5k budget bmw suggestions

[danlolasdad]

Hi my missus is looking to buy a car and has up to 5k to spend. She fancies a bmw again 4 doors a must for kids 3 or 5 series considered. What's best for economy and reliability fuel wise and generally also what to avoid. I've explained the potential advantages of buying from an enthusiast.Thanks in advance.

[ciars]

What type of commute will she have, 1 mile to school or 20 miles? Time to crack open the man maths calculator and see what suits. More often than not diesel won't suit, so you could get a better condition petrol for the equivalent price.

[Peter-E36]

What I did there is totally ignore what you asked for except for the "4 doors for ~5k" part, so apologies! Just hard to ignore these

https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-330i/9570745

https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/cheap-bmw-330i/9521977

https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-330i-immaculate-fully-loaded/9344532

[Davy_b]

What I did there is totally ignore what you asked for except for the "4 doors for ~5k" part, so apologies! Just hard to ignore these

https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-330i/9570745

https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/cheap-bmw-330i/9521977

https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-330i-immaculate-fully-loaded/9344532

Just to let anyone know thats interested that first car the auto 330i has changed ownership 3 times in the last 10 weeks . So could be something wrong with it . Buyer beware

[danlolasdad]

What type of commute will she have, 1 mile to school or 20 miles? Time to crack open the man maths calculator and see what suits. More often than not diesel won't suit, so you could get a better condition petrol for the equivalent price.

Child walks to school and missus can do up to 30 miles a day presently
She's been without her car a haggard avensis for 4 months and as a result my milage has doubled my car has done 10k in 6 months of extra driving.
She's on maternity leave til sept but will be back working as a community nurse so will be on the road a lot.
Lol The man calculator works overtime as it is trying to keep my car on the road and 2 bmw projects on the very slow move. Not to mention pricing 3 business plans I have on the go.

Keep the advise coming

What type of commute will she have, 1 mile to school or 20 miles? Time to crack open the man maths calculator and see what suits. More often than not diesel won't suit, so you could get a better condition petrol for the equivalent price.

[ciars]

If she is going to be on the road and in rural areas racking up the miles, then you do justify a diesel. What about an early E46 saloon diesel? It would have to be a forum car for me, too much crap E46's out there at that price point

[danlolasdad]

If she is going to be on the road and in rural areas racking up the miles, then you do justify a diesel. What about an early E46 saloon diesel? It would have to be a forum car for me, too much crap E46's out there at that price point

Yes a forum car is what I'd like her to buy. I can do anything with a car but don't want to buy a fixer upper. What do we need to look for in Early E46 diesel compared to later?
She will rack up the miles around the county as a community nurse so I'd lean towards diesel.

[Curran]

Might be worth at look? 05 316i

Not going to set any 1/4 mile times to be boasting about, nor is it M-Sport, but put the difference to a years tax and a few tanks of fuel?

[danlolasdad]

Might be worth at look? 05 316i

Not going to set any 1/4 mile times to be boasting about, nor is it M-Sport, but put the difference to a years tax and a few tanks of fuel?

She would love that. Those engines are trouble though in E46?

[Gar]

Vanos, timing chain,valvetronic,coil packs,fuel pump, rear springs all sub 100k failure points