Down to a choice of 2

[Trixman]

From the information I gleamed from pistonheads I didnt end up buying the first car I saw, which ended up not having its oil change first service.

I've whittled it down to two, both around the same price, both black M3 cabs, both 2003 with FSH, big nav etc... difference being number one is SMG (my preference) with 55,000 miles... number two is manual, but had a new engine 3,000 miles ago (the car itself has done around 55,000).

My question is whether having a new engine is a bad thing? I've tried gleaming information from the dealer who is basically clueless (asked about difference service dates etc). Now the engine is of course fully guaranteed from BMW (and they are saying new, not reconditioned). Im just worried about things like the wear on the other bits and pieces, why the engine went pop in the first place and did it effect anything else (is there anything else to effect?)

I've been battling over this for 2 days so thought I would put it out there and get your opinions...

[cosmos_steve]

I would go by the condition and history of the cars. These, I would examine forensically. Having a new engine may not be too detrimental, but personally I wouldn't favour it. Are these cars pre-face lift? I would go for the car which is in better condition, and where the history can be cross-checked and verified

[Trixman]

cosmos_steve said:

I would go by the condition and history of the cars. These, I would examine forensically. Having a new engine may not be too detrimental, but personally I wouldn't favour it. Are these cars pre-face lift? I would go for the car which is in better condition, and where the history can be cross-checked and verified

I think both are pretty good, history wise. Although my problem is they are in a different part of the country and I'd have to fly to get to them (one in Madrid, other Barcelona), so bit restrictive. Both imported from Germany, and they are very strict on dodgy cars... All Spanish cars have been clocked to death and many dont even have log books.

They are pre-face lift, and yea the new engine just seems dodgy, although the allure of having a brand new one is nice, it is worrying to think it exploded in a shower of cogs and what else it took out along the way.

[mat205125]

Having a new engine is no bad thing if the old one was fked

[WindsorRob]

Think about this way, you are wondering about the new engine.

When you come to sell it, so will potential buyers.

It's put me off cars before, depends how long you want to keep it and hence when the resale issue will arise. Jusy my opinion !

[outnumbered]

Wouldn't put me off at all... seems like a positive advantage in fact to have a new engine.

Say you were comparing two otherwise completely identical 50K mile cars, surely most people would choose to go for the one that had a new engine at 45K ??

[Trixman]

Well... ended up going for neither! Going to buy a car in the UK and drive it over.

To put it into perspective... the spec for those in Spain (and these are the norm):

M3 cab SMG
2003
85,000kms (around 55k miles)
sat nav

28,000 squid! And NEITHER had the 1200 mile service done (they said they did until I saw the log book).

All in all, Spain is a complete ripoff for second hand cars and none of the dealers (or in fact anyone) has the slightest bit of a clue about car maintenance (good example is when i sold my car, nobody asked to look at a log book).

So instead for the same budget I had in Spain, Im looking at an M3 cab or a newer 335i (or even a CSL if I can find one cheap enough).