Saab or BMW?

skivenov

Worth mentioning, a large car hire comapny have been clearing out quite a lot of 10/60 plate 320d's, mostly in "M" trim, over the last couple of months. I'd imagine they're on forecourts now. You can draw your own conclusions over whether you'd buy an ex-hire car or not, I wouldn't though.

Foxy-Stoat_3

Swirl flaps are a non-issue on the E9* cars.

OP doesn't state what mileage he would like to have for his £6.5K. Agreed you wont get many, if any sub 70K cars for that money, but I would still consider a 100k 320 a GOOD car if it has full dealer history, but I would like to see a replacement turbo and clutch + DMF in the receipts somewhere!

rodenal

Swirl flaps are a potential issue on all M47 engined cars, it's the same engine be it in an e46 or e9x. I wouldn't suggest that at 100k it's a poor car either, but I'd want the BMW warranty on any newer diesel BMW (unless as you say it's got evidence of swirl flap removal, newish clutch and dmf, turbo and dpf if applicable), which is really very expensive when the car's over 60k, but pretty cheap when 60k or under.

If the OP does diesel mileage of say 16k+ per year (if lower then diesel is verging on daft, imo) the car will also be worth about 3p when it comes time to move it on again - don't underestimate the stigma of a 100k+ car

neilmcl

skivenov wrote: »

Worth mentioning, a large car hire comapny have been clearing out quite a lot of 10/60 plate 320d's, mostly in "M" trim, over the last couple of months. I'd imagine they're on forecourts now. You can draw your own conclusions over whether you'd buy an ex-hire car or not, I wouldn't though.

More likely end up at the car auctions. I've never had any issues with ex-fleet/hire cars, but then I've never kept them for more than a few years at a time.

colino

Ex-fleet BMWs are normally sold at dealer only auctions and are great buys. Most can come off the transporter straight onto the forecourt because they are so well looked after. Bearing in mind they are at the stretch of most company car accounts, the drivers see them as status cars and they go back to the dealership to attend to scratches (or empty the ashtrays!) to a ridiculous degree.
There are ones to watch for, cloth upholstery with wrong alloys and no extras are a pain.

neilmcl

colino wrote: »

Ex-fleet BMWs are normally sold at dealer only auctions and are great buys.

Not just dealer only. BCA Nottingham do a BMW Group sale once a month which is open to the public but usually attended mostly by the trade. I got a mint, year old, 320D SE a few years back with only 10K on the clock and not a mark on it, all for around trade price.