BMW 3 Series running costs

bigmaz

Hi

I have seen a BMW 3 series on Autotrader, its a "1997 BMW 3 SERIES 318I 5DR ESTATE". Just wondering what kind of running costs would be on this thing? Servicing, parts etc? Hopefully someone with experience with these cars could help?

Kind Regards

motorguy

Lots of motor factors specialising in cheap parts for these. Easy enough serviced too.

flang

That would be an E36 which are very reliable, cheap parts and easy to service.
The engines are bullet proof although the 318s/316s can get a little tappy on the top end but still go on forever.
.

rodenal

Bits are very cheap for them, generally easy to work on and loads of scrap cars for other spares.the 318i is a bit of an asthmatic thing, but this means its less likely to have been owned by someone who has ragged it all its life and its decent enough on fuel. Just don't pay much for it, anything over say 4 or 500 is too much. I had to sell a very good 328i for just under a grand not long ago, loved the e36 as a car even if they feel old now

bigmaz

Wow, thanks a lot for your comments. seems a good reliable car. Might be a bit too much then on price rodenal? As its £750. Maybe as its from a garage I suppose, they will be looking for more money.

fivetide

That's cheap.

Havea look at www.bimmerforums.co.uk for more info on them.

I have the revised E46 version and yes, asthmatic is one word! Not too quick are some more. Averaging 34mpg on the commute at the moment.

5t.

rodenal

It's not cheap but you're right in that the trader will have to make money on the car and cover his overheads. I would try and get the price down a bit if you can. The upside is you will get some sort of warranty / comeback.

Go and have a look at the car then see what you think. I loved my 328 apart from the fuel bill - nice leather, climate control auto dimming mirror etc for not alot of cash. Still felt very well bolted together even though it was 16 years old too. Rust is the real killer with them so hav a good check around. Bootlid is a bad point but you can just swap another in - pay particular attention to the arches as there isn't much you can do other than replace these if they're bad

colino

bigmaz check out the history, but just as importantly, the spec of the car. As its an estate, if it has tired cloth interior with no history, walk away at any price. It was probably originally a reps car getting as a good a badge as his car allowance could stretch to initially. However the estates with auto box and leather with few owners and histories tend to be good news, and if your lucky, can turn out to be the prized lightly used, highly serviced "second car."

fivetide

rodenal wrote: »

It's not cheap

How is it not cheap? Here's another at a stealer for 2.5k http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2994821.htm

At 750 notes from a dealer I'd be trying to work out what is wrong with it. It is one of the last made, E46 started in 1998.

5t.

rodenal

It's not cheap because they sell for £4-500 - regardless of what some lunatic on pistonheads is looking for for his.

As I've already said I bought a good condition 328i coupe of the same age for just over and sold it for under a grand, going by the ad you posted I should have sold it for about £3.5-4k. I've got experience of the car and what they are actually worth as opposed to a chancer / dreamer. Check ebay sold cars, check autotrader, gumtree etc they will back up what I'm saying.

Anyway, the op knows they can get the car a bit cheaper privately but are quite right that the dealer has to make some money, like i've already said.

*edit* not sure if this will work but have a look here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/csc/i.html?_nkw=318i&_in_kw=1&_ex_kw=&_sacat=9800&_okw=318i&_oexkw=&_adv=1&LH_Complete=1&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo=&_udhi=1000&_samilow=&_samihi=&_sadis=200&_fpos=Postcode&LH_SALE_CURRENCY=0&_sop=7&_dmd=1&_ipg=50

*

fivetide

I clicked your link above and there are some cheaper but they look like sheds.

Its cheap for a dealer, here are some of the examples you posted.

5t.

Top of the list £785 and older

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/96-P-BMW-318is-Coupe-mot-6-12-11-/280703075872?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item415b350620

Sold for £600 but again, not a dealer
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-BMW-318IS-RED-/320737790209?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4aad764901

Same car and year £700 reserve not met
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-318-1997-/220824638933?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item336a2c95d5