Buying Cat N 330d Touring

[Fraxinu5]

I have been drawn in by an advert for the below car. It is however a Cat N which suffered “minor engine flood”. Spoken with the guy who has been upfront in the ad and is willing to provide contact details of the garage that carried out repairs.

I don’t know if I’m being drawn in by an attractive price and just setting myself up for heartbreak.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209109...

[helix402]

Usual water ingestion damage on these is fixed with a set of rods. If it’s done properly no reason why it won’t be reliable, apart from usual N57 caveats if it’s one of those.

[SlowV6]

I personally wouldn't. The price is competitive but after checking AT it is not so attractive as to offset the fact it is a Cat-N and suffered a hydrolocked (?) engine.

£18k is a chunk of money after all.

[d_a_n1979]

Fraxinu5 said:

I have been drawn in by an advert for the below car. It is however a Cat N which suffered “minor engine flood”. Spoken with the guy who has been upfront in the ad and is willing to provide contact details of the garage that carried out repairs.

I don’t know if I’m being drawn in by an attractive price and just setting myself up for heartbreak.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209109...

Pre LCi
No pro nav
No heated seats
£18k and a Cat N...

No thanks; sorry; but it's simply not worth it...

Deffo keep looking and get a better spec car

[Monkeylegend]

The date on the car with the advertised mileage is 15th August so apparently not used and no takers for over 4 months, despite his assurance first to see will buy.

You also need to think of the potential issues you might have if and when you want to sell.

[bmwmike]

Lots of those about why settle on a write off?

Personally I'd never touch any categorised car as it always raises questions about what actually caused it to be a write off and also at resale.

[craigjm]

Not worth it. Look for the next one

[PHZero]

The exhaust tips don't look standard. I thought that the 330d of that era had twin pipes on the left. Perhaps I'm wrong.

Insuring a modified write-off could be expensive!

[Earthdweller]

I assume it would come up on a history search as “flood damage” which would I think be a massive red card to 99% of potential buyers when you come to seek

[Fraxinu5]

Thanks everyone, I guessed what the response would be, and probably already new in my own mind that it would be a bad idea.

I'v also just found this example on PH, seems pretty cheap for a 335d xDrive, what is putting me off is the red leather. It might just be my tatse, but I have no idea why you would choose that colour, it looks like an Amsterdam pleasure house inside.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14050548

The one I'm seriously considering, and will go to see next week is this one....

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212172...

Any words of wisdom appreciated.

[e21Keith]

Can't speak for whether the car is value for money or not?

I've had a number on cat C,D,N & S cars over the years, most of them I bought as damaged and repaired myself, so I repaired them properly. My Daughter drives a Cat S Fiesta that I repaired myself and I wouldn't put her in something that wasn't right.

However I've seen a number of horrifically repaired vehicles with and without categories that were just plain dangerous. So It's all down to how well it was repaired.

[helix402]

Both the 335s you’ve linked are a bit modified. The first also has a particularly poorly fitting bonnet.

[mooseracer]

And the blue one seems to be a 320?

[d_a_n1979]

Fraxinu5 said:

Thanks everyone, I guessed what the response would be, and probably already new in my own mind that it would be a bad idea.

I'v also just found this example on PH, seems pretty cheap for a 335d xDrive, what is putting me off is the red leather. It might just be my tatse, but I have no idea why you would choose that colour, it looks like an Amsterdam pleasure house inside.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14050548

The one I'm seriously considering, and will go to see next week is this one....

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212172...

Any words of wisdom appreciated.

A pal of mine who lives on The Wirral went to see that 335D before he shipped out again...

He wasn't happy with a few things and he knows these cars well with already owning an F30 M3 and a 330i Touring...

There's something about that ad that made me question a few things too.

It's in budget for me and my next car but my pals feedback put me right off...

I can't remember specifically what he said but if he said leave it be, I trust his judgement!

[ian332isport]

PHZero said:

The exhaust tips don't look standard. I thought that the 330d of that era had twin pipes on the left. Perhaps I'm wrong.

Agreed. That's got a 340i rear box fitted. Lots of other small mods visible too. Rear diffuser and front grill are not standard. Aftermarket tints too.

[Fraxinu5]

mooseracer said:

And the blue one seems to be a 320?

Yeah, I’d love to get a 330d but I would settle for the 320d, and it has a good spec. I’d obviously like lower mileage (who wouldn’t), but budget constraints mean compromises have to be made.

[Fraxinu5]

d_a_n1979 said:

A pal of mine who lives on The Wirral went to see that 335D before he shipped out again...

He wasn't happy with a few things and he knows these cars well with already owning an F30 M3 and a 330i Touring...

There's something about that ad that made me question a few things too.

It's in budget for me and my next car but my pals feedback put me right off...

I can't remember specifically what he said but if he said leave it be, I trust his judgement!

Cheers for that mate, I was already put off by the red, and something definitely doesn’t feel right when considering price vs. Spec.

Hopefully the blue one I posted will be good, just a step down to a 320d.

[d_a_n1979]

Fraxinu5 said:

d_a_n1979 said:

A pal of mine who lives on The Wirral went to see that 335D before he shipped out again...

He wasn't happy with a few things and he knows these cars well with already owning an F30 M3 and a 330i Touring...

There's something about that ad that made me question a few things too.

It's in budget for me and my next car but my pals feedback put me right off...

I can't remember specifically what he said but if he said leave it be, I trust his judgement!

Cheers for that mate, I was already put off by the red, and something definitely doesn’t feel right when considering price vs. Spec.

Hopefully the blue one I posted will be good, just a step down to a 320d.

This has been in my watch list; not sure if you've seen it:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210170...

Looks to be a good example and well spec'd

[Fraxinu5]

d_a_n1979 said:

This has been in my watch list; not sure if you've seen it:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210170...

Looks to be a good example and well spec'd

I think I did see it, but mileage was high and getting on a bit. Maybe I shouldn’t be concerned, but when dropping £15-17k do I want a car with 90k miles and almost 9 years old?
I guess if I’ve got my heart set on a 3 series touring, these maybe the compromises I need to make.

I’m not particularly clued up on BMW’s (or most cars really), so some insight into buying an older 3 series would be helpful.

I was ideally looking for 2016 or above, but maybe I’m dreaming with my budget. The 2016 blue 320d seemed a good bet to me, especially since it has most of the optional extras I want, the drawback being it’s a 2L not the 3L.

I’m feeling pretty conflicted tbh, and it’s a big chunk of change for me, I’ve even started to consider the Skoda Octavia Vrs, but prices aren’t too different from the 3 series, maybe a little newer with slightly less miles, but a little uninspiring compared to the look of the 3 series.

[Fraxinu5]

Ad says 90k miles but description has it at 106k, so even less appealing unfortunately.