330d

[37Flipper]

Hello all, just after some opinions really. I'm due to get some money from my house sale and I am looking at getting a 4-5yr old 330d with anywhere between 50-80k miles. I've been keeping an eye on autotrader for the last few weeks, so I am know there are plenty of these cars around.

Is there be anything I should be looking out for of cars of this age? Any known problems with them? Has anyone got any experience of cars of this age? I'm just trying to make sure I don't have any surprises really.

Cheers, Flipper

[Vee]

Turbos, injectors & inlet manifiolds specifically on the 330d.
Other than that, the usual E46 issues . . . suspension bushes, ball joints, prop donut.
Service intervals at approx 15k. Oil Service, Insp1, Oil, Insp2, Oil, Insp1 and so on. Brake fluid every 2 years and coolant every 4 (I believe).

How much mileage are you planning on doing. Unless it's high there is an argument for getting a petrol instead. You won't be risk a big bill for the expensive things above, which could go wrong in a diesel but which won't in a petrol.

[37Flipper]

I imagine 10-15k a year. With a couple of trips to Bavaria in Germany to see the family thrown in. I was thinking of the diesel as it goes further on a tank of fuel. Although I am aware that if I have to spend more it would work out cheaper for the petrol overall.

[pixor]

With that mileage, I'd go for the petrol - I had the same dilemma on a 530i/530d, and went for the petrol in the end. Lots less to go wrong, and cheaper to buy.

Edited by pixor on Friday 13th February 14:40

[SJobson]

Look out for one with 204bhp