02 320d. pitfalls?

readytosnap

young one is now looking at 02 320d, anything major we should be asking the dealer? please.

Foxhole Norman

Swirl flaps can be a big problem on these. Ask if they'be been blanked or if they could do it before you buy.

Interslice

readytosnap wrote: »

young one is now looking at 02 320d, anything major we should be asking the dealer? please.

It's a mechanic inspection you want tbh. Timing chain, turbo, clutch/flywheel or fuel pump failure are big money repair jobs.

goochy

Buy a slightly older 5 series

bazz26

I would not rely too much on what a dealer knows or tells you about a 13 year old car he is selling, probably just took it as a trade-in from it's previous owner. At that age and price you need your own mechanic to inspect the car, a BMW specialist or indy would be an worthwhile bonus.

readytosnap

Not sure why but have the urge for a 5 series
thanks for the advice people.

goochy

What dealer is it ?

mickdw

readytosnap wrote: »

young one is now looking at 02 320d, anything major we should be asking the dealer? please.

They can be money pits.
Buy it based on condition, mileage and history.
If, ĺike too many buyers you are looking at the cheapest end of what is available, you will make a major mistake.

readytosnap

goochy wrote: »

What dealer is it ?

http://www.tomrafterycarsales.ie/

colm_mcm

154,000 miles in 13 years would be low.

That car also has no nct

readytosnap

colm_mcm wrote: »

154,000 miles in 13 years would be low.

we drove it, there was a shuddering when we braked but it did not pull to one side, it wasn't rust either cos we braked hard a few times only drove it about 8 km everything sounded fine, they said they would nct it so i'm figuring if the shudder was a brake / disc issue then it would fail the nct?

Mycroft H

Discs could well be warped from some over enthusiastic driving or using it as a tow car. The overheat and warp.

Dale Parish

Shuddering is likely front control arm bushes worn.
At that mileage the entire wishbone would need to be replaced (assuming it is the worn bushes) as the ball joints are not replaceable.

visual

+1 front Control arm bushing.

goochy

Inless shes doing a fair mileage i would go for a lower mileage 318i for similar money

RoscommonTom

I think youd be crazy to buy a 13 year old ble for a young one, if things go wrong shed be a money out with the price of the bmw parts, would you not go for something newer like a skoda Octavia or a Mazda 3 or the like, more reliable and cheaper to get fixed

Mycroft H

There's a saying and it's rather true; there's little more expensive to run than an old BMW

Hachiko

why are people attracted to 320d's like magnets? I can't phantom why anyone would buy a 13 year old one. there are more cars out there to choose from. My boss at work got a call last week from his brother in Ireland., his problem? He wanted a 'loan' of 15k euro. .(no kidding).

he wanted a 07 BMW, he (my boss) did not find out the exact car but he thought it was a daysul and I think myself it was probably a 520d he wanted. insurance was 4k euro which is another thing.

Hachiko

Mycroft H wrote: »

There's a saying and it's rather true; there's little more expensive to run than an old BMW

Particularly diesel ones, I would love a 850Csi but it is quite a job to keep running by all accounts.

readytosnap

RoscommonTom wrote: »

I think youd be crazy to buy a 13 year old ble for a young one, if things go wrong shed be a money out with the price of the bmw parts, would you not go for something newer like a skoda Octavia or a Mazda 3 or the like, more reliable and cheaper to get fixed

I call her young one but she is in her mid 20s. I told her to get an octavia, they don't listen!

Cee-Jay-Cee

readytosnap wrote: »

I call her young one but she is in her mid 20s. I told her to get an octavia, they don't listen!

Then tell her to be more sensible and buy something that wont cost her a fortune in repairs/upkeep. Most 320d's that age have had the life driven out of them by some young lad.

Foxhole Norman

You'd swear by the way ye talk that older BMW's cost a rake to run. They really don't. I'm a student typically working only 2 days a weekend and happily run a 525i which has cost me about €100 in repairs not including serviceables.

Generally they're pretty good but obviously with diesels you have more problems such as Turbos and swirl flaps but if the flaps are done and the mechanic can confirm if the turbo is ok and the rest of the car is in good condition i'd see no reason to not get it.

Hachiko

Petrols ≠ Daysuls!

well maintained large cc petrols are very reliable. They have more torque and generally less stress and strain on the internals to pull the lump around. Diesels, well they are a nightmare, i am shocked by the crap coming out of them even recent models sound horrific and I will never get one.

Diesel owners love putting the boot down and cover half the road in gunk but they soon realise they have run out of steam, either that or they have blown a head gasket or need some dpf cleaned, remappped/deleted or whatever it is they do with them.

challengemaster

Hachiko wrote: »

, well they are a nightmare, i am shocked by the crap coming out of them even recent models sound horrific and I will never get one.

Diesel owners love putting the boot down and cover half the road in gunk but they soon realise they have run out of steam, either that or they have blown a head gasket or need some dpf cleaned, remappped/deleted or whatever it is they do with them.

E46s don't have a dpf, and I've never heard of one having a blown HG. It's extremely rare in the m47 engine.

Seeing as by self admission you'll never own one, FO and stop talking ****e about things you have no idea about.

Foxhole Norman

Hachiko wrote: »

Petrols ≠ Daysuls!

well maintained large cc petrols are very reliable. They have more torque and generally less stress and strain on the internals to pull the lump around. Diesels, well they are a nightmare, i am shocked by the crap coming out of them even recent models sound horrific and I will never get one.

Diesel owners love putting the boot down and cover half the road in gunk but they soon realise they have run out of steam, either that or they have blown a head gasket or need some dpf cleaned, remappped/deleted or whatever it is they do with them.

But most of the problems with Modern diesels don't come into play with older ones such as the E46 320D, AFAIK 320D's pre Euro 4 didn't come with DPF's so that's not a worry, all you really have to worry about on these is the Turbo and Flaps, if these are OK, I'd go for it. It'll be hard to get the same kind of spec/comfort from other diesels of the same age.

Hachiko

challengemaster wrote: »

E46s don't have a dpf, and I've never heard of one having a blown HG. It's extremely rare in the m47 engine.

Seeing as by self admission you'll never own one, FO and stop talking ****e about things you have no idea about.

The bulk of all cars that have broken down since everyone has got brainwashed by them are diesels, both in Ireland and the UK. Just recently people are realising they are not that good at all. Diesels are problematic cars and terrible for the environment (and your health). I have seen (and heard) 15 year old petrols running smoother and quieter than modern Diesels you can hear them in car parks way off.

coolbeans

Not a car l'd be buying at that age really. Some will get on with them but lots won't. These cars don't take much abuse.

RoscommonTom

I'm sure you'd get a 05 or 06 Octavia for the same money as the bmw and I think she'd be a better car for reliability, dont get the 1.4 petrol though cos shes got no poke at all,

Mycroft H

Hachiko wrote: »

The bulk of all cars that have broken down since everyone has got brainwashed by them are diesels, both in Ireland and the UK. Just recently people are realising they are not that good at all. Diesels are problematic cars and terrible for the environment (and your health). I have seen (and heard) 15 year old petrols running smoother and quieter than modern Diesels you can hear them in car parks way off.

What now?

166man

challengemaster wrote: »

E46s don't have a dpf, and I've never heard of one having a blown HG. It's extremely rare in the m47 engine.

Seeing as by self admission you'll never own one, FO and stop talking ****e about things you have no idea about.

To be fair though E46's have a very long list of known common problems......

A well minded one will probably be fine, like most things, but one that hasn't will more than likely give it's share of issues...

E46 diesels aren't a patch on the petrols for refinement either..

Hachiko

Mycroft H wrote: »

What now?

The moon is about 250k miles from earth?!

Mycroft H

Hachiko wrote: »

The moon is about 250k miles from earth?!

Your posts seem rather uninformed...

goochy

Www.loc.ie in dublin have a low mileage 03 318i 4dr for just under e3k . Thats what she should be looking at . If she does big miles a car with 150k mls up would be good idea either. Or what about passat tdi ? Octavia is very dull !

readytosnap

asking €2300 for the 320d

YbFocus

readytosnap wrote: »

asking €2300 for the 320d

Well that's dangerously cheap!

colm_mcm

Its also cheap enough to be able to walk away from it in a few months if something goes wrong and just chalk it down to experience.

Hachiko

YbFocus wrote: »

Well that's dangerously cheap!

expensive enough for how long it will last.

goochy

Doubt if a 25 yr old can spend 2.5k on a car and tend no mind if she has to walk away from it

colm_mcm

I never said she wouldn't mind. It just wouldn't be financially crippling.

visual

OP you might have noticed between little petrol car owners and diesel haters there is only a few posts from actual BMW owners.

They are a fine car and much better than some of the suggestions.

Car will need front Control arms and alignment after replacement.

If swirl flaps have not been done it would be worth doing for peace of mind. Worth knowing swirl flaps are fitted to lots of cars it's not just bmw diesel shortcoming.

Turbo would be the most likely expensive repair so it's something you mechanic can check out.
It's no more or less reliable than turbos fitted on any other car.

Mileage is normal for year so nothing to be over worried about.

It not like your buying a renault laguna

Dale Parish

Jeez I can't believe the hate towards the 320d
They are a great car and as with any BMW they have a soft suspension that costs a bit more than the average car to fix up.

These M47 engines are exteremly reliable. The swirl flaps will only be a problem on this 2002 model if it's an automatic.
The turbos in these are very strong also - the issue is that originally they came with the older "loo roll" style turbo filter which clogs up - it's supposed to be replaced every third service but most indys don't know about this.

This can be solved with a €50 vortex filter replacement from the dealer. The only other time you will have turbo issues is if you abuse it, like with any turbocharged vehicle - it's all the same.

Can't understand the negativity towards this car.