Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8142
Bangernomics
My son is getting rid of his Velar and may be working overseas next year and wants to spend some cash on his house so isn’t committing to expensive cars again for now.
Gave me the task of finding him a ‘banger’ while he’s away watching the rugby in Japan
Very narrow search criteria of first choice (of one basically ) an e39 Beemer and had to be estate and manual and close to a grand with £1500 max spends to play with so a bit of an ask These are maybe just on the cusp of being semi-classics and prices firming up.
Manual really not that plentiful and I’d found about seven, narrowed down to three realistic options when galactic miles taken out the equation. One was a ‘workhorse’, mechanically solid and sorted but not a pretty motor. The other had a page full of MOT advisories and seller seemed to think it was a ‘mint classic’ already.....
Was just about to give up and go 2nd choice (Beemer 3 series) when up popped this one. Really clean and tidy, inside and out. Non leather but virtually no signs of wear inside and everything works as it should. Beautiful smooth 525i six-cylinder motor took me straight back to my company cars when I worked for BMW. Drove lovely and a folder full of history.
Dad has delivered, job done, pick it up tomorrow
.
4th Oct 2019 5:48 pm
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
It’s great when a plan comes together. DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
DS3 TDV6 HSE- Silver with Alpaca (new one) Gone
D4 HSE Lux - Montalcino Red Gone
Porsche Cayenne V8 Diesel S
4th Oct 2019 5:57 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73092
Very nice.
4th Oct 2019 6:04 pm
Lee Trinder
Member Since: 12 Aug 2018
Location: Henley in arden
Posts: 516
Nice work, looks good.
We needed a car quick with only a grand to spend a few years back, bought a Saab 95 estate, one owner for £700 with 235000 miles on it, served us well for four years until we bought the discovery.
Bangernomics is the way sometimes.
4th Oct 2019 6:15 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73092
It’s what I’m doing at the mo. My present set of wheels may not be the most glamorous in the world but it costs me virtually nothing to run and has never let me down. Simple, cheap & reliable, just like moi.
4th Oct 2019 6:28 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8142
Have to say Saab 9-5 or Subaru Legacy was my advice to get best bang-for-buck (and still think that about Subaru’s having searched a few) with Volvo V70 as workhorse option. Have to agree though the Beemer has a bit more about it
I reckon it needs a pair of new rear tyres as winter approaching and possibly a couple of repetitive advisories sorted next MOT
Given he’s old enough to drive my company RRS in a couple of weeks I’m glad I got the Beemer
4th Oct 2019 7:01 pm
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
I've been considering the saloon for knocking around in, with the auto box. The M sports are fantastic looking vehicles.
Head says a modern petrol fiesta would be a better shout though 2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
5th Oct 2019 12:08 am
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
Best you search up on the small petrol ford engines, make the 2.7/3.0 look reliable
5th Oct 2019 12:44 am
ruben D3 Decade
Member Since: 26 Sep 2006
Location: ASTURIAS
Posts: 2432
Very good engine, there was one perfect here, but it has always seemed to me, and I'm sorry to say, terribly, terribly ugly! and I hate it for that!!!! otherwise a 10! lost in translation!
DISCOVERY 3 SE man. TDV6 2006, my true love!
DEFENDER 2 SE D I6 MHEV 2024, other live.
5th Oct 2019 10:16 am
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8142
Ugly??? Noooo still the best looking Beemer to me
Just picked it up. Absolutely rock solid and silent on motorway at 85 on cruise, showing 34.4mpg on the trip computer. Will be putting about another 100 miles on it later.
Still got the toolkit and first-aid kit in it
5th Oct 2019 12:31 pm
nigethecat
Member Since: 11 Sep 2016
Location: Marnoch
Posts: 4244
And I bet the indicator stalks are unused! I want to see the sweets before I get into your windowless van... I'm not stupid!
Corris Grey D4 Commercial SE 2016
Zermatt Sliver 2007 D3 SE manual (gone)
Indus Silver D4 HSE 2015 (gone)
Bonatti Grey D3 HSE 2006 (gone)
White D3 S (LHD) 2007 (gone)
Firenze Red D4 HSE 2014 (gone)
Black RRS 3.6TDV8 2008 (gone)
Rusty Green Defender 110 1997 (gone)
Black FL2 HSE 2013 (gone)
6th Oct 2019 7:28 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73092
Well you wouldn’t want to wear out the bulbs.
Mind you when I had my 5 series I religiously indicated, confused the hell out of other drivers.
6th Oct 2019 7:31 am
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8142
If they are used it has a bulb saving feature; no ‘three flashes’ just the one
6th Oct 2019 8:23 am
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8142
The lad is liking the Beemer so much we’ve bought a second donor vehicle to strip The M-Sport lights, bumpers, wheels and leather interior to transfer to his car.
£600 for the car, all those bits off it and £300 already offered for the engine and gearbox 530d, 212k) and £75 for the tow bar
Driving the 80 miles home with it and it went brilliantly, smooth, quiet, powerful. Only problem was the air suspension failed so was on the bump stops the whole way
I’m enjoying this
20th Oct 2019 5:41 pm
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Riyadh, KSA
Posts: 3079
Be careful, at this rate you'll get 'Wheeler Dealer' put under your Forum name
D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
) an e39 Beemer and had to be estate and manual and close to a grand with £1500 max spends to play with so a bit of an ask 
These are maybe just on the cusp of being semi-classics and prices firming up.
still the best looking Beemer to me 
