When Gothilda has to be replaced

I might take another break from Volvo, and go for something by Bevarian Motor Works.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...dius/1500/fuel-type/diesel/make/bmw?logcode=p

More luxury plus more power plus more fuel economy. I could even make sure I get the optional mirrors, speedo and variable throttle in an effort to avoid becoming a stereotypic Bevarian Motor Works driver.

The only thing that puts me off is that I like Scandinavian names better than Germanic ones, but I like Sabine, Lieselotte, and mybe Ulrika.

I bet @fat controller and @longk have an opinion on this German machine.

 

Absolute no no Clueless!!!
Head off for a decoke at anything from 80000 miles on (and again at similar intervals) which also includes a new inlet manifold.
Then there is the potential for sudden timing chain failure.
Electric door mirrors are £500 a side, plus numerous other horrendous examples of over-priced parts.
Little bros has just left a BMW dealer - the new ones are even worse. His appraisal was poor product (not a patch on Peugeot in his opinion), and an awful class of customer!

 

BMW X5 headlight (some one said) it about £1000

 

Does anyone still wonder why they see two or three year old high end cars in breaker yards now?!

 

A friend hit a Deer, now it's costing him dear

 

The poor deer/dear!

 

The Deer got up and ran away

 

Who would want to look like a drug dealer?
It appears to have nothing going for it other than what most cars have these days, of course, I for got the "badge".

 

What it has going for it (in my eyes) is the following:
* 163 - 190 bhp (depending on which engine you end up with) compared to Gothilda's 135bhp. I'm not wanting tear up the roads, but its nice to have the power there for overtaking.
* Comfy looking interior
* Almost as much boot space as the 940
* Nearly twice as many miles per gallon.
* All of the above available within my price limit of around £1000 (I go in for 'Bangernomics')

I don't care about the badge, I am usually the first to mock BMW drivers

However based on advice from those who know more about cars than I do, plus the fact that Gothilda is slowly regaining my trust after the extremely scary loss of control the other week, since I had brand new tyres fitted all round, I'm now thinking two things. Firstly that I'm in less of a hurry to replace her than I was, and secondly that when the time comes, I'm going to look at other options. I saw a Skoda Octavia estate earlier and thought it looked nice, good size, available in diesel, and a popular choice among taxi drivers who need a reliable and economical car because of the very nature of their job.

 

They're good IF they have been well serviced. Replace the cambelt early, they are supposed to be replaced at 120000 miles (A.I.R.) but that is pushing it. Most of the electrics are fairly old school, fuel pipes can be problematic, but easily fixed. Check the rear suspension as the radius arm bearings fail at 100000 to 200000 miles.
Uses naff all fuel, has not got stupidly low profile/overly large tyres, most parts are fairly cheap (although some indicator switches depending on the age are £300!), cheap tax band (A.I.R.) and on the whole easy to get around for most service/repair jobs.
I would be wanting to pay about £1200 for that though. That said it is a one owner car, and if the service history (and by implication milage) can be backed up then probably not a bad buy.