Newer w/Higher Mileage OR Older w/Less Miles?
Discussion
I'm looking at buying a 1 series, from 2015 onwards, with a budget up to around £12,000.
Recently been looking at a few 2017 facelift models at £11,500, ~25k-30k miles, and nearly pulled the trigger on one, except I realised they had lied and there was no BMW service history on the car.
I've since found a 2015 model, essentially the same spec, except its the pre-facelift, so doesn't have the fancy speedometer and a few other trim changes, but its only got 13k miles on it, having an average yearly use of ~3k! This one has 3 services on the iDrive, so seems to have been serviced properly. Its listed for £11,000.
Do you think the 2015 model will be fine in terms of running, due to low mileage and servicing, and also thinking a bit about resale in 3 or 4 years? Or would it be a smarter decision to put £500-£1000 more towards the facelifted model which is a couple of years newer, although will have around double the mileage?
Recently been looking at a few 2017 facelift models at £11,500, ~25k-30k miles, and nearly pulled the trigger on one, except I realised they had lied and there was no BMW service history on the car.
I've since found a 2015 model, essentially the same spec, except its the pre-facelift, so doesn't have the fancy speedometer and a few other trim changes, but its only got 13k miles on it, having an average yearly use of ~3k! This one has 3 services on the iDrive, so seems to have been serviced properly. Its listed for £11,000.
Do you think the 2015 model will be fine in terms of running, due to low mileage and servicing, and also thinking a bit about resale in 3 or 4 years? Or would it be a smarter decision to put £500-£1000 more towards the facelifted model which is a couple of years newer, although will have around double the mileage?
3k/year mileage wouldn't put me off... unless it was a diesel.
With regards to your main question, it depends on your personal preferences. I would almost always want the facelifted model but that's because I'd otherwise be sat thinking "If only I paid a few K more I could've had the nicer infotainment..." or other features that have been improved.
With regards to your main question, it depends on your personal preferences. I would almost always want the facelifted model but that's because I'd otherwise be sat thinking "If only I paid a few K more I could've had the nicer infotainment..." or other features that have been improved.
J1990 said:
3k/year mileage wouldn't put me off... unless it was a diesel.
With regards to your main question, it depends on your personal preferences. I would almost always want the facelifted model but that's because I'd otherwise be sat thinking "If only I paid a few K more I could've had the nicer infotainment..." or other features that have been improved.
I'm only looking at petrols, so short journeys shouldn't be too damaging.With regards to your main question, it depends on your personal preferences. I would almost always want the facelifted model but that's because I'd otherwise be sat thinking "If only I paid a few K more I could've had the nicer infotainment..." or other features that have been improved.
I do need to double check it iDrive changed at all, as aside from the newer digital speedometer and a few trim colour changes, the seats, controls, screen, exterior looks all stayed the same.
Try & get a one with the later B38 3 cylinder petrol engine , 2015 is when they were on the change from the 4 cylinder which was not great for reliability.
Chances are that if its a 2015 118i it will be a the B38 ( 136bhp ) which so sar have proven to pretty good for reliability.
The 4 cylinder was sold a 116i ( 136bhp ) & 118i ( 170bhp i think ).
My advise would buy the newest car you can afford with full service history, electrics are not the best on BMWs & seem to give problems the older the cars get.
Chances are that if its a 2015 118i it will be a the B38 ( 136bhp ) which so sar have proven to pretty good for reliability.
The 4 cylinder was sold a 116i ( 136bhp ) & 118i ( 170bhp i think ).
My advise would buy the newest car you can afford with full service history, electrics are not the best on BMWs & seem to give problems the older the cars get.
rosejem said:
Try & get a one with the later B38 3 cylinder petrol engine , 2015 is when they were on the change from the 4 cylinder which was not great for reliability.
Chances are that if its a 2015 118i it will be a the B38 ( 136bhp ) which so sar have proven to pretty good for reliability.
The 4 cylinder was sold a 116i ( 136bhp ) & 118i ( 170bhp i think ).
My advise would buy the newest car you can afford with full service history, electrics are not the best on BMWs & seem to give problems the older the cars get.
This one is the 134bhp 118i, so should be the 3 cylinder. Chances are that if its a 2015 118i it will be a the B38 ( 136bhp ) which so sar have proven to pretty good for reliability.
The 4 cylinder was sold a 116i ( 136bhp ) & 118i ( 170bhp i think ).
My advise would buy the newest car you can afford with full service history, electrics are not the best on BMWs & seem to give problems the older the cars get.
I'll try to stick to 2017 onwards in that case, not worth risking an expensive job for the sake of £500 and a few thousand miles...
Although there's only been a handful of facelift 2017 models within budget!
ZX10R NIN said:
If you're doing some miles wouldn't you be better off with a diesel?
My Seat is a diesel, and it's been great for economy, but I think its a dieing breed. Being in Birmingham, the centre is soon installing the emissions tax, and I think that'll soon extend to ban all diesels from cities in a few years. DaSam21 said:
My Seat is a diesel, and it's been great for economy, but I think its a dieing breed. Being in Birmingham, the centre is soon installing the emissions tax, and I think that'll soon extend to ban all diesels from cities in a few years.
That's the fear mongering, all cities will adopt the ULEZ rules eventually so as long as the cars you're looking at are Euro6 you'll be fine.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff