BMW 320d early 2000s

TheCassman

Was thinking into buying a 320d for around 2500 but was just wondering whats it like on the juice?

PaulKK

TheCassman wrote: »

Was thinking into buying a 320d for around 2500 but was just wondering whats it like on the juice?

46MPG+ More if you are light footed.

TheCassman

Not so bad, tax would be fairly high though?

Mycroft H

TheCassman wrote: »

Not so bad, tax would be fairly high though?

660 euro pa

Atomic Pineapple

TheCassman wrote: »

Not so bad, tax would be fairly high though?

Relative to?

It'll be €660 per annum.

TheCassman

any of ye have experience with a 3 series?

sambucus

I've looked into these myself. There's the 156 bhp one and pre October 2001 a 136 bhp one. Later model has the swirl flap issue that can ruin the engine. These can be blanked off for maybe €200. These may have already been done but if not its something to budget for

TheCassman

I like them a lot, my dad has a 06 520d and has no issues with it since he bought it new and has 330,000 miles on it, so I thought about the 3 series and thinking BMW must be very reliable!

daingeanrob

i owned one without the swirl flaps and it was perhaps my favourite car that i ever owned. i found it hard to change car when the time came. it had 180000 miles on it and still going like a clock when i changed...

bazz26

136bhp are generally more reliable than 150bhp versions.

kerten

TheCassman wrote: »

I like them a lot, my dad has a 06 520d and has no issues with it since he bought it new and has 330,000 miles on it, so I thought about the 3 series and thinking BMW must be very reliable!

"BMW must be very reliable" isn't valid for a e46 320d. I don't mean that they are bad cars but research common problems(suspension, coolant system, turbos, swirl flaps, etc) of e46 320d before assuming anything. If you are ready to fix these issues when they pop up then they are nice cars to drive.

PaulKK

Generally the 2000 and 2001 136bhp ones are fine, and the mid 2004+ 150bhp ones too.

Usually the 02/03 models that have a habit of eating turbos and swirl flaps.

However you can prevent those issues with blanking plates and changing the turbo breather on time too.

Col200sx

PaulKK wrote: »

Generally the 2000 and 2001 136bhp ones are fine, and the mid 2004+ 150bhp ones too.

Usually the 02/03 models that have a habit of eating turbos and swirl flaps.

However you can prevent those issues with blanking plates and changing the turbo breather on time too.

The facelift version came in in 2002, which had 150bhp.

As mentioned, swirl flap needing blanking, otherwise sometimes getting ingested, often turbo's too, but I had no issue with either.

Great if there's good service history, with evidence of oil and air/breather filter changes.

Also check the wiring to the rear light bulb clusters, a common problem is short circuiting due to them burning out.

And rear arches can tend to bobble up with sufrace rust, give this a check.

challengemaster

TheCassman wrote: »

any of ye have experience with a 3 series?

Had mine for little over a year now, but mine is a 05. Any "issues" I've had are mostly routine maintenance, due to high milage (144,000 as of this week)

sambucus wrote: »

I've looked into these myself. There's the 156 bhp one and pre October 2001 a 136 bhp one. Later model has the swirl flap issue that can ruin the engine. These can be blanked off for maybe €200. These may have already been done but if not its something to budget for

You didn't look too closely. The facelift are 150bhp. And with a remap you can expect 185bhp+. And the swirl flaps cost nowhere near €200 to blank, from what I remember, I got mine done for €60-80 including the blanks and fitted.

kerten wrote: »

"BMW must be very reliable" isn't valid for a e46 320d. I don't mean that they are bad cars but research common problems(suspension, coolant system, turbos, swirl flaps, etc) of e46 320d before assuming anything. If you are ready to fix these issues when they pop up then they are nice cars to drive.

The e46 320d does in fairness have quite a few documented issues, but most are quite easily avoided by proper maintenance and preventative maintenance. You don't fix the issue when they pop up, you fix them before so they don't cause a massive problem. Also there's a range of high quality replacement parts available, For example:

Rear springs tend to crack - Eibach / H&R lowering springs can be fitted
Rear strut mounts tend to fail easily - Meyle HD replacement & z4 Reinforcement plates available
Front wishbone bushes - Meyle HD / Polybush replacements
Front wishbone ball joints resulting in full wishbone replacement - Meyle HD replacement with replaceable ball joints.

Etc etc.

Proper servicing including replacing the turbo breather filter will keep the engine & turbo healthy. It's also well documented and easy to do when doing an air filter change.

It's also recommended to do an EGR clean.

For the most part, they're a lovely car to drive

kerten

The e46 320d does in fairness have quite a few documented issues, but most are quite easily avoided by proper maintenance and preventative maintenance. You don't fix the issue when they pop up, you fix them before so they don't cause a massive problem. Also there's a range of high quality replacement parts available, For example:

Rear springs tend to crack - Eibach / H&R lowering springs can be fitted
Rear strut mounts tend to fail easily - Meyle HD replacement & z4 Reinforcement plates available
Front wishbone bushes - Meyle HD / Polybush replacements
Front wishbone ball joints resulting in full wishbone replacement - Meyle HD replacement with replaceable ball joints.

Etc etc.

Proper servicing including replacing the turbo breather filter will keep the engine & turbo healthy. It's also well documented and easy to do when doing an air filter change.

It's also recommended to do an EGR clean.

I completely agree with you but as youngest e46 is 7 years old now, how can you be sure that all preventative maintenance is in place unless owner can prove it ?

And you already know how cars at that price range are treated in this country right ?

I change my comment to "If you can find one with proof of all preventative maintenance is done properly and recently, then you shouldn't have a problem with the car"

challengemaster

Youngest e46 is actually 6 years old production ran into 2006, I've seen a few.

Yeah, having proof of proper maintenance is important, otherwise just assume it's not done and do it yourself. I'd imagine an early e46 should have some of the issues sorted, or have suffered the consequences by now