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Brianr70

Is this a good buy?

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The only way to find out is go have a look and then if your keen get a PPI done with the local dealer or Jon at Auto38

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Average km's more like it. Appears reasonably priced for the work done, but its not a msport so would be expect it to be cheaper. 

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Might aswell buy a flameproof suit to go along with the bomb

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Have a look, check out the maintenance receipts (make sure they're for the same car), take it for a good thrash over Haywards and back... and if it drives and sounds ok get a PPI and if that goes well and your loins are fizzing then buy it.  And ask them why they spent "Thousands of dollars" on a standard spec 335i?... and whether any of it went on the suspension.

If it smells bad for any reason run - and if it doesn't, perhaps it's a fun bargain depending what you want to do with it and your own expectations and risk profile (ie: Kyu's flameproof suit). If it all checks out to your satisfaction and your loins are fizzing then buy it.

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If you are into a bit of brrrrrrmmmm pssst, brrrrrm psst from your car then this could well give you a lot smile for your dollar.

If the mods listed all check out and have been done well then it should be a fun rocket ship.

For that price it could well leave you a few bucks in your budget to make a few changes to suit your style, trims, rims, etc.

It could also be a ticking time bomb that goes boom on the first trip and turns into a complete money pit. Registers quite high on the risk v reward scale.

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Thank you for your thoughts ...will go take a look :)

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Make sure you talk with the seller for a good extended testdrive. A 5 min spin around the block just aint gonna cut it. Get it up to operating temp, drive it how you would like to and maybe a bit more for safe measure and see how it holds up after 30 mins or more. Check under the car and open the bonnet for any leaks, smokes, noises. make sure there is no hiccups or hesitation, if you arent getting a PPI done, go with gut feeling - does it FEEL like a good car that drives as it should or is something a bit off? If it FEELS good and you LIKE the car, then maybe - maybe get a PPI - either you spend the money knowing its a good car and checks out, or its a lemon and you dodge a bullet/bomb. OR if it has minor issues you  use that to negotiate the price down to make it less risky/more worthwhile. 

 

edit: its probably "cheap" because its a standard non msport spec, less desirable, but has all these tunes and mods to make it go fast. If it has been looked after with good service history and preventative maintenance, you might get a good "drivers" car that may not look the best but still performs well which may be what you want. 

Edited by qube
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PPI for sure, from a well qualified specialist in these type of cars, not the rubbish AA type of inspection.

Maybe some of the Wellington peeps can recommend someone?

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The most likely issue at that mileage will be the turbos. He states there is no waste gate rattle so if that is the case you are probably ok. That said he has MHD installed so there is a WG rattle fix in the software, it doesn't fix the problem it just masks the rattle so ask about that. With a stage 2+ tune if the coils or injectors are no good it will be quite obvious, also the upgraded intercooler charge pipe is a problem solved. The trans service, waterpump replacement, starter replacement, catch can etc are all nice to see. A stage 2+ N54 is a quick car be cautious especially if its wet. Early N54 cars as mentioned had forged crank, rods and very good pistons, they also had the big bolted diff so fitting an LSD is somewhat easier and very worthwhile. 

Edited by Herbmiester
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12 hours ago, E30 325i Rag-Top said:

PPI for sure, from a well qualified specialist in these type of cars, not the rubbish AA type of inspection.

Agreed, AA inspections are the biggest waste of time, as they use the Dog & Lemon guide as their bible. so anything non-japanese or modified, is completely out of their league and they will make up faults where none exist, 

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27 minutes ago, lord_jagganath said:

Agreed, AA inspections are the biggest waste of time, as they use the Dog & Lemon guide as their bible. so anything non-japanese or modified, is completely out of their league and they will make up faults where none exist, 

Having seen what the PPI on my Mini came back with, I wouldn't put much faith in a dealer done PPI either. Not worth the few cents of paper its printed on.

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3 hours ago, KwS said:

Having seen what the PPI on my Mini came back with, I wouldn't put much faith in a dealer done PPI either. Not worth the few cents of paper its printed on.

And my experience with a Car Inspection Services PPI was much the same (they did it obo a dealer).

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Good value but as with any high mileage 335i, there's a solid chance of an expensive problem. As long as you're ok with the risk and can afford the occasional big repair bill, it'll be a blast.

The owner has already basically set fire to a big pile of money by modding it and fixing a heap of common issues that he'll never see a return for, so it'll be good value for you and you'll hopefully only have to burn up a small wheelbarrow full of cash to maintain it :D

Looks so bog standard on the outside, it'll be a good sleeper if that's what you're after. Nobody will be expecting it to light up the tyres and launch like a rocket!

Edited by Matth5
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It must be average as to drive with stage 2+ and an open diff. My S2+ with LSD was a handful and a half. Its a bloody good price though, if thats what you were in to. My recommendation is to make damn sure the trans is shifting properly, especially changing up under high load.

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