looking for used car £2,500 - £3,300 - needs reliable engine
Discussion
Hi All,
I'm looking to purchase a used car (£2,500 - £3,300) needs to be ULEZ compliant and an automatic. Need a decent sized car capable of long distance driving on motorways. Currently focusing on BMW 3 series from 2006-2011 as they seem to have a reliable engine.
Any other recommendations? I'm keeping away from very low mileage cars (-75k mileage), what kind of mileage per year should I be looking to avoid going under?
TIA
I'm looking to purchase a used car (£2,500 - £3,300) needs to be ULEZ compliant and an automatic. Need a decent sized car capable of long distance driving on motorways. Currently focusing on BMW 3 series from 2006-2011 as they seem to have a reliable engine.
Any other recommendations? I'm keeping away from very low mileage cars (-75k mileage), what kind of mileage per year should I be looking to avoid going under?
TIA
akucha91 said:
Currently focusing on BMW 3 series from 2006-2011 as they seem to have a reliable engine.
Not sure about that. I'm not a BMW expert, but my impression is that the 4 cylinder engines (which are probably the ones within your budget) had timing chain problems i.e. it was likely to fail and cause the pistons to hit the valves and write off the engine. The N53 six cylinder petrol that was introduced in 2007 is prone to injector problems that are very expensive to fix.As the previous poster said, Japanese with a petrol engine and a manual gearbox, or perhaps the same in a Ford Mondeo or Focus, or a Vauxhall Astra from the same era as the BMW you are looking at.
SP_ said:
Do not buy a 4 cylinder BMW from that era
Someone I know just ditched a 320i of that era after several costly years of aggravation - timing chain, burning oil, oil leaks and just about everything else along the way. Seems to be a common theme with them. Not sure the newer ones are any better - someone else I know just been quoted £4k by an independent garage for new timing chain and vanos on a 2017 320i done 70k with full history. Decky_Q said:
You have a mileage that you don't want to go under?
You're right to address the OP's point:OP said:
I'm keeping away from very low mileage cars (-75k mileage), what kind of mileage per year should I be looking to avoid going under?
I'm not sure avoiding very low mileage cars (and 75k isn't very low mileage) is a thing, especially for petrol-engined cars. Avoiding cars that haven't been used for ages is probably a good idea and not overpaying for low mileage too, but generally speaking a car of the same age that has fewer miles will be less worn out.1.6 Astra:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406231...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406271...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406100...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406080...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406210...
IS250 (you'll want a 57 plate onwards so they're compatable with e10 fuel) these are a good option:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407011...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407011...
2.3 Mondeo Titanium X:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406200...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406301...
Fpcus Titanium:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406271...
Mazda6:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406261...
Cruze:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406221...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406231...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406271...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406100...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406080...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406210...
IS250 (you'll want a 57 plate onwards so they're compatable with e10 fuel) these are a good option:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407011...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407011...
2.3 Mondeo Titanium X:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406200...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406301...
Fpcus Titanium:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406271...
Mazda6:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406261...
Cruze:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406221...
akucha91 said:
Hi All,
I'm looking to purchase a used car (£2,500 - £3,300) needs to be ULEZ compliant and an automatic. Need a decent sized car capable of long distance driving on motorways. Currently focusing on BMW 3 series from 2006-2011 as they seem to have a reliable engine.
Any other recommendations? I'm keeping away from very low mileage cars (-75k mileage), what kind of mileage per year should I be looking to avoid going under?
TIA
Don't get the BMW, it'll be nothing but trouble at that price and age. I'm looking to purchase a used car (£2,500 - £3,300) needs to be ULEZ compliant and an automatic. Need a decent sized car capable of long distance driving on motorways. Currently focusing on BMW 3 series from 2006-2011 as they seem to have a reliable engine.
Any other recommendations? I'm keeping away from very low mileage cars (-75k mileage), what kind of mileage per year should I be looking to avoid going under?
TIA
Get this Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406140...
If looking at other auto Civics, avoid the i-Shift models as they are crap.
ZX10R NIN said:
1.6 Astra:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406231...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406271...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406100...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406080...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406210...
IS250 (you'll want a 57 plate onwards so they're compatable with e10 fuel) these are a good option:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407011...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407011...
2.3 Mondeo Titanium X:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406200...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406301...
Fpcus Titanium:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406271...
Mazda6:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406261...
Cruze:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406221...
Those mondeos or the Mazda look just the job. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406231...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406271...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406100...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406080...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406210...
IS250 (you'll want a 57 plate onwards so they're compatable with e10 fuel) these are a good option:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407011...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407011...
2.3 Mondeo Titanium X:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406200...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406301...
Fpcus Titanium:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406271...
Mazda6:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406261...
Cruze:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406221...
Sensible, no nonsense, loads of life left in them.
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