I want to buy a 2nd hand BMW for under 125k what are my best options.

[Joshua Turner]

Crazy what they're selling for now. I'd have made a profit had I kept my 320d and sold it now for that price.


Best is to get the invoices as well as further proof and to ensure it was done and then you can see what mileage it was done at and when next it might be necessary to consider doing it etc.

Z4 is a really cool car, the 3L engine is lovely too. Just understand and prepare yourself for the fuel consumption, especially coming from the Z800.
Good idea to try get an idea as to what you might be paying for insurance too (Naked is great to get a quick quote).

Also look at and consider when the vehicle is due for it's next service, how much tread is left on the tyres (possibly the date of manufacture for the tyres too), how much is left on the brake pads (can be to see though). It's not great having to spend money on a vehicle you just purchased, if it's necessary then at least be aware of it and plan accordingly.

I assume its the Z4 posted above in this thread? It has GP plates, so I assume its up here in Gauteng though.

The Z800 absolutely eats fuel for a bike though with the exhaust i have on now😂 it runs at 6.5l to 100km

 

[PsyCLown]

The Z800 absolutely eats fuel for a bike though with the exhaust i have on now😂 it runs at 6.5l to 100km

Similar compared to my Z750S, but I am sure you're not light on the throttle either. lol
I wouldn't be happy with something like a NC700 which is really light on fuel in comparison.


Let us know how it goes with the car.

 

[Joshua Turner]

Similar compared to my Z750S, but I am sure you're not light on the throttle either. lol
I wouldn't be happy with something like a NC700 which is really light on fuel in comparison.


Let us know how it goes with the car.

Yeahh no im not the lightest on the throttle but man it gives a lot of power with barely giving it any beans.

 

[Joshua Turner]

Similar compared to my Z750S, but I am sure you're not light on the throttle either. lol
I wouldn't be happy with something like a NC700 which is really light on fuel in comparison.


Let us know how it goes with the car.

Yeahhh I'll let you know how it goes. I dont know too too much about cars as a whole as I am only 18 and I'd like someone with a bit more knowledge to check the car out with me of course but I dont think I know anyone that knows much about cars. Do you have suggestions on how to deal with this situation?

 

[PsyCLown]

Yeahhh I'll let you know how it goes. I dont know too too much about cars as a whole as I am only 18 and I'd like someone with a bit more knowledge to check the car out with me of course but I dont think I know anyone that knows much about cars. Do you have suggestions on how to deal with this situation?

Maybe someone on this forum will be able to help you out, possibly even check it out before you make a plan to come up.

 

[Joshua Turner]

Maybe someone on this forum will be able to help you out, possibly even check it out before you make a plan to come up.

That'd be amazing and very kind however I dont know anyone😂

 

[KPM3_30]

@Joshua Turner I am happy to help you and tell you if it's worth the buy, should you need it.

I understand the joy and trepidation that comes with your first pre-loved BMW purchase. I was in the same position when I purchased my first, which I still have and couldn't part ways with.

 

[Joshua Turner]

@Joshua Turner I am happy to help you and tell you if it's worth the buy, should you need it.

I understand the joy and trepidation that comes with your first pre-loved BMW purchase. I was in the same position when I purchased my first, which I still have and couldn't part ways with.

I mean if possible that'd be amazing. Please message me on 062 321 3736

 

[Mytfine]

I see some on this forum recommending turd cards like the VW Polo (pronounced with a silent L) and the Swift.

I can only share my opinion and experience you need to decide end of the day. As my first car I ended up not getting a Civic Type-R and going for a newer Kia Picanto. The Type-R was slightly out of my budget and family were unable to assist me with the additional R10k I needed and the Kia was newer with lower mileage and had an amazing "claimed" fuel consumption. I did not know much about cars at this time, I was more into bikes. Looking back to the options I was offered, such as a Toyota MR2 (I felt it was too old and too risky in terms of potential maintenance) and a Renault Clio "sporty" 1.6L were suggestions from the salesman, I wonder if that MR2 might not have been a better choice.

Purchasing the Picanto was the worst purchase I have ever made. I still regret that purchase to this day. The biggest waste of money I feel.
Why? Not because it was unreliable, no, I never had any major issues with it at all and everything worked as it should. Not because it is a bad car, no, for the price and the features it had at the time I feel it was well spec'd for a budget vehicle. This was at a time when the VW Poo came without a radio as standard and had manual windows - the Picanto had a sunroof, auto lights, electric windows all around and a bluetooth radio.

The reason I hated the purchase and regret purchasing the car was because its firstly slow AF, good luck trying to overtake a delivery bike even. With the aircon on you have to have the patients of a monk. The accelerator is more an on/off switch.
I was lacking in knowledge and the claimed fuel consumption was far from what I was actually getting. So my one big justification I used to convince myself this is a car which makes more sense was a lie. I would average 6.5 to 7.2 L/100km in a tiny 1.2L with no power.
The stock speakers were also useless, you might as well play music through your phone. The experience would be similar, so I obviously had to dump some money into some proper sound, besides with it being as slow as it was I needed something to help keep me calm and busy behind the wheel.

I hated it so much that for the first 2 to 3 years of ownership I don't think I even put R15k on it as I mostly used my bike as that at least had power and was lighter on fuel even when pushing it.


So while going for a turd of a car as your first car might work some, for me it was a decision and purchase I regret. Its a lot of money to spend on a purchase, especially when one is so young. I sold it as soon as I got the Audi and boy was I glad to get rid of it! The years before purchasing the Audi did lead to many nights of being extremely unhappy and browsing autotrader and pondering WTF to do as selling it and buying something else felt like a big waste of money as well and just an all round losing situation.

The flip side to this is purchasing an old, beaten up car which is unreliable and requires you to spend money you don't have and you seldom get to drive it as it's often in for repairs.

So something in the middle makes the most sense I feel, you know yourself best and what you would be happy with and able to live with. I guess what is most important to you as well plays a big role.
I struggle to drive something that doesn't move when you put your foot flat. I am all for these tiny cars being scrapped and implementing a minimum KW limit on any vehicle being sold, I know this is unrealistic and will never happen though. lol
The irony is that I do not necessarily drive fast or in an unsafe manner when I am in a vehicle which has a bit of power, I just dislike feeling limited.

I get what saying but plenty of 1.6 hatchbacks around his budget that will be better suited as a 1st car than an old bmw,