Services are variable depending on how it is driven but Inspection II tend to come up between 40 and 50k miles and I think has to be done every 7 years but would need to check the manual. Tends to come round at the same time as they need new disks and pads, tryes, diff seals, alternator and A/C belts, sometimes a new alternator and rear bushes. Hence why the dealer cars often seem expensive if they have put them through the service and changed all those parts they might have spent £3k bringing it up to approved used standard. I agreed the price on mine before it went in to be prepared for resale and they ended up changing all of the above on mine before I picked it up. Shouldn’t cost much now, 14k miles or two years till a standard oil service and two years till a brake fluid change. Then it will be another 14k miles or another two years till the cheaper inspection I service. About 45k miles with the dealer doing inspection II is the right time to buy IMO.

 

something like this maybe http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/auc/car_details...SBL920X0PP86150 if you don't mind the stranger colours (I quite like laguna seca blue) there are some bargains but most 2004 facelift cars are going to £19k or so from a dealer.

 

Right...

My car has done 87k it had done 49k when I bought it just under 2 years ago.

Buy one that has just had an Insp II, dealers tend to charge 800-1000, 500-800 for an insp1, I got my last oil service for £130 but that was a BMW mistake

oil service - Insp 1 - oil service - insp 2

driven normally expect 10-12k between services. Track it a lot you'll get less drive miss daisy will see you at 15k miles between services.

I've got 19" CSL wheels. You should get 18's. Michelin Pilot Sport II's on the 19's are around £1k for the set. 18" tyres are a lot cheaper.

Things that break:

Steering angle sensor broke, 350 to replace (disabled traction control)

powersteering system seems a touch fragile. Pump can overheat.

rear trailing arm bushes. Mine have been replaced once. I'm expecting to do it again, will probably poly bush it next time.

Geo can go out over time, tyre wear dependent on it.

OEM front pads and disks are just under £1k. But it's not hard on brakes especially. But if you do track it, you might seize the calipers, check if the seals are ok on your calipers (hindsight is great )

BMW used car warranty has NO excess. So you pay over the odds but you get large peace of mind. Once that year is up, there's an excess. I decided not to renew.

Final thing. With an M BMW, at a dealer, none of their deals cover M cars, but you do get a discount for stuff over 4,5 and 6 years.

I still love my M3. It's a great car, quite easy to hit 150mph, brilliant for overtaking, decent boot, very comfy. I love it, despite the bills. It's cost me a lot to run, but it's given a lot in return.

Cheaper to insure than an S2000...

 

Finally, bluetooth is pretty much rubbish, only works with older phones without potentially spending a lot of money upgrading it. And I think the Harmon Kardon is worth getting. Seat heaters are essential

And you're right to get sat nav. I didn't, I don't regret it, but if I was buying again, it would have it.

 

Dealers will not service an AUBMW unless the next oil change is due in less than 4k miles.

And BT in the E92 is spot on.
Worked with three current (this years) mobiles I have tried without issue.
I would have thought its the same Motorola box?

 

Thanks all, the picture is coming into focus!

I need to do some test driving now but I haven't got a free weekend for about a month. Annoying as my local dealer has (an overpriced) one with the right bits that probably won't be there by the time I get round to it

Does anyone know of any specialist dealers in the South worth looking up?

 

Munich Legends

James Paul (nr Guildford and near Bramley.....)

 

Cheers Pete.

I don't know why I didn't think of ML, I'm always sniffing round their website.

James Paul I recognise, I think they had a 550i touring a while back.

I'm probably dropping the Thruxton race which is in a couple of weeks so might have a chance to look at some cars sooner than I thought

 

I will be near James Paul in the first week of May if you want me to look at anything

I may actually be driving past there on Friday or Saturday too so could see if theres' anything promising

do you know anyone who wants to buy a nice E39 M5?

 

Thanks for the offer

They've got a couple in at the moment but neither are quite right.

One is a CS and perfect apart from the mileage, 78k

I'll keep an eye on their stock over the next couple of weeks though.

It's shame the car's not going to be more of toy because I probably would've had the M5 off you.

BMW have a couple of low mileage E39s - at a price