I am of the opinion that it’s about that mileage when things start going wrong. It’s a 530d and about 5 years old with a full BMW service history. Am I daft considering buying it?

Cheers
Rich

Do you mean 135k?

^^ this

My BMW has just over 100k on it and still feels very tight so mileage is not a concern as long as it’s been looked after.

I’d be more worried that 35k mileage is too low on a 5 year old car. Cars don’t like doing lots of small journeys where the engine etc never get warmed up.

35k

That’s just run in. I am assuming you missed a “1” out?

Seems I’m worrying unduly. I had a grand voyager that pretty much fell apart at 35k though I appreciate you can’t compare the two Marques. Thanks.

grand voyager that pretty much fell apart at 35k

That’s not surprising.

BMW are not as reliable as some make it out but they are pretty solid.

35K.. not even run in.

I got a passat 1.9tdi, 05 plate and its just sailed majestically past 200k. Engine still feels tight as a drum.

35k?? I would buy pretty much any modern car quite confidently with 35k on the clock.

135k? If the price is right, and it’s been looked after and well serviced, I wouldn’t worry that much, especially if it’s a diesel.

with 35k on the clock in 5 years, i’d be checking it’s history VERY carefully to see if it’s been clocked! (take chassis number to BMW dealer, ask them for a history check to confirm what you’re being told by the people selling it)

I sold my 330d at 165k and it was absolutely fine!

Have bought a couple of cars at around the 45k mileage. One was a VW Golf GTI that had been pretty neglected, lived in Aberdeen by sea & salty roads; I finally sold it after 115k miles, it still ran for at least another 10-15k after that I believe.

Other has been current Saab 900, bought it from Saab specialist garage, well looked after, it too is over 110k and still running well.

It can work; it might not. Do you know an independent BMW garage or mechanic that can give it a look over and report back, no strings?

If its from a BMW dealer you’ll get a 12 month warranty which you can extend. If not I believe you can get a warranty from BMW.

35k in 5 years isn’t that many miles. It could be lots of smaller trips. Big diesel engine + lots of small trips = trouble.

If you are buying diesel you want HIGHER mileage I reckon.

I know someone who bought a BMW 530d SE around 3 years ago with only 16k on the clock; a 1 owner car with a full BMW service history.

He’s now done around 30k in it and in that time he’s had to have the self leveling suspension compressor replaced and recently had to have major engine work done when the car had a turbo issue which cost around £3k to repair from an independent.

I’d make sure get a warranty for piece of mind.

Like all the above, 35k is low mileage for a 5 year old car.

My Focus TDCI has got 115k miles on the clock, a bloke over the road has got a diesel Passat with almost 200k and a taxi driver mate regularly takes cars over 200k.

I’ve done over 125K in my Fiesta and I never had any major problems/breakdowns. A new cam belt plus the occasional tyre and brake pad change and that’s it. If you drive modern cars properly and service them regularly they last for ages. 35k is nothing.

We bought our car with 55k on the clock…. I hope we can keep it for a long time (and probably go over the 200k mark)

I’m going to get slain for this but its a diesel 5yr old Beemer with 35k? Just make sure the mileage display doesn’t have any additional ‘dots’ in there. Otherwise why not!?!!

Heres just one example of the anti tamper dot(s):

i’m considering a beemer with 177k.

i would’t touch that. too many short journeys probably. you are asking for DPF trouble. much better to get one with 60k on it that someone has used properly

If the mileage is genuine why not. You might check with BMW to see if they have the milage history as part of the service record. I have a 7yr old 2.7TDI Audi with 110k on the clock which looks and drives much like a new car.

Our most recent car purchase had 103000 on the clock.

I bought a 320d with about 35k miles on the clock, by 60k the engine blew but that was because of a known issue that I didn’t, erm, know about (swirl flaps). Recon engine with a similar amount of miles went into it after a thorough check by my now regular BMW trained mechanic. It’s just gone past 105k and still smooth as you like.

While the guy was sorting out my engine troubles he lent me his 530 (for two weeks), it had over 240k on the clock and felt like it had just come out of the showroom.

So long as mine is well looked after I don’t see why it can’t get to the same. I see it as my duty to get it past 200k at least!

Dont forget on… higher mileage cars it can make night and day-difference if you refresh the suspension alround (bushes etc) and balancing/tracking. The mechanic probably did this to his own??

A suspension refresh can make a car feel tight and new again to drive.

Yep, and he did it to mine the last time it was in IIRC.

As above. i’d happily buy a BMW with 135K on the clock, especially a big engined diesel like that. 35K is virtually brand new. if it has a BMW service history then it’s a no brainer.

The mileage is low because the guy uses it to drive to Greece where he has a yachting business and it rarely gets used at all from May to September. With his permission I called his local dealer who confirmed the mileage and the fact they had maintained it for him, so I don’t think he is dodgy.

I read a few reviews similar to the one above from Amplebrew but on the whole they seem pretty reliable. I gather you can get BMW to do a pre-purchase inspection. I will get this done (or maybe by the AA) before buying.

If the story is cosha then go for it. Get BMW to see when the last DPF regen was done, as others have said above, a 5 year old car with only 35K on the clock is very low for a diesel. I bought a 4.5 year old 520 back in June with 70K on th clock, but (please don’t let this tempt fate) it’s running very nicely. Get yourself on to one of the BMW forums BMWLAND is good, they have lots of very helpful people on there!

Bearing in mind it’s been running in Greece as well, I’d be looking at using premium grade fuels for a good few tanks, potentially have an early oil, fuel filter change as well.

Don’t get the AA to do anything, not worth the time or effort. If you can (and it’sa big ask) see if you can get a local independent specialised to view the car as they will know what to look for. Ive heard very bad reports of AA, RAC type people inspecting cars..

Our car is getting treated to a full set of Powerflex bushes and decent coilovers next year.

One of the chauffeur drivers our company use for Airport runs has a beemer with over 500k on the clock, original engine and gearbox.

remember, for every 1 horror story, many, many happy storeys go untold! /\

Ask the guy you’re buying from if he can get a health check done at the BMW dealer. That will give you a full break down of what is likely to need doing if anything

never mind the milage what will you do when it snows? [duck smiley]

Agree on the above comments about not bothering with an AA check. The guy who bought my camper had one done and he didn’t really do anything apart from look around and take it for a quick spin. Nothing you can’t do yourself.

OP dont do it. It’ll be covered in Gin and youll find dirty knickers in there

As was mentioned before get the swirl flaps removed and blanked if it’s an E60/61. A friend who’s a mechanic did mine – the flaps cost just over £20 and he charged for a couple of hours labour.

I’ve noticed no change to the running of the car since having them done but it’s reassuring to know they won’t lunch the pistons.

Plenty of people already posting who have had trouble free high milage BMW’s.

My Turbo went on 57k & the internet has plenty of similar stories.

Its a lottery as with any car.

hora – OP dont do it. It’ll be covered in Gin and youll find dirty knickers in there

That may well be another selling point!

The mileage is low because the guy uses it to drive to Greece where he has a yachting business and it rarely gets used at all from May to September. With his permission I called his local dealer who confirmed the mileage and the fact they had maintained it for him, so I don’t think he is dodgy.

Sounds good to me. I think it is far better to gather an idea of how it has been used and looked after than it is to base your decisions on mileage (which is very low anyway). It’s more about the owner than the car. If you don’t feel you can trust the person your buying from, walk away. If you think it’s legit, snap it up.

There’s plenty of people around today who can easily wreck a car in the space of 35k miles, and people who will love them, and keep them going until 500k. It’s determining where they fit in that spectrum.