Buying a reliable used family saloon

I'm helping a friend replace her car, she's a mum with two primary-school-aged children, doing average mileage, but mainly short local distances (1 to 5 miles). Currently drives W/2000 BMW 318, which...

Service history from garages

Last week I took my car for a service at a BMW main dealer. The dealer damaged the car while it was being serviced (slammed the bonnet onto a spanner apparently), and held onto it for an extra couple of...

The tyres that came in from the cold

We have a BMW 3-Series auto which came with standard Continental tyres (not run-flats) and all I hear is that this combination is probably not going to be too clever when the snow comes (we live Scotland)....

Replacement for a 530d

I drive a 2004 530DSE which is high spec and has done 120k. I am soon to retire and will no longer need to cover the distance I previously travelled. I will still undertake journeys of 300 miles each...

BMW engine failure three months after purchase

I'm feeling very sick. I've had the car just over 3 months. A few days ago the car suffered dramatic power loss and was running like a tractor. Towed in to a local garage and at first the chap thought...

Problems with a BMW 320d

I have been reading through the good and bad reviews regarding the BMW Coupe 320 Diesel year 2007-2009. I noticed that it has been advised that there has been turbo failures on this particular model reported...

Clamping your style

I'm about to take delivery of a new, manual drive BMW 320 SE, saloon. Should I invest in a mechanical car security device (‘Krooklock’) or will it be redundant with the standard security features on the...

Awarding damages

Renewal quotes for 2010 BMW 318 SE Business Edition £317 from Saga £452 from BMW Insurance. Both comprehensive, both de facto 5 Star. Key difference is that with BMW (they say) car will always be repaired...

Cold comfort

I have a BMW 3 Series and would appreciate your recommendation for winter tyres and wheels. Is this likely to transform this car in the snow?

Part and particle

I drive a 2006 BMW 320d that I have had for a year and I understand it has a diesel particulate filter. The car has covered 60,000 but I only drive about 5,000 miles a year. From reading your column I...