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looking for used car £2,500 - £3,300 - needs reliable engine
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looking for used car £2,500 - £3,300 - needs reliable engine

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akucha91

Original Poster:

1 posts

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Wednesday
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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 smile

RazerSauber

2,353 posts

63 months

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If you just want reliability, pick Japanese and petrol. Watch out for corrosion and you'll be fine. Honda, Toyota and Mazda are all pretty bullet proof.

SP_

2,818 posts

108 months

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Do not buy a 4 cylinder BMW from that era

trevalvole

1,129 posts

36 months

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Wednesday
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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.

7 5 7

3,293 posts

114 months

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Avensis 1.8 - Petrol
Insignia 1.8 - Petrol
Astra 1.4/1.6/1.8 - Petrol
Vectra 1.8 - Petrol
Focus 1.6 - Petrol
Golf 1.4/1.6 - Petrol
Auris 1.3 - Petrol

All more reliable than the 4 cylinder petrol beamers, and ULEZ also get a newer car too in some cases.

MuscleSedan

1,558 posts

178 months

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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

1,542 posts

180 months

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Wednesday
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You have a mileage that you don't want to go under?
A £3k BMW is the most reliable car you can think of?

Get a petrol toyota corrolla, flush fluids and service it on time. If you really want it to last forever get it waxoyl'd underneath.

trevalvole

1,129 posts

36 months

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Wednesday
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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.

blue_haddock

3,419 posts

70 months

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Wednesday
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For less than £3k needing reliable transport i would be looking at things like a toyota corolla or avensis, kia Ceed or hyundai I30.

not exciting but definitely more reliable than an older beemer.

s p a c e m a n

10,844 posts

151 months

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georgeyboy12345

3,597 posts

38 months

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[news]
Wednesday
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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 smile
Don't get the BMW, it'll be nothing but trouble at that price and age.

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.

Shabaza

228 posts

100 months

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If you're not too fussed about economy. Lexus GS300/450h
What is lacks in mpg. It makes up for in less headache maintenance bills

The 450h isn't super economical despite being hybrid, but fantastic performance upgrade
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