Help me find a car for 3k
17 January 2012, 05:39 PM
#2
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you looking at Focus type things, cheap to run, cheap to insure, newer or BMW, Merc, performance, etc where you would need to buy older cost more in juice but a much more comfortable place to be and potentially a bit of fun?
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17 January 2012, 08:59 PM
#14
NO!!!
At that age and mileage I'd want to see invoices for new shocks, new lower arm bushes and possibly rear arms as well.
Also for M54 petrol engines: themostat, MAF, and Cam sensors. And also a live data read out of the Vanos actual values vs target when the revs are below 2000rpm.
Other than that, yeah 'just run in'
17 January 2012, 09:05 PM
#15
NO!!!
At that age and mileage I'd want to see invoices for new shocks, new lower arm bushes and possibly rear arms as well.
Also for M54 petrol engines: themostat, MAF, and Cam sensors. And also a live data read out of the Vanos actual values vs target when the revs are below 2000rpm.
Other than that, yeah 'just run in'
At that age and mileage I'd want to see invoices for new shocks, new lower arm bushes and possibly rear arms as well.
Also for M54 petrol engines: themostat, MAF, and Cam sensors. And also a live data read out of the Vanos actual values vs target when the revs are below 2000rpm.
Other than that, yeah 'just run in'
17 January 2012, 09:24 PM
#16
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The thing is for £3K you are looking at an E46 and as you've seen 100K plus.
Now they are at the stage where things are going to start going wrong and start to cost you.
I can't decide whether to spend £3K on something sensible or go for another good classic. Or even borrow a bit so I've got £5K and something sensible or a bug sti.
My issue is that will I really save that much going sensible. Granted both cars could throw up a bill but modern diesels seem more likely to give issues. Any big bill = a DMF for example - will wipe out any fuel saving for at least that year.
I might just spend £1K on having LPG fitted to my Jeep - should make the fuel bill go from stupid to almost acceptable
Its design is so ancient there really isn't that much that can go wrong!
Mondeo could be a good shout but I'm not keen on the looks.
I'm just down the road from you in Haverfordwest 
Now they are at the stage where things are going to start going wrong and start to cost you.
I can't decide whether to spend £3K on something sensible or go for another good classic. Or even borrow a bit so I've got £5K and something sensible or a bug sti.
My issue is that will I really save that much going sensible. Granted both cars could throw up a bill but modern diesels seem more likely to give issues. Any big bill = a DMF for example - will wipe out any fuel saving for at least that year.
I might just spend £1K on having LPG fitted to my Jeep - should make the fuel bill go from stupid to almost acceptable
Its design is so ancient there really isn't that much that can go wrong!Mondeo could be a good shout but I'm not keen on the looks.
Last edited by EddScott; 17 January 2012 at 09:30 PM.
17 January 2012, 09:54 PM
#18
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Before my scooby i had a W reg BMW E46 323 coupe. it had full bmw service history 12 months mot 96k miles and 1 owner from new. I paid £1850 and never spent a penny on it. I only owned it for 10 months though so never MOT'd it myself so could have needed work at mot.
BMW's are gud cars but bloody boring to drive unless you are getting old
BMW's are gud cars but bloody boring to drive unless you are getting old
17 January 2012, 10:00 PM
#19
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Found a really nice looking Leon Cupra 03 with 85K for £2800 but its a pain to get to as its Caernafon (north wales) even from west wales its a PITA.
We need 4 doors as theres 3 of us. We've had a diesel Leon for 4 years and its been completed neglected but never given any grief.
17 January 2012, 10:48 PM
#20
Sorry, my point being is there are BMWs in that price bracket to be wary of:
Ones where the owner spends nothing on it. It'll still pass MOTs with no issues, but it won't handle or drive quite like it should unless had a few bob spent on it over its lifetime.
Bit like any car really. But people incorrectly assume that because it has a BMW badge it immune to wear and tear, because they aren't.
Ones where the owner spends nothing on it. It'll still pass MOTs with no issues, but it won't handle or drive quite like it should unless had a few bob spent on it over its lifetime.
Bit like any car really. But people incorrectly assume that because it has a BMW badge it immune to wear and tear, because they aren't.
17 January 2012, 10:59 PM
#22
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Sorry, my point being is there are BMWs in that price bracket to be wary of:
Ones where the owner spends nothing on it. It'll still pass MOTs with no issues, but it won't handle or drive quite like it should unless had a few bob spent on it over its lifetime.
Bit like any car really. But people incorrectly assume that because it has a BMW badge it immune to wear and tear, because they aren't.
Ones where the owner spends nothing on it. It'll still pass MOTs with no issues, but it won't handle or drive quite like it should unless had a few bob spent on it over its lifetime.
Bit like any car really. But people incorrectly assume that because it has a BMW badge it immune to wear and tear, because they aren't.
18 January 2012, 08:25 AM
#26
Alternative then if the VRS seats are uncomfortable is a octavia L@K rather then sports seats nice big luxury seats and with the L&k you get all the toys as it was top of the range
Great car I ran one for 6 years trouble free and carried all sorts in it
Great car I ran one for 6 years trouble free and carried all sorts in it
18 January 2012, 10:53 AM
#28
TPS (Trade Parts Specialists) having a cartel on VAG's UK parts operations doesn't really help. Although BMW's parts supply chain is no better either IMO.
Last edited by ALi-B; 18 January 2012 at 10:54 AM.
18 January 2012, 11:24 AM
#29
Its pretty straight forward, just alot of nuts and bolts. On a M54 and M52 engine: remove the bulkhead/heater intake trim and then remove the inlet manifold and accompanying pipework, then its right underneath there.The six pot diesels are pretty much the same too.
Worst bit of the job is is the crankcase breather hoses snapping when trying to disconnect them because they've all gone brittle
Last edited by ALi-B; 18 January 2012 at 11:28 AM.
18 January 2012, 11:47 AM
#30
Legacy gtb!
Impreza sti performance (a bit slower due to a tad more weight), but LOADS more interior space.
And if you decide to do some work on it, all the impreza tweaks bolt straight on!
£3k would get you a goodun!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-SUBAR...item1e6a437898
Impreza sti performance (a bit slower due to a tad more weight), but LOADS more interior space.
And if you decide to do some work on it, all the impreza tweaks bolt straight on!
£3k would get you a goodun!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-SUBAR...item1e6a437898