Questions from would-be newbie

[chickenbackside]

Hi Guys.

I am about to close the deal on a Dec 2002 320IA (PURPLE!!), totally stock.

It's got 39k on the clock and seems to be in good condition except for a few paint blemishes and a back bumper that doesn't sit quite right on one side, which the dealer said he will fix. The dealer claims that the car is from PML and has "full service records". He showed me the receipts and I saw only 2.

Is that what it should be? 2 services in 2 years?? Seems very little to me.

Also, the driver seat cushion seems flattened on one side (the side nearer to the door). It should be raised to provide some bolstering. Looks like someone really heavy sat on it and flattened it. Can this be fixed? Will PML fix it since it's still under warranty? Or is this considered a non-warranty item?

Another question is how many sets of keys should it come with?

Any other things I sould be looking for?

Thanks.

 

[Geoff Ang]

Re: Questions from would-be newbie

exterior and interior conditions aside... does it run well?
should have 3 sets of keys...
purple??? u like ahhhhh?

g

 

[wilman2772]

Re: Questions from would-be newbie

Hi Guys.

I am about to close the deal on a Dec 2002 320IA (PURPLE!!), totally stock.

It's got 39k on the clock and seems to be in good condition except for a few paint blemishes and a back bumper that doesn't sit quite right on one side, which the dealer said he will fix. The dealer claims that the car is from PML and has "full service records". He showed me the receipts and I saw only 2.

Is that what it should be? 2 services in 2 years?? Seems very little to me.

Also, the driver seat cushion seems flattened on one side (the side nearer to the door). It should be raised to provide some bolstering. Looks like someone really heavy sat on it and flattened it. Can this be fixed? Will PML fix it since it's still under warranty? Or is this considered a non-warranty item?

Another question is how many sets of keys should it come with?

Any other things I sould be looking for?

Thanks.

Qns aside....why U choose this nick har??



'The Great White'

 

[chickenbackside]

Re: Questions from would-be newbie

Purple is ok lah. I know it's very left-wing, but it's growing on me. Black to me is too beng. I like the silver one, but non of those I saw were 320's. Blue too ah pek, white like doctor. Ok ok, purple like ah gua, but I thought it was quite funky, in a good way...

I think if I put smoked M3 18 inchers on the car, it'd actually go pretty well with purple. Of course, will need to lower the car by 2 inches or so. Damn, feel my pocket hole getting bigger already...

I test drove it, went on the expressway and whacked the fella (or should it be gal since it's purple?), played with the manual gear change in the process, let it idle for 1/2 hour while talking to the dealer... No problems.

Coming back to the keys, so I should get 3 keys and shoulld all of them be the remote ones with buttons, or is one of them just a manual key?

Any ideas about the seat?

wilman2772: it was the 1st thing that came to my mind when I registered. Don't ask me why cos I don't eat them..

 

[wilman2772]

Re: Questions from would-be newbie

U say it right!

Purple is Ah Gua!

Good luck to you man!!

Cheers

'The Great White'

 

[bmw4life]

Re: Questions from would-be newbie

chickenbackside, you should be getting 4 keys in total.

2 x with remote
1 x spare
1 x small plastic wallet key

when i bought my 2nd hand E46, the original colour was purple too! Almost wanted to puke and gave up if not for the low miledge and good conditions of the car.
had the car changed to "ah-beng" black later...

 

[chickenbackside]

Re: Questions from would-be newbie

bmw4life:

Thanks for the info. However, the ex-owner lost the spare key, so I only got the 2 remote keys and 1 wallet key. Doesn't really bother me.

The colour is beginning to grow on me lah. So I'll just keep it for the time being. Even the 16" wheels which I thought cannot make it also doesn't bother me already. The comfort is quite worth it.

Getting old...

 

[mistraele]

Re: Questions from would-be newbie

you can try your luck with PML on the flattened seat boster. if its not due to a defect and just due to the fact ur previous owner was a tua pui, then your more than likely SOL.

there was another thread about someone here taking the carr to one of the bmw workshops to give it the once over. it is something i would strongly recommend. or at least get the AA 120 point check done on the car before you hand over your cash.

conti car service intervals are longer than japanese ones. im not exactly sure for BMW, but for mine is 15 and 30k. if BMW also runs at 15k intervals, then at 39k, its correct that there would only be 2 services.

 

[chickenbackside]

Re: Questions from would-be newbie

mistraele:

Thanks for the tips.

I did bring the car to J4C for an assessment. John used to do quite a bit of work on my Merc so I kinda know them. He gave a go ahead after a thorough check, and I bought it. Oh, I made a mistake about the mileage, it's 31k not 39k, so 2 services is about right.

Anyway, I insisted the dealer fix the seat before handing over the car and he did. So that's not an issue now.

The driver's power window is rough and cracking as it winds down now. Also, there's a little jerk and clunk sound when the car shifts to a low gear when I stop.

Both common problems I've read. Anyway, booked it into PML this coming Monday and will be sloved under warranty.