'03 BMW 320d

no nails niall

Hello folks,

Found a nice 2003 BMW 320d, 98k on it, looks in great condition inside and out, new tyres, recent service, etc., price seems a little too keen if you know what I mean!

Any know problems with this model that is reflected in the price?

Advice appreciated.

Niall

andyseadog

have you a link to the car?

Anan1

I'd imagine it's more likely to be the actual car. Has it a FSH? Have you verified same? Has it ever been crashed? Is it an import? Have you had a mechanic take a look at it?

listermint

Link to item,


Also you will need to check on the Turbo if it was ever replaced. There is a notorious issue with the flaps on this model dropping off and fouling the engine. Worst case 4500 replacement engine.

Make sure it was serviced on the button. And for my money id expect a 2003 to either have had turbo replaced or have the flaps replaced or blanked.

no nails niall

listermint wrote: »

Link to item,


Also you will need to check on the Turbo if it was ever replaced. There is a notorious issue with the flaps on this model dropping off and fouling the engine. Worst case 4500 replacement engine.

Make sure it was serviced on the button. And for my money id expect a 2003 to either have had turbo replaced or have the flaps replaced or blanked.

Interesting point, an old friend mentioned the turbo's being a ticking time bomb on the 320d, saying that it WILL have to be replaced at some stage. He advised removing the flaps all together. I haven't investigated the car in question in this respect. Do other 3 series d's have the same problem?

Looks like the one I have been looking at is gone, link no longer works. However there is no shortage of similar stock:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201045372506277/sort/pricedesc/usedcars/price-to/4000/ni-only/on/make/bmw/radius/1500/page/1/postcode/bt73lq/quicksearch/true?logcode=p

Seems like an aweful lot of 2003 320d's up for grabs!

Niall

voxpop

Swirl flaps are nothing to do with the turbo - they are on the inlet manifold. The are on all bmw diesels until 2004(i think) - with some small exceptions. Removing the swirl flaps and replacing with blanking plates is an easy enough job.

On the turbo - yes, they seem to be weak - just do the normal turbo checks. Some think its down to blocked crankcase breather filter - if there is a history of that filter being changed, it would be a bonus.

listermint

As above swirl flaps will need to be checked / replaced or blanked. As they will make a balls up.

As for the Turbo, if it was not properly maintained and serviced at regular intervals it will most definitely develop an issue. Make sure that it ticks all the service boxes.

As for the one linked. Clean enough model, however for my money id be looking for an M Sport model and not the SE. While the SE is good, the m sport beats it in all areas and frankly looks the works.

Nforce

Other items worth checking on the E46...

* Wishbones and bushes will probably be shot ~100k
* clocking
* Air con (or so called hedgehog) resistor wears out leading to faulty climate control
* Oil level sensor in the sump can go...flickering amber oil can light on dash
* Corrosion of rear brake lines (most common on UK imports). I've heard of rear subframes on some of the earlier models becoming detached from the body due to rust!
* clocking
* GMv/ZKE module fault can lead to central locking problems during very cold/hot weather due to corroded resistors (€400+ to replace and code a replacement)
* Airflow meter MAF fault leading to poor/intermittent power delivery
* Battery in the ignition key wears out ...replacement key is ~€150 from dealers iirc
* clocking

no nails niall

Nforce wrote: »

Other items worth checking on the E46...

* Wishbones and bushes will probably be shot ~100k
* clocking
* Air con (or so called hedgehog) resistor wears out leading to faulty climate control
* Oil level sensor in the sump can go...flickering amber oil can light on dash
* Corrosion of rear brake lines (most common on UK imports). I've heard of rear subframes on some of the earlier models becoming detached from the body due to rust!
* clocking
* GMv/ZKE module fault can lead to central locking problems during very cold/hot weather due to corroded resistors (€400+ to replace and code a replacement)
* Airflow meter MAF fault leading to poor/intermittent power delivery
* Battery in the ignition key wears out ...replacement key is ~€150 from dealers iirc
* clocking

Being a bit green when it comes to buying cars, how can you tell if a motor has been clocked?

Thanks for all the info in this comment and those above!

no nails niall

Another nice looking option:

http://www.usedcarsni.com/61579495

Nforce

no nails niall wrote: »

Being a bit green when it comes to buying cars, how can you tell if a motor has been clocked?

Thanks for all the info in this comment and those above!

Apart from the obvious signs of wear and tear, check the service history and run a diagnostics check as the mileage is stored in the ecu too (as well as in the keys and dash iirc).

no nails niall

Nforce wrote: »

Apart from the obvious signs of wear and tear, check the service history and run a diagnostics check as the mileage is stored in the ecu too (as well as in the keys and dash iirc).

Are garages OK with letting potential owners whisk the car away to a mechanic for such a check?

Would a good clocker not cover all bases an reclock the ecu + keys aswell? (Or is it not that simple).

Gumbo

no nails niall wrote: »

Another nice looking option:

http://www.usedcarsni.com/61579495

thats an SE with external MSport kit fitted.
i would ask why it was fitted in the first place. most SE's when crashed people may upgrade to the MSprt kit as its only a little extra above a full SE kit imo.

if i was doing the Msport retrofit, i would be taking photos of the car with the Msport kit beside it to show i was replaced by choice and not because of a crash or similar.

ride is very high, but thats probably just the standard SE suspension, standard SE seats but it has the Sport/Msport MFSW.

2001 model so its the 136bhp version and generally less/no risk of turbo failure.
has the silver interior trim which is more desirable than the wood trim but not as popular as the carbon fibre/black cude trim of course.

2001 UK car with 83k, i would double check the mileage and try verify MOT dats and try verify the mileage through the BMW network.

listermint

kceire wrote: »

thats an SE with external MSport kit fitted.
i would ask why it was fitted in the first place. most SE's when crashed people may upgrade to the MSprt kit as its only a little extra above a full SE kit imo.

if i was doing the Msport retrofit, i would be taking photos of the car with the Msport kit beside it to show i was replaced by choice and not because of a crash or similar.

ride is very high, but thats probably just the standard SE suspension, standard SE seats but it has the Sport/Msport MFSW.

2001 model so its the 136bhp version and generally less/no risk of turbo failure.
has the silver interior trim which is more desirable than the wood trim but not as popular as the carbon fibre/black cude trim of course.

2001 UK car with 83k, i would double check the mileage and try verify MOT dats and try verify the mileage through the BMW network.

MFSW is standard on the SE range, its not a sport / m sport option.

Gumbo

listermint wrote: »

MFSW is standard on the SE range, its not a sport / m sport option.

i know, but the MFSW that was standard on the SE is the one in the right corner of my attached pictures.

the MFSW thats in the OP's car is a sport upgrade.

i may be wrong so hold my hands up for correction

Edit - Sorry forgot the picture

listermint

One on the right is from an E39, One on Left is Standard E46. No difference.

If it was an 'Msport' MFSW it would have leather option, i believe its a slightly thicker wheel also.

Its standard MFSW for SE model on an E46

Gumbo

listermint wrote: »

One on the right is from an E39, One on Left is Standard E46. No difference.

If it was an 'Msport' MFSW it would have leather option, i believe its a slightly thicker wheel also.

Its standard MFSW for SE model on an E46

Cool, So the twin spoke wheel is standard, it's just the multi function buttons on it that separate it from the ES model.

Strange thing though, I drove an E46 before I bought mine and it had that larger MFSW on it.

CK2010

Nforce wrote: »

Other items worth checking on the E46...

* Wishbones and bushes will probably be shot ~100k


* Air con (or so called hedgehog) resistor wears out leading to faulty climate control


* GMv/ZKE module fault can lead to central locking problems during very cold/hot weather due to corroded resistors (€400+ to replace and code a replacement)


* Battery in the ignition key wears out ...replacement key is ~€150 from dealers iirc

boyfriends car is currently suffering from the problems listed above. and hes heard of a good few others having the same problems with their 320d too. wish he read the list by Nforce before buying it, couldve saved him alot of money he now has to shell out!
and not long til his nct is out either!

just on a side note- can the battery in the key be replaced? hes asked in a few places but they dont know how to open it so said he'd need to go to a dealer, is this the only way, yeh?

Trhiggy83

Ya all good advice above, swirl flaps and turbo are the big ones to watch out for alright. Full service history would be the best thing to get so that you know what parts were replaced or are in need of replacing.

On a side note, does anyone know anywhere in dublin that services bmws at a reasonable price apart from main dealers.

Thanks in advance

listermint

CK2010 wrote: »

boyfriends car is currently suffering from the problems listed above. and hes heard of a good few others having the same problems with their 320d too. wish he read the list by Nforce before buying it, couldve saved him alot of money he now has to shell out!
and not long til his nct is out either!

just on a side note- can the battery in the key be replaced? hes asked in a few places but they dont know how to open it so said he'd need to go to a dealer, is this the only way, yeh?

I dont believe it can be replaced, I think it requires a replacement key. The key is self charging in the ignition so its not run of the mill if you get me.

voxpop

On the keyfob battery - there is a DIY out there. You can replace the rechargeable battery for about 5 quid once you dont mind a bit of soldering

Edit : Found it ->linkey

listermint

kceire wrote: »

Cool, So the twin spoke wheel is standard, it's just the multi function buttons on it that separate it from the ES model.

Strange thing though, I drove an E46 before I bought mine and it had that larger MFSW on it.

Twin spoke wheel is standard its the lovely buttons that seperate it from the ES model.

The other wheel may have been replaced by someone, or could have been a jap import vehicle in that case all bets are off

Nforce

You can buy key blanks from ebay...remove the electronics from your old keyfob,replace the battery (not easy as the original is almost spot welded into place),get the blade cut, recode the key and it *might* work. I tried,and wound up buying a key from the dealer in the end.
Spare keys are shipped from Germany and you'll need proof of id and the vehicle registration certificate in order to get one.

CK2010

Nforce wrote: »

You can buy key blanks from ebay...remove the electronics from your old keyfob,replace the battery (not easy as the original is almost spot welded into place),get the blade cut, recode the key and it *might* work. I tried,and wound up buying a key from the dealer in the end.
Spare keys are shipped from Germany and you'll need proof of id and the vehicle registration certificate in order to get one.

now excuse my ignorance (the boyfriend is the one with knowledge of cars) but he bought the car off someone he didnt know on carzone or DD, and your man sent away and got the logbook changed for him and that was the end of that so i dont know if he has that registration cert or is this the same, if not, would that be a problem?

thanks all for the info on the key though, didnt really want to be spending a tonne on a key as well as all the parts he needs but it looks inevitable now! :rolleyes:

listermint

CK2010 wrote: »

now excuse my ignorance (the boyfriend is the one with knowledge of cars) but he bought the car off someone he didnt know on carzone or DD, and your man sent away and got the logbook changed for him and that was the end of that so i dont know if he has that registration cert or is this the same, if not, would that be a problem?

thanks all for the info on the key though, didnt really want to be spending a tonne on a key as well as all the parts he needs but it looks inevitable now! :rolleyes:

log book = registration cert

CK2010

listermint wrote: »

log book = registration cert

grand so! it was only after i posted it i realised that it was a cert so it could possibly be the same thing! thanks!

Nforce

Yep..one and the same.

Best bet would be to bite the bullet and get a new key.