Changing to Diesel - Worth it? All input welcome

[Jeebz92]

Hello all,

I've currently got a 325Ci E46 M sport. Im 21 and had a fairly decent job a few months ago and I could manage to afford running the thing, but having recently finished Uni and changing jobs, I'm struggling to justify paying £350 a month just on petrol.

Love the car to bits but I can sense its failing on me, unpleasant noises and juddering and whatnot. So I've been looking at diesels recently instead of dipping more money into the E46.

I have a 15 mile journey to work 5 days a week which consists 50% Side roads in London 50% A Road, 99% Traffic though so I'm thinking, is diesel the way to go?

I'm not really fussed about "driving pleasure" which is what the BMW does give, because Im in traffic almost all the time lol.

I'm after a diesel that can at least give me 350 miles to a full tank, which should half my fuel costs every month.

The only two cars that have possible caught my eye are E46 330D's and B5.5 Passat 1.9's, both in auto due to a bum leg.

I've had no real experience with Diesel Auto's before and I wanted to know from you guys, if I'm making a mistake getting rid of the beemer and will wind up only getting a few more miles out of a full tank (Currently get about 230)

All advice and input is welcome.

Thanks

[Tom8]

For that kind of driving you won't get much better economy and with the higher price of diesel you won't save anything. Diesels are best on open road.

Diesel autos very good to have, I have eclass merc which is excellent, my first diesel although still have my Audi S8.

In all seriousness, you'd be better off with a hybrid. No c charge, minimal fuel use ideal for London. Buy something fun for weekends.

[Jeebz92]

Yeah I thought as much, but to be honest I'll be changing cars within the next year. My budget at the moment is only the value of the E46 so about 3500/5000.

Im just looking to reduce my fuel bill from 350 a month to less than that. Overall long term savings aren't an issue for me at this moment in time due to job changes/location changes.

Would a diesel still be less suitable?

[budgie smuggler]

Jeebz92 said:

Hello all,

I've currently got a 325Ci E46 M sport. Im 21 and had a fairly decent job a few months ago and I could manage to afford running the thing, but having recently finished Uni and changing jobs, I'm struggling to justify paying £350 a month just on petrol.

Love the car to bits but I can sense its failing on me, unpleasant noises and juddering and whatnot. So I've been looking at diesels recently instead of dipping more money into the E46.

I have a 15 mile journey to work 5 days a week which consists 50% Side roads in London 50% A Road, 99% Traffic though so I'm thinking, is diesel the way to go?

I'm not really fussed about "driving pleasure" which is what the BMW does give, because Im in traffic almost all the time lol.

I'm after a diesel that can at least give me 350 miles to a full tank, which should half my fuel costs every month.

The only two cars that have possible caught my eye are E46 330D's and B5.5 Passat 1.9's, both in auto due to a bum leg.

I've had no real experience with Diesel Auto's before and I wanted to know from you guys, if I'm making a mistake getting rid of the beemer and will wind up only getting a few more miles out of a full tank (Currently get about 230)

All advice and input is welcome.

Thanks

30 miles a day = 600 a month.

£350 on petrol = 270 litres ish = 60 galls.

So that's 600 miles from 60 gals ... 10 MPG ?!

Maybe I've made a mistake in the calculations there but it seems a bit low even for heavy London traffic. Is it possible there's something like a sticking brake calliper or a lambda dodgy sensor messing up the economy, or is that expected for one of these cars?

Edited by budgie smuggler on Monday 30th June 10:58

[Targarama]

How about an early MK2 Prius? I can't see how a diesel will save you money in the long run. I'm guessing you'll be buying a leggy diesel, which is when they become expensive to maintain.

[Jeebz92]

budgie smuggler said:

30 miles a day = 600 a month.

£350 on petrol = 270 litres ish = 60 galls.

So that's 600 miles from 60 gals ... 10 MPG ?!

Maybe I've made a mistake in the calculations there but it seems a bit low even for heavy London traffic. Is it possible there's something like a sticking brake calliper or a lambda dodgy sensor messing up the economy, or is that expected for one of these cars?

Edited by budgie smuggler on Monday 30th June 10:58

Lol you're close. The average MPG I'm getting in London traffic is just about 18-20MPG. A full tank which is 56 odd litres gives me about 230-240 miles. Not great. I cover that distance within 3-5 days of driving.

I'm not exactly after a super powered diesel or anything. To be honest, I actually would prefer a comfortable cruiser like the Passat.

I'm not after long term savings, the car will only be with me a year and if it can give me about 350-400 miles off a full tank, I'll be saving money. At this moment in time Im just trying to cut down my monthly costs, that's all.

But the more I research into it, the more I'm realising that I may not be saving anything actually.

As for Prius, I just cant grow to love those things. Over-use by cabbies can ruin any car's reputation and image.

[Pan Pan]

Jeebz92 said:

Hello all,

I've currently got a 325Ci E46 M sport. Im 21 and had a fairly decent job a few months ago and I could manage to afford running the thing, but having recently finished Uni and changing jobs, I'm struggling to justify paying £350 a month just on petrol.

Love the car to bits but I can sense its failing on me, unpleasant noises and juddering and whatnot. So I've been looking at diesels recently instead of dipping more money into the E46.

I have a 15 mile journey to work 5 days a week which consists 50% Side roads in London 50% A Road, 99% Traffic though so I'm thinking, is diesel the way to go?

I'm not really fussed about "driving pleasure" which is what the BMW does give, because Im in traffic almost all the time lol.

I'm after a diesel that can at least give me 350 miles to a full tank, which should half my fuel costs every month.

The only two cars that have possible caught my eye are E46 330D's and B5.5 Passat 1.9's, both in auto due to a bum leg.

I've had no real experience with Diesel Auto's before and I wanted to know from you guys, if I'm making a mistake getting rid of the beemer and will wind up only getting a few more miles out of a full tank (Currently get about 230)

All advice and input is welcome.

Thanks

As TomB correctly pointed out it seems that you are not doing the kind of mileage that would justify
going for a diesel.
When I do the high mileage trips in the diesel which my work entails the mpg is very good with a huge (circa 1000 mile) range available on just one tank full, so it works out OK, but when I am not, and just doing some local driving the mpg figure is not nearly so good.

[Sump]

Ran an LS430 and a Jag XK for a couple of years.

Dad got himself an X5 3.0d, the MPG is bloody hilarious. It's gets 38 mpg on a run and does like 450 miles to the tank. Pure comedy gold, complete thumbs up from me.

Edited by Sump on Monday 30th June 11:23

[Jeebz92]

Pan Pan said:

As TomB correctly pointed out it seems that you are not doing the kind of mileage that would justify
going for a diesel.
When I do the high mileage trips in the diesel which my work entails the mpg is very good with a huge (circa 1000 mile) range available on just one tank full, so it works out OK, but when I am not, and just doing some local driving the mpg figure is not nearly so good.

If I had a diesel I'd be on the motorway more often, the only thing stopping me now is the fact that I have a 325.

What car do you have and how much are you getting in town?

[Shaoxter]

Take the tube...

[Baryonyx]

If you're constantly stuck in traffic, try getting a small motorcycle. You'll get wherever you're going much faster, and they cost next to nothing to run. Figuring 120mpg and road tax of less than £20 a year will see you make back your outlat for kit fairly soon. A good bike can be had for less than a grand.

[mikey77]

I have a Honda Accord 2.2 diesel auto. It isn't what you'd call an involving car to drive but it's reasonable economical and the auto transmission is the best I've ever had. I don't do many urban miles but I reckon a tankful of diesel will take me, on average, 600 miles.

[northwest monkey]

Jeebz92 said:

budgie smuggler said:

30 miles a day = 600 a month.

£350 on petrol = 270 litres ish = 60 galls.

So that's 600 miles from 60 gals ... 10 MPG ?!

Maybe I've made a mistake in the calculations there but it seems a bit low even for heavy London traffic. Is it possible there's something like a sticking brake calliper or a lambda dodgy sensor messing up the economy, or is that expected for one of these cars?

Edited by budgie smuggler on Monday 30th June 10:58

Lol you're close. The average MPG I'm getting in London traffic is just about 18-20MPG. A full tank which is 56 odd litres gives me about 230-240 miles. Not great. I cover that distance within 3-5 days of driving.

I'm not exactly after a super powered diesel or anything. To be honest, I actually would prefer a comfortable cruiser like the Passat.

I'm not after long term savings, the car will only be with me a year and if it can give me about 350-400 miles off a full tank, I'll be saving money. At this moment in time Im just trying to cut down my monthly costs, that's all.

But the more I research into it, the more I'm realising that I may not be saving anything actually.

As for Prius, I just cant grow to love those things. Over-use by cabbies can ruin any car's reputation and image.

It's not close though is it?

10mpg is twice as bad as 20mpg. If you're spending £350pm on fuel and doing 600miles then you're doing about 10mpg. If you're getting 20mpg and still spending £350 you're either doing twice as many miles or spending half as much as you think.

Think about it - £350pm is a fill up every week - are you filling up every week and are you only doing 600 miles a month?

Either way, with the budget you have, you're buying a leggy diesel (DPF issues), putting up with what you have, or putting up with "image" issues and getting a Prius or similar.

[Jeebz92]

Baryonyx said:

If you're constantly stuck in traffic, try getting a small motorcycle. You'll get wherever you're going much faster, and they cost next to nothing to run. Figuring 120mpg and road tax of less than £20 a year will see you make back your outlat for kit fairly soon. A good bike can be had for less than a grand.

LOL I'd love to do that, really would love a small motorcycle. But my bum leg has actually sprung up from a motorcycle accident I had a while back, so a little hesitant on that front.

I may be being a picky little sh*t but it's very very difficult to part ways with a BMW, but its more difficult to part with all your money

Going to look into a 330D Auto, Passat B5 or a Honda Insight and see what else pops up. If they can even give me 350 miles off a tank, Im more than happy. Drops my fuel cost by half every month.

Im filling up £350 a month and I fill up once a week, so doing about 700-800 miles in a month. As for the DPF Issues, I'll be sure to take it out on the motorway for a long run now and then.

Any more suggestions are welcome, other than a bicycle that is. Too fat for them.

Edited by Jeebz92 on Monday 30th June 11:32

[Shaoxter]

A scooter?

Honestly I don't know how or why people drive in London rush hour traffic, I imagine I'd be suicidal by the time I get to work.

[Jeebz92]

Shaoxter said:

A scooter?

Honestly I don't know how or why people drive in London rush hour traffic, I imagine I'd be suicidal by the time I get to work.

Always am suicidal by the time I get to work

A 15 min journey took me short of an hour today ha.

[Pan Pan]

Jeebz92 said:

Pan Pan said:

As TomB correctly pointed out it seems that you are not doing the kind of mileage that would justify
going for a diesel.
When I do the high mileage trips in the diesel which my work entails the mpg is very good with a huge (circa 1000 mile) range available on just one tank full, so it works out OK, but when I am not, and just doing some local driving the mpg figure is not nearly so good.

If I had a diesel I'd be on the motorway more often, the only thing stopping me now is the fact that I have a 325.

What car do you have and how much are you getting in town?

Hi Jeebz82 - it is a Passat Bluemotion 1.6, and on long trips I can usually get around 1000 miles on each fill up. around town the mpg goes down to around 50 - 55 mpg, circa 850 to 920 miles per tank. but bear in mind that as a Bluemotion the engine stops, and starts in traffic, so it is not sitting there idling when I am not moving.
My previous 2.0 litre Bluemotion was better though, because it gave even better mpg on a run (particularly at continental motorways speeds of circa 80mph) but coped with full loads of people and luggage, much better than the 1.6 version.
On one trip to Scotland and back, where I was really going for the best mpg I could get, I got approaching 1200 miles from one fill up, but driving at the speeds which make that possible, is NOT like driving normally, so that was the only time I have ever done that.

[Bennet]

If you really are just looking to save money and you're upgrading in a year or so anyway, you could probably just buy something cheap, small and japenese, auto, with a small petrol engine for less than 1k. Micra, or similar. Sell it on in a year with no depreciation. You'll probably be better off financially a year from now than if you spend the full 3500-5000 on a diesel BMW and then buy year's worth of diesel and maintenance.

[Gafferjim]

If you really like your present car, and fuel cost is the only reason that you'd change, GAS it! it'll cost you about £850 but will be well worth it if you intend to keep the car.

[Pan Pan]

Bennet said:

If you really are just looking to save money and you're upgrading in a year or so anyway, you could probably just buy something cheap, small and japenese, auto, with a small petrol engine for less than 1k. Micra, or similar. Sell it on in a year with no depreciation. You'll probably be better off financially a year from now than if you spend the full 3500-5000 on a diesel BMW and then buy year's worth of diesel and maintenance.

True, but the thought of spending a year driving a Micra is a bit daunting.
I remember another piston header claiming that the meaning of the word disappointment, was coming around the first bend on your favorite driving road, and seeing the back of a Micra