Do DPFs still give hassle?
Discussion
Looking to buy a 1er on behalf of the parents. Initially looked at a 116i but even my dad felt it was too lethargic and lacking in torque. 118i is preferred but for the same price you can get a 118d which better economy and likely better residual costs.
Car will do 8k per year, typically 10 miles per day on a commute round trip then a couple of hundred miles every other weekend, all on average.
I here mixed things about DPFs. Dad is worried, but I told him it will be fine. Surely a brand new 118d will be fine over a 4 year period, or are people still getting DPF issues for not driving far enough.
Car will do 8k per year, typically 10 miles per day on a commute round trip then a couple of hundred miles every other weekend, all on average.
I here mixed things about DPFs. Dad is worried, but I told him it will be fine. Surely a brand new 118d will be fine over a 4 year period, or are people still getting DPF issues for not driving far enough.
Monty Python said:
The age of the car doesn't matter - it's how it's driven. If it doesn't get hot enough to regenerate then you'll run into problems. At that mileage I'd go petrol every day of the year.
I understand that, but all DPF aren't the same. Are they better today than when they first hit the market.Apart from the DPF I would rather go diesel every day. More torque and cheaper to run over the life of the car.
va1o said:
Go for the petrol. What shape 1er are you looking at, F20? I thought the 116i and 118i models were significantly up on power over their diesel equivalents.
New one but the 116 was slow and just fancy a diesel! I can't believe that a modern diesel if not designed for a 5 mile commute.If your 10 mile commute involves sitting in a lot of traffic you could have endless problems, but if your commute is 10 miles straight onto a clear NSL A road you should be fine.
My wife has a new 120d and does a 5 mile commute to work on a stretch of the A1 which never gives her congestion, 5 months in and no worries.
My wife has a new 120d and does a 5 mile commute to work on a stretch of the A1 which never gives her congestion, 5 months in and no worries.
Providing every week or so you give it a decent run to be safe I am pretty sure you will be ok! I am looking at a F10 5 series I really want, but the petrol ones don't exist and the 530d fit the bills. Sadly I only have a 10 mile each way commute, followed by looong journies most weekends, I am hoping that that keeps the dpf in good nick!
Diesels don't like short journeys even if once a month you take it for a good blast, it's not just the dpf that doesn't like short journeys, egr valves, the oil will need to be replaced more often, extended clutch and dmf wear.
Diesels aren't designed to do 5 miles a day they never have they are meant for constant motorway miles if your doing anything under 12000 miles a year it's not worth having a diesel Just wait till euro 6 comes in this year and you need to replace the exhaust system for example 2.5k to replace.
The 4 pot diesel bmw engines isn't that good an engine get the petrol version.
Diesels aren't designed to do 5 miles a day they never have they are meant for constant motorway miles if your doing anything under 12000 miles a year it's not worth having a diesel Just wait till euro 6 comes in this year and you need to replace the exhaust system for example 2.5k to replace.
The 4 pot diesel bmw engines isn't that good an engine get the petrol version.
MG CHRIS said:
Diesels don't like short journeys even if once a month you take it for a good blast, it's not just the dpf that doesn't like short journeys, egr valves, the oil will need to be replaced more often, extended clutch and dmf wear.
Oil changes are specced by the computer, so if you do lots of short journeys (petrol of derv) you'll need to get serviced sooner, so that's kinda covered by the systems in place.Most EGR's end up a stinking mess regardless AFAIK - Anything turbocharged it seems to happen on, even petrol stuff as the crankcase vents pre-turbo and the oil in the vapour get's caked on.
Not sure why the clutch and DM-flywheel would suffer? If you're in stop start-traffic, up and down hills then yes, but if it's 5 miles in gear, I don't see that being an issue.
Lots of people will tell you horror stories about diesel's and lots of people will tell you that a petrol will cost a fortune to run. You're not going to get a clear answer on a forum when it comes to petrol v diesel.
My experience, I had a diesel Astra. It was fine when I was doing long journeys but within a year of moving closer to work I had problems. The EGR clogged up and the swirl flap actuator broke it was a £900 repair bill. Any savings in using diesel would have been wiped out by this repair. This was back when diesel was only 5p per litre more expensive. A friend brought a diesel recently and he has a similar journey to you, the DPF has had to be forced to regenerate 3 times now at his expense........he's still happy he's getting cheap motoring because of his 48mpg
I'm back in a petrol now, I don't have millions of torques from tick-over but I do have a much bigger rev range which is much more satisfying to me.
If I was in your Dad's shoes I'd be looking at a petrol given the short journeys.
My experience, I had a diesel Astra. It was fine when I was doing long journeys but within a year of moving closer to work I had problems. The EGR clogged up and the swirl flap actuator broke it was a £900 repair bill. Any savings in using diesel would have been wiped out by this repair. This was back when diesel was only 5p per litre more expensive. A friend brought a diesel recently and he has a similar journey to you, the DPF has had to be forced to regenerate 3 times now at his expense........he's still happy he's getting cheap motoring because of his 48mpg
I'm back in a petrol now, I don't have millions of torques from tick-over but I do have a much bigger rev range which is much more satisfying to me.
If I was in your Dad's shoes I'd be looking at a petrol given the short journeys.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff