New Car, 320d?

freddie1970

Having driven a passat for the 5 years, it is now time for a new car. Ive test driven a few cars including a newer passat which i found boring exactly like my old one.
Anyway i have my heart set on a 320d, drove one there last week and even though it was very basic inside i loved driving it.I have 8500 to spend and would love to get something i have a bit off passion about ..rather than something that just gets me from a to b.
Am i mad should i just get a passat or should i go for the 320d..My main worry is that the bmw is costly to get fixed if anything go wrong

bazz26

Driver satisfaction wise the 3 Series will be streets ahead of your Passat.

A few things to watch out with them though:

Pre late 2007 models can suffer from turbo problems so you need to make sure the turbo breather filter has been replaced with the newer vortex shaped filter. Also recommended that it be changed every 3rd oil service.
Other main problem is the manifold swirl flaps, these are pieces of metal in the manifold that can and do break off over time and usually get sucked into the engine and kill it. You can have them removed and replaced with blanks to prevent this issue.

Late 2007 onwards models suffer from timing chain issues which can break and do all sorts of damage to the engine. Happening to lots of these cars and advisable to have the chain changed before hand which is still relatively expensive.

freddie1970

Am I far better off licking at a late 2007 model..probably wouldn't get one for 8500 though

bazz26

Nope imo the earlier ones are more reliable once you know how to look after them.

freddie1970

Which is.the best year to go for.2006 or early 2007

bazz26

They would both be the same engine wise. Engine code you are looking for would be M47 which would be 163bhp in the 320d. N47 engine is the one with the more expensive timing chain problems and these would be 177bhp in later 320d models.

JC01

Would you consider a top of the range e46? At that kinda budget you'll have the pick of the market and get every single extra you can think of. Plus you could look at 325s, 330ds and use the big chunk of change to tax it for the year. Driver satisfaction will be miles ahead of the 4cylineder.

For 8500 your looking at the lower side of the e90 market. Mostly non M-Sports and thus "paddy spec" interiors as you mentioned about the one you test drove. A well equipped bmw is a lovely place to sit but a basic spec is dull and dreary.

freddie1970

Yeah I really like the e46 I was told that they had a lot of problems though..Do you know what year they stopped producing them ?

Stallingrad

freddie1970 wrote: »

Yeah I really like the e46 I was told that they had a lot of problems though..Do you know what year they stopped producing them ?

2006.

JC01

freddie1970 wrote: »

Yeah I really like the e46 I was told that they had a lot of problems though..Do you know what year they stopped producing them ?

No more than any other modern diesel and arguably a lot less then e90s. Late model ones came until 2006. And as I said you can have anything you want in one with that budget. I'd look at MSport low milers, decide what engine you really want. And go from there

freddie1970

Yeah looked at Msport very expensive though even for 2005 car

bazz26

E46 saloon was replaced by the E90 in 2005. E46 coupe was replaced by the E92 coupe in late 2006.

Stallingrad

I would have thought €8500 would get you the best E46 going. You are well into E90 money there.

freddie1970

Yeah it would most like but it's a lot for a 2005 car...I'm a novice so I'd really want to be careful what I'm getting

Blazer

Why not go for a 520D or even better 530D. That M47 engine is fantastic and you can pick up some nice ones for your budget.

just as an quick example to give you an idea
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/BMW/5-Series/530-D/201426224926340/

I went from a 520D 2L to a BMW 525D 3L and the 3L engine blows the 2L away...
yeah tax is a bitch but that's the price you have to pay for driving one. The 520Ds are no slouch either especially with a remap.

challengemaster

Not everyone likes the 5 series (personally they always seem like an older persons car to me) - and tax starts to get crazy over 2L for most people.

freddie1970

What do you think of this one brought it for a spin today

freddie1970

sorD SE Z3S5 4DR E90 SALOON M47 2.0 they wont let me put up link but this is the model