HELP thinking of purchasing a 320i BMW (year 2002) with 194,000 km's on it

On 26 Mag, 16:19, Selena > wrote:
> Any advice would be appreciated (ie. very high mileage, suggestion for
> getting vehicle service history, what type of things go wrong with a
> car with 194,000 kms...). Thank you. I will check this site often
> today in the hopes someone can help.

Well, before buying a used bmw you should try to compare many
different ones, don't just stop at the first you see. A 320 is not
very rare so probably you can find better ones. Contrary to what
people think, 200.000km is way below what a car can do, so if it needs
expensive repairs it is not because of the mileage but because of
something else (mileage much higher than declared, crashed vehicle, or
pure hard luck). I had a 130000km 520i which was 15 years old and
still running just fine (just a worn out water pump, not so
expensive). Probably the best bet for 15k$ is a '00 car with fewer
kms, if you plan to use it for a long long time.

On May 26, 10:19 am, Selena > wrote:
> Hi everyone -
>
> I just joined this group after a day of car shopping. I've always
> loved the 3 series BMW but thought they were out of my price range. I
> saw a beautiful one yesterday (for $15 000), it's an automatic 320i
> BMW (year 2002) with 194,000 km's on it.
>
> The car is in mint condition inside and out, not a scratch or dent on
> it. Problem: the dealership does not have any service history on the
> car (no book). I plan on calling my local BMW dealerships to try to
> find out (I have the VIN number) if they have done any servicing on
> that particular vehicle. I really like this car (and can afford it)
> but don't want to make a big mistake by purchasing a car that is about
> to break down (194,000 km's). I couldn't afford major repairs. I
> realize I could buy a bmw with lower mileage but they cost more.
>
> Any advice would be appreciated (ie. very high mileage, suggestion for
> getting vehicle service history, what type of things go wrong with a
> car with 194,000 kms...). Thank you. I will check this site often
> today in the hopes someone can help.

This is a nice car, but is past the half-way point on its life journey
(194k is way too high mileage for the price and vice versa). If the
service records show that the oil, transmission fluid, air filters, a/
c, alternator, radiator (and/or coolant), spark plugs, ignition
wiring, and battery have all been changed or repaired during these 194
kms, then I think it won't give you any major headaches. But, I think
you could definitely find a better deal than this. Or haggle down to
about 9000 to 10500 for this car.

On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:24:55 -0700, noobiedoobie > wrote:

>On May 26, 10:19 am, Selena > wrote:
>> Hi everyone -
>>
>> I just joined this group after a day of car shopping. I've always
>> loved the 3 series BMW but thought they were out of my price range. I
>> saw a beautiful one yesterday (for $15 000), it's an automatic 320i
>> BMW (year 2002) with 194,000 km's on it.
>>
>> The car is in mint condition inside and out, not a scratch or dent on
>> it. Problem: the dealership does not have any service history on the
>> car (no book). I plan on calling my local BMW dealerships to try to
>> find out (I have the VIN number) if they have done any servicing on
>> that particular vehicle. I really like this car (and can afford it)
>> but don't want to make a big mistake by purchasing a car that is about
>> to break down (194,000 km's). I couldn't afford major repairs. I
>> realize I could buy a bmw with lower mileage but they cost more.
>>
>> Any advice would be appreciated (ie. very high mileage, suggestion for
>> getting vehicle service history, what type of things go wrong with a
>> car with 194,000 kms...). Thank you. I will check this site often
>> today in the hopes someone can help.
>
>This is a nice car, but is past the half-way point on its life journey
>(194k is way too high mileage for the price and vice versa). If the
>service records show that the oil, transmission fluid, air filters, a/
>c, alternator, radiator (and/or coolant), spark plugs, ignition
>wiring, and battery have all been changed or repaired during these 194
>kms, then I think it won't give you any major headaches. But, I think
>you could definitely find a better deal than this. Or haggle down to
>about 9000 to 10500 for this car.

That's only 121K MILES so its not too OTT. Probably give in the UK about 10K GB
pounds for it but US prices are lower

In article >, says...
> On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:24:55 -0700, noobiedoobie > wrote:
>
> >On May 26, 10:19 am, Selena > wrote:
> >> Hi everyone -
> >>
> >> I just joined this group after a day of car shopping. I've always
> >> loved the 3 series BMW but thought they were out of my price range. I
> >> saw a beautiful one yesterday (for $15 000), it's an automatic 320i
> >> BMW (year 2002) with 194,000 km's on it.

>
> That's only 121K MILES so its not too OTT. Probably give in the UK about 10K GB
> pounds for it but US prices are lower
>

5 year old 320i with 120k miles - 10k? Surely not.

--
jeremy

On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:32:27 +0100, Jeremy > wrote:

>In article >, says...
>> On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:24:55 -0700, noobiedoobie > wrote:
>>
>> >On May 26, 10:19 am, Selena > wrote:
>> >> Hi everyone -
>> >>
>> >> I just joined this group after a day of car shopping. I've always
>> >> loved the 3 series BMW but thought they were out of my price range. I
>> >> saw a beautiful one yesterday (for $15 000), it's an automatic 320i
>> >> BMW (year 2002) with 194,000 km's on it.
>
>>
>> That's only 121K MILES so its not too OTT. Probably give in the UK about 10K GB
>> pounds for it but US prices are lower
>>
>
>5 year old 320i with 120k miles - 10k? Surely not.

Guy next door to me just paid 6500 for a 1999 520

On Jun 14, 12:27 pm, wrote:
> On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:32:27 +0100, Jeremy > wrote:
> >In article >, says...
> >> On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:24:55 -0700, noobiedoobie > wrote:
>
> >> >On May 26, 10:19 am, Selena > wrote:
> >> >> Hi everyone -
>
> >> >> I just joined this group after a day of car shopping. I've always
> >> >> loved the 3 series BMW but thought they were out of my price range. I
> >> >> saw a beautiful one yesterday (for $15 000), it's an automatic 320i
> >> >> BMW (year 2002) with 194,000 km's on it.
>
> >> That's only 121K MILES so its not too OTT. Probably give in the UK about 10K GB
> >> pounds for it but US prices are lower
>
> >5 year old 320i with 120k miles - 10k? Surely not.
>
> Guy next door to me just paid 6500 for a 1999 520- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to try to help me out on
this purchase. Unfortunately by the time I obtained the service
history on the vehicle (had to do some digging as it was serviced at a
different dealership) the vehicle was sold. Perhaps it wasn't meant
to be. So I will take all the advice I've been given and keep looking
for a similar car with lower mileage. Consumer Reports recommends the
year 2001 and on for the 3 series BMW...which is why it's been
difficult for me to find one within my price range. I'll keep looking
and may post again at a later time if I find another one in my price
range. Thanks again.

In article >, says...
> On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:32:27 +0100, Jeremy > wrote:
>
> >In article >, says...
> >> On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:24:55 -0700, noobiedoobie > wrote:
> >>
> >> >On May 26, 10:19 am, Selena > wrote:
> >> >> Hi everyone -
> >> >>
> >> >> I just joined this group after a day of car shopping. I've always
> >> >> loved the 3 series BMW but thought they were out of my price range. I
> >> >> saw a beautiful one yesterday (for $15 000), it's an automatic 320i
> >> >> BMW (year 2002) with 194,000 km's on it.
> >
> >>
> >> That's only 121K MILES so its not too OTT. Probably give in the UK about 10K GB
> >> pounds for it but US prices are lower
> >>
> >
> >5 year old 320i with 120k miles - 10k? Surely not.
>
> Guy next door to me just paid 6500 for a 1999 520
>
Sounds expensive as well.
--
jeremy

On Tue, 19 Jun 2007 08:14:23 +0100, Jeremy > wrote:

>In article >, says...
>> On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:32:27 +0100, Jeremy > wrote:
>>
>> >In article >, says...
>> >> On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:24:55 -0700, noobiedoobie > wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >On May 26, 10:19 am, Selena > wrote:
>> >> >> Hi everyone -
>> >> >>
>> >> >> I just joined this group after a day of car shopping. I've always
>> >> >> loved the 3 series BMW but thought they were out of my price range. I
>> >> >> saw a beautiful one yesterday (for $15 000), it's an automatic 320i
>> >> >> BMW (year 2002) with 194,000 km's on it.
>> >
>> >>
>> >> That's only 121K MILES so its not too OTT. Probably give in the UK about 10K GB
>> >> pounds for it but US prices are lower
>> >>
>> >
>> >5 year old 320i with 120k miles - 10k? Surely not.
>>
>> Guy next door to me just paid 6500 for a 1999 520
>>
>Sounds expensive as well.

Pay your money and take your choice - he's happy.