Horrible idea, or really horrible idea?

"CB" (jrcb)
03/08/2015 at 19:52 • Filed to: NPoCP

A 2003 BMW 330i for $2999 sounds like a bargain, right? Too bad it has 408,000 kilometres. Four-hundred and eight thousand kilometres. Or roughly 253,000 miles for the Americans. And it still needs to be tested and certified an extra $699 at the dealer. Holy shit. For a twelve year old BMW? How soon is everything going to explode?

Linkage is !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Notice no interior pics. What surprises could possibly await?

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EDIT: No, I am not looking to purchase this. I just found it and thought it might be worth sharing.

DISCUSSION (18)

Conan > CB
03/08/2015 at 19:55

If it's one owner somebody LOVED that car at the least.

CB > Conan
03/08/2015 at 20:00

Yeah. To drive an average of 34,000 kilometres a year, you damn well better love the car.

bob and john > CB
03/08/2015 at 20:01

yuo know what...there is a point where the car simply wont GET to that milage without PROPER care. I would do it.

thebigbossyboss > CB
03/08/2015 at 20:03

Crack pipe. Anything german with that mileage..know when to walk awa know when to run!

Leadbull > CB
03/08/2015 at 20:18

I mean, for 3 grand, that's a great car.

If it turns out to be a problem child, just ditch it for not much loss.

Mike > CB
03/08/2015 at 20:22

Friend of mine in Chicago has an almost identical car, except that his was anything but loved (he's not exactly a car guy, and the Bimmer was a hand-me-down) and is going on 300k. Barring a few issues with the seats and windows, nothing on the bloody thing has broken. I dunno, maybe there's something to 2003 330i's that we all don't know about.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > CB
03/08/2015 at 20:56

My mechanic drove a 540i to 300k+ miles with minimal maintenance (as in minimum required - fluids, brakes, etc.) and minimum issues outside of redoing the vanos guides a few times. So certain models at least can run forever (not sure if this is one of them)

XSeriesWalkingDead > CB
03/08/2015 at 20:58

I'd do it, unless it has a salvage title or something just as bad. I'm looking at a 2002 Subaru Outback with 201,000 miles for $2500.

sellphones2493 > CB
03/08/2015 at 21:04

This just passed through Manheim. Note the mileage. The Carfax showed it as a 1-Owner, solely dealer maintained. He/she had to throw at least 40K into it...

Kinja'd!!!

The good thing about these cars with high-mileages is that the PO had to be doing something right.

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > thebigbossyboss
03/08/2015 at 21:53

If its been maintained religously (unlikely) then he shouldn't worry too much. He would have to continue that level of maintenance as well and it isn't cheap to do that. There are a quite a few guys who have over 200,000 miles on their M3's and a couple with over 300,000.

pip bip - choose Corrour > CB
03/08/2015 at 22:02

my Mitsubishi lancer was built in 2003 , now has 558,000km in it from new 1 owner.

but as for the BMW , buy it drive it till it breaks. considering it's done that many kms it should be fine!

CB > pip bip - choose Corrour
03/08/2015 at 22:08

That's impressive, not going to lie.

Trunk Impaired 318 > CB
03/08/2015 at 22:09

Honestly for it to have gone that far somebody must have taken at least decent if not great care of it which is thats the case I wouldnt be too worried. And for that price you could drive it until/if something grenades itself and part it out to make at least $1-2k back. Get a PPI and look at the service history and if its all clean go for it, most of the problems that you hear people complain about BMWs are die to the fact that theyre negelected. BMW builds a car knowing full well that some parts only have a lifespan of 10ish years and expects the owners to replace them and do the proper maintenance. If that's all acknowledged by the owner and taken care of the cars will run forever

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > CB
03/09/2015 at 00:45

I had a friend who got a "great deal" on a BMW just like this one.

He was always spending $$$$ on it fixing shit... and recently the engine blew.

So that was the end of that.

jj > CB
03/09/2015 at 01:44

Not even a good price.

ciscokidinsf > CB
03/09/2015 at 04:04

With proper care, if one or two owners, and its a Manual - I would say, nice price. The 330i of the e46 is the most reliable one (no shit, check steve lehto's articles on the trade quality index) yes the E46 will crap out two things (some electronics, window reg, and coolant bits) other than that - with regular care, they're solid. Suspension might need a refresh (control arms, shocks) but I would buy if in market assuming 2 owner car. One owner is even better

thebigbossyboss > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
03/09/2015 at 06:44

*looks at name*

*sees poster drives M3*

*Looks at side bar*

*last post by user: bye bye pay cheque*

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > thebigbossyboss
03/09/2015 at 08:48

In fairness I said it wasn't cheap!