[Ansonlai]

Hi, everyone said that as long as the car is highway driven, the high km driven will not be a very serious issue.

Just want to know, if there are 2 cars, of which one is 100000km driven in 4 years, while the other one with a lot lesser km driven but is priced up 15k more, what would you choose?

I am thinking to buy a E92 325i, and intend to keep it for 5-6 years enjoying the coupe until I come up wit my family and switching a SUV.
I saw some on the market for 2008 model with about 100000km driven with a decent price, around $45k.
Meanwhile, I saw some 2009 model with a lot lesser km driven, but are hitting $55-60k.

May I ask if it is better off to buy one with lesser km driven? But I feel like there isn't much difference apart from the km driven.

The is always my concern, does it really matter of the km driven? If I intend to keep the car for such a long time, in general, would a lesser km driven car be really more reliable, less faulty, than a higher km driven car? Provide that they are just 08 and 09 production with the identical spec.

[BrenDun]

I'm new to the forum and have the same predicament! I'm looking for a 335i and there's one with 97,000km '09 for $55K and others that have 30,000km for $65K +.
I can't see a prob with highway KM, but when buying a used car you're relying on the seller telling the truth about the type of driving so its a bit daunting.

[kaitan]

Originally Posted by BrenDun

I'm new to the forum and have the same predicament! I'm looking for a 335i and there's one with 97,000km '09 for $55K and others that have 30,000km for $65K +.
I can't see a prob with highway KM, but when buying a used car you're relying on the seller telling the truth about the type of driving so its a bit daunting.

AS long the car is well taken care of and you can see what kind of driver is the owner you kinda have a gut feel whether does he/she knows his/her stuff and whether he/she takes care of the car.

There are some tell tale signs like interior signs that you can kinda judge what kind of driver/carer is the owner. Someone once told me too that if engine has a small fault it's fine it can be fixed. But if the interior is all worn then it makes the car unappealing and dirty?? Know what I mean?

Something like this? http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...1130783/?Cr=47

[Ansonlai]

Originally Posted by BrenDun

I'm new to the forum and have the same predicament! I'm looking for a 335i and there's one with 97,000km '09 for $55K and others that have 30,000km for $65K +.
I can't see a prob with highway KM, but when buying a used car you're relying on the seller telling the truth about the type of driving so its a bit daunting.

I think for 335i, its better to get the 09+ model as ppl are saying the the oil pump in earlier models are having some problem.

And for the used car, I am concerning the reliability of the car in a long run, and whether or not a high km driven is more prone to faulty/repair in the future....
Whether in general, a higher km driven will have more problem or involving more repair work....
I feel like if the cars are just one year older than the other one, I assume the wear and tear of both cars are pretty much the same?

[cartaa100]

I got my 335i with 35,000 on the clock, I couldn't be more happy! Higher kms generally means, more little problems more rattles more wear and tear issues.
Keep saving and get a low k, great condition car- you won't regret it

[Ansonlai]

Originally Posted by kaitan

AS long the car is well taken care of and you can see what kind of driver is the owner you kinda have a gut feel whether does he/she knows his/her stuff and whether he/she takes care of the car.

There are some tell tale signs like interior signs that you can kinda judge what kind of driver/carer is the owner. Someone once told me too that if engine has a small fault it's fine it can be fixed. But if the interior is all worn then it makes the car unappealing and dirty?? Know what I mean?

Something like this? http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...1130783/?Cr=47

What if I buy the car from a dealer?
And in term of the mechanical issue, what are the common issue that a E92 325i will face/ most probably need to be replaced or repair due to aging?
What about the gear box? And engine? These are my most concern things as these are relatively expensive to replace or fix.

[QLD]

Newest, and lowest KMs, any day of the week.

[kaitan]

Originally Posted by Ansonlai

What if I buy the car from a dealer?
And in term of the mechanical issue, what are the common issue that a E92 325i will face/ most probably need to be replaced or repair due to aging?
What about the gear box? And engine? These are my most concern things as these are relatively expensive to replace or fix.

ZF Gearbox is pretty much bullet proof. I'm sure other 325i driver can chime in on their view on 325i.

From my view Bmw is like any other car if you take care of it, the car will take car of itself. Just make sure the car has a full service history.

[Ansonlai]

Originally Posted by cartaa100

I got my 335i with 35,000 on the clock, I couldn't be more happy! Higher kms generally means, more little problems more rattles more wear and tear issues.
Keep saving and get a low k, great condition car- you won't regret it

My view is, the 4 series is due to release, I am trying to get the current shape with a decent price. If the price is closing to 60k, I may choose to go for the 4 series.
My Target is to get something like 08 or 09 model, some are like 70000 with a very tempting deal like $48000.
Btw, are these deals too good to be true? I saw one 2009 335i coupe with 30000km priced at $57000 only,
And one 325i coupe 2008 model with 60000+ km driven...both are M sport version.

[Ansonlai]

Originally Posted by Ansonlai

My view is, the 4 series is due to release, I am trying to get the current shape with a decent price. If the price is closing to 60k, I may choose to go for the 4 series.
My Target is to get something like 08 or 09 model, some are like 70000 with a very tempting deal like $48000.
Btw, are these deals too good to be true? I saw one 2009 335i coupe with 30000km priced at $57000 only,
And one 325i coupe 2008 model with 60000+ km driven...both are M sport version.

Sorry, if the price is closing to 70k

[_ink]

To me, km's are km's no matter how it is driven. I personally would pay extra for lower km's and the colour and extra options.

But everyone is different and has different purchasing criteria's.

[cartaa100]

Originally Posted by Ansonlai

My view is, the 4 series is due to release, I am trying to get the current shape with a decent price. If the price is closing to 60k, I may choose to go for the 4 series.
My Target is to get something like 08 or 09 model, some are like 70000 with a very tempting deal like $48000.
Btw, are these deals too good to be true? I saw one 2009 335i coupe with 30000km priced at $57000 only,
And one 325i coupe 2008 model with 60000+ km driven...both are M sport version.

Yeah I've seen that 2009 it is way to good to be true! I paid 60 for mine with Msport, silver, black and alloy interior and 08 with 35,000ks
But if I were you hold out for a low k good colour combo car

[Ansonlai]

Originally Posted by cartaa100

Yeah I've seen that 2009 it is way to good to be true! I paid 60 for mine with Msport, silver, black and alloy interior and 08 with 35,000ks
But if I were you hold out for a low k good colour combo car

Are you talking about the 335i? Yes, I doubt if it has sth wrong.
I like the 335i, particularly for the gear lever, looks great.
Power wise, I am not so into it if I have to pay 10-20k more. So, I am more after a 325i, and thinking if a 2008-09 model driven 80000km pricing around $45-48000.
For the 4 series, I prefer the current shape instead, may change my mind if I have a chance to see the ACTUAL 4 series.

[sbce90]

I'd go lower kms

[_ink]

You can pick up 335i's these days for $48k

[Jin-ActiveMotorwerke]

Kms doesn't mean anything on the car. It's how you maintain it. If you service it every 30k kms, it's never going to be as good as a car that gets service every 5000 kms. Oil degrades over time, and clogs up the tiny holes in the oil gallery/channels. And will eventually cause irreversile damage/wear on engine internals.
And a rarely driven car is not always good, as you might ran into problems like flat battery, cooling system failure etc.

[Ansonlai]

Originally Posted by Jin.ActiveMotorwerke

Kms doesn't mean anything on the car. It's how you maintain it. If you service it every 30k kms, it's never going to be as good as a car that gets service every 5000 kms. Oil degrades over time, and clogs up the tiny holes in the oil gallery/channels. And will eventually cause irreversile damage/wear on engine internals.
And a rarely driven car is not always good, as you might ran into problems like flat battery, cooling system failure etc.

I think most of the car will adhere to its standard manufacturer service schedule.
Just want to know, if there is anything I can do to enhance the car condition condition after buying it from the second hand market? Such as performing a thorough service soon after purchasing it? And to re-fresh the condition of the engine internals?
Changing the oil, oil filter, coolant, etc?

[Ansonlai]

Originally Posted by _ink

You can pick up 335i's these days for $48k

$48k may only be able to buy some 07 models with relatively high km driven, considering the oil pump issue for the earlier models, I think it's not good to spend $48k on the 335i, but probably on a 08-09 325i with a moderate km driven?
(If i have to make a choice between 325 or 335 under the same budget, i think i will invest in the 325i with a more decent km driven and a newer year of production.....Though the 335i has a more power output, I think I don't need that much of power as I think I will use it for normal cruising)
Or a 07-08 335i with 90k+ km still mechanically better than 08-09 325i with 70-80k+ km driven??

[Jin-ActiveMotorwerke]

You will be surprise, I would say at least a fifth of the cars comes through to the dealership has went over their service schedule. Check the service book and make sure oil change is done in interval no less than 25000kms, which is alreay a very long interval.
BMW has fine print somewhere that this interval should be shorten according to the whether, encvironment, driving style and road conditions.
You can shorten the service interval to add in one more oil change in between the normal service interval and do a few engine flush together with the first few oil change. They will help clear up some of the sludge built up in the engine.

[Ansonlai]

Actually, is there any way I can do to re-condition the engine after buying a second hand car? Such as doing something like engine flush that advertised on the Internet? Or changing all the fluid for brake, coolant, oil and gearbox, in the engine compartment?
If it is not too expensive, I think no matter which car I will end up buying, I will still doing so, just for a peace of mind, feeling I have done something for my car.......

[Jin-ActiveMotorwerke]

Originally Posted by Ansonlai

$48k may only be able to buy some 07 models with relatively high km driven, considering the oil pump issue for the earlier models, I think it's not good to spend $48k on the 335i, but probably on a 08-09 325i with a moderate km driven?
(If i have to make a choice between 325 or 335 under the same budget, i think i will invest in the 325i with a more decent km driven and a newer year of production.....Though the 335i has a more power output, I think I don't need that much of power as I think I will use it for normal cruising)
Or a 07-08 335i with 90k+ km still mechanically better than 08-09 325i with 70-80k+ km driven??

What oil pump issue? Never seen one in the 8 years I work on BMWs.

[Ansonlai]

Originally Posted by Jin.ActiveMotorwerke

What oil pump issue? Never seen one in the 8 years I work on BMWs.

I saw post in the past stating that the earlier 335i model got something like the valve or the high flow oil pump issue? And need to be changed.
And there is another post recently regarding the "sudden loss of power"?