High Mileage Diesels
Discussion
Hi all,
Sorry if this topic has been covered previously.
I've wanted a BMW for years. Over the last few years my job has meant i've needed a diesel due to the mileage, so i've often looked at the 320d and 330d.
Within my budget (the current car, plus a little more),i'm limited to cars with 80k or higher on them. Now i generally prefer my cars to have less mileage than that and i'm also aware that i could face heavy/costly bills due to a car having a higer mileage. Now with the BMW's, should i be put off by the mileage at all? Is servicing/running of the car likely to be any more expensive than if the car had half the mileage on it?
I currently drive a TDCi Mondeo. Whilst its a reliable and nice car to drive, (Mileage currently at 53k) i've spent a little money addiing a few bits and making it my own, i get bored very easily and i constantly yearn for a BMW in my life.
But should i stick with the Mondeo or sell up and buy a higher mileage Diesel BMW?
One i currently really like has just over 100k on it. How expensive is taking car of it going to be?
Thanks for any help
Gaz
Sorry if this topic has been covered previously.
I've wanted a BMW for years. Over the last few years my job has meant i've needed a diesel due to the mileage, so i've often looked at the 320d and 330d.
Within my budget (the current car, plus a little more),i'm limited to cars with 80k or higher on them. Now i generally prefer my cars to have less mileage than that and i'm also aware that i could face heavy/costly bills due to a car having a higer mileage. Now with the BMW's, should i be put off by the mileage at all? Is servicing/running of the car likely to be any more expensive than if the car had half the mileage on it?
I currently drive a TDCi Mondeo. Whilst its a reliable and nice car to drive, (Mileage currently at 53k) i've spent a little money addiing a few bits and making it my own, i get bored very easily and i constantly yearn for a BMW in my life.
But should i stick with the Mondeo or sell up and buy a higher mileage Diesel BMW?
One i currently really like has just over 100k on it. How expensive is taking car of it going to be?
Thanks for any help
Gaz
Wouldn't say avoid. I bought a 530d with 114k on the clock back in January, and 5 months later am on 127k and enjoying every minute of it. Its solid, everything works and you have a wonderful sense of well being driving it which you just don't get in other cars.
For the money I paid I probably couldn't even get a diesel Mondeo with a bit of kit on it.
Go for it is my advice. Just make sure it has a decent history...
For the money I paid I probably couldn't even get a diesel Mondeo with a bit of kit on it.
Go for it is my advice. Just make sure it has a decent history...
I think the history is the key thing here.
We used to have a petrol 2.2 W124 and took it to 184k m(from 21k) before a druk driver wrote it off. Never needed anything other than routing serviving and minor bits.
BIL recently offloaded his E39 530d to his son (for a 535d - lucky sod!) at 192k. Now done 199k. Again, sweet as a nut.
Personally, I have no problem at all with hige mileage as long as it is backed up with a full history.
We used to have a petrol 2.2 W124 and took it to 184k m(from 21k) before a druk driver wrote it off. Never needed anything other than routing serviving and minor bits.
BIL recently offloaded his E39 530d to his son (for a 535d - lucky sod!) at 192k. Now done 199k. Again, sweet as a nut.
Personally, I have no problem at all with hige mileage as long as it is backed up with a full history.
I'd generally expect a BM to age well (hence buying one). The only exception I've heard to that are the turbos for the 2ltr diesel and injectors, which I've heard can go at mileages around 120k upwards. I'm told that you could be looking at £300 per injector, though that's only s/h info.
The turbo on my 2002 330d went at 142k last Nov. It caused an engine fire which destroyed the front end of the car and thankfully it was a total loss.
The car had fbmwsh with the turbo being replaced at just over 100k.
My view on modern diesels is that it takes c40k miles to recover the price premium through fuel savings. Fine if you're in a newer one but on a budget which limits you higher mileage ones there is an increased likelihood of expensive things going wrong.
Turbo, injectors, etc.
ie. under 10k, I'd buy a newer 330i over an older, higher mileage 330d.
The car had fbmwsh with the turbo being replaced at just over 100k.
My view on modern diesels is that it takes c40k miles to recover the price premium through fuel savings. Fine if you're in a newer one but on a budget which limits you higher mileage ones there is an increased likelihood of expensive things going wrong.
Turbo, injectors, etc.
ie. under 10k, I'd buy a newer 330i over an older, higher mileage 330d.
Edited by Vee on Friday 8th June 08:58
I've got a friend in the very same boat as the OP.
He wanted a BMW, but could only afford a high mileage one. So, in 2005, he bought a 110k 2002 320D.
To be fair to him, it was mint when he got it, FBMWSH, looked like it had covered half the mileage.
Last month, at 140k, the turbo blew on an A road taking the rest of the engine with it. The engine was a total right off.
So, he went to a breakers, bought a scrap engine from a 2003 car, took it to his local indy and asked them to fit it. It was after they removed the detonated one that they discovered that '03 engines only fit cars from '03 onwards. Ooops.
He's just sold said car, which he paid £8k for 2 years ago ( now without an engine admittedly) for £1000
By the way, when the engine blew and he was ringing around breakers. He told them what had happened and nearly every breaker said "Yeah, they do that at that mileage. You ain't the first and you sure won't be the last"
Make of that what you will...
He wanted a BMW, but could only afford a high mileage one. So, in 2005, he bought a 110k 2002 320D.
To be fair to him, it was mint when he got it, FBMWSH, looked like it had covered half the mileage.
Last month, at 140k, the turbo blew on an A road taking the rest of the engine with it. The engine was a total right off.
So, he went to a breakers, bought a scrap engine from a 2003 car, took it to his local indy and asked them to fit it. It was after they removed the detonated one that they discovered that '03 engines only fit cars from '03 onwards. Ooops.
He's just sold said car, which he paid £8k for 2 years ago ( now without an engine admittedly) for £1000
By the way, when the engine blew and he was ringing around breakers. He told them what had happened and nearly every breaker said "Yeah, they do that at that mileage. You ain't the first and you sure won't be the last"
Make of that what you will...
Muzzer said:
I've got a friend in the very same boat as the OP.
He wanted a BMW, but could only afford a high mileage one. So, in 2005, he bought a 110k 2002 320D.
To be fair to him, it was mint when he got it, FBMWSH, looked like it had covered half the mileage.
Last month, at 140k, the turbo blew on an A road taking the rest of the engine with it. The engine was a total right off.
So, he went to a breakers, bought a scrap engine from a 2003 car, took it to his local indy and asked them to fit it. It was after they removed the detonated one that they discovered that '03 engines only fit cars from '03 onwards. Ooops.
He's just sold said car, which he paid £8k for 2 years ago ( now without an engine admittedly) for £1000
By the way, when the engine blew and he was ringing around breakers. He told them what had happened and nearly every breaker said "Yeah, they do that at that mileage. You ain't the first and you sure won't be the last"
Make of that what you will...
Why not just sell the 2003 engine and wait for a 2002 one to become available ?He wanted a BMW, but could only afford a high mileage one. So, in 2005, he bought a 110k 2002 320D.
To be fair to him, it was mint when he got it, FBMWSH, looked like it had covered half the mileage.
Last month, at 140k, the turbo blew on an A road taking the rest of the engine with it. The engine was a total right off.
So, he went to a breakers, bought a scrap engine from a 2003 car, took it to his local indy and asked them to fit it. It was after they removed the detonated one that they discovered that '03 engines only fit cars from '03 onwards. Ooops.
He's just sold said car, which he paid £8k for 2 years ago ( now without an engine admittedly) for £1000
By the way, when the engine blew and he was ringing around breakers. He told them what had happened and nearly every breaker said "Yeah, they do that at that mileage. You ain't the first and you sure won't be the last"
Make of that what you will...
Vee said:
Why not just sell the 2003 engine and wait for a 2002 one to become available ?
Simple answer is cost.He bought the '03 engine on his credit card 'cos he's skint. They then wouldn't take the engine back when it wouldn't fit so he's had to sell it on at a loss.
Meantime he had to buy a snotter to get him to work and back, not to mention paying the indy who removed the old engine and were storing the car.
In the end he just wanted to get shot of it. It had cost him about £3k up to this point and he couldn't spend the money to get it right..
Thanks for all the replies guys! 
Very interesting and mixed really, as i thought. It seems i could find a very nice one and it may last years and a lot of miles with no problems. But on the other hand i could find a nie one and it may have problems and cause a lot of stress and added expense.
Swings and roundabouts.
I keep thinking maybe i should just sell the mondeo and buy something different - another Golf for example. But even though i've had one previously, i know i'll always want that BMW.
Gaz
Very interesting and mixed really, as i thought. It seems i could find a very nice one and it may last years and a lot of miles with no problems. But on the other hand i could find a nie one and it may have problems and cause a lot of stress and added expense.
Swings and roundabouts.
I keep thinking maybe i should just sell the mondeo and buy something different - another Golf for example. But even though i've had one previously, i know i'll always want that BMW.
Gaz
Would it be worth taking out a warranty on an older, high mileage model?, 02 for example? Would it be worth getting the turbo refurbed by a reputable turbo company?
As much as these cars have injector and turbo problems, i know my current mondeo models also suffer the same, like a lot of others do as well.
For whatever reason, i'd much rather a diesel than a petrol, but looking in some of the classifieds makes me aware of petrol cars (a very nice 318i with 54k on it), being a very nice alternative. Can't help thinking i'd miss the torque of a diesel and the added fuel costs.
Also, what sort of motorway mpg can i expect from a 330d/320d?
Gaz
As much as these cars have injector and turbo problems, i know my current mondeo models also suffer the same, like a lot of others do as well.
For whatever reason, i'd much rather a diesel than a petrol, but looking in some of the classifieds makes me aware of petrol cars (a very nice 318i with 54k on it), being a very nice alternative. Can't help thinking i'd miss the torque of a diesel and the added fuel costs.
Also, what sort of motorway mpg can i expect from a 330d/320d?
Gaz
Allblackdup said:
Would it be worth taking out a warranty on an older, high mileage model?, 02 for example? Would it be worth getting the turbo refurbed by a reputable turbo company?
As much as these cars have injector and turbo problems, i know my current mondeo models also suffer the same, like a lot of others do as well.
For whatever reason, i'd much rather a diesel than a petrol, but looking in some of the classifieds makes me aware of petrol cars (a very nice 318i with 54k on it), being a very nice alternative. Can't help thinking i'd miss the torque of a diesel and the added fuel costs.
Also, what sort of motorway mpg can i expect from a 330d/320d?
Gaz
Official warranty is around £1k with a £100 excess on each claim. It is not the sam as the 3 year one you get when the car is new.As much as these cars have injector and turbo problems, i know my current mondeo models also suffer the same, like a lot of others do as well.
For whatever reason, i'd much rather a diesel than a petrol, but looking in some of the classifieds makes me aware of petrol cars (a very nice 318i with 54k on it), being a very nice alternative. Can't help thinking i'd miss the torque of a diesel and the added fuel costs.
Also, what sort of motorway mpg can i expect from a 330d/320d?
Gaz
My manual 330d never seemed to return more than 40mpg. The The 330ci does 31mpg over the same motorway trip.
Why a diesel ?
My BMW Specialist (ex BMW Master tech) has always advised me to get a petrol E39 rather than diesel.
In his experience the costs, when things do go wrong with the engine/turbo, are considerably higher and far outway any potential saving on fuel costs.
Both my E39's (previous 528i and current 530 sport auto) have been pretty economical all things considered.
Also don't forget that petrol cars seem to have a lower comparative purchase price.
Some posters above mention the BMW Warranty - I have just had a quote to renew as my AUC warranty expires in July. £894 under 60k miles and £934 over 60k miles.
Off to the Specialist methinks
My BMW Specialist (ex BMW Master tech) has always advised me to get a petrol E39 rather than diesel.
In his experience the costs, when things do go wrong with the engine/turbo, are considerably higher and far outway any potential saving on fuel costs.
Both my E39's (previous 528i and current 530 sport auto) have been pretty economical all things considered.
Also don't forget that petrol cars seem to have a lower comparative purchase price.
Some posters above mention the BMW Warranty - I have just had a quote to renew as my AUC warranty expires in July. £894 under 60k miles and £934 over 60k miles.
Off to the Specialist methinks
Edited by Egbert Nobacon on Saturday 9th June 20:11
Vee said:
Official warranty is around £1k with a £100 excess on each claim. It is not the sam as the 3 year one you get when the car is new.
My manual 330d never seemed to return more than 40mpg. The The 330ci does 31mpg over the same motorway trip.
Ouch! I can see this isn't going to be easy. My manual 330d never seemed to return more than 40mpg. The The 330ci does 31mpg over the same motorway trip.
Egbert Nobacon said:
Why a diesel ?
My BMW Specialist (ex BMW Master tech) has always advised me to get a petrol E39 rather than diesel.
In his experience the costs, when things do go wrong with the engine/turbo, are considerably higher and far outway any potential saving on fuel costs.
Both my E39's (previous 528i and current 530 sport auto) have been pretty economical all things considered.
Also don't forget that petrol cars seem to have a lower comparative purchase price.
Some posters above mention the BMW Warranty - I have just had a quote to renew as my AUC warranty expires in July. £894 under 60k miles and £934 over 60k miles.
Off to the Specialist methinks
Why.... because of the mileage i do....... i hate constantly filling up in a petrol car. And because i prefer the driving characteristics of a diesel on a motorway. My BMW Specialist (ex BMW Master tech) has always advised me to get a petrol E39 rather than diesel.
In his experience the costs, when things do go wrong with the engine/turbo, are considerably higher and far outway any potential saving on fuel costs.
Both my E39's (previous 528i and current 530 sport auto) have been pretty economical all things considered.
Also don't forget that petrol cars seem to have a lower comparative purchase price.
Some posters above mention the BMW Warranty - I have just had a quote to renew as my AUC warranty expires in July. £894 under 60k miles and £934 over 60k miles.
Off to the Specialist methinks
Edited by Egbert Nobacon on Saturday 9th June 20:11
If i take a 318i - 54k miles - 04 plate for 9k and then a 330d m sport with 103k miles for 9.5k, i'm going to want the diesel.
I'd have a lower mileage and no turbo and other bits to possibly go wrong, but i'd be at the petrol station more often than i would with the diesel and there's not a big difference in the price. I'd have to look at it in how much is it costing me to run, not buy. That's why i'm more concerned with what might go wrong and the problems a high mileage diesel might have.
Can someone tell me what sort of mpg i could expect from a 318i for example?
Cheers
A lot of second-hand diesels are high-mileage. Simple fact is that no-one would buy a new diesel unless they were intending to do a substantial number of miles.
Don't be put off by the scaremongering. As far as I can see, they're engineered to do high mileage. The current BMW warranty is (AFAIK) 3 years unlimited mileage, and there must be people putting 30/40/50k a year on them.
Don't be put off by the scaremongering. As far as I can see, they're engineered to do high mileage. The current BMW warranty is (AFAIK) 3 years unlimited mileage, and there must be people putting 30/40/50k a year on them.
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