was either replaced or disconnected? Sound right?
And i will be getting a manual, i hate autos (imo)

Possibly as low voltage brings it on but sounds a bit suspect to me. Could be a slip ring, occupancy sensor or tensioner fault. There was a tensioner mod available as they sometimes came up wth high resistance. Could even be due to accident damage.

BMW autos are superb, dont knock em until you've tried it.

As always, buy the best you can afford and if in doubt, walk away as there will be plenty more out there

[Novasport]

If you need a second opinion on one locally let me know, I don't mind casting my eye over it.

[Connor]

Possibly as low voltage brings it on but sounds a bit suspect to me. Could be a slip ring, occupancy sensor or tensioner fault. There was a tensioner mod available as they sometimes came up wth high resistance. Could even be due to accident damage.

BMW autos are superb, dont knock em until you've tried it.

As always, buy the best you can afford and if in doubt, walk away as there will be plenty more out there

Yea sounded abit fishy to me as well. And cheers for the advice, its much appreciated, i am moving back to essex in a couple of weeks so they will be local ones down there but cheers for the offer.

And yea i know the auto boxes are spot on, i drove a couple, i just don't generally like them, more of a personal preference i think.

[Novasport]

I did not used to be keen on them either but as I have got a little older and the traffic gets worse they are so much more appealing!

[Bubba]

prepare to be shafted if it needs work.

Buy that E30 you want...the m20b25s are solid engines.

[Connor]

prepare to be shafted if it needs work.

Buy that E30 you want...the m20b25s are solid engines.

Yea i know parts arent cheap, but i will get all parts at cost price and all the labour will be free :d
and Nah i need something abit more comfortable that i dont want to modify, just drive. If i bought an e30, all my earnings would go on it lol.
I want an e30 but as a project not a daily :)

[brainsnova]

Civic type r

[Connor]

Civic type r

Not a real fan of these, and wanna stay clear of hot hatches ideally, but good shout.

[steviegsi]

E39 5 series like mine.... Alot of car for around £2/3000. Mine is a 4.4 averages 22mpg back and forth to work 7 miles each way, with some pootling round town, and 30-35 mpg on long motorway runs. In 12 months it's had, oil and fluids changed, 4 tyres, new pads and discs all round and 2 thrust arms. No headaches or big bills yet ( fingers crossed ).

Make sure you check what tax bracket you are buying into, being 2000 mine is still on the old rate @ £220 ish a year.... A year newer and it would be double that! Not that a few hundred extra a year matters too much but should still be considered.

[w_wall_2001]

as above make sure its a pre august 2000 for cheap tax, ive had my e39 (m5) for over a year with no issue apart from rear parking sensors which dont like getting wet!!! just the usual inspection 2 service, pads/discs, tyres etc its gave me no issues at all, apart from astronomical fuel bills

id recommend one to anyone any day

[Connor]

Ahh great shout you two, never took that into consideration tbh, i did think about an e39 as i love them! Although im gonna progressively go up in size, 3 series, then 5 series.
Although i will check insurance tomorrow :p, only thing that puts me off with the e39 is the mpg, as the only people that i know that own them, moan about mpg lol.

[w_wall_2001]

Ahh great shout you two, never took that into consideration tbh, i did think about an e39 as i love them! Although im gonna progressively go up in size, 3 series, then 5 series.
Although i will check insurance tomorrow :p, only thing that puts me off with the e39 is the mpg, as the only people that i know that own them, moan about mpg lol.

mine averages 14-16 round town then 26 ish on a run, if i drive it hard it goes down to 8, oops lol

[saloonwoody]

if you go for a 46 diesel make sure its had the swirl flap mod ;)

[paul080803]

Power steering pipes and coolers can fail on a e46.

Uneven tyre wear, especially on the rear and RTAB are expensive to replace and it should have a KDS alignment (although lots of people will say otherwise)

Within my family we have had 5 e46s (2 M3 and 3 330ci) all have had batterys go flat/replaced and never bought on an airbag light!

No disrespect to an auto, they are 1 of the best, personally I would go manual. Especially if your looking at 330s. But it really depends on the type of driver you are and the experience you want from the car ;)

The rest of the advise has been good, they are great cars! I sold my E46 M3 and within 6 months was back in another one, was a big mistake. Very rewarding drive and TBH unless your really going to drive it hard (and with your car history that is unlikely in a RWD car) then the on the road difference between a 330 and M3 is not huge.

Go sport/ci spec though. An SE can be a bit wallowy through the corners.