Okay I'm looking at a 2006 BMW 325i. It has 163667 miles on it. Is that too much? Should I stay away? Or does the car still have a good bit of life in it?

Could you hold it up higher I can see from sittin over here. No, seriously though, if you are excited about it, have it inspected by BMW for an idea what its going to need, tell them to pull no punches and a real cursory examination. then use that info to negotiate, otherwise you get to rebuild it. They come apart alot further than it looks when you really have to go in deep. Not a good home project, more like a lawn ornament if you dont find out first , you will find out, jewel? or glass? Maintenance records? includes shop manuals ? receiptes? or used car lot cleaned out take your chances. I personally would see it up close and drive it, then go to BMW for the inspect.

research your TSB's and recalls and owner reported problems. then ask about them for your inspection.

It's 100 percent about condition at this point. If you really think you'll this car looks like it might be a candidate for a "museum stand-in", than by all means have it checked out by your mechanic. If not, I would definitely recommend looking for another car. Don't waste your money if it looks like it has not been well cared for.

Thats good advice. the previous owner could have been a bmw technician, Or he could have been a teeenage girl, who would you want to take over for? miles on a german car are not a deal killer if the services are prperly done, they include preplanned preventative forethought. I dont know how you say that in German, but i bet there's alot of spit flying and gutteral yelling smacking people with gloves and the like. They dont mess around with doing it half way. But be prepared to buy lots of little annoying things bulbs, bulb holders, battery, driving lights, lenses (hella). Bosch ignition parts, special fluids, like dot 4, pentosin, Hoat type coolant, you need a good part supplier. cheap shipping. Know how to identify and look up the right ones. dont buy almost correct parts. but dont get taken either. It is a struggle, having a BMW. unless you take it to them.

A BMW with 163k? No freaking way!

Be ready for alternator that goes clip clop, water pump impeller swelling, gas filled tensioners, pulley replacements, replacing everything just because, Pagid brand brake pads, might as well buy the last ones first. etc. etc. This is why you want to know how much and how soon. so you can negotiate accordingly.

Another thought. ...ask yourself, why do you really want a BMW? Asian cars are so much more reliable and less expensive to take care of. If it's just the nameplate, you're doing this for the wrong reasons. And, when you pass the 200,000 miles mark, you're going to be in for some rockier waters. This is transmission territory and unless the car has been meticulously cared for and I mean meticulous, you better be prepared to open your wallet. The more I think about your situation, I would advise looking for a car with less miles on the clock. The person who had this car did more than 18,000 miles per year for the last nine years. That's a lot of hard driving.

I know aguy who did buy one with circumstances and collision repair needing a list, but the negotiations reduced the price to where he could fix it up, garage it, plan and buy things ahead, get a good tech to help and put the whole heap together. his deal may have been very similar to yours. they were smart enough to watch gauges. they caught the overheat before it blew up. Then I went to help. we had to buy a book on disc. spent a week trying to get info and figure things out. nothing is very accessible from above. It would have cost thousands at BMW for all he had to do in the first year.

Like these other guys are saying, get it inspected. I couldn't say much for newer Bimmers as far as reliability, but older ones will have no problem going 200,000+. Are they all highway miles? Are there service records?

Again, service records and condition are the name of the game here. If they can't provide documentation, find another car. I kept all the service records on my 95 Honda and when I sold it I gave them a 3 ring binder with every single receipt from day one. I purchased it new and kept that car for 19 years. I got top dollar when I sold that car. That's what it takes do do that.

That's a classy way to operate and maintain your vehicle. The new buyer gets the awe and wonder of re-experiencing all you went through and saves by being able to look things up in your notes. That proves any claim you make to defend your price.

The service records, if anything, tell you what is now repaired, and you shouldn't have to be worried about. Keeping service records is a courtesy, and if you're trying to hide that in a price, you're asking too much. Anyone who is buying an older BMW, or any car for that matter, knows this.

He did keep them very well and provided them, that was the point proving top price was paying what he thought it was worth, Providing the info to his buyer was not "hiding" anything in the price, that was the meaning I read. Anyone slowing down to read his words would know this.

If you keep your car like an airplane and keep everything in top flight condition, you'll be proud owner and have a reliable car, plus, when you sell your car you'll be able command top dollar. It's really handy to keep all your service records not just for yourself, but, people really appreciate it when you sell the car, it's very impressive and demonstrates to them that you really stayed on top of things. It's easy to do, just keep a file and put receipts in there every time you service your car. And, since no one can remember everything they do with their own cars, these records come in very handy. If you see for example that you've had two or three water pump failures in three years, it will alert you that something else may be causing problems. Good luck.

Exactly. I keep a binder with all of my service/parts receipts for all of my cars, plus a maintenance log for each of them. Good luck with your car!

Thanks, you too! Generally, I'm not concerned about how "old" my car is as long as its reliable, everything is working normally and it has a modern safety features for the most part, and does not leave me stranded. My old 1995 Honda Accord EX station wagon had almost 150,000 miles on it when I sold it and the car was great, but, it didn't serve my current needs anymore. But, with the meticulous service records and condition of the car I sold it for $3,000. I think that was pretty good. Now, if I didn't have anything to show someone how I took care of the car do you think that I would have been able to do that. By the way, the car sold almost immediately.

creampuff at any mileage for your buyer.