Advice on what to look for

B

Bbear

New member
Hi people. I am looking at buying a 2007 3.0is roadster with 135000 miles on the clock. It’s a sport version with a hardtop at what seems a decent price.
It’s been well looked after and has a good history.
I do know a lot about cars and mechanics but am pretty new to bmw (except my old 325 m sport many years ago which I should never have sold!!!)
Just wanted any info on common faults etc and engine troubles at this mileage.
Any info would be appreciated
Thanks
 
Welcome aboard. :) I'll leave it to more knowledgeable folk to tell you about the 3.0is.
 
2007 will be an N52 engine.

Generally quite robust but can be leaky (oil filter gasket, sump pan, rocker cover gasket). Consider also that at 135k miles, the water pump may need replacing if not done already. It's an electric item and around £400 for just the part alone.
 
Welcome to the forum by the way. :thumbsup:

g3org3y seems to have covered the potential engine issues. At this age they can also suffer from corroded rear brake pipes at the rear of the plastic cover in front of the passenger side rear wheel.

And BMW mounted the roof motors where they are prone to getting drowned in water from the hood drains. But there are a few members on here who can relocate them into the boot and often revive "dead" motors for sensible money.

The 3.0Si N52 motor in these is a great engine, and a Sport model will have the very desirable M-Sport seats that typically change hands used for the best part of £1K - as do factory hard-tops!
 
A wild guess, is it the red one in Hertfordshire? I was considering it myself, looks a nice example and would have viewed it, had it been local to me. MOT history looks ok, usual issues.

I did nearly buy a 170k mile E86 last year. It drove well, but there was a concern about the cylinder head, but generally these engines are very robust.

You could pay for an inspection for peace of mind.

Good luck!
 
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