Advice for newbie |
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PaulB
Newbie Joined: 29-March-2005 Location: dublin, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 16 |
Topic: Advice for newbie Posted: 29-March-2005 at 18:14 |
Firs of all i think i should say hi.
Im a newbie to the forum and i thought maybe you could answer a few question. I plan on buying a new car soon and im obviously thinking of a bmw. The only thing that is turning me away is that i only have 7K to spend. I am very interested in a nice E30 or E36. I am only 19 too so it would have to be a 1.6 for insurance purposes. I have driven mini coopers for the last 3 years and im sick of pumping money into them (i am not the most mechanically minded!) and i am worried that i will end up having to do the same if i buy a 7K bmw. What do you guys think? Im looking for reliability, am i looking in the wrong place? Cheers guys |
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Richie
Bavarian-Board Forum Sponsor Irish Region Joined: 04-November-2002 Location: Dublin,Ireland Status: Offline Points: 2526 |
Posted: 29-March-2005 at 18:52 |
A mate of mine just picked up a nice 1994 e36 316 coupe for 2k with a service history in the uk. Works out at €3200 registered here. Thats good value for money.
The 7k region over here will get you a nice 95-96 e36 or a spanking e30!! Go for it. Oh and welcome to the forum. |
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Richie
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Robbie Bradford
Really Senior Member II Joined: 16-July-2004 Location: Co. Laois, Ireland. Status: Offline Points: 2124 |
Posted: 29-March-2005 at 18:56 |
Hi Paul, Welcome to the forum There will be plenty of different models to choose from in the 7K region. I suppose you are limited to a 316i concerning insurance but that should'nt put you off. My first BMW was a 316I compact five years ago, i chose that model to get on the ladder as the compact is the cheapest to insure. I'd imagine you'd be able to pick up a nicely specced E36 saloon with reasonable mileage for that money. Take your time, have a look in Auto trader and the like, get some quotes from insurers for different models and once you've that done, go and test drive some of the classifieds. Don't buy the first one you drive, i know its hard but try to drive as many as possible before commiting as you'll soon tell the difference between an abused example and something that has been used run to the shops and no more! A 316i that has been regularly serviced and maintained reasonably well should be bulletproof, wait for the right example and you won't be sorry. Happy hunting dude
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Dergside
Really Senior Member II Joined: 16-May-2004 Location: Mid West, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 4000 |
Posted: 29-March-2005 at 19:05 |
Paul Welcome. The budget you are suggesting should put you in to a VERY nice car, but the key is to be very discerning and discard anything less than a mint car, even if it means going a little older. At this stage I'd recommend sticking to the e36 for the simple reason that nice e30's are getting very hard to find, rust especially being an issue. If you look hard enough, or can do some homework and source from the UK, you can find low mileage cars with low number of owners and a complete history well within your budget. If you find this type of car, it will last for years and while some aspects of running costs and servicing are a little higher, the quality of the underlying car should mean that fewer things will go wrong and need replacing. The service history doesn't have to be main dealer (I personally consider it an advantage, but there is plenty of debate about the merits of main dealer versus specialist maintenance on the forums here), but if its not, then you need to be sure that the person that has done the maintenance is considered a BMW specialist. |
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Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93.
Prev: e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci. e39 523i SE. e36 325i Coupe *2, 323i SE, 316iSE. e30 325iSE 2dr, 320i Conv, 320i 2dr, 316i. |
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llatsni
Really Senior Member II work in progress Joined: 22-February-2005 Location: dublinia Status: Offline Points: 963 |
Posted: 30-March-2005 at 03:16 |
i bought a 316 in jan and its great, its a '98 SE spec with 73k miles
so a little out of your budget - 10k here in ireland but maybe as
little as 8k from the uk if you import yourself. Knock of a grand per
year or per 25k extra miles. i.e. you should probably be able to get a
'97 SE saloon with 90k miles for about 7k if you import, 9k if you buy
here.
My preference would be for a REGULAR service history. regardless of milage. even if you find a genuine really low milage car it should still have a regular history. Theres not much worse than a car that was barely driven and rarely serviced. It stay post '96 with the e36. Try get one with air-con! (rare on a compact). Check for minor rust at water channels on doors and boot. Check shocks, Engine should be quiet and smooth from start, there should be oil in it (check dipstick - believe me one i looked at had no oil whatsoever). theres probably more i'll think of later. |
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1996 e34 525i SE Touring [uberwagon!]
1992 e36 325i Coupe [track car] 1998 e36 316i SE Saloon [sold... but missed] |
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E28_IRE
Senior Member II Joined: 18-March-2004 Status: Offline Points: 165 |
Posted: 30-March-2005 at 04:10 |
What's the E34 like to insure for a young lad? A tidy 518 might be the way to go. I recall a few years ago when considering a 325, that a 735 was cheaper to insure - all about perceived risk. |
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JohnH
Really Senior Member II Joined: 18-June-2004 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 1315 |
Posted: 30-March-2005 at 04:12 |
Hi Paul, Welcome to the forum, If you have to go for a 1.6 then I'd agree with Dergside and get the very best e36 you can get your hands on, as good e30s are getting thin on the ground. Get the Buy and Sell every time it comes out so you can spot the new ads and keep an eye on the autotrader.ie and autotrader.co.uk websites. I also wouldn't touch it without a full service history, prefereably main dealer too. To give you an idea of what's about I know of a guy who just sold a 97 saloon in great condition with 81k on the clock for €6,500. Best of luck and enjoy John
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E28_IRE
Senior Member II Joined: 18-March-2004 Status: Offline Points: 165 |
Posted: 30-March-2005 at 04:26 |
Personally I'd take an E30 over an E36. The E30 will be cheaper to run in the long term and will be a more enjoyable drive.
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Fey!
Bavarian-Board Contributor Funs over, Scotty; beam down my clothes! Joined: 28-February-2005 Location: Galway Status: Offline Points: 4161 |
Posted: 30-March-2005 at 04:40 |
Welcome to the forum, Paul. I bought my first BMW less than a month ago, and wouldn't consider going back to anything less! However, as Robbie said, drive plenty and get a feel for good and bad. If you have a good mechanic you trust, try and bring him along if you see one you really like. And watch for the service history; I didn't get one on mine and can't source it now. Another place you could look is www.carzone.ie. Digweed and myself both found our cars on it. Here's a starting point http://motornet.webzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car &carID=214269. With this ad I'd be wary; it says it's a customers car, but the garage may just be afraid to warranty it (I used to sell cars in a former life, but I renounced my sins and returned to the world of selling antiques!) Good luck. BTW, if you have any niggly doubts about the car, ask on here. You'll find people always willing to express and opinion, and occasionally someone may know the car! Edited by Fey! |
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Kevin_E30_318iS
Really Senior Member II Joined: 14-December-2002 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 883 |
Posted: 30-March-2005 at 04:55 |
My own preference would be for an E30, but getting a good one is extremely difficult, so an E36 would be less risky.
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Kevin_1990_318iS
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llatsni
Really Senior Member II work in progress Joined: 22-February-2005 Location: dublinia Status: Offline Points: 963 |
Posted: 30-March-2005 at 04:55 |
hmmm a 518, my initial reaction would be negative because of the power to weight, but this looks interesting:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car& carID=205800 |
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1996 e34 525i SE Touring [uberwagon!]
1992 e36 325i Coupe [track car] 1998 e36 316i SE Saloon [sold... but missed] |
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E28_IRE
Senior Member II Joined: 18-March-2004 Status: Offline Points: 165 |
Posted: 30-March-2005 at 05:10 |
They're not quick, but neither is a 316. But they're not that slow. You have to drive some example to decide for yourself. Looking at the link to the '96 518; nice spec but way overpriced. You could pick up a similar mileage, similar condition '93 car for around 2 grand. It likely won't have the leather, but that's not a huge loss. My own opinion is that, with a car over around 5 years old, you buy on condition, not age. (My own daily driver is 18 years old and doesn't miss a beat.) |
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Fey!
Bavarian-Board Contributor Funs over, Scotty; beam down my clothes! Joined: 28-February-2005 Location: Galway Status: Offline Points: 4161 |
Posted: 30-March-2005 at 05:42 |
That looks nice, and the mileage isn't daft! |
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PaulB
Newbie Joined: 29-March-2005 Location: dublin, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 16 |
Posted: 30-March-2005 at 05:57 |
Crikey!
Thanks for the hastey replies everybody. I had a couple of insurance quotes this morning and it was only working out 90euro more expensive for a 318 so that might be a better option? As i said it wont be buying until about august but its good to see a great community like this. I drove minis for the past 3 years and the forum always helped me out so im glad i found this!! |
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Richie
Bavarian-Board Forum Sponsor Irish Region Joined: 04-November-2002 Location: Dublin,Ireland Status: Offline Points: 2526 |
Posted: 30-March-2005 at 06:04 |
Check with the insurance again and get a quote on a 318is. It's a 1.9 but one hell of a quick car.Very beefed up compared to a 318i.
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Richie
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PaulB
Newbie Joined: 29-March-2005 Location: dublin, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 16 |
Posted: 30-March-2005 at 06:11 |
just did that. very same price online so i rang them. They said it
would be the very very same price! Insurance companies, i dont get it! |
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kbannon
Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508 |
Posted: 30-March-2005 at 06:14 |
Also check the quotes for both fully comp and TPFT - I have found frequently in recent years that despite offering more FC is cheaper - go figure!
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Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
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Richie
Bavarian-Board Forum Sponsor Irish Region Joined: 04-November-2002 Location: Dublin,Ireland Status: Offline Points: 2526 |
Posted: 30-March-2005 at 06:17 |
Well that would decide it for me. 318is it is. You'll love it.
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Richie
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PaulB
Newbie Joined: 29-March-2005 Location: dublin, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 16 |
Posted: 30-March-2005 at 06:38 |
thats class, more difficult to find though no?
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Richie
Bavarian-Board Forum Sponsor Irish Region Joined: 04-November-2002 Location: Dublin,Ireland Status: Offline Points: 2526 |
Posted: 30-March-2005 at 07:14 |
There's plenty of them out there. I presume your quote was on a 4dr and not a coupe?
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Richie
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