Dilema...05 BMW 320D or 07 Passat Tdi H.line

golfnuts

Both cars are for the same money with 90k on the BMW and around 65k on the Passat.
Question is which one to choose...i'm currently driving a 02 BMW 320D.

Also what are the pitfalls around this sort of mileage..especially on the BMW.

Any suggestions would be great..

Stevie Dakota

Stick with the BMW, if you've owned one you will be hard to satisfy, and I doubt the VW will live up to what you have come to expect.

R.O.R

Is the Passat a 1.9Tdi? If so stick with the BMW or you'll struggle with the lack of power in the VW.

mick.fr

Don't worry about mileage, if service history is good, nothing to worry about.

Nforce

The BMW can suffer from a blown turbo, swirl flaps tend to break up, and suspension will probably be knackered with that mileage (springs,shocks, wishbones and bushes).

mick.fr

Nforce wrote: »

The BMW can suffer from a blown turbo, swirl flaps tend to break up, and suspension will probably be knackered with that mileage (springs,shocks, wishbones and bushes).

Unless it has been properly serviced and maintained.
Any car with a turbo not properly maintained will suffer from turbo issues. But that's right there has been a lot of turbo issues on the facelift e46. Now this one might be a e9x?

golfnuts

mick.fr wrote: »

Unless it has been properly serviced and maintained.
Any car with a turbo not properly maintained will suffer from turbo issues. But that's right there has been a lot of turbo issues on the facelift e46. Now this one might be a e9x?

Sorry lads its the new shape BMW..

I agree with Stevie it is hard to choose not to stick with BMW once you've driven them...

Its the 2.0 Tdi on the Passat with all the bells and whistles...ES version on the 320...but at he moment i'm getting around 50-55 mpg on my own.

Its to go through the NCT so any bushes, wishbone, turbo probs should be picked up there..is this correct ?

niceirishfella

Stick with the BM, thats my vote.

Stevie Dakota

Hmm, nothing says poverty spec like ES, SE much more appealing IMO.

mick.fr

golfnuts wrote: »

Its to go through the NCT so any bushes, wishbone, turbo probs should be picked up there..is this correct ?

Bushes/wishbone yeap straight away, turbo not really, unless it is obvious.
Just go with BMW, you know you want her.
Forget about Passat. You can't drive a Passat if you drove a bimmer for a while. Unless you are forced to...

bazz26

No contest, the 320d is in a different league to the Passat. I'd find the SE model though.

L-M

I'd be going for the Passat. Up two years, nice engine. Nothing wrong with 140 bhp. Has a bit of spec too. I wouldn't be going for a basic Bmw just for the badge. Basic spec Bmw's are just horrid, horrid cars.

cashmni1

"oh its a BMW so it must be better" is getting tiresome.
Its 2 years older, its got more miles and less spec.
Residuals will be better with the passat in 3 years. Passat is also a bigger car. Have you driven the 2 cars? If not do so and make your mind up then. Also bare in mind, the turbos give trouble in all cars, not just BMW's and no car is perfect. You could get lucky and never encounter a problem. I had to replace a 6-speed box in my passat, but i think that's resolved now with the 2.0 140.

colm_mcm

I'd go with the Passat.

Magown3

cashmni1 wrote: »

"oh its a BMW so it must be better" is getting tiresome.
Its 2 years older, its got more miles and less spec.
Residuals will be better with the passat in 3 years. Passat is also a bigger car. Have you driven the 2 cars? If not do so and make your mind up then. Also bare in mind, the turbos give trouble in all cars, not just BMW's and no car is perfect. You could get lucky and never encounter a problem. I had to replace a 6-speed box in my passat, but i think that's resolved now with the 2.0 140.

I agree 100%

If you forget about the badge snobbery, look at teh spec, look at the mileage, look at the age of the car, it's absolutely NO CONTEST!!!!

mick.fr

cashmni1 wrote: »

"oh its a BMW so it must be better" is getting tiresome.

Well compared to a Passat, it is a fact, can't help it

leincar

I'm afraid I'm biased. I have an 08 2.0tdi Passat. I think its a stunning car especially when fully spec'ed.

Stevie Dakota

I would not take an ES over a loaded Passat, but would take an SE over one.