E30 Zone

I've been looking at these for a while but there isn't a great deal to choose from. I was hoping for a bit of help, seeing as many of you seem to be in the trade.

I'm ideally looking at something along the lines of..

5 Door Hatchback
123d M sport
Black Leather
Black paint, not a must but preferred.
4-5 years old max
40-50,000 miles max
Dealer warranty**

Big ask? Is there anything I should be looking out for?

Thanks in advance!

N47 engine. That is all.

hennabm wrote:N47 engine. That is all.

I've read a lot of horror stories but having driven the 123d, I've fallen in love... despite them being ugly as sin.

If it needs a chain every 100k, its not the end of the world..

bab-91 wrote:

hennabm wrote:N47 engine. That is all.

I've read a lot of horror stories but having driven the 123d, I've fallen in love... despite them being ugly as sin.

If it needs a chain every 100k, its not the end of the world..

It is if / when it snaps/ jumps beforehand

Just change it before it snaps when it gets noisy.

It's the only real issue with the N47 as other than that it's a great engine.... for a stinky diesel.

bss325i wrote: for a stinky diesel.

I completely agree

Always said I would never go back to diesels but needs must.

I'm hoping for a turd to appear in "BMW approved used cars" but it's just awash with 116d's etc.

Buy from the mainland?

5dr 123d's are quite rare.

Only 3 nation wide on BMW AUC site and only one of them M sport.

bss325i wrote:Buy from the mainland?


5dr 123d's are quite rare.

Only 3 nation wide on BMW AUC site and only one of them M sport.

Yea, I'd imagine so. The chances of one appearing over here, in the spec I want, is nil.


Is that the Space Grey one? I think it had cloth seats (being a fussy coont)

Why a 1 series?

Blitz wrote:Why a 1 series?

Fits the bill. 3 series is too big for my needs and if I see another 320d, I might just kill myself.

The VAG stuff was overpriced and under spec'ed imo and the A class is out of my budget and I don't fancy spending a kings ransom on a Renault engine.


o and the 123d made me giggle. Definitely wasn't expecting it to be as fun as it was.

Yes it was the space grey one.

Does it have to be 5dr?

bss325i wrote:Yes it was the space grey one.

Does it have to be 5dr?

Unfortunately yes, I look after 2 of my elderly relatives.

You don't want a 1 series then. Rear seat room is poor and the entry is not great either.

I agree with Barry on the rear room.

As the overall size of a first gen 1 is about E30 then you can imagine the room (or lack of it) in the rear.

We've already had her in and out of it.


My Great Aunt is tiny, think 'Michael D. Higgins' level of tiny.

bab-91 wrote:We've already had her in and out of it.


My Great Aunt is tiny, think 'Michael D. Higgins' level of tiny.

I'm sure Aunty would rather be chauffeured around in this



http://www.attingtonclassics.co.uk/moto ... w-e3-2500/

STOPPP!

I want one so badly but it wouldn't survive the drive to Roscommon or Cavan

rh306 wrote:

bab-91 wrote:We've already had her in and out of it.


My Great Aunt is tiny, think 'Michael D. Higgins' level of tiny.

I'm sure Aunty would rather be chauffeured around in this



http://www.attingtonclassics.co.uk/moto ... w-e3-2500/

Sadly that particular E3 is not quite all it seems....

bab-91 wrote:

bss325i wrote:Yes it was the space grey one.

Does it have to be 5dr?

Unfortunately yes, I am grooming 2 of my elderly relatives and I have to regularly drive them to the bank

You cad !

pacerpete wrote:

bab-91 wrote:

bss325i wrote:Yes it was the space grey one.

Does it have to be 5dr?

Unfortunately yes, I am grooming 2 of my elderly relatives and I have to regularly drive them to the bank

You cad !

Aha, I Fookin wish

I'd love to be left the 'farm'.. just to annoy her useless-theiving-bastarting coont of a son.

They're a great car and they go really well, but a chain job is £1200 assuming the crank is okay. A LOT more if it breaks.

Andyboy wrote:They're a great car and they go really well, but a chain job is £1200 assuming the crank is okay. A LOT more if it breaks.

All this talk of breaking chains is worrying

Try babybmw website and BMW problems and look for N47.

They reckon that there are only a few compared with the number of N47 built. They also reckon oil changes around 7k help.

The N47 has got to have been the engine sold in the biggest quantities in the UK for several years now.

bss325i wrote:The N47 has got to have been the engine sold in the biggest quantities in the UK for several years now.

I had thought something along them lines. It is in so many different models, if they were THAT bad I would have heard people screaming on NI-BMW

I had a E87 130i, wasn't too bad to be honest and it was very quick. Its not very spacious at the back and the boot space wasnt that great either, but the engine was great

My brother bought one of these, on the basis it was small enough for his wife to drive. She never actually drove it, so it went and was replaced by the new 3 series.

The 5 door version is pretty ugly, but it felt okay to drive and it was relatively practical.

I like to think he manned up...!!

Manned up? Says the chap mincing around in a VAG AWD turd!

Oi! You've forgotten my cab!!

bab-91 wrote:Manned up? Says the chap mincing around in a VAG AWD turd!

When you need to regularly deliver a large load to the Highlands, AWD has its uses..........

Hahahahah!!

Verde is not large, you could carry his unconscious body under one arm whilst piloting a Vespa.


I'm playing with the idea of going for the 3 door and pressing the Werther's 190 into family duty. I have my original search saved on AUC so I'll see what happens.

The large load Pete was referring to, definitely is not Verde.

I'm not talking about Verde, but what Gert would be bringing him.......



















PS When did you get caked ? I thought you were a penniless Ashtray driving peasant !