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Thread: Help, Im trying to see if this BMW is worth it.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Forest Grove, Oregon
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    2001 325i BMW

    Help, Im trying to see if this BMW is worth it.

    So I found this BMW 325i 2004 that has 84k miles on it. They are selling it for 4500. I quote "2004 BMW 325I SMG Sport! Heated Seats! Paddle Shifters by hand!!! Automatic/Manual smg, only 84k Power windows, cruise control, power door locks with keyless entry and alarm, Power Sun/Moon Roof! very reliable and good on gas, Paddle Sifters! Runs and Drives very good, super fast 3 series Air Conditioning Blows Cold! cd player..Clean title good tags until 7/2018" so i was wondering if i should get that or a 2007 328XI with 119,000 miles but i quote "119,000 miles, clean title in hand, automatic transmission, heated seats, leather interior. Resonator/muffler delete and the car is wired for subs. SES light is on but can easily be fixed if you know how to work on these cars. It sometimes has a rough idle and white smoke out of the exhaust on start up(not every time). I'm 90% sure it's the CCV" There is a picture of the 2007 328XI. I like both but im starting to like how the 2007 looks like but I like the low miles on the 2004. Any ideas or help would be great!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    712
    My Cars
    2002 325Ci Cabriolet
    Everything I have ever read about the SMG Transmission leads me to believe that the transmission in a Yugo is more dependable. If the SMG fails in that car, it will cost more than the asking price of the car to replace.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    20
    Hi mate that way to much money for that year of car i would go with the 328xi to be honest

    Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Osnabrock, ND
    Posts
    961
    My Cars
    2004 325xi,2004 545i SMG
    go drive them.... which one do you like better. The e9x is fun and built good, so is the e46. The SMG in the non-M cars is a bit different but still a good transmission. some of the parts are expensive like said. but it really comes down to what you like best.
    Level 1 Certified BMW tech.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    712
    My Cars
    2002 325Ci Cabriolet
    Quote Originally Posted by Denxity View Post
    SES light is on but can easily be fixed if you know how to work on these cars. ...sometimes has a rough idle and white smoke out of the exhaust on start up(not every time). I'm 90% sure it's the CCV" !
    Run!

    If it is such an easy fix, he would have done it by now. My guess is it won't pass DEQ either.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Pine, CO.
    Posts
    83
    My Cars
    1989 325ix, 2005 325xi
    Three words:

    Pre Purchase Inspection

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Metairie, LA
    Posts
    596
    My Cars
    2001 325i; 2006 325i
    I just saw your post over in the E90 section too. Bud, if your budget is $5k and you're really worried about after purchase costs and you just have to have a BMW, I'd be looking for an E46 (1999-2005, I believe) 325i with a manual transmission. You should be able to pick one up for around $2,500. Then you put another $1,500 or so into it to get it right and be done with it. If you can find one for around $4k that has recently had the suspension and cooling system done, that would be the way to go.

    I recently bought an '06 325i. Carfax looked good and the inspection said all was well. Two weeks after I bought the car, my transmission developed the stop/bump problem, I'm now getting an eccentric shaft sensor code, the thermostat has gone out, blah, blah, blah.

    On the other hand, I recently bought my son an '01 325i. It had just under 75k miles on it and I got it for under $2k. I don't remember exactly how much I paid for it, but I did the cooling system, front suspension and rear shocks and it runs like a champ.

    It seems that the E90s have a lot more electronic doodads and the parts are just plain more expensive. For example, on the E90, it costs about $500 just for the thermostat and water pump. On the E46, $500 replaced just about the whole cooling system (water pump, thermostat, radiator, expansion tank, hoses, etc.). I also find the E46 to be more fun to drive. Although it isn't quite as fast or quick as the E90, it is definitely a more responsive daily driver.

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