320d or 330d?

[Rav]

Interested in getting a BMW diesel for my next car. At the moment i have a 1999 Audi A4 1.9 tdi. It regularly gives me 51 - 53 mpg on the long commute (62 miles each direction daily).

Quite like the look of the 3 series around 02 - 04 plate, especially with the MV alloys?

Quite fancy an auto too. Any idea of how many Mpg the 320d and the 330d give in both man and auto form?

Anything in particular to watch out for when buying used? Will a high mileage 330d (100k plus) live on if well looked after?

TiA
Rav

[NickXX]

330d is more reliable than the 320d of this age as the 320d is prone to munching turbos. Expect high 30s mpg-wise out of the 330d, low 40s out of a 320d with a mixture of long runs and a bit of town.

I have run a 2002 330d for nearly 2 years now from 97k to 125k with no problems. It's been on the track a few times too.

[davidd]

I'm just about to sell a 320cd Msport (it has those mv alloys and all that), it can, on a run easily get into the high 40s, sitting at 70 on the motorway it will do over 50..

Manual though...

Go on you know you want it.

D

[Olf]

I've had a 320d and a 330d. If you want economy that you're used to go for the former, if you want performance go for the latter.It really is that simple.

[pgilc1]

I'd be a bit jumpy about the 320d as its known to have turbo problems, having said that i've owned a 320d saloon and my g/f had a 320d coupe and they were faultless.

If you buy a 320d make sure you get a cast iron warranty with it. Ask specifically if it covers the turbo blowing and and ancilliary damage that it might do.