[F30Andy]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

Oh a Lotus Elise is the ultimate chavriot?

At the prices they are selling for these days?

I think not.

Even VX220's are holding good money.

[SammT]

Originally Posted by Hooded

This is the problem buying used .. there just aren't anywhere near as much choice buying petrol unless it's a small city car.

Doing 4K miles per year in a diesel won't be that much of a problem as long as it gets a decent run at least once a month.
To be fair There's a hell of a lot of diesel cars on the road used by women just for trips to the shops and school runs etc that they bought due to the better advertised manufacturer mpg figures, and most of these are still running just fine.

Yeah and that's the problem I'm facing, it's like 10 to 1 diesel to petrol. Thanks, I'm sure I'll be able to give it a good run a few times a month. Think about an hours driving will do it?

Originally Posted by NISFAN

I can't understand why a young person would buy an old farts car? Surely if only doing 3-4000 miles you would buy something fun, Renaultsport Cup, Elise, even a Porsche Boxster over a boring rep mobile 420d. You'll have plenty of time spending years behind the wheel of a family car......when you've got a family.

Cheers G

Drives old farts 330d and mid life crisis 240i

For me it was either an Audi/Merc/BMW and outta that the 4 series appealed to me most. Stylish and fun to drive, looking for it to be my car for the next 3-4 years at least.

[Hooded]

Originally Posted by SammT

Yeah and that's the problem I'm facing, it's like 10 to 1 diesel to petrol. Thanks, I'm sure I'll be able to give it a good run a few times a month. Think about an hours driving will do it?



For me it was either an Audi/Merc/BMW and outta that the 4 series appealed to me most. Stylish and fun to drive, looking for it to be my car for the next 3-4 years at least.

Agree... it's a big problem buying used cars like a 3 or 5 series.

Yeah about an hours drive .. as long as you are actually driving and not sitting in traffic .. some nice nsl roads will suffice, blow the cobwebs out

[Watsey]

If a 35i or 40i are out of your price range, the 30d is by far the better engine compared to the 20d.

Personally I'd avoid the 4 cylinder units, irrespective of petrol or diesel, as they just don't sound anywhere near as nice.

Diesel engines needs to reach full operating temperature and have a decent run every couple of weeks or so so that the dpf can recharge.

Good luck with your search.

[RobUK]

Yep, if going for a BMW then the 340i/440i is the #MANMATHS choice, and with your first bit of overtime you can get the MPPSK, 2nd bit of overtime goes toward the MPerf body kit, and so on...

On the x28i choice, I had an MY12 328i from new and while it worked it was a fantastic car! But, at 6,000m it needed a new gearbox after which I kept getting an intermittent stuttering between 4th/5th using the paddles in manual mode. Then the steering and front suspension needed doing, then a turbo overboost issue, navigation issues, drivetrain errors and so forth. Finally when I was chopping the car in for the 340i there was a suspicion it was getting the crankshaft bearing issue (that was at around 30,000m). Of course not all x28i's have these problems but it's something to be aware of.

[dopper99]

If you want a fun car, Golf R. Less than £300 a month to lease with £2.6K down. Spend the money you'll save on beer, women and holidays.

https://www.selectcarleasing.co.uk/c...3974-2018.html

[Hooded]

Originally Posted by Watsey

If a 35i or 40i are out of your price range, the 30d is by far the better engine compared to the 20d.

Personally I'd avoid the 4 cylinder units, irrespective of petrol or diesel, as they just don't sound anywhere near as nice.

Diesel engines needs to reach full operating temperature and have a decent run every couple of weeks or so so that the dpf can recharge.

Good luck with your search.

Won't disagree with any of that^
(... although I don't think it necessarily needs to be as often as every couple of weeks)

To add .. I would also change the oil every 12 months even if you have only done 4K miles and run it on premium fuel that has cleaning additives included such as V-power to help offset the low mileage use a bit.

[225]

Originally Posted by dopper99

If you want a fun car, Golf R. Less than £300 a month to lease with £2.6K down. Spend the money you'll save on beer, women and holidays.

https://www.selectcarleasing.co.uk/c...3974-2018.html

Good luck getting that delivered before 2019 what with the state of the wltp!
With the cheap deals you can get on brand new 3s and 4s at the moment maybe look there as well? couple of k in over a 3/4yr pcp and get a shiney new 3/440i on the drive.

[NotGotABimmer23]

Dont know what your budget is but id be looking at an m235i (/40i). It will be a better drive than the 4, its quicker stock, the n55 sounds great and is rock solid plus there are plenty around for a fair bit less than the 435i/440i.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Yeah I would second the Golf R.

Loads fun and plenty power.

You can if you really really want get decent mpg.

[SammT]

Originally Posted by Hooded

Agree... it's a big problem buying used cars like a 3 or 5 series.

Yeah about an hours drive .. as long as you are actually driving and not sitting in traffic .. some nice nsl roads will suffice, blow the cobwebs out

Yeah there's one for sale atm, 430d M Sport with 30500 miles for £18,400 which has really taken my fancy. Yep I definitely know a few nsl roads that I can enjoy when I need to

Originally Posted by Watsey

If a 35i or 40i are out of your price range, the 30d is by far the better engine compared to the 20d.

Personally I'd avoid the 4 cylinder units, irrespective of petrol or diesel, as they just don't sound anywhere near as nice.

Diesel engines needs to reach full operating temperature and have a decent run every couple of weeks or so so that the dpf can recharge.

Good luck with your search.

Thanks! Yeah I'm trying to stay around the £18,000 mark so those are a bit too pricey for me!

Originally Posted by kylemacca01

Dont know what your budget is but id be looking at an m235i (/40i). It will be a better drive than the 4, its quicker stock, the n55 sounds great and is rock solid plus there are plenty around for a fair bit less than the 435i/440i.

Budget is around £18,000 so there's a few out there but no where near where I live unfortunately (On the coast in Kent) I have been torn between the 2 and 4 series for a while now, figure a 4 might be more practical for the future.

[goodbyalfa]

Originally Posted by Brigand

Yeah I would second the Golf R.

Loads fun and plenty power.

You can if you really really want get decent mpg.

Most stolen car on the planet though...

[Soul_Glo]

Don't know why anyone has not suggested an M3 but with that kind of annual mileage I would say something like this:

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...15-bhp/8863100

Or even an S3 Quattro:

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...--2013/8860820

...and if we weren't saving up for a second house. I have always wanted one of these:

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...rranty/7122781

[330XDave]

Originally Posted by SammT

Budget is around £18,000 so there's a few out there but no where near where I live unfortunately (On the coast in Kent) I have been torn between the 2 and 4 series for a while now, figure a 4 might be more practical for the future.

Be prepared to travel for the right car! A day out and the cost of it is a small price to pay for getting the car you want.

[F30Andy]

Originally Posted by 330XDave

Be prepared to travel for the right car! A day out and the cost of it is a small price to pay for getting the car you want.

This.

I have been to every corner of the country to buy cars.

The way I see it is the further away the longer and better the drive home.

No better way to familiarise yourself with a car than to do a 3 hour plus drive in it as soon as you get it.

[NotGotABimmer23]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...?atmobcid=soc3

Looks a nice motor.

[dizzy619]

Originally Posted by Surg_Capt_R

Don't know why anyone has not suggested an M3 but with that kind of annual mileage I would say something like this:

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...15-bhp/8863100

Or even an S3 Quattro:

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...--2013/8860820

...and if we weren't saving up for a second house. I have always wanted one of these:

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...rranty/7122781

Who in their right mind ever dreamt about owning a non GTR r34 skyline:

[DougMcL]

Originally Posted by kylemacca01

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...?atmobcid=soc3

Looks a nice motor.

Great car! Love the colour. And great value!

[SammT]

Originally Posted by 330XDave

Be prepared to travel for the right car! A day out and the cost of it is a small price to pay for getting the car you want.

Yeah I think where I live I'm gonna have to be prepared to travel! Think I'd enjoy the trip home in a new car

Originally Posted by kylemacca01

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...?atmobcid=soc3

Looks a nice motor.

This was the one I was looking at https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ize=2.6&page=1

That does look nice though..

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by SammT

This was the one I was looking at https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ize=2.6&page=1

That does look nice though..

I'd be wary buying from Big Motoring World based from what I've read. For example:

https://big-motoring-world.pissedcon...om/review.html

and this thread has been running for years on e90post on them:

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...275155&page=63

[Soul_Glo]

Originally Posted by dizzy619

Who in their right mind ever dreamt about owning a non GTR r34 skyline:

I. didnae check. No bother

[skipraider]

Yeah for a low mileage weekend car, I'd be going for petrol, maybe something like this?

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1506100