[Ek_1986]

Hi, im considering purchasing a BMW 330D and the car has a high mileage of 75k! Is there anything that anyone could recommend worth checking on a car of that mileage?? I was wondering what mileage the cam belts need to be changed as the owner has not yet done this.... Its a stunning motor but i dont want to buy a vechile that may cause problems

[ChrisMWard]

Hi

If it's a 330d it won't have cam belts, BMW use good ol chains for cam drive.

We're on our 4th and 5th BMW diesels now (including 3 x 3 litre sixes) and none of them have ever missed a beat. As far as I'm aware there are no problems to look out for. If it's high mileage I guess most will have been motorway work, so I wouldn't worry as long as it has service history. How old is the car?

Regards

Chris

[dxb335d]

it should not be a problem, always be aware of 'clocking' tho. If all the paperwork is there and its genuine i cant see it being a problem

we have a y plate 530i which we have had since 02 when it was a year old and had 5k on it, she now has 190k on her 2nd engine now but she is fine!

remember BM's can last the distance


carl

[Ek_1986]

Hey thanks for the advice. The BMW 330D Is an 53 plate so its the 2001 3.0 Litre 201 Bhp engine and is a lovely drive. I was just weary incase i purchase it & find alot of problems. The car has its full service history, so ill be sure to look through that to see what kind of work it has had done on it.

I dont suppose any of you know how much a new 3.0 litre diesel engine would cost. I heard it is very expensive and can cost around £15k?? Is that true??

[red-max]

Are you buying this privately, or from a dealer / motor trader? If the latter, I'd strongly suggest you should be expecting at least a year's warranty.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Ek_1986

Hi, im considering purchasing a BMW 330D and the car has a high mileage of 75k! Is there anything that anyone could recommend worth checking on a car of that mileage?? I was wondering what mileage the cam belts need to be changed as the owner has not yet done this.... Its a stunning motor but i dont want to buy a vechile that may cause problems

This isn't unusal milage for the age of the car and if it's an ex company car it should be nicely run in really.

My biggest concern about a 330d outside of the BMW warranty would be a blown turbo.

I've never had a problem myself, but I believe this could be a circa £5,000 problem (if it happens).

Unless it's been thrashed to hell and back then engine should be in good shape for another 75K miles.

I ran my 323i up to 115,000 miles without any problems at all.

[en1gma]

my e39 530d had around 14K on it when I bought it, and is now on approx 80K - the missus drives it now, I use the e90 320d for my daily jaunts!

The only engine-related problem was a faulty air-mass sensor (symptom: all power disappeared! it became a 530d without a turbo... ) in year 2 of ownership (i've had it approx 5 years now). This was changed under w/tee so don't know the cost; but it was a 'simple' fault to rectify...

[squeezebm]

Got a mate who bought the older 184hp 330d with 86k on it,stuck another 70k on it over the last 2 years,it hasn't missed a beat

[Ek_1986]

Hey, thanks again for the advice... Colonel you mentioned that it can cost upto £5 k if the turbo goes :mad:

I dont suppose you or anyone knows how much it would cost for a new engine when it does eventually go out?? I was told it would be around the costs of £16 which is expensive

[dxb335d]

no way 16k, forget bmw, you would have to buy a second hand engine from a breakers, 2-3k max

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Ek_1986

Hey, thanks again for the advice... Colonel you mentioned that it can cost upto £5 k if the turbo goes :mad:

I dont suppose you or anyone knows how much it would cost for a new engine when it does eventually go out?? I was told it would be around the costs of £16 which is expensive

Lots of info on running older BMW's at www.bmwland.co.uk

Personally I can't imagine it being worthwhile to put a new engine in a 330d. I would have thought economically when that time came it would better to buy a new car instead.

I can't believe the £16K figure - the engine is not going to be 50% of the cost of the car new.

[dxb335d]

like i said, go to a breakers!

but you shouldnt be even considering buying a car which may require a replacement engine any time soon

[mikem]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

Lots of info on running older BMW's at www.bmwland.co.uk

Personally I can't imagine it being worthwhile to put a new engine in a 330d. I would have thought economically when that time came it would better to buy a new car instead.

I can't believe the £16K figure - the engine is not going to be 50% of the cost of the car new.

LOL, I beleive a 996 GT3 engine is £45K brand new

A good used 330d engine from somewhere like FAB BMW shouldn`t be anymore than £1500-2000.