1.2 petrol Corsa v 2.0 diesel BMW 3 series ?

King Ian

I've been given a chance to trade up (so to speak) from my current 2005 Opel Corsa (1.2, petrol) to a 2005 BMW 320 (2.0, diesel), at no cost to myself

Aside from the obvious implications for my tax and insurance, I'm wondering if anyone can tell me how the two cars would compare in terms of fuel costs, mileage & efficiency etc?

If the BMW burns way more money per mile then I may be tempted to fork out on a more efficient car

Thanks

kirving

How many miles do you do, and is it mainly motorway or city driving?

King Ian

Kevin Irving wrote: »

How many miles do you do, and is it mainly motorway or city driving?

I don't drive all that much. Can't be entirely sure of the mileage.

Mostly city driving, commuting to work. The care is on the road for no more than 20 mins per day. Then I'd have maybe 7/8 trips to the West and back per annum

Idbatterim

well there is more to go wrong with the diesel. What mileage is on the BM? is it there newer or older 3 series? i.e. the E46 or E90 google images if you are not sure...

King Ian

Idbatterim wrote: »

well there is more to go wrong with the diesel. What mileage is on the BM? is it there newer or older 3 series? i.e. the E46 or E90 google images if you are not sure...

It's an E90, and 240k on the clock

Henry Ford III

King Ian wrote: »

It's an E90, and 240k on the clock

Don't bother.

unkel

If you go for the Corsa, you'll have to change your username to Prince Ian :pac:

MugMugs

King Ian wrote: »

Idbatterim wrote: »

well there is more to go wrong with the diesel. What mileage is on the BM? is it there newer or older 3 series? i.e. the E46 or E90 google images if you are not sure...

It's an E90, and 240k on the clock

You could always set up a direct debit sending money to some random fellow in Africa. You'll be blowing money much in the same way with less stress.

Matt Simis

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Don't bother.

Mileage is very high, but good god, I couldnt possibly see how anyone would want to be in a 1.2l Corsa for exactly the same price as even the boggo spec 320d, assuming both cars are in reasonable condition.

Timmaay

More worrying, who the hell would do a straight swap of an 05 320d for an 05 corsa! Alarm bells would be ringing in my head about the condition of the 320d, and if it has any hidden problems.

Edit: OSI you got there before me!

Matt Simis

OSI wrote: »

OP, nobody does anything for free. They especially don't offer a BMW for a Corsa for free, unless the BMW was looking down the barrel of some serious bills in the near future.

Hence my disclaimer, assuming they are in reasonable condition. We dont know how great his Corsa is either for that matter.

King Ian

To everyone who pointed out the obvious (ie why would anyone swap a Corsa for a BMW) - don't worry, it's not a scam!

To cut a long, complicated story short, a cousin of mine is emigrating and has suggested this as a quick way of getting rid of his car (with my Corsa to be passed to his mother).

Regardless of the mileage, age, condition - I'm just curious as to whether (all things being equal) the cost of the diesel for the BMW would be any greater than petrol for the Corsa

Matt Simis

King Ian wrote: »

Regardless of the mileage, age, condition - I'm just curious as to whether (all things being equal) the cost of the diesel for the BMW would be any greater than petrol for the Corsa

Since you dont do any real milage, this is irrelevant is it not? Either way, the cost is likely the same, assuming both around 40mpg, with the diesel getting low MPG doing to being heavier and not stretching its legs on longer commutes, otherwise its 50mpg and cheaper to run on long trips/motorways.

King Ian

OSI wrote: »

If you were to ignore the likely impending repair bills, and the future bills you are likely to face from driving a diesel over such short journeys, you would probably save a couple of euro in fuel costs, at most.

That's interesting. I automatically assumed that even though I would be going from petrol to diesel, that the fuel costs would increase somewhat due to the car being a lot more powerful.

That said I say this as someone who knows damn all about cars!

pred racer

OSI wrote: »

If you were to ignore the likely impending repair bills, and the future bills you are likely to face from driving a diesel over such short journeys, you would probably save a couple of euro in fuel costs, at most.

True, but you would be in a much nicer place, even if it was a little more expensive to run.

Leonard Hofstadter

OSI wrote: »

Tell me that when the DPF fails.

A 2005 320d would hardly have a DPF though, would it:)?

I'd be much more worried about things like the turbo failing, or much worse the swirl flaps injesting themselves into the engine and writing off the engine at that kind of mileage.

Conor_M1990

Matt Simis wrote: »

Mileage is very high, but good god, I couldnt possibly see how anyone would want to be in a 1.2l Corsa for exactly the same price as even the boggo spec 320d, assuming both cars are in reasonable condition.

not that high. Considering thats its a 7 year old diesel I'd be more wary of a 320d of that age with 100k on the clock.

@ Ian I would swap for the 320d and sell it get a 318i as it would suit your driving better Diesels don't like city driving

bazz26

captainspeed wrote: »

A 2005 320d would hardly have a DPF though, would it:)?

I'd be much more worried about things like the turbo failing, or much worse the swirl flaps injesting themselves into the engine and writing off the engine at that kind of mileage.

All the E90 diesels have a DPF. The manifold was redesigned in the E90 too so the swirl flaps are not such an issue on them.

Matt Simis

bazz26 wrote: »

All the E90 diesels have a DPF. The manifold was redesigned in the E90 too so the swirl flaps are not such an issue on them.

Is it an E90? I assumed it was the last model year E46..

Edit: But I was wrong, he said e90! Must be one of the first?

bazz26

Matt Simis wrote: »

Is it an E90? I assumed it was the last model year E46..

Edit: But I was wrong, he said e90! Must be one of the first?

Yep, E90 was launched in mid 2005.

Mycroft H

bazz26 wrote: »

Yep, E90 was launched in mid 2005.

Early production model? High miles? Unknown condition? Potential for big bills?

ruuuuuuuuuuuuun away :pac:

The devil you know and all that

Anan1

bazz26 wrote: »

All the E90 diesels have a DPF. The manifold was redesigned in the E90 too so the swirl flaps are not such an issue on them.

I'm almost 100% certain the DPF only became standard fit with the move to 177bhp. Non-DPF cars have the tailpipe angled downwards, whereas on cars with it faces straight out.

Leonard Hofstadter

Anan1 wrote: »

I'm almost 100% certain the DPF only became standard fit with the move to 177bhp. Non-DPF cars have the tailpipe angled downwards, whereas on cars with it faces straight out.

Yes that was my understanding as well. So only models from 2008 onwards would have a DPF to worry about.

bazz26

Anan1 wrote: »

I'm almost 100% certain the DPF only became standard fit with the move to 177bhp. Non-DPF cars have the tailpipe angled downwards, whereas on cars with it faces straight out.

captainspeed wrote: »

Yes that was my understanding as well. So only models from 2008 onwards would have a DPF to worry about.

Cheers lads, it appears only the ED models have a DPF.