100k+ miles E46 320D; Worth a punt?

Nissan doctor · 02-08-2011 1:25pm

guyfo wrote: »

Im 20 there is no hope in hell i could afford to keep diesel in a 330d. Insurance would b 1k more so thats why i don't have one. I go on about jap scrap because everyone on here seems to push them or vws. like u said to get a rover 75 ffs. It seems the mentality here is that its ok to ridicule a bm but god forbid someone should stand up for one.

Yes they are very common but to me that would show they are a decent car especially seeing theres so many about and they weren't exactly cheap when they were new.

On second thought i think my friends car is a 320i. my bad. But i havnt had any problems in the last 15 months and mines got 143k on it

And yes I would class myself as a car enthusiast. Im 20 and so far ive drove, caterham, westfield and striker sports cars, escort, mini, bmw and subaru rally cars, celica gt4, mini autotest cars, a formula sheane and most recently an sls amg on the a1 ring. And i can say that handling wise the e46 is right up there.

You realise that Gran tourismo is not a good indication of real life handling don't you?

guyfo · 02-08-2011 1:39pm

Nissan doctor wrote: »

You realise that Gran tourismo is not a good indication of real life handling don't you?

Haha you have no idea how ironic that statement is!

http://reporter.mercedes-benz.com/sls-amg-sony-playstations-gt5-reality-vs-virtuality-2621/

look at the second paragrah from the end to see why.

and what? because im young i couldn't possibly have drove nice cars?

Nissan doctor · 02-08-2011 1:53pm

guyfo wrote: »

and what? because im young i couldn't possibly have drove nice cars?

You pulled up that link strangly fast didn't you...

And its nothing to do with your age, its to do with you comparing the handling of your worn out(140+miles with no work done as you say) rep mobile to track cars, rally cars and gt cars!:rolleyes:

02-08-2011 3:00pm

guyfo wrote: »

...........I wouldnt bat an eye at any other cars as generally if its not a bm, audi, merc, volvo, vw or even lexus i generally see it as someone who doesn like cars. ..........

guyfo wrote: »

Im 20 there is no hope in hell i could afford to keep diesel in a 330d. Insurance would b 1k more so thats why i don't have one. I go on about jap scrap because everyone on here seems to push them or vws. like u said to get a rover 75 ffs.........................
On second thought i think my friends car is a 320i. .................. Im 20 and so far ive drove, caterham, westfield and striker sports cars, escort, mini, bmw and subaru rally cars, celica gt4, mini autotest cars, a formula sheane and most recently an sls amg on the a1 ring. And i can say that handling wise the e46 is right up there.

lol, you were on about VWs yourself a few posts ago

A diesel 75 has the same engine as your 320d without the sh1tty turbo

Also for the OPs budget he'd get a much better diesel 75 than a 320d, I didn't say a 75 would be better or worse as a car.
A car enthusiast who gets a 320d and a 320i mixed up, chuckle chuckle :pac:

Re the handling, what exactly are you saying the e46 in 320d M spec guise is right up there with ?

EPM · 02-08-2011 3:29pm

Right all, this is edging slowly towards a personal rampage so try keep it on topic;)

mondeo · 02-08-2011 3:51pm

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

Any link to an ad?

Heres the link, Nice clean car.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2378048

nogoodnamesleft · 02-08-2011 3:55pm

guyfo wrote: »

i drive a 03 bm 320d m-sport with 140k miles on it and i have to say its a truly fantastic car. All these lads saying toyota's etc obviously don't like driving. A German quality car will always be head and shoulders above the rest. The quality of the interior is fantastic (no jap-crap generally flimsy plastics) and that is where you will spend your time. They look great and they handle fantastic. I get 48mpg (despite living in the middle of nowhere on twisty roads) average out of mine i would say 55 is possible as they really come into there own on the motorway. I have never had to replace one thing on it (a friend of mine has one from new 01 with 350k miles and not a thing went wrong but he did look after it) I wouldnt bat an eye at any other cars as generally if its not a bm, audi, merc, volvo, vw or even lexus i generally see it as someone who doesn like cars. Once you drive a premium car no matter what it cost you or what age it is you cant really go back

A BMW 320d one with 350k and the other with 140k never had to replace a thing on it you say:rolleyes:....all ill say is "swirl flaps"

Nforce · 02-08-2011 4:28pm

nogoodnamesleft wrote: »

A BMW 320d one with 350k and the other with 140k never had to replace a thing on it you say:rolleyes:....all ill say is "swirl flaps"

A '01 model 320d doesn't have swirl flaps

...not to say that the turbo doesn't need reconditioning! Broken springs and worn out shocks will most likely have occurred in 350k of motoring.
Another problem with the early E46's that I failed to mention is that the general body module (GMV) will give trouble leading to central locking issues (car will lock with the remote,but won't open!) and the wipers will fail to operate. This is due to the soldered on relays burning out over time. It's a €400 repair from the stealers ,or you can get new relays soldered into your own module for about €100 by a local car sparks.

friendface · 05-08-2011 12:07am

Nforce wrote: »

I bought my '01 320d when it was 3 years old with 115k miles on the clock. To date I've replaced the complete suspension/wishbones/bushings,brake discs and pads,solid brake lines, cat convertor, aircon "hedgehog" resistor, drivers electric window regulator,main ignition key,sump,oil level sensor,a couple of parking sensors,MAF,the turbo was rebuilt 2k ago (at 168k miles) after it disintegrated...ohh..and a few set's of tyres!

Car was/is well cared for and receives an oil and filter change every 6k miles (Castrol Edge), with air filter,pollen filter,diesel filter and crankcase breather every second service.

Also have an '01 E46 320D. Bought it 3 years ago with a full BMW service history at around 86k miles. So far I've replced

Front Suspension Coils - Driver side rusted and cracked
Rear Suspension Coils - Driver side rusted and cracked
Wishbones
Bushings
Full Brake Disc & Pad Set
Rear Brake Callipers - Seized piston and seized bleed nipple
Rear Parking Brake Shoes & Springs - my fault , bit of heavy-handed brake repair
Drivers electric window regulator - rusted and snapped
Rear Wheel Speed sensor
Tyres

Looks like there are a few common problems with the e46 and OEM parts are expensive. Was surprised at the common problems I saw with Nforces post above. Cat converter was also replaced before I bought the car.

To begin with, I got the car serviced at the BMW dealer, then moved to an indy garage and now I just try to get parts and do everything I can myself.

I absolutely love the car to drive and it looks well for its age. Plenty optional extras on the older models which can be picked up cheap now, makes for comfortable long journeys.

VolvoMan · 05-08-2011 2:00am

I actually think I'd rather have an MG ZT with the same engine as the 320d (slightly de-tuned I believe, but more reliable) and better spec for probably less cash.

05-08-2011 9:51am

VolvoMan wrote: »

......... MG ZT with the same engine as the 320d (slightly de-tuned I believe, but more reliable) and better spec for probably less cash.

116bhp or 131bhp they come in, with a different turbo

I'd prefer one over an E46 320d too, €5000 would land a minty 2005 one from the UK.

Gophur · 05-08-2011 9:59am

[QUOTE=RoverJames;73602574........
A diesel 75 has the same engine as your 320d without the sh1tty turbo

.........[/QUOTE]

It hasn't.

You should get your facts right before making your customary R 75 recommendation?

The Rover used the same power plant as installed in the BMW 318d, a very much de-tuned version of what was in the 320d. They are significantly different.

05-08-2011 10:11am

Gophur wrote: »

It hasn't.

You should get your facts right before making your customary R 75 recommendation?

The Rover used the same power plant as installed in the BMW 318d, a very much de-tuned version of what was in the 320d. They are significantly different.

eh, it's mildly detuned, as I said it's 116 or 131bhp in the 75s/ZTs.
If you think it's not the same core engine as what was in the e46 320ds than it is you oh wise one that needs to get their facts right

I suppose you reckon the 90bhp and 110bhp VAG 1.9 diesels are not the same engine either so?

EPM · 05-08-2011 10:18am

Gophur wrote: »

It hasn't.

You should get your facts right before making your customary R 75 recommendation?

The Rover used the same power plant as installed in the BMW 318d, a very much de-tuned version of what was in the 320d. They are significantly different.

What were the significant differences? They original 318d and 320d in the pre-facelift E46 both used the M47D20 engine. AFAIK it was bored out after this and the power was upped in both.

Gophur · 05-08-2011 10:44am

RoverJames wrote: »

eh, it's mildly detuned, as I said it's 116 or 131bhp in the 75s/ZTs.
If you think it's not the same core engine as what was in the e46 320ds than it is you oh wise one that needs to get their facts right

.....

Ah, right, so now it's the same "core engine" ? You are back-pedalling now.
Look at my post. I stated, clearly, the engine is not the same as fitted to the 320d. The differences are significant enough for your post, referenced, to be wrong.

Any chance of you contributing to any topic without suggesting the Rover?

RoverJames wrote: »

.............

I suppose you reckon the 90bhp and 110bhp VAG 1.9 diesels are not the same engine either so?

And what's this supposed to be? What relevance has it to the topic of BMW diesel engines? None whatsoever.

05-08-2011 10:52am

I'm not backtracking at all, I already posted that they had a different turbo and that they were 116 or 131 bhp before you posted your most helpful comment.
Aside from the turbo what makes them different?

And the VAG 90 and 110bhp comment was a question asking would you regard them as significantly different too? Quite apt really imo.

I also recommended a 406HDi in my first post in this topic but you don't seem to have absorbed that piece of info for whatever reason

EPM · 05-08-2011 11:03am

Gophur and RJ,

Your discussion on the differences is fine (and interesting) but can we make it less personal and OT please. Taking it to PM would be a better option should you need to clarify any past items;)

Rowley Birkin QC · 05-08-2011 11:56am

Wow, I've created a monster.

I've decided I'm going to bide my time for a few months and then look into a 318/320ci. Hadn't realised how much the price of these had dropped. Will be moving office soon anyway so mileage will drop.

VolvoMan · 05-08-2011 4:36pm

EPM wrote: »

They original 318d and 320d in the pre-facelift E46 both used the M47D20 engine. AFAIK it was bored out after this and the power was upped in both.

I don't even think the 318D arrived until around 2004, towards the end of the E46's production life.

EPM · 05-08-2011 4:39pm

VolvoMan wrote: »

I don't even think the 318D arrived until around 2004, towards the end of the E46's production life.

Here you're correct, but it was offered in other markets. Think it was introduced in RHD with the facelift when it the capacity of the engine was increased a little.

guyfo · 12-08-2011 6:11pm

Nissan doctor wrote: »

From my point of view, its not that they aren't decent cars or that they don't look good, because they do IMO, or even the reliability issue, as the BM is no less reliable then most other new common rail diesels.

Its the head up their own arse air of superiority that some owners have.

You are driving near enought the basic engined version of a car that is as common as muck and is it better then some cars?...of course it is, is it better then everything else on the road....rubbish.

Oh and I call bullsh1t on your mate doing 350k on a 320d without any issue. Even the best looked after ones are struggling past 150k without major trouble.

Was takin to my friend today. I was right it was a 320d. 01, 360K on her now . Asked him all that he has done on it, He replaced the front wishbones and the rear bushings and obviously a set of disks and the odd set pads at that milage. so original engine, turbo, box, electrics everything. Not too bad really seeing as a wishbone isnt hugly expensive. My 320d has 144k on it. Nothin much replaced but the disks are reaching the end of their life and i had some bushings in the suspension replaced, i did notice a monroe shock in her from a previous owner but apart from that its perfectly sound. The turbos only go if you dont look after the turbo filter its the owners fault not the cars. As per the attack on me you so nicely posted. Where on earth did i say it was better than any car on the road? Ill direct you to my earlier post. I know its not the fastest car for the money but it has decent performance 0-60 in about 8s i think, it handles nice. the interior quality is fantastic. And it looks great. The engine is near enough the basic spec yes but the rest of the car is to a far higher spec. I love cars and i do have strong opinions on them, i wanted a car that would be good on a motorway, fuel efficient, good enough fun to drive that looks good. I bought what i feel is the best option and ive never looked back. At the moment theres no car for the id rather be driving. i love it. When somebody calls it a heap of crap i will defend it to high heaven, but aparantly people can attack a bm but if somebody defends one there just another a bmw driver with their head up their ass as you so nicely pointed out

12-08-2011 6:37pm

guyfo wrote: »

................ but aparantly people can attack a bm but if somebody defends one there just another a bmw driver with their head up their ass as you so nicely pointed out

guyfo wrote: »

........ I wouldnt bat an eye at any other cars as generally if its not a bm, audi, merc, volvo, vw or even lexus i generally see it as someone who doesn like cars. Once you drive a premium car no matter what it cost you or what age it is you cant really go back

guyfo · 12-08-2011 6:52pm

yes? premium car. i dont like flimsy interiors and bad handling. I never said that a bm was the best car on the road but it is in a group of very good cars. Just for instance a 3 series is better than a primera, an a class better than an auris, a touraeg is better than a sante fe

12-08-2011 7:05pm

Comparing a 3 series to an auris is daft, since when is vw a premium brand with good handling across the range.

guyfo · 12-08-2011 7:11pm

guyfo wrote: »

an a class better than an auris

VW is a premium brand. All of its cars arent great but they do have some really good ones: touraeg, phaeton, passat cc etc. Theyre good well made cars

12-08-2011 8:02pm

I thought you had left the d out of and :pac: modern vag stuff is not great really, touregs are a pig of a thing.

guyfo · 12-08-2011 9:22pm

i found the touraeg to be pretty good actually! Me dad has an 05 one not the greatest looking thing in the world but for a jeep it holds the road really well. interior is brilliant too. apart from the stupid little keyhole on the dash to turn the airbag off

100k+ miles E46 320D; Worth a punt?

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