E46 320 CD or stretch for a E92?

Fizman

It's looking more likely that I'll unfortunately need to let go of my MK5 GTI over the next month or so (I did 3,500 kms in November - work and leisure combined) and I think a 3 series coupe is leading the line right now.

I'm going to do some research when I get the time, but for now I'd like to get peoples opinions on whether I should go for a high spec older model (2005/06 e46) or stretch to a 07 or 08 E92. I'd prefer to spend a max of about 12k, hence why I mention the high spec older model, but if I was convinced that there was a big advantage in stretching 4-5k higher to get the newer model, then I may be willing to do so.

I'm not too well read when it comes to BMWs as I've been in VW ownership since I began driving 5-6 years ago. Any info would be appreciated on the two engines, chassis etc.

I could go for something like this: http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=213222106580000


or at a stretch, maybe something like this: http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201148205887037

dharn

the e 92 seems more reliable, seems less turbo , and swirl flap failures, also dsc seems more reliable the above issues are the main problems with the e46 and the e92, but e 92 will be newer ,and seem to be better sorted

Fizman

I would have guessed that a '06 model E46 should have many issues ironed out, whereas a '07 E92 is in it's first year of release, so would be more susceptible to issues?

Yakuza

Is it too long to wait until the F32? That will make the E92 even cheaper.

Having said that, a post July 08 320d is in tax band B (€225 from next year), whereas an E46 will be €660), so you're saving €400 a year straight off the mark. Less chance of swirl flap issues on the E92 as well.

Fizman

Yakuza wrote: »

Is it too long to wait until the F32? That will make the E92 even cheaper.

When is that due out? Reasons why I'd like to get it done sooner rather than later is that my own tax is up in Feb, and the more big miles I'm doing with work in the GTI, the less pennies I'll have in my pocket from the trip.

Having said that, a post July 08 320d is in tax band B (€225 from next year), whereas an E46 will be €660), so you're saving €400 a year straight off the mark. Less chance of swirl flap issues on the E92 as well.

Any 2008 model will be Co2 assessed. Good to know re swirl flaps though.

166man

That E46 320cd looks expensive to me at near 6 years old and near 100k miles. Doesn't even have leather either. Looks nice too but €12k is too much imo.

Would you be considering any other cars or must it be a BMW?A Golf TDI would do the trick, this one is a UK Import but it still looks nice and has a six speed gearbox better for motorway cruising.



http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Golf/Retail-%E2%82%AC/213225550840100/advert?channel=CARS

Or this one from the UK, half the miles of the Irish one and should be able to bring it in under €12k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201136414587037/sort/pricedesc/usedcars/body-type/coupe/engine-size-cars/2l_to_2-5l/transmission/manual/price-to/8000/fuel-type/diesel/model/3_series/make/bmw/radius/1500/postcode/sw1a0aa/page/1?logcode=p

barura

How about a Skoda superb?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2756887



Full leather, automatic... Quite a lot of car for the price. But that's me being thrifty, those BMW's look lovely.

Atomic Pineapple

Going from a GTi to a Golf or Superb TDi!? That would be just too painful!

Fizman

Sorry, the links I put up were just examples, I wouldn't necessarily go for them. If it were an e46, it would have to have every bell and whistle.

Regarding other models, I'm certainly open to others. The one fear I have with the Golf is coming from a MK5 GTI to a MK5 diesel might be tough, at least on a psychological level. It may seem like too big a step down. Although a 170hp UK model could solve that.

Does it have to be a Coupe, there's a mad premium on them over the saloons.

EPM

The 170 PD engines can be troublesome. But a UK car can be a good option when buying one as the injector issues are covered under goodwill there and may have been changed. A Leon FR has the same engine as it but the prices are fairly strong for those in the UK.

heate

I think the e92 was a far better looking car as it was its own design and not a shortened saloon as for the engine well it had a nice bit more power.
All the bells and whistles? All e92 had Xenons memory seats and climate control. Anything above that is a bonus leather is about all it needs.
Is 3500kms representative of yor normal mileage? I'd be avoiding a sport that way or you'll be left with a monstrous tyre bill

ciarsd

<no shilling>

hooch-85

I have an E46 320cd and i love it, its an SE so is very comfortable on the road and returns 45-50mpg on avg, can get more on a motorway spin. Got the swirl flaps removed and crankcase breather filter changed straight away when i bought it and have had no trouble since.

I am coming from a MK5 Golf 2.0 TDi 140bhp and to be honest the Golf was a quicker car but the BMW is a far more comfortable machine. The E92 would probably satisfy you that bit more coming from an Gti as the E46s aren't anything special but remapped they can be quick.

If i was spending 12K + i would definitely looking for an E90 saloon or E92.

Fizman

heate wrote: »

I think the e92 was a far better looking car as it was its own design and not a shortened saloon as for the engine well it had a nice bit more power.
All the bells and whistles? All e92 had Xenons memory seats and climate control. Anything above that is a bonus leather is about all it needs.
Is 3500kms representative of yor normal mileage? I'd be avoiding a sport that way or you'll be left with a monstrous tyre bill

When I said all the bells and whistles, I was referring to the e46 if I was going that route. If I'm stretching to E92 then I'll have to compromise a little on too many extras.

That mileage was kinda a one off, but becoming more of a trend with big journeys with work.

Idbatterim

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2723315

dont know if that car is available still, or mileage or if on uk plates, but the spec is unreal! interior of E46 is definetly nicer than E92, would go for one with leather. you can get remap, up to 190bhp according to dmsautomotive.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2774957 (seems reasonably priced)


http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2707161 (absolute cracker looks wise)

166man

Idbatterim wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2723315

dont know if that car is available still, or mileage or if on uk plates, but the spec is unreal! interior of E46 is definetly nicer than E92, would go for one with leather. you can get remap, up to 190bhp according to dmsautomotive.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2774957 (seems reasonably priced)


http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2707161 (absolute cracker looks wise)

That first 320cd is a cracker spec wise but I'd say the mileage is well over 100k miles.. The last red one is lovely too!

heate

166man wrote: »

Idbatterim wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2723315

dont know if that car is available still, or mileage or if on uk plates, but the spec is unreal! interior of E46 is definetly nicer than E92, would go for one with leather. you can get remap, up to 190bhp according to dmsautomotive.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2774957 (seems reasonably priced)


http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2707161 (absolute cracker looks wise)

That first 320cd is a cracker spec wise but I'd say the mileage is well over 100k miles.. The last red one is lovely too!

Very special spec at that price car must have been north of €60k new.
You'd wonder about the mileage if it isn't listed!

challengemaster

Ahahaha, yer man in the first post is a right dreamer looking for 12k for it.

I picked up mine (05) 2 months ago for 7.5k including €1906 VRT, with 4 new tyres (and a new spare), new pads all round, and a fairly new DMF. Admittedly it's a SE not a M-sport, but you'd want to be insane to pay anywhere near 5 grand more for one.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2723315
This as mentioned above is a cracker

And FFS who cares if the milage is over 100k. Mine's currently sitting at 132,880 or thereabouts. The swirl flaps were in perfect condition when I had them removed for peace of mind. I had it dyno'd and it's putting out stock figures. If it's been well maintained, it doesn't matter. You are talking about a 5-6 year old car here, 20k a year isn't that much, infact, 20k a year is when everyone recommends a diesel on here :rolleyes:

Northern Monkey

I owned an E46 320d for close to 4 years and have my current E92 (320d) about 2 1/2. I loved both cars, but would put the E92 miles ahead of the two. The E46 was a bit dead until you got it up and running (had a 130bhp golf before it and it would have ate it alive off the blocks) whereas the e92 pulls hard in every gear and will still give close to 50 mpg when being pushed. I'd say my next car will be another E92 (335d or M3) as I can't think of another car that I would like to replace it.

Neither car has given me any bother bar general maintenance while I have owned them.

ciarsd

TestTransmission wrote:

<no shilling>

Are you serious? This forum has got so badly over moderated its painful :rolleyes:

Fizman, you won't be sorry to go for an E46 320Cd and you definitely dont have to break the bank

TestTransmission

ciarsd wrote: »

Are you serious? This forum has got so badly over moderated its painful :rolleyes:

Yes, I am

If you have an issue with a Moderator's decison, PM, please don't derail the thread

ciarsd

Fizman, a previous post of mine on the key items to check out for the right purchase:

Buy the right car with the right history, be prepared to have the maintainence done (or do it yourself) and you'll have bugger all trouble.
Most of the issues with this engine is lack of maintainence, not poor design or poor quality (with the exception of maybe the swirl flaps).

Points to note:
Swirl flap (dependent on manufacture date). Can buy blanking plates in place of them.
EGR - clean it or replace it! Readily available DIYs on cleaning.
Turbo breather filter - make sure to fit the newer 'vortex' type. €18 for the filter itself.
Turbo - pop the intercooler hose and have a feel of the turbo shaft. Anything more than around 2mm of lateral play...or better still, if you can see in, any signs of fowling and its a re-con job or replacement in future miles. €500 recondition or €900 for a brand new OEM unit from the UK.

Black smoke (continuous under load) = unburnt fuel, usually pointing to an air leak in the intake system. Usual places are the manifold pressure sensor gasket or the turbo pipe from the intercooler to the EGR (rubber flexi-joints crack and perish over time under boost)

Blue smoke (anytime) = burning oil. Turbo wear/bearing seal leakage.

Flat spots - air intake leak or a MAF fault (€180-210ish for Bosch OEM replacement from Germany - DDE sometimes needs to be re-coded on fitment)

bazz26

If I was going for an E92 I'd stump up the extra cash for a M Sport like this one.
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201140204881137

The E92 doesn't look right in SE imo.

heate

bazz26 wrote: »

If I was going for an E92 I'd stump up the extra cash for a M Sport like this one.
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201140204881137

The E92 doesn't look right in SE imo.

Enormous wheels on a tight budget could be the OP's ruin

challengemaster

That's funny, I thought e92 Msport wheels were MV3's

166man

I have read numerous threads etc of those wheels having problems with cracking on the inside of the alloy, with many replaced by BMW UK. Would avoid them tbh..

heate

challengemaster wrote: »

That's funny, I thought e92 Msport wheels were MV3's

You're correct but most jumped for the 19"s cause they look cooler and it was a cheap enough upgrade from the mv3 18"s.
I drove a 335i se on 19's the thing crashed around the place and I'd be of the opinion that your tires would eat themselves very quickly!

challengemaster

166man wrote: »

I have read numerous threads etc of those wheels having problems with cracking on the inside of the alloy, with many replaced by BMW UK. Would avoid them tbh..

As long as you don't have the alloy welded yourself, BMW will replace them if they crack

Fizman

RoverJames wrote: »

Does it have to be a Coupe, there's a mad premium on them over the saloons.

I'm not a big fan of the saloons if I'm honest, they do nothing for me aesthetically. While I'm single and no kids that I'm aware of yet, I think I'll stick to the 2/3 doors for the time being.

Yakuza wrote: »

Is it too long to wait until the F32? That will make the E92 even cheaper.

Would I be right in saying that the F32 isn't due out until early 2013?

challengemaster wrote: »

And FFS who cares if the milage is over 100k. Mine's currently sitting at 132,880 or thereabouts. The swirl flaps were in perfect condition when I had them removed for peace of mind. I had it dyno'd and it's putting out stock figures. If it's been well maintained, it doesn't matter. You are talking about a 5-6 year old car here, 20k a year isn't that much, infact, 20k a year is when everyone recommends a diesel on here :rolleyes:

Mileage certainly doesn't bother me as much as others when it comes to 6 figures on a diesel. Like you say, a good detailed service history and good general maintenance is more than enough with these.

Northern Monkey wrote: »

I owned an E46 320d for close to 4 years and have my current E92 (320d) about 2 1/2. I loved both cars, but would put the E92 miles ahead of the two. The E46 was a bit dead until you got it up and running (had a 130bhp golf before it and it would have ate it alive off the blocks) whereas the e92 pulls hard in every gear and will still give close to 50 mpg when being pushed. I'd say my next car will be another E92 (335d or M3) as I can't think of another car that I would like to replace it.

Neither car has given me any bother bar general maintenance while I have owned them.

That is my fear, that getting into an E46 from a GTi could be a big step down, at least performance wise. Like I said, I'm doing big miles recently with work, and I have to say that even the longest journeys are a pleasure in the GTi, and feel far less than they are.

Maybe a remap of the E46 to the aforementioned 180/190hp mark could give it the kick it needs though!

Anyone around here with experienced in having this done?

ciarsd wrote: »

Fizman, a previous post of mine on the key items to check out for the right purchase:

Buy the right car with the right history, be prepared to have the maintainence done (or do it yourself) and you'll have bugger all trouble.
Most of the issues with this engine is lack of maintainence, not poor design or poor quality (with the exception of maybe the swirl flaps).

Points to note:
Swirl flap (dependent on manufacture date). Can buy blanking plates in place of them.
EGR - clean it or replace it! Readily available DIYs on cleaning.
Turbo breather filter - make sure to fit the newer 'vortex' type. €18 for the filter itself.
Turbo - pop the intercooler hose and have a feel of the turbo shaft. Anything more than around 2mm of lateral play...or better still, if you can see in, any signs of fowling and its a re-con job or replacement in future miles. €500 recondition or €900 for a brand new OEM unit from the UK.

Black smoke (continuous under load) = unburnt fuel, usually pointing to an air leak in the intake system. Usual places are the manifold pressure sensor gasket or the turbo pipe from the intercooler to the EGR (rubber flexi-joints crack and perish over time under boost)

Blue smoke (anytime) = burning oil. Turbo wear/bearing seal leakage.

Flat spots - air intake leak or a MAF fault (€180-210ish for Bosch OEM replacement from Germany - DDE sometimes needs to be re-coded on fitment)

Good to know - thanks for all of that.