looking at pre 2004 530d but came across this instead

positivenote

Hi guys, as stated looking around at 530d's pre 2004 models and came across this 320d... what do you guys reckon, worth a closer look? its around the budget i was thinking but not sure whether id get better milage for around this price?

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/320d-M-S/200913192258495/advert

pablosd

its really up to you, dat 320d is 150 brake as against 530d which is 190brake with some serious torque. Better tax road on 320d and will depriciate slower, 530d is a fun machine tho, very fast with nice sound out of the engine. If its the performance your after go for 530d if you want a great all arounder still with decent power, not bad tax/diesel wise and very responsive handling go for 320d make sure to buy M-Sport!!!

positivenote

im doing approx 21k a year mostly on primary roads, but not motor ways. With 77k miles on the clock would i get alot more out of this , seeing as though , ive been told, that the 530d's can drive forever... well almost . What would the difference in the mpg be between this and a 530d?
thanks for any advice

daRobot

Personally, I think that 320d is about 4k overpriced.

Turbos tend to go pop on these models, so buy carefully.

Eoin

I went from a 320d to a 525. Obviously the 5 series is not quite as nimble, but I think it's just a far nicer place to be, they are just in a different class.

Johnboy Mac

530D V 320D, is chalk & cheese. Buy the 530 and be happy you got the better car.

colm_mcm

should go without saying, but don't touch that 3 series without a VERIFIED BMW UK service history.

pablosd

ok so 530D does 34 mpg combined against 320D's 49 mpg combined the choice is obviously not easy but i'd say i nice making a choice between two nice cars , personally i'd go for 530d myself coz i love big cars, if you wanted 530d in the first place, you should go for one of them....

JohnCleary

That 320d seems to be sh1te spec apart from exterior bumpers and is wayyyy over-prices (This coming from a way higher spec'd 2002 320d owner who would love to say that his car was worth anything near the asking price of that 320d above in this current climate)

It doesn't have leather, doesn't have multi function steering wheel (hence no cruise control methinks), doesn't have heated seats, doesn't appear to have climate control (manual knobs) and doesn't have Xenon's. FFS why would anyone buy such a poverty spec car - is it badge snobbery?, (granted it has the msport bumpers and seats but I don't care what the outside of a car looks like, you're not gonna be looking at nice bumpers when youre inside driving)

TBH if I had to decide between that 320d and something else, i'd be much happier with a high spec passat/a4

To answer your question: Don't even bother with that 320d... 530d all the way (and make sure it's a decent spec too)

Eoin

Are you sure they are not Alcantara seats? Personally I don't care for heated seats at all, they are one of the extras I'd rather not have in a car.

testicle

JohnCleary wrote: »

To answer your question: Don't even bother with that 320d... 530d all the way (and make sure it's a decent spec too)

And to find one, you're looking in the wrong country...

JohnCleary

eoin wrote: »

Are you sure they are not Alcantara seats? Personally I don't care for heated seats at all, they are one of the extras I'd rather not have in a car.

I'm not too sure, but I did defend the car by saying it had upgraded seats from the standard ones, just they're not full leather (a must for me - easy to keep clean - imho anyway) and not heated (again not an issue for many but a nice extra for me)

And as for post above, yes, i'd still be looking in the UK for a car like this once all the usual research/checks have been done

positivenote

well that has answered any queries i had about that so. Much obliged chaps

Gumbo

JohnCleary wrote: »

That 320d seems to be sh1te spec apart from exterior bumpers and is wayyyy over-prices (This coming from a way higher spec'd 2002 320d owner who would love to say that his car was worth anything near the asking price of that 320d above in this current climate)

It doesn't have leather, doesn't have multi function steering wheel (hence no cruise control methinks), doesn't have heated seats, doesn't appear to have climate control (manual knobs) and doesn't have Xenon's. FFS why would anyone buy such a poverty spec car - is it badge snobbery?, (granted it has the msport bumpers and seats but I don't care what the outside of a car looks like, you're not gonna be looking at nice bumpers when youre inside driving)

TBH if I had to decide between that 320d and something else, i'd be much happier with a high spec passat/a4

To answer your question: Don't even bother with that 320d... 530d all the way (and make sure it's a decent spec too)

out of intrest John, have you any pics of yours?
is it the 150bhp model and are you selling?
know a guy looking for a well spec'd one.

anyway back on topic, i would have the 530d over the 320d anyday, but i just couldnt justify giving the 1200e (prob more after todays budget) in road tax!

JohnCleary

kceire wrote: »

out of intrest John, have you any pics of yours?
is it the 150bhp model and are you selling?
know a guy looking for a well spec'd one.

anyway back on topic, i would have the 530d over the 320d anyday, but i just couldnt justify giving the 1200e (prob more after todays budget) in road tax!

Don't have any pics to hand sorry, but i'm not interested in selling it tbh mainly because it's running 100% and is perfect for my needs. It's running 100% because I had a few things looked at ie. Turbo was weeping which was showing signs of being on it's way out so I had it totally overhauled by Turbo Technics in the UK and had a few other small but annoying things sorted out by the mechanic (didn't have time to go digging at it myself) - Car now drives lovely and I actually enjoy driving again

Cosmetically it's just a bog standard 320d but has the following overall:
Xenons
Fog lights
Parking Sensors
Leather, heated seats
Climate Control
Cruise control (Multi function steering wheel)
Silver interior trim thingy (ie. not standard wood effect) - looks way nicer over standard trim
CD Changer (standard I think?)

Prob a few other things over standard but can't think off the top of my head. I didn't buy it with the intention of selling it, but don't dare to think how much value it could have lost in our current economic climate (I bought 2 years ago)

Eoin

JohnCleary wrote: »

Silver interior trim thingy (ie. not standard wood effect) - looks way nicer over standard trim
CD Changer (standard I think?)

CD Changer is an extra I think.

The wood trim isn't even the standard one either - there's an even worse grey plastic trim. I changed to the wood one as even that was an improvement.