used car problem

mjoneseyjones

Cyberman60 wrote: »

I'd put it down to experience and move on. 600 quid for a car is peanuts so you got what you paid for really.

Have to agree with this really. I'd be expecting a year at the very top from a car at this price purchased from a dealer.

darkmatter101

AdrianC wrote: »

I'm presuming the "mountings corroded" means that the area of body the ARB is mounted on has rotted.

A quick google suggests it's common on E36s, and not a huge job to fix. Although I'd be wondering where else a £600 E36 was rotten...

For £600 it's most likely the OP probably got an E36 318i. They are prone to rust under the wheel arches too.

6 months "driving pleasure" in the "ultimate driving machine," for £600 isn't too bad...

caprikid1

As everyone has said, forget it move on.

In future if you have £600 spend it where you will get better chance of success.

Stick it on ebay get rid.

darkmatter101

The OP didn't get a bad deal at all really. £600 for 6 months in a car that's rear wheel drive and not as slow as a 1 litre car. He'll probably scrap it for £150 so only £450 spent.

force_ten

also brake pipes corred is a common problem

somebody i know has a 325I and it failed its MOT on brake pipes and it was a pig of a job to do, they had to drain and remove the fuel tank and drop part of the exhaust system to give any access to the corroded pipes

note to BMW if you want to hide stuff away in inaccessible locations please make sure it will last the life of the vehicle

darkmatter101

force_ten wrote: »

also brake pipes corred is a common problem

somebody i know has a 325I and it failed its MOT on brake pipes and it was a pig of a job to do, they had to drain and remove the fuel tank and drop part of the exhaust system to give any access to the corroded pipes

note to BMW if you want to hide stuff away in inaccessible locations please make sure it will last the life of the vehicle

Each generation of BMW's normally are pain the as* to work on anyway. It's just the way they are assembled, more so for driver enjoyment than repair practicality. Even changing a simple light in the E90/E92 you need to do it through the wheel arch way!!

BeenThroughItAll

darkmatter101 wrote: »

For £600 it's most likely the OP probably got an E36 318i. They are prone to rust under the wheel arches too.

6 months "driving pleasure" in the "ultimate driving machine," for £600 isn't too bad...

I guess the adult you let borrow your computer has given it back, yeah?

AdrianC

force_ten wrote: »

somebody i know has a 325I and it failed its MOT on brake pipes and it was a pig of a job to do, they had to drain and remove the fuel tank and drop part of the exhaust system to give any access to the corroded pipes

note to BMW if you want to hide stuff away in inaccessible locations please make sure it will last the life of the vehicle

Just because that's where BMW routed the pipes doesn't mean that's where the replacement pipes have to be routed...

OddballJamie

darkmatter101 wrote: »

Each generation of BMW's normally are pain the as* to work on anyway. It's just the way they are assembled, more so for driver enjoyment than repair practicality. Even changing a simple light in the E90/E92 you need to do it through the wheel arch way!!

My Astra is the same for head lights, it must mean it was designed for driver enjoyment then.

All along I've thought the Vauxhall design team were a bunch of n*bs for doing it. How wrong was I?

darkmatter101

OddballJamie wrote: »

My Astra is the same for head lights, it must mean it was designed for driver enjoyment then.

All along I've thought the Vauxhall design team were a bunch of n*bs for doing it. How wrong was I?

I'm not sure then, maybe that method of changing light bulbs is common among car manufacturers. Either way the BMW are known to be difficult to work on, hence the higher labor costs.

As for Astra's I have heard so many bad things about them in terms of reliability. I knwo the 1.6 and 1.8 litre petrol Astras give poor mpg and I've heard of numerous repairs that needs to be done on them. Not sure whether its the car or the type of people who own them and probably don't maintain them