New, sorta

[Smartbear]

Welcome OP.

I think you can learn loads from the buying guides one here.

FWIW I think you will find the M54 engine more spanner-friendly for DIY work - the later N52 is more powerful for the same size but is a bit less analogue - it uses an electric water pump for example and when mine failed a year ago the OEM replacement part was £500!

Plus I have learnt from being on here that the earlier (as in pre-facelift) models that used the M54 engines were pre-wired for most of the options so if you got one without the heated seats and swapped them the wiring would already be there. (Sadly I only wanted a Coupe so it has to be a facelift for me).

Anyway, the other advice is always to go for a 3 litre - the M54 2.2 and 2.5 cost pretty much exactly the same to run on maintenance and economy so after a while you would probably regret it!

There are a few other US-based members on here by the way.

So good luck with the search - hope you find one you like soon.

Thanks for this! I'm still piecing together what I should what what comes with what and what I am gonna want lol

Hi Ron, oem water pumps are available for circa £280, only nutters pay £500 :wink:
They last for ten years or so, it's not a big deal to diy
Rob

 

[RonEats]

I have a shop and ProDemand at my exposal, not too worried about the diy stuff.

And distributor discount to pretty much all places auto here, I think I'm set.

 

[Mr Tidy]

[post]1370656[/post] Hi Ron, oem water pumps are available for circa £280, only nutters pay £500 They last for ten years or so, it's not a big deal to diy Rob

Well, much longer than your 3.0i E89 then!! :lol:

Good luck everyone!