the time has come for a newbie

[peter2704]

hello everybody, just joined and looking for my first E89 bmw, my budget isnt vast but could px the wifes car to help the budget. i think i am in the 2009/13 year range ,now this means 6cyl or 4 cyl, older car verses a slightly newer one.
Whilst i think the general consensus is 6cyl traditional bmw,the 4 cyl must have owners who like this version too.What i think i need is to know both engines weaknesses/issues.Seen a 2012 4 cyl car in blue/cream,nice looking thing ,needs a little tlc but that doesnt worry me ,the engine side does,at 105K miles with service history ,would it put you off the car? I get lower miles are possibly better ,but if the funds dont allow i have to use what i have to bag a good one.I presume all the other issues roofs/etc are the same for both engine models,its whether 4 or 6 cyl

 

[Mr Tidy]

Welcome to the forum Peter.

I've only had E86s so they've all been 6s, and two had the same N52 engine as 23i and 30i E89s. I'm also on my 2nd N52 in a 3 Series and they seem to be pretty bulletproof, although ancillaries like alternators, starter motors and electric water pumps can fail now they're getting older, and oil leaks from old, brittle oil filter housing and cam-cover gaskets aren't unusual. But my 330i has done 125k now and still performs brilliantly.

I don't know much about the 4 cylinder N20 turbo engines ones other than what I have read on here but it seems they can have cam-chain issues. Apparently the 18i, 20i and 28i all use the same engine just with a different map, but the 28i has bigger front discs. Although some people prefer how they handle with less weight at the front you miss out on the straight 6 soundtrack!

Hopefully someone on here knows a bit more about them.

 

[peter2704]

cheers, the car i saw today had potential (dont mind a bit of tinkering) I need to drive it though to see if its an option,my budget is around 6K which isnt the best but we are in a cost of living thing so you never know????

 

[peter2704]

Would a 140k miles 6cylinder , 90%bmw history put you off

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

Would a 140k miles 6cylinder , 90%bmw history put you off

I suppose you have to go and see it and decide for yourself how looked after it is.

 

[Pondrew]

Would a 140k miles 6cylinder , 90%bmw history put you off

Yes!
The history (BMW doesn't mean good; just means expensive) will probably be every 2 years...ish and around 15k miles. That's a lot of mileage for oil IMO, especially when it gets older with high mileage.

But caveat here: I have a phobia about high mileage cars. Always have, always will (it's a curse which costs me a lot of dosh).

 

[Mr Tidy]

Would a 140k miles 6cylinder , 90%bmw history put you off

Those two things alone wouldn't. I sold a 325i with the N52 engine and full BMWSH on 139K miles and it performed fine.

I replaced it with my current 330i, also with the N52 engine, and some BMWSH that has now done 125K and still performs brilliantly.

Someone who posted on here quite recently has an E86 that has done 250K!

I've come to realise condition and history are far more important than mileage.

 

[peter2704]

Ok I think that’s a good thing to know, it now just confuses the decision process more