Would it be unwise to get a diesel now

[shotta287]

Probably been asked many times recently but considering the way things are going for diesels, with scrappage schemes imminent, worth getting one or not? Was thinking of one of the six cylinder 3 series diesels from about 2010/11.

[VAGLover]

shotta287 said:

Probably been asked many times recently but considering the way things are going for diesels, with scrappage schemes imminent, worth getting one or not? Was thinking of one of the six cylinder 3 series diesels from about 2010/11.

Those schemes are not govt backed, they are just car companies trying to churn the base

They are all for Euro 4 and before, that car will be fine

[vikingaero]

It depends on mileage and what you need the car for. Generally you're not going to beat a diesel if you do mega miles or need to tow.

[Stick Legs]

Looking at it another way I bought my first F10 530d because it was the only big engined 5 I could find used at the time though I wanted a petrol.

I've just changed to another F10 530d because it's just a great car with a great engine.

Regardless of my stance of Diesel (not a fan) or my attitudes to the environment (climate is changing but not sure if my car choice will change that) the BMW N57 engines are a real gem.

I have tried a few now in 3,5,6 & X5 and they are impressive in every application. Very much a modern version of the old M30 engine found in all big 6 BMW's of yore.

It is highly unlikely given the numbers involved that there will be any draconian measures applied to non-city dwellers in the near future, certainly within the depreciation span of these cars they will not be made worthless overnight.

Its a good engine in a good car.

Buy what you like!

http://www.motortrend.com/news/bmws-best-six-diese...

[ZX10R NIN]

Unless you go into central London you'll be fine the government has already stated it won't be attacking one type of fuel & it's actions will be Euro based so Euro4's will be targeted first then 5 & so on.

Basically if you can stretch to a Euro6 model then get one or buy the car you're looking at now & plan to change it in around 4 years.

[Willy Nilly]

Is it not a buyers market for used diesels? Loads get sold new, but a lot of second hand buyers, such as myself, don't want them. So if you do and have the journey type that suits, then fill your boots.

[bolide]

shotta287 said:

Was thinking of one of the six cylinder 3 series diesels from about 2010/11.

I went through this process recently with a 5 Series. Around 95% of cars were 4-cylinder diesel models, 4% six-cylinder diesels and the rest (ie, almost none) petrol

It's a little easier to find petrol 3 Series but not much. Six cylinder diesels are rare and, at least with the 5 Series, from 2012 the 525 was a 4-cylinder car

Nick Froome

[shotta287]

Yeah looking at mainly a 325d with the N57. More rare than I originally thought. I suppose a 330d wouldn't be bad either, much more of them on the market. I actually prefer petrol but there seems to be something appealing about the smooth relaxed nature of the 6 cylinder bmw diesels.

[cerb4.5lee]

Had the N57 in the E90 330d/F13 640d and I actually preferred both of them to the N52 I had in the E90 330i, the performance/torque/economy of the diesels puts the petrol to shame, plus from inside the cabin the diesel actually sounds better than the petrol for me as well.

[anonymous-user]

The budget is only a month or so away - might be worth waiting for the outcome of that.

[cuprabob]

RaymondVanDerDon said:

The budget is only a month or so away - might be worth waiting for the outcome of that.

If there is anything in the budget it will not be anything retrospective and will only affect new cars.

[Gregmitchell]

I'd be worried about residual value, could the depreciation curve for a diesel now be steeper than a petrol? On that basis I'm going petrol in the future, plus it's a good excuse not to drive a tractor sounding car!

[Darryl247W]

There are too many diesel cars on the roads already for the government to take Draconian action.

Devil's Advocate view : maybe now is a GOOD time to get a diesel while scare-mongering marketing departments are causing uncertainty in the pricing of second-hand diesels.

[anonymous-user]

Are used diesel car prices falling?

I know people are turning away from derv when buying new but I've not heard anything said about used derv values?

[bolide]

The lack of petrol cars in the market means that diesel prices won't move much, if at all. Despite the best efforts of the Government to demonise diesel, if there are no petrols to buy, you will end up buying a diesel

Nick Froome

[GreatGranny]

If you want a diesel go for it.

There's too much panic about 2nd hand diesel car prices falling through the roof.

Its not going to happen anytime soon.

Diesels are still the cheapest most convenient cars to run and most people want diesels even if they are only doing small mileage.
They don't care if the turbo/DPF/DMF is likely to go at any time because most haven't a clue what they are.
They are just concerned that £20 of fuel lasts them all week.

[Lil'RedGTO]

cuprabob said:

RaymondVanDerDon said:

The budget is only a month or so away - might be worth waiting for the outcome of that.

If there is anything in the budget it will not be anything retrospective and will only affect new cars.

I don't think it is safe to assume that any changes to the taxation of diesel cars in the November budget will not be retrospective. It is true that the Government (any Government) does not like making retrospective tax changes, but they do so from time to time. Weren't the changes to the VED tax bands in 2009 applied to all cars from 2001 onwards?

With diesel, the main problem is the effect on air quality of older diesel cars, so there is a clear rationale for retrospective tax changes. It would still be a bold move, though. I think it could go either way.

[ZX10R NIN]

They've already stated any changes will affect new cars but don't expect any changes as they've already stated they will allow councils to target Euro4 cars both Petrol & Diesels then in however many years time it will be Euro5 & so on, they don't want to affect the car market (& potential voters) so the status quo will stay the same.