Early E90 320d (M47) - Advice?
Discussion
Hi all, may be going to look at a 2005 E90 320d for the wife tomorrow. It’s a 163 bhp variant so as I understand it this is an M47 lump? My limited knowledge therefore suggests that engine wise swirl flaps is the only thing of note (though at 150k I’d imagine they’ve been done).
We only spotted it tonight at an old fashioned dealer without a website, so have nothing to go on apart from the MOT history which isn’t the best but also not too bad. The only thing of concern on it is an EML advisory. It’s possible that this has been addressed, but if it has not in absence of a code reader do these things have a hidden menu that will reveal the fault? Some websites suggest they do but it’s a bit vague.
It’s up for £1400, which seems a touch cheap in today’s market, and I am braced for it to be an absolute dog from which I will be running. But, just in case it appears to be in rude health, are there any specific things I should be looking at on these beyond the usual used car stuff? BMWs of this era do scare me a bit I must say, but this being an early one is perhaps a bit less frightening…
Any help appreciated.
We only spotted it tonight at an old fashioned dealer without a website, so have nothing to go on apart from the MOT history which isn’t the best but also not too bad. The only thing of concern on it is an EML advisory. It’s possible that this has been addressed, but if it has not in absence of a code reader do these things have a hidden menu that will reveal the fault? Some websites suggest they do but it’s a bit vague.
It’s up for £1400, which seems a touch cheap in today’s market, and I am braced for it to be an absolute dog from which I will be running. But, just in case it appears to be in rude health, are there any specific things I should be looking at on these beyond the usual used car stuff? BMWs of this era do scare me a bit I must say, but this being an early one is perhaps a bit less frightening…
Any help appreciated.
We had one of these e91, sold it 2 years ago, bought with 85 k miles and sold with 172k.
Engine M47 was great but the rear suspension bushes were dead!
Of note aside from pads and discs and other serviceable items it had a new dmf plus clutch. Because the sump welded itself to the bell housing it became porous and needed replacing. Aside from that and a lot tyres it was a great machine for the 6 years we owned it.
Oh alternator died 300miles into a 600 mile journey from south of France to Normandy. Got it to my folks and replaced it...sold 3 weeks later!
Part ex’d it quickly for an F31 £1k!!
Engine M47 was great but the rear suspension bushes were dead!
Of note aside from pads and discs and other serviceable items it had a new dmf plus clutch. Because the sump welded itself to the bell housing it became porous and needed replacing. Aside from that and a lot tyres it was a great machine for the 6 years we owned it.
Oh alternator died 300miles into a 600 mile journey from south of France to Normandy. Got it to my folks and replaced it...sold 3 weeks later!
Part ex’d it quickly for an F31 £1k!!
Edited by Simes205 on Saturday 22 May 23:32
Simes205 said:
We had one of these e91, sold it 2 years ago, bought with 85 k miles and sold with 172k.
Engine M47 was great but the rear suspension bushes were dead!
That’s great, thanks. A couple of the rear suspension bushes are advisories as it happens, not resulting in excessive movement but a haggling point nonetheless. Engine M47 was great but the rear suspension bushes were dead!
How much did you sell it for if you don’t mind me asking?
Edit: just seen your edit, thanks for that. I have heard that alternators are weak on these. Clutch and DMF also a concern on a diesel of this vintage (although £450 for both with ECPs perpetual sale isn’t bad) so will be keeping an ear out for that!
JDB96 said:
Simes205 said:
We had one of these e91, sold it 2 years ago, bought with 85 k miles and sold with 172k.
Engine M47 was great but the rear suspension bushes were dead!
That’s great, thanks. A couple of the rear suspension bushes are advisories as it happens, not resulting in excessive movement but a haggling point nonetheless. Engine M47 was great but the rear suspension bushes were dead!
How much did you sell it for if you don’t mind me asking?
Edit: just seen your edit, thanks for that. I have heard that alternators are weak on these. Clutch and DMF also a concern on a diesel of this vintage (although £450 for both with ECPs perpetual sale isn’t bad) so will be keeping an ear out for that!
It was fairly reliable.
Dmf rattling around 125k
The glow plug relay was failing around 168k which meant it chucked a load of smoke out on cold days only on start up.
Alternator died at 171k. Once I knew it had failed it was all electrical items off and a race to avoid the darkness.
We covered 300miles quite quickly.
It goes without saying check the thermostats, although we never had any dpf issues.
Had a 520d with that engine and it was generally great. The issue I had was thermostat failing leading to engine running cool which in turn prevented DPF regen.
I got around that cheaply with the Renault 5 inline thermostat bodge (Google that). A tenner rather the hundreds and it did the job well.
Then I crashed it and killed it but that's another story
I got around that cheaply with the Renault 5 inline thermostat bodge (Google that). A tenner rather the hundreds and it did the job well.
Then I crashed it and killed it but that's another story
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