Buying a 1996 318ti (New Zealand)

[F360]

Topic Deleted

[hotmilk400]

$2600 USD is not to bad in the United States. it seems to have low km, since most of the cars here have about 300,000 + km by now. a few have about 175,000, but not many have anything low like that.

for such a low amount of traveling it has done, i am surprised it had so much work done to it. i am also surprised to see 2 owners (you being the 3rd if you get it) in such a short amount of time. not to many people fix up a car and resell it right away.

I would use some caution if i were you. It might be fine, and if it is it seems like a good deal, but you never know until after you buy it and you are stuck with it.

can you check the records and see how long the last owner had it? if the last owner just got it, then there is probably a reason he is getting rid of it so soon.

[hotmilk400]

it is not uncommon to have the auto fluid changed. i thought when you said the transmission was serviced that it was rebuilt or something major.

Although BMW does not give a recommend time to change the fluid, (they might, but i am pretty sure the dealer says you do not have to) most people recommend 95,000km - 100,000km as the regular time to change it. At 100,000km the fluid is pretty nasty in any car, so it does not hurt to get it done. It is also pretty cheap to get done, and easy enough that anyone can do who owns a jack and wrench.

i would say that is something that can be ignored, since it was probably something the Mechanic of the Owner told him he should get done (you know, every time you take it to a mechanic, they tell you that you should get this or that changed and fixed) so i would say if anything, it is a good thing. shows the owner either well maintained it or was a sucker and paid for alot of stuff at the mechanic. either way, it will not hurt.

as for the car itself, i am still a little unsure why the current owner is selling it only after 9 months of ownership. he either bought it temporarily, hates it, or there is a problem with it. no one buys an old car and only keeps it 9 months.

i would take it to a mechanic BEFORE you buy it, see what is really wrong. Pay the bill. If nothing is wrong, then go for it. the price (as far as in the States) is a good deal and the car should last you until about 200,000KM before minor stuff starts to go, and 300,000 before some major stuff (trans slippage and that stuff) but some members have more than that, the motors are very well built if taken care of.

also, as a side note, what part of New Zealand are you from? When i worked in China, alot of my co-wokers were from New Zealand. most of them lived near Christchurch. if i ever have a chance, i would love to visit or work down there. looks beautiful. i do not understand why people want to leave!

hope that helps, -mike