Author Topic: Buying a used 2001 BMW 330xi (Read 4365 times)

Sandy44 · « **on:** March 11, 2005, 11:43:42 am »

New to the forum, need some advice on buying a used BMW. Saw this blue 2001 BMW 330xi with 70K on it. Going to toronto from ottawa to have a look at it. If everything goes well, will be cancelling my flight back and would be driving home. Hmm need suggestions as to what to look for while inspecting and test driving the car. If anyone knows about any certified guys who can inspect the car, that would be great.

Sandy44 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2005, 11:45:39 am »

Forgot to add the price. It is with a saturn dealership and they are asking 27K for it. Sounds not too bad.

DriverJeff · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2005, 02:36:10 pm »

Geez, you're right, that doesn't seem like a bad price. Saturn does a fairly thorough inspection on their used cars and even offers a 5-day money-back guarantee I believe. If that's the case, you could always pick it up (if you feel very comfortable that it has been maintained properly and is in great shape) and even take it to a BMW specialist for an inspection.

Make sure there's a full compliment of maintenance records -- making sure its had its regular service is crucial.

Best of luck and please keep us posted here as to how it goes.

wing · « **Reply #3 on:** March 11, 2005, 03:02:30 pm »

Sandy, I hope your flight isn't with Jetsgo. hehehe

And WELCOME, another Ottawa member, geez we must be close to 10 members now!

(Message edited by jamesbe on March 11, 2005)

Bullet Blue · « **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2005, 03:29:14 pm »

Wow that price seems suspiciously great. At that price even I'd be interested. But I'll give ya first dibbs

Bladerunner · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2005, 04:12:52 pm »

http://www.trader.ca/BuddsOakville/Default.asp?Trader=1&CAT=1&mknm=688&Region=-1 &adid=3751045&dContact=240771&VLot=/BuddsOakville&ADS=3751045|&SRVlot=1&SRslts =1&category=1&makeid=688&modelcode=97601&len1=0&len2=0&mknm=688&mdnm=330XI&Regio n=-1&subcategory=&alpha=

DriverJeff · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2005, 04:24:53 pm »

Hmm... if traffic's not too bad on the way home, maybe I'll stop in and have a quick look for ya.

Budds' is a great dealership but they're not usually ones to "under price" their cars. Plus, Budds' also owns the adjacent BMW dealership so I'm worried that it's not good enough to be in their fleet.

If I stop by, I'll let you know a little later this evening what I saw.

Bullet Blue · « **Reply #7 on:** March 11, 2005, 04:27:54 pm »

Oh it's an automatic... I've lost interest.

DriverJeff · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2005, 04:49:56 pm »

That's good... it wasn't for you anyway. :-)

Sandy44 called dibs first.

ArticSteve · « **Reply #9 on:** March 11, 2005, 05:35:40 pm »

I would not jump on this deal without first examining all service records like Jeff says.

The unit at Budds would be worth taking a look at if you can fight your way thru the Oakville traffic even on Saturday. It will a Budds original car most likely and they will have all the records.

Since the car is under 80K you might be able to deal a good price on an extended BMW warranty to 160km. Very good thing to have.

Logic would dictate that the Budds car would be the better unit.

DriverJeff · « **Reply #10 on:** March 11, 2005, 07:46:30 pm »

Artic, I think the Budds car IS the one he was planning to see. If it is, Sandy44 looks to be getting a pretty decent machine.

I stopped by the dealership on my way home from work this evening. Considering it's 4 years old, it's in very, very good condition by the looks of it.

The paint has a great shine (they've obviously waxed it recently since the water droplets were beading nicely) and there are few chips in the front. The rear, passenger's side door has a small scuff on it, but nothing unusual for the age/mileage of the car.

The alloys are in pretty good shape considering they've obviously been used for 4 seasons (it's got Blizzaks on the car right now -- in pretty good shape).

The interior looked to be darn-near spotless too (though it looks to be the leatherette and not the genuine leather and wood trim of the premium pkg).

It IS a Saturn Certified Used Car as I had mentioned above which means it does carry a warranty I believe. Plus, as an added nicety, it had a sign inside it stating that it could be financed at 3.9% for 48 months.

For $27k, (without driving it mind you), it appears to be a hell of a deal.

Best of luck!

ArticSteve · « **Reply #11 on:** March 11, 2005, 08:12:40 pm »

Ya I see, Budds has branched out to Saturn/Saab

I think they first started out as a Jag dealer way back when.

johngenx · « **Reply #12 on:** March 11, 2005, 10:18:44 pm »

The used car guys from the Saturn dealer might have picked it up at lease-end auction. It makes no difference that there is a BMW dealer in the "family" the Saturn guy has to make profit too, you know.

At $27K, that is an excellent buy if the car is good. Problem with lease returns is they often lack service records and other documentation. A good PPI will go long way, but it is nice to have the records.

The only real worry with that model is the AT. The E46 AT's are not that great, like almost all ZF produced boxes. That said, all the people I know that have had problems had 99-00's. Hopefully the morons at ZF made some changes.

tpl · « **Reply #13 on:** March 13, 2005, 04:34:16 pm »

Sandy,
It will have had 2 oil changes, one of them being an Inspection 1

It will be due for another oil change at 75000 or close and an inspection 2 at 100,000 +/-

But because its an auto it may have used enough gas to have got to the 3rd oil change already.
the servicing it at a nominal 25,000Km but is in fact measured by the amount of gas that goes through the engine. my manual 330xi did 22,000 in its first period and looks like about 24000 in the second... cos its broken in now.

I would recommend changing ALL the transmission fluids. 2 diffs, 1 transfer case and the automatic itself about now and again in 50,000 km more.
Also the brake fluid is due to be changed for the 2nd time ( every 2 years) and the coolant for the first time at 4 years. Only use genuine BMW coolant!!!!!!!

I would get all of that done before taking delivery if it were me.

After all that I'd change the oil every 8K km, so 2 changes between services.

I suspect that you will have several happy years after that. Some people say that the xi is not as good/crisp/whatever as the 2wd drive cars. It is a bit softer and it rides a bit higher but I think that the handling in winter makes up for all of it. IMHO it is nicely balanced ... 225 bhp is enough most of the time, the 38/62% torque split f/r is h\just right for fun in the snow and it is reasonably economical ( manual anyway) 10.2-10.5 winter and 8.5-9.6 summer

(Message edited by tpl on March 13, 2005)

ArticSteve · « **Reply #14 on:** March 13, 2005, 08:30:17 pm »

I would never buy a used Bimmer that has had oil changes only every 25k. That policy (BMW's) is pure lunacy. Same with their sealed automatic transmissions.

tpl · « **Reply #15 on:** March 14, 2005, 06:47:23 am »

After 12K with my car I went to the dealer for an intermediate oil change and they ( the service manager himself) spent 15 minutes trying to persuade me I didn't need one.
After that I just went to an independent BMW specialist for those changes...I refuse to be harangued by someone who I am offering money to.
To be fair the BMW 5w-30 is an German Castrol ACEA A3/B3 oil that is specified for extended drain intervals.

Surely there must be some way to get fluid in and out of the Auto trans after it is assembled... even the transfer case which the workshop manual sternly states is not serviceable has oil drain and refill holes.

wing · « **Reply #16 on:** March 14, 2005, 07:50:43 am »

Mobil 1 is advertising a new oil that is good for 15000 MILES, that's around 25k The thing is I can understand the oil not breaking down in that time period but it will get dirty.

Sandy44 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 14, 2005, 09:05:42 am »

This was a great response to my humble post. I really appreciate all of your comments and would keep that in mind before striking a deal. Yeah Bladerunner got the right link. I was looking at the budds saturn website (http://listings.resonanze.com/detailpage.asp?IID=20350&DealershipID=22&isLogo=1) for detailed pics and all.

Thanks for Jeff1 for going an extra mile and taking a look at the car n providing his first hand comments. Will keep ya guys posted with any developments and all.