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Good value for money? | BMW 3-Series News & FAQs

Q&A

Added: 16 Jan 2010
Last update: 05 Feb 2010

Question

Hi

I am going to look at two BMW 3-Series for sale at garage.

One is 2004 reg and has done 90,000 miles. Is this too many miles for the age? Price £5990.

And the second is an SE auto and has done 28,000 miles but is 02 plate. Price £5,990

Is this a good price? Your thoughts please...

Answer

Hi

I think you need to approach it from anothe angle. Open our magazine in the family car sections and ask aloud, "what BMW can I afford for £6,000?"

The answer comes back pretty quickly that you are looking for a 2.0 petrol from 2001 or 2002 with 62-79,000 miles or a 2.0 diesel from 2002 or 2003 with 76,000 - 86,000 miles.

What all this means is that the 2004 car has been priced to reflect it's staggeringly high mileage. This seems honest and while it has to have done that mileage on motorways, which is in theory easy on the car in terms of wear, it's still huge and driver's seat will sagging if nothing else.

The 2002 car is very low mileage and the pice hasn't been put up to reflect this. So its either a great deal or a con - perhaps its actually 120,000 miles, perhaps cloned or clocked, stolen or crashed?

But I am an optimist, and like to think you have found a bargain. Get a data check and an M.O.t. carried out and if they give you the all clear, by it!

And enjoy,

Matt

Keywords: used-car-valuation, used-car-price, used-car-values, bmw-valuation, high-mileage-valuation, high-mileage-price

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