Purchase Advice 60k+ Mileage N54

[dbills56]

Backstory: I currently drive my high school car which was a 1999 E46 328i 5-speed. I bought the car with 212k miles for $3k (Maybe not the best decision, but I wanted a manual and it was either this or a neon in my price range). The car is currently at 243k and the clutch has started to slip. I would rather invest in a new car then put more money into my E46, and the 135i is definitely what I want.

Question: Working with a budget ~$15k, would you recommend using the full budget and purchasing a 135i with 45-60k miles which would be very close to the warranty expiration. Or spending $11-12k on a car with 80-100k and using the extra money to purchase a Route 66 Extended warranty plan? Another option would be to take the cost of the warranty and put it aside for maintenance costs. I am only looking at 6-speed coupes. I did almost all of the maintenance on my E46 myself and I am prepared to do the same if I do not opt for the warranty.

[Gangplank]

If you can find a good condition with 60-80k for 10-12,000 I'd do that and then put the money aside and do your own maintenance. Save the depreciation b/c your going the car will drop in value either way.

[rakusak]

Originally Posted by Gangplank

If you can find a good condition with 60-80k for 10-12,000 I'd do that and then put the money aside and do your own maintenance. Save the depreciation b/c your going the car will drop in value either way.

Originally Posted by Gangplank

If you can find a good condition with 60-80k for 10-12,000 I'd do that and then put the money aside and do your own maintenance. Save the depreciation b/c your going the car will drop in value either way.

Either way, get a PPI. There are a handful of common issues with the N54 build. If you get a chance to see the service records you can find out if they were taken care of previously. Fewer owners also help, but not always. If all that checks out than see if you can get lower mileage option in your budget. Miles don't really matter if the car hasn't had routine maintenance and care. Hope that helps!

[NorthernDancer]

Yes, PPI by someone who knows these cars well plus maintenance records.

[dbills56]

I appreciate the replies and advice. My plan is as Gangplank suggested, to find an example with 60-80k for $10-12k. I have found a few examples with good maintenance records but out of all the CarFaxes I have looked at, none reference a fuel pump replacement.

It seems strange to me that some of the 100k examples would still be on their original HPFP. Has anyone seen a CarFax listing the replacement of the HPFP or would it just show up as a general service?

[Robbie135]

Originally Posted by dbills56

I appreciate the replies and advice. My plan is as Gangplank suggested, to find an example with 60-80k for $10-12k. I have found a few examples with good maintenance records but out of all the CarFaxes I have looked at, none reference a fuel pump replacement.

It seems strange to me that some of the 100k examples would still be on their original HPFP. Has anyone seen a CarFax listing the replacement of the HPFP or would it just show up as a general service?

When I bought my 1er I didn't see it listed under the Carfax. I did however take the Vin to my BmW dealer and when they searched their systems it popped up on when it was changed. Probably because all of the maintenance the previous owner did was through BMW. But either way it's worth a shot