Aruffell

20k and mainly motorway as I drive to Germany 2-3 times a year, so yes I need a diesel :p Had diesels for over 5 years now.

Andy

Hi all,

Not been on here in a while. Currently driving a 2008 320D Edition M Sport Touring that I bought nearly 2 years ago after I got rid of my much loved E46 320D SE.

I love this car to pieces but the kids aren't getting any smaller and my amount of driving is getting no less and I honestly feel that I've outgrown the 2 litre diesel engine and it's manual gearbox that drives me crazy when I have to drive within London and the like.

Therefore, I've been eyeing up for quite some time getting a 530D/535D F11 M Sport with 8 speed auto gearbox but have a few questions that I'm hoping can be answered first.

1. I think the 535D is seeming to be harder to find, and will also result in being harder to sell and while fuel economy is always a slight issue, am I right in thinking the 530D will be the better buy overall?
2. I'm buying used and didn't want to spend any more than £25,000 - ambitious or should I be able to find a clean, nice example?
3. Any particular year onwards I should be looking at for my money?
4. Any options I should look for? I miss having Xenon's that my E46 had, so am thinking visability pack, but any other recommendations that are likely to be found on a use 5 series?

Think that's about it for now, but I'm sure I'll be along with more questions very soon.

Many thanks,

Andy

looking around a 2007/2008 ideally onwards

thanks,

andy

Currently got an E46 2004 320D SE Saloon with 90k on it and full main dealer service history and I love it to bits, but with another child on the way and me driving twice a year to Germany and back, I think a touring is needed, so sadly she will have to go, and I believe I should get good money for her.

So in the meantime, I'm looking for a 320D Touring. I don't want a dark coloured car any more as my current one is dark blue, before that I had dark blue and black cars so would be nice to get silver or a lighter colour car.

I'd love to have everything I have now (cruise, climate control, parking sensors etc...) but i'd love to have nav too. I've noticed though that the SE comes with a horrid steering wheel opposed to the nice leather one I have now.

Am I being ambitious looking around the £8000 mark?

Would I have to look at M Sport to get a nicer steering wheel etc...?

Many thanks,

Andy

Whats your budget Joe? I'm selling mine soon, but it's a 2004 so may be a bit rich for you if you was looking at a 2000?

Andy

It always puts me off when I see something with high mileage as I have to think about resale value and whenever I see anything with over 100,000 on it, I kinda look away lol, especially if it's only 5 years old.

My current car is 9 years old and only has 86,000 on it.

Andy

Haha, I was thinking that, same power as the 5 series i test drove (177bhp) but a damn sight lighter.

Am i going to be raped on price though? lol

Andy

Currently got a 320D SE E46 2004 Saloon and love it to pieces but at 86,000 miles it's time to get something new.

Been offered £4600 for it from 3 guys at Kwik Fit when I went for a free brake check. Sound fair or should I expect more? It's got full main dealer service history and just had an oil service, brake fluid change, MOT and new pads and discs on the front. Tax is until October if I remember correctly.

On that note, I'm now looking at something newer but am torn between what. I'm either looking at a 320D or 520D but want some goodies and a bit of luxury, so I'm looking at an edition M sport model, no matter what it is.

The other problem I have is whether I go for another Saloon or a touring as I currently have a child and another one on the way so am thinking that the touring may be the more practical. I test drove a 520D Edition touring the other day and it felt sluggish in comparison to my E46 which is less BHP but is lighter, does that seem right?

The 520D I was looking at was £14,495 which is a bit more than what I want to pay, but was a nice car, though not being an M Sport, it has a horrid steering wheel which was plasticy etc...

So I'm after a bit of advice really. 3 series or 5 series? Saloon or Touring?

Many thanks,

Andy

1. Snypa-D (and poss the gf an my daughter)

2. Gav & Pam

3. Daz

4. Ian

5.Dean

6. Jac

7. Andy (Aruffell)

8.

9.

10.

1. Snypa-D - Bedfordshire

2. Ginger Tom - Hertfordshire

3. DB1 - East Kent

4. Dean Summerbee - Hertfordshire

5. Prestige Interiors - Kent

6. Heath85 - Colchester

7. Poshbloke - Richmond On Thames

8. Scrawford21 - Essex

9. BigAl - West Sussex

10. Aruffell - Ashford, Kent

Mileage is a bit to high for me sadly as I will be reselling when i get my E90 in a couple of months.

Hi all,

Got a Vauxhall Signum 2.2 Dti Design at the moment and am currently saving for a 2008 ish 320D Edition M Sport which will take me another couple of months to sort.

For now though, i need something to tide me over as the Signum has some issues so i'm looking at around a 2003 320D SE for under £5000.

Reason being, I want something I can buy and not lose too much money on and a 2003 320D SE seems to be right up my street for that.

Been looking around and found this one so far:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201206448938726/sort/default/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/transmission/manual/maximum-mileage/up_to_80000_miles/maximum-age/up_to_10_years_old/price-from/2000/price-to/5000/make/bmw/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/page/1/radius/1501/postcode/tn240qz/keywords/se?logcode=p

What you guys think?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Andy

yeah, i did think that it may be far, just thought i'd show it can be done for around the price your looking at, and didn't really look at your location either.....sorry bud. :rolleyes: how far are you willing to travel.

Within England, but don't fancy Scotland or Ireland. Wales is fine i guess :)

Still not found anything to be honest :(

http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201134411460439/sort/priceasc/usedcars/maximum-age/up_to_10_years_old/price-to/4000/maximum-mileage/up_to_80000_miles/fuel-type/diesel/model/3_series/make/bmw/radius/1501/page/1/postcode/bs31pd?logcode=p

:D

Looks good, like a lot i keep seeing, but they are all in Northern Ireland, i'm in Kent so a bit far :(

Andy

I'm aiming for around a 2003 if possible but not looking hopeful :(

Ouch, quite a big jump then.

I'm getting 45mpg at the moment, so im guessing no petrol can even equate near to that can it?

Thanks,

Andy

Hmmm what budget would I have to go up to?

Is it possible to get sat nav and climate control too?

Can anyone advise as to where to find a good e46 320d se? Can't find any apart from ones with over 100k :(

Last petrol i had was a Nissan 200sx 2 litre turbo which did 16mpg, and whilst i don't do mass amounts of miles, i do go on long motorway trips and plan to go on more as the year progresses for my job so i think diesel is going to be the way to go.

My current car (Vauxhall Signum) does 45mpg and i'd like something that does more than 50, or around 60mpg if possible.

Andy

Thanks matey :)

Reason im changing is that my car is at 105,000 now and im bored of it.

All i keep finding for my money are cars with stupidly high mileage and want to buy an e46 that i can sell on when i buy my e90.

Andy

Hi all,

My name is Andy from Ashford, Kent.

Currently own a Vauxhall Signum 2.2 Dti but am in the market for a BMW 3 series.

Went a test drove a 2010 318d edition m sport that was simply lovely but a bit out of my price range so until i plump up some more cash, i thought i'd take a look at an e46 (i think?) 3 series diesel.

Been looking for a week or so now at around the £3000 mark, but feel i may need to put in closer to £4k?

I'm after a 3 series 2 litre, se spec or better with under or around 80,000 miles and a good service history, but am unsure if i'm asking for too much for my money?

Hope to meet some of you soon once i have my car and can then upgrade to an e90 once i find the right one for my money.

Thanks,

Andy