BMW 320d

mathie

Hi

Im considering getting a BMW 320d.
I've currently got a Peugeot 206 1.6 XS.
It's very quick off the mark.

Anyone any thoughts?
Is it a fast car?
Any similar cars I should think about?
Is it worth the money?

Thanks!
M

Elessar

It depends what year you are looking at.

If you want power and speed, consider a 320i. The E46 models (98-05 I believe) are 6 cylinders and fantastically responsive, powerful and smooth (170bhp). I have one and it's a great car.

I wouldn't bother with a diesel unless you are doing massive mileage. Also be aware that a lot of early 320Ds have issues with blown turbos.

The 320i gives pretty good figures for a petrol too, I get 35-40mpg on long motorway runs. Have a look at it.

Mr Magnolia

Mathie wrote:

Anyone any thoughts?
Is it a fast car?

Mine is ~ 185bhp + 400Nm (ECU re-mapping). It's quick enough. I really love the drive and would recommend it.

What year are you looking at? New?

C_Breeze

yeah true except the 320d does about 50mpg .... and in real world driving conditions as opposed to numbers on paper - its a lot better that the 320i ... not to mention you can easily get the 320d remapped and it'll take the 320i for breakfast

Mr Magnolia

C_Breeze wrote:

yeah true except the 320d does about 50mpg

I can't get mine to do better than 42mpg. Might have a little to do with a lead foot though???

omega man

I recently bought a 04 320D and cant praise it enough. Its got enough power (150bhp) for day to day driving and gives a decent mpg return. The issues with blown turbo's i believe are on the pre 2004 150bhp models. I got an M-sport model with all the toys from a bmw stealer under the approved used car scheme as it came with a full BMW warranty and road side for a year and from what i hear you need that with BMWs as can be costly if things go wrong. I would have gone for the 320CI (2.2 170bhp) if i was doing doing less than 15K per year and didnt have kids! For me it had to look good but be somewhat practical also and therefore the 320D M-sport was the obvious choice.

omega man

Mr Magnolia wrote:

Mine is ~ 185bhp + 400Nm (ECU re-mapping). It's quick enough. I really love the drive and would recommend it.

What year are you looking at? New?

Mr Magnolia, who did your remap? You sound happy with it. Was thinking of going down that route.

mathie

I'd be looking for 05-06 hopefully!
If I can afford it!

Thanks for all the tips guys.
Much appreciated!
M

Mr Magnolia

A guy from Dundalk.

I would have went with ChippedIreland in Kildare only the guy was on holidays for a month and I couldn't wait, too impatient. I done some research through some UK sites, a reputable engineer over there recommended him.

Still, I'm happy with the re-map I had done, and would also recommend the guy that carried it out. What's your location?

Anan1

mathie wrote:

I'd be looking for 05-06 hopefully!
If I can afford it!

That's the E90, it's a far better car to drive than the E46 it replaced.:)

omega man

Mr Magnolia wrote:

A guy from Dundalk.

I would have went with ChippedIreland in Kildare only the guy was on holidays for a month and I couldn't wait, too impatient. I done some research through some UK sites, a reputable engineer over there recommended him.

Still, I'm happy with the re-map I had done, and would also recommend the guy that carried it out. What's your location?

Dublin. Thinking of www.upsolute.ie as used them before with VAG cars.

Mr Magnolia

omega man wrote:

Dublin. Thinking of www.upsolute.ie as used them before with VAG cars.

They seem to use a 'chip' and don't remap the ECU. Not the way to go IMO but up to you. ECU remap is the better option. Spend some time researching it.

Anan1

OP - bear in mind that the E90 320d has 163bhp as standard.

RobAMerc

I have a 320ci and I drove a couple of 320d's and I have to say I was very impressed with the 320D - refined and torquey (spelling) -
Great engine and I found them particularly well suited to the auto box - defo felt quicker than a 320i auto from 0-60mph dunno about the more important 50-70 though.
I can only manage 29mpg in mine too which is a lot worse than 320d I suspect.

Anan1

RobAMerc wrote:

Great engine and I found them particularly well suited to the auto box - defo felt quicker than a 320i auto from 0-60mph dunno about the more important 50-70 though.

I completely agree. I've driven the current 320d in both manual and auto, and the auto really seems to suit that engine. It felt faster than the manual I drove, although the figures say otherwise.

omega man

Mr Magnolia wrote:

They seem to use a 'chip' and don't remap the ECU. Not the way to go IMO but up to you. ECU remap is the better option. Spend some time researching it.

They remap alright. Had 2 VAG cars done with them. Big UK player in the remap market.

http://www.upsolute.ie/content/view/7/48/

Mr Magnolia

That's alright then. I would never advise anyone to for for the 'chip' against a 're-map'. Good reading material there BTW.

bazz26

Slightly OT but was it the pre 2002 facelifted E46 125bhp 320d that had the blown turbo issue or was it on the later model?

Also I think the OP doesn't state whether it is an E46 or E90 320d that he/she is looking at. There were still plenty of E46 320d registered in 2005.

JohnCleary

bazz26 wrote:

Slightly OT but was it the pre 2002 facelifted E46 125bhp 320d that had the blown turbo issue or was it on the later model?

Also I think the OP doesn't state whether it is an E46 or E90 320d that he/she is looking at. There were still plenty of E46 320d registered in 2005.

The 150BHP model's built before October 2002 were prone to the turbo failure. Mine was built in Feb 2002 but thank feck had a full engine and turbo replacment in 2004 (warranty)

PeteK*

Mr Magnolia wrote:

A guy from Dundalk.

I would have went with ChippedIreland in Kildare only the guy was on holidays for a month and I couldn't wait, too impatient. I done some research through some UK sites, a reputable engineer over there recommended him.

Still, I'm happy with the re-map I had done, and would also recommend the guy that carried it out. What's your location?

Would you name the place or PM me it?

And did it cost much and would all 320D 150BHP ones go to 185BHP like yours?


And can someone tell me how you know if it is an E46, E90 etc. . . lol

Mr Magnolia

Chatmaster wrote:

Would you name the place or PM me it?

And did it cost much and would all 320D 150BHP ones go to 185BHP like yours?


And can someone tell me how you know if it is an E46, E90 etc. . . lol

I'll get his number later today and PM it to you. I don't have it at the minute, but I know where to get it.

The 'E46' refers to the specific model of 3 Series. I can't find anything handy and descriptive on the different models (maybe someone else can?). If you google images on each of the following models you'll get the picture, so to speak... E21 E30 E36 E46 E90 E91 E92

optiplexgx270

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_3_Series

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_3_Series#E46
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_3_Series#E90

DublinWriter

Having said all that, as well as the Turbo problem (which I never had yet, touch wood), in the year since I've had mine, the exhaust went (the box in the middle, dunno what it is called) and the crank-shaft sensor went.

All in all, it's a great car, but my old trusty Nissan Primera was less hastle TBH.

Stky10

I was thinking of a 320d as well, but having read up on it a bit, the turbo blow ups put me off a bit. Anyway of knowing just by looking whether one has had the engine/turbo replacement done rather than depending on the seller being honest?

bazz26

Stky10 wrote:

I was thinking of a 320d as well, but having read up on it a bit, the turbo blow ups put me off a bit. Anyway of knowing just by looking whether one has had the engine/turbo replacement done rather than depending on the seller being honest?

If a turbo or engine were replaced then the owner should have receipts from the garage that did the job to confirm this. Anyone selling a car that had a major component like an engine replaced for a genuine reason will have documentation to back this up. Verify with the garage where the work was done and see if it corelates with what the owner is producing.

If there is no documentation or something doesn't add up then walk away, plenty of fish in the sea, etc.

JohnCleary

bazz26 wrote:

If a turbo or engine were replaced then the owner should have receipts from the garage that did the job to confirm this. Anyone selling a car that had a major component like an engine replaced for a genuine reason will have documentation to back this up. Verify with the garage where the work was done and see if it corelates with what the owner is producing.

If there is no documentation or something doesn't add up then walk away, plenty of fish in the sea, etc.

What he said. I have plenty of receipt's/service history from the guy I bought my car off showing the engine and turbo replacment

Stky10

JohnCleary wrote:

What he said. I have plenty of receipt's/service history from the guy I bought my car off showing the engine and turbo replacment

So was the turbo replacement done by BMW for free under warranty/callback?. I'm just wondering because if it was it would be much more likely all cars would have had it done.

JohnCleary

Stky10 wrote:

So was the turbo replacement done by BMW for free under warranty/callback?. I'm just wondering because if it was it would be much more likely all cars would have had it done.

Owner told me that turbo/engine went bang. On paper it says that engine/turbo replaced at BMW Rydale in the UK. Under the pricing all I see is 'Warranty'

Mr Magnolia

RobAMerc wrote:

I have a 320ci and I drove a couple of defo felt quicker than a 320i auto from 0-60mph dunno about the more important 50-70 though.

Under 4 seconds. How does this compare?

Chatmaster wrote:

Would you name the place or PM me it?

And did it cost much and would all 320D 150BHP ones go to 185BHP like yours?

PM sent

RobAMerc

Mr Magnolia wrote:

Under 4 seconds. How does this compare?

Jaysus : In what gear?

Mr Magnolia

3rd. It'll do just shy of 80 in 3rd

Ice_Box

I read somewhere that BMW have the 2.0d now doing 204bhp. It will apear first in the 1 series.

onemanband

The E90 320d is a super car. The missus had one for a year and I loved driving it. Super power and handling. Highly recommended!

E92

Ice_Box wrote:

I read somewhere that BMW have the 2.0d now doing 204bhp. It will apear first in the 1 series.

It is exclusively for the 1 series as far as I know. BMW have the 325d already, which has 197 bhp, so there is no need for them to bother putting in this new 2 litre engine into anything bigger than the 1 series.

Perhaps ned78 could confirm this.

Note that the 540i/740i has exactly the same amount of power as the 135i and 335i, but even though the numbers might suggest otherwise, the engine in the 135i/335i is a faster engine on paper, it weighs 70kg less(than the engine in the 540i/740i), it has a bit more torque, but cruically spread over a much wider rev range than the 540i/740i's engine.

I for the life of me cant understand why they still havent replaced the 540i and 740i with the engine from the 135i and 335i(especially when they are putting that 3 litre turbo engine into the X5, which of course is based on the 5 series, and also when they sell a 535i in the US,complete with that straight 6 twin turbo), and then we would have the 535i and 735i, and like the original 535i, a straight 6 once again.

Now going back to the OP, the OP should remember that a 320i E90 is NOT the same as a 320i E46. Now obviously they are two diofferent types of car, as the E90 is the current 3 series(the soon to be facelifted 3 series), and the E46 is the 3 series from the end of 98 to the start of 05.

The E46 320i had a straight 6 with at least 150 bhp, it had 170 bhp from 02 I think. HOWEVER,the E90 320i is really the same as the E46 318i. The E46 318i boasted 143 bhp form its 2 litre 4 pot enginme. The E90 320i ALSO had a 2 litre 4 cylinder engine, because it was the same engine as the E46's 318i engine(albeit with 5 extra horses).

unkel

E92 wrote:

I for the life of me cant understand why they still havent replaced the 540i and 740i with the engine from the 135i and 335i

They made the move from straight 6 to V8 engines for most high-end* 5 and 7 series about 15 years ago. The V8s really suit big heavy saloons, especially when teamed with a modern autobox. I think it was a good move, but I'm a bit biased. I've been enjoying them for 7 years now

*V12s have been around before and after this move on flagship 7 and 8 series, but they generally sell only in very small numbers

E92

Unkel I fully understand why they switched from straight 6s to V8s as they did way back in 1992.

But up to now the V8s were more powerful than the straight 6's. Like when the E34 gained a V8, it had a minimum of 218 bhp as per the 530i/730i, as opposed to the most powerful straight 6 which had 192 bhp in the 525i with the M50 engine. Then when BMW introduced the M52 engine,the most powerful was 193 bhp, and the M62 V8 had at least 235 bhp(535i). And so on and so forth.

But now they have a straight 6 which is as powerful, lighter, has more torque, and cruicially in this era where fuel consumption and CO2 is more important than ever before, a lot more economical. The 3 litre straight 6 in the 530i can do 37.7 mpg, as opposed to the 540i which does around 29 mpg I think. Now because the twin turbo is an older engine design (than th NA engine found in the 530i) and because it has two turbos, it wont be as economical as the 530i, but it would still be a lot more economical than the 540i.

Hence why I dont understand why BMW wont introduce such an engine in the 5 and 7(and indeed 6)series.