Buying a car to last me a couple of years and looking at a 3 series, due to miles I do I need a diesel

In my price range what would you go for,

330d on a 02/52 with 90k ish or
320d on a 54 plate with 60k

I know there is the power difference, but yo get newer and lower milage car with a 320d
What are the engines like

 

Newer one every time

 

As above...

 

if the same price its a no brainer...

 

Just didn't know how good the 320d was as opposed to the 330d

 

oops LOL didnt see the difference!!!!

I'd go for the newer...

330ds loose swirl flaps
320s turbos


But at the end of the day you want economy so its a 320d all the way!

 

I'd go for the 330d personally. The book MPG figures for the 320d's are way off what they actually achieve. I know someone who's had one from new, kept it well serviced etc etc and still only manages circa 40 MPG at the very best. He's had it in at BMW to get it checked, but nothing was found wrong with it.

On the other hand, I believe the 330d's are more impressive - the milage gap between the two shouldn't really make a difference if its been well maintained. BMW's last forever - I get the use of one with other 210K on the clock, and its still going strong.

 

330d he's looking at is 184bhp one, so as long as it's manual no flaps to worry about.
Auto loses about 7mpg so ends up not too economical.

320d get the egr valve/breather thing changed if it hasn't, interval was brought down by bmw to 60k I think, but would just change it anyway for the Ł60 or so it is.

Later 320d (150bhp) chips well, would be my choice as the later 3.0d is out of question, and economy is needed.

 

Swirl flaps are fitted regarless of transmission iirc....

Both chip REALLY well (done loads!).

Alex

 

That's not the way I understand it to be though: http://www.lpginfo.co.uk/yconvert.html

 

How long do the turbo's and fuel pumps last on these babies?

I'd still be wanting the newer car regardless of the answer though

 

The turbos on the 320d's can go at any time - ive seen 20K miler ones have turbo failure, and Ive seen ones go over 100K with no problems. Seems very irratic, but not sure how the 330d's cope either.

 

i'd go for an audi tdi.... bmw build quality, better fuel consumption.....

 

i'd not get either and buy a 530d instead purely based on looks

 

E39 530D sport.......Nice.

 

I've looked and looked at alternatives to the 330d, nothing comes close for performance-mpg ratio.
Audi's from my looking are slower with worse mpg, a bit to do with 4x4; otherwise you've all that torque and fwd.
Or the rwd near on 50:50 drivers car bmw with 200bhp and 40+mpg....

 

audi is also around the same price as a BMW, i think you get more with a BMW