[CitizenKane]

Howdy,

I am in the market for an e92 again, this time a 335i.

The problem is living in Ireland means there is very limited choice in the domestic market (across all of the main trading websites there are currently 7 335i's for sale in the whole country, 4 of which are coupes, all SE - there is one M Sport but it is an e93) and importing from the UK means paying 36% VRT (import tax, but they're not allowed to call it that). In other words these cars are just that bit more expensive for me than they otherwise would be.

Anyway, as a result of this and given the budget I need to work with (circa €10k/£9k) I am inevitably looking at some higher mileage cars.

My question is simply this: assuming I purchase from a trader with some kind of warranty, the car has an MOT and there is a full service history with all scheduled maintenance covered, etc. is a higher mileage car necessarily a problem? What is the highest mileage you would consider getting, assuming all of the other criteria above are met?

Cheers!

[Redguy]

I wouldn't be too put off.

My thoughts have always been that you don't want a car that's been to the shops and back, stop/start all it's life, barely warming up.

Not sure how valid that is....

That's a big engine, and if it's been used regularly, and maintained, I'd be okay with that. I've had low mileage cars with FSH's, and still had problems....I find most cars are a gamble either way!

[richieboy]

I wouldn’t worry about mileage with the N54’s. There’s one over in the N54 section that is near 300k miles and tuned! The actual engine itself is fairly bullet proof. It’s the other bits that go. Coils, hpfp’s, turbos etc.

[feuer]

Originally Posted by CitizenKane

Anyway, as a result of this and given the budget I need to work with (circa €10k/£9k) I am inevitably looking at some higher mileage cars.

What is the high mileage?

[feuer]

Originally Posted by richieboy

I wouldn’t worry about mileage with the N54’s. There’s one over in the N54 section that is near 300k miles and tuned! The actual engine itself is fairly bullet proof. It’s the other bits that go. Coils, hpfp’s, turbos etc.

Can you point me to this n54?

[mojobmw_e90]

Originally Posted by feuer

Can you point me to this n54?

Not everyone drives like you do hence why they can go so high in miles

[feuer]

Originally Posted by mojobmw_e90

Not everyone drives like you do hence why they can go so high in miles

Still, you can humor me an point me to this 300k tuned n54

[richieboy]

http://www.n54tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49546

[richieboy]

Humor’d?

[feuer]

Originally Posted by richieboy

Humor’d?

Definitely! True humor. I'm laughing. Thank you for sharing that. Used car, not original owner, no history offered, no info on for how long has been tuned as ST, speed shows 290k, great! maybe that's 3rd engine in there.

[bfleming]

Originally Posted by CitizenKane

Anyway, as a result of this and given the budget I need to work with (circa €10k/£9k) I am inevitably looking at some higher mileage cars.

I'll try to bring this thread back on track as one the blues brothers seem to have derailed it slightly
Is €10k your entire budget including VRT? I'm assuming not.
The cheapest 335i M-Sport on Autotrader is £6155, but that's an automatic. The 137000 miles isn't spaceship mileage by any stretch.
The cheapest manual is £6495 and has 108000 miles.
There aren't loads out there, and if you want to avoid big CO2 it looks like you have to go post 2010 manual (which blow your budget).
Personally I don't think a 335i is a car to buy on a budget, and I don't think you can run one on a budget in Ireland, but if your heart is set on one... the man wants what the man wants!