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-   -   Your choice of used car under 30-lakhs (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/275302-your-choice-used-car-under-30-lakhs.html)

Hello Team, Happy New Year to everyone! I hope everyone accomplishes the goals they have set up for themselves this year and all your cars travel more happy miles!

Being a member of this wonderful community, I have always read such amazing stories, ownership reviews, experiences and I keep learning something or the other everyday. All of us are car enthusiasts and have a lot of opinions on cars which we drive, we test and of course buy.

Today, I ask everyone of you, if you were given a budget of 30 Lakhs to buy anything in the pre-owned market. What will it be and why? In today’s world 30 Lakhs budget is considerably respectable to look for something which you will cherish.

Like if I have to get anything in this budget, I’d pick an Audi A4 Technology, preferably a 2019 example with the 2.0 TDI + that 12V small battery. Thats my sensible choice. My 9 year old inner child will go look for a carbon black 530D F10 and worry about the maintenance later.

So Team, I wanna hear what everyone will splurge their money on.

Greetings,
Speedfreak77

Several cars always in my head with a 30L budget.

The Volvo S60 (2019+) is a car always on my radar. Although not sold much and not on sale now, it is a pre-owned car I would look for with a 30L budget.

Other practical and safer choices I would look at would be the Skoda Superb or Kodiaq.

Of course no one can say no to a nice BMW 3 Series. Preferably one of the long wheelbase editions. The 530d is also on my wishlist but getting a fairly new one under 30L would be next to impossible.

Final option would be the Audi A4.

I feel very privileged to say that the pre-owned car I would go for under 30L is in my family's garage, as my dad, who, like me, has fuel flowing through his veins, and picked up a 2018 F30 330i a few weeks ago. I'll save my thoughts on the car for the thread I am currently working on but in short this car is phenomenal to drive. The 330i GT would be the more practical option that also fits into this price bracket but I am really not a fan of the way it looks.

I find the 5-series to simply be too big to daily, else the F10 530d M Sport would have also been a solid contender!

Drive it currently & love it. For 30-lakhs, I'd get the newest, best-maintained 530d M-Sport I can lay my hands on. Will have lots of money left over for mods & maintenance.

Equal first choice = X5 30d (recently saw a 2016 car).

2nd choice would be a Ford Endeavour. Still the best 30 - 40 lakh rupee 4x4 SUV India has ever seen.

Hands down a 320d or 330i if i could get my hands on one. This is going to be my next upgrade too. Sadly i have been looking out for one, although passively, but the 5 yo (2019+) options are insanely priced, 35L+.

I am surprised how you found a 2018 330i under 30L, that too in bangalore. Could you share the Odo reading when you bought it if you dont mind.

While a F10 530d can be easily had in under 30L, is it possible to get a G30 530d easily in under 30L at present?

In that case, is it not better to get a 520d G30 in under 30L. It may have a 4-cylinder engine only but I suppose for 90% of the wants and driving conditions in India, that is a wonderful package?

Or is there a better used car (Sedan) option compared to G30 520d in this price?

To clarify, it is a 2017 manufactured car registered in 2018. It had done around 32000 kms when we picked it up. KUN BMW in Bangalore seem to have a few 320d's and 330i's available around the 30L price point right now.

I am yet to see a G30 5 series drop below the 40L mark, let alone 30L. Might just be the Bangalore used car market though not sure

Used cars are still weirdly overpriced in Kerala right now despite prices in the rest of the country going back to somewhat normal. I can’t really find anything appealing here under 30L. They are either heavily abused 3rd+ owner vehicles or 10+ years old with questionable odo

Personally, I’m waiting for the current gen XC60 to hit the 30-40L range so I can pick one up.
The S90 can be picked up in some northern states for below 30L which is decent.
Current gen 320d would also be an interesting pick but can’t find any below 45L in Kerala.
The old audi A6 3.0 Quattro is also extremely appealing but I can’t find a non-shady one anywhere
The w205 C300d would also be great

Did you buy it from BMW used cars? How reliable and trustworthy are these guys?
After reading threads where the ASC is in cahoots with the used car dealers, are these guys more genuine given the prices they charge.

My pick would be a BMW 320d GT. I like the F30 320d but the GT have better GC and a usable boot (after keeping a spare). Would not get a G20 as I feel it does not have the classic BMW look.

We picked up our car from a mutual friend and not from these guys.

I have yet to read these threads; however, I have interacted with BMW used cars on the airport road a few times when they were still Navnit motors, and they seem to be genuine. They also offer very fair prices for the cars they have listed compared to other used car dealers. A family friend picked up a 520d from them some time back, and they go through the trouble of cleaning up the bodyline from any blemishes it may have. If I am not wrong, they also provide 1 year of warranty on the engine and gearbox.

My suggestion would be the same as what I ended up buying- a 2017/18 C-Class. Would skip the petrol motor because of E20 compatibility. The 220d with a remap is powerful enough- 205-225hp & 500Nm torque. Only gripe is the pricey spare parts vs BMW but the interior is much nicer than the F30 which I owned before this.

The F10 530d is a great option for the engine alone however the Missus found it too big to drive in the City and the interior felt dated. The M-sport F10 LCI makes up for the age with the interior color, virtual cockpit, bigger iDrive and HUD etc.

Put that money in a nice nifty index fund and then in 2 years buy a brand spanking new 3 series.

Some cars I can think of are

987.2 Boxster/Cayman

V6 W211/W212

R171/R170 SLK

R230 SL

F30 3er

E90 3er + maintenance xd

F series 6er

V8 Lexus LS, multiple genrations.

W220/221 V8 S-classes

LC100/LX470

J120 Prado

W212 Coupe/Cabriolet

E9X 330d Convertible

If you are really brave and maintenance isn't included then a E90 M5 or a 5.0 XF

My pick would be the 2022 Skoda Octavia L&K! A stunner, if I do say so myself!

It's a beauty with the 2.0TSI engine mated to a beast of a DQ250 gearbox!