320d- general advice please/ anyone selling?
Discussion
Hello, currently looking for a 30-65k mileage 57/08/58 320d 177 SE and have a few questions
- Manual v auto, most are manual so is it worth seeking out an auto or not? guessing manual will be more 'fun' to drive and less chance of it going wrong.
- Spec seems pretter good as standard on SE's so are there any 'must have' options? Would quite like split fold rear seats for conveniance (but not sure how much I will actually use). Grey dash seems to brighten it up compared to the standard black too from pics.
- How can you check if its a 177 and not a 163 as the early 57 plates seem to be a mix, is there a sticker somewhere or the V5?
- anything known to go wrong with them?
If anyone is selling a Grey (or possibly a black) 320DSE saloon, one owner, full history etc etc please could you let me know.
- Manual v auto, most are manual so is it worth seeking out an auto or not? guessing manual will be more 'fun' to drive and less chance of it going wrong.
- Spec seems pretter good as standard on SE's so are there any 'must have' options? Would quite like split fold rear seats for conveniance (but not sure how much I will actually use). Grey dash seems to brighten it up compared to the standard black too from pics.
- How can you check if its a 177 and not a 163 as the early 57 plates seem to be a mix, is there a sticker somewhere or the V5?
- anything known to go wrong with them?
If anyone is selling a Grey (or possibly a black) 320DSE saloon, one owner, full history etc etc please could you let me know.
I'm told that Auto on the 320d hits the fuel consumption quite badly as its small engine/big gearbox, hence why most are manuals, as otherwise it kind of defeats the point of a 320d.
Getting a 320d with a decent spec is hard work, as most are business cars with only the base spec. I managed to get one with leather, xenons, Pro-nav, folding seats, pdc etc, but it took a while........
Getting a 320d with a decent spec is hard work, as most are business cars with only the base spec. I managed to get one with leather, xenons, Pro-nav, folding seats, pdc etc, but it took a while........
Guyr said:
I'm told that Auto on the 320d hits the fuel consumption quite badly as its small engine/big gearbox, hence why most are manuals, as otherwise it kind of defeats the point of a 320d.
Getting a 320d with a decent spec is hard work, as most are business cars with only the base spec. I managed to get one with leather, xenons, Pro-nav, folding seats, pdc etc, but it took a while........
FWIW My 320d auto (177) has done 42 mpg for my usual running about and managed 53 mpg on a motorway run ... Getting a 320d with a decent spec is hard work, as most are business cars with only the base spec. I managed to get one with leather, xenons, Pro-nav, folding seats, pdc etc, but it took a while........
Edited by Tea Pot One on Thursday 4th November 21:56
Tea Pot One said:
Guyr said:
I'm told that Auto on the 320d hits the fuel consumption quite badly as its small engine/big gearbox, hence why most are manuals, as otherwise it kind of defeats the point of a 320d.
Getting a 320d with a decent spec is hard work, as most are business cars with only the base spec. I managed to get one with leather, xenons, Pro-nav, folding seats, pdc etc, but it took a while........
FWIW My 320d auto (177) has done 42 mpg for my usual running about and managed 53 mpg on a motorway run ... Getting a 320d with a decent spec is hard work, as most are business cars with only the base spec. I managed to get one with leather, xenons, Pro-nav, folding seats, pdc etc, but it took a while........
Edited by Tea Pot One on Thursday 4th November 21:56
I had a 320D E91 MSport (167) for 4 years and my mpg on my daily 80 mile commute was 42mpg.
I now have a 320D E92 MSport (177 with ED)and on the same run I now get 52-53 mpg.
Both cars were/are manual.
I think the 177 engine is more efficient than previous models and the ED must help a bit.
The 320D is a popular car and I would have thought that if you are patient the one with the right options will come along.
I now have a 320D E92 MSport (177 with ED)and on the same run I now get 52-53 mpg.
Both cars were/are manual.
I think the 177 engine is more efficient than previous models and the ED must help a bit.
The 320D is a popular car and I would have thought that if you are patient the one with the right options will come along.
As above, 57 onwards is the 177 engine. Will also have the ED Stop Start features etc. The exhaust will also stick straight out, as opposed to pointed down on the earlier 163 cars.
This Is a very common fleet car, so 57 plates which are now three years old, and most have finished their lease period now, will probably be the best value as there are so many on the market at one time. If you start looking for 2 year old cars, you should find there are much fewer cars, and therefore prices will be firmer (as well as a year newer, and a bit more expensive anyway).
Spec wise, buy what suits you. If you find one with a big option like Leather, Sunroof, or Sat Nav these will be much harder to find, and easier to sell in the future, but don't pay too much. I think Leather is worth £750, Sunroof, and Sat Nav are worth about £500 each, but a car with two or more of these, or any other extras will only be worth about £1,000 over a standard car.
There will be very few privately owned cars compared to the fleet cars, so you will almost certainly end up looking at one. Although nearly all fleet cars have to be maintained properly, they don't all have to be done by main dealers, and sometimes the book is not stamped, and it can be hard to trace the history if was not done at main dealers, so check this.
Also fleet cars very often end up with cheap paint repairs. (cheap meaning not to a good standard, and even the untrained eye should spot it if you look round the car properly).
Don't worry about what you might have heard otherwise about privately/company owned. There are just as many people driving company cars who know how to look after a car, as there are private owners, and equally just as many bad of each type of owner too.
Judge each car on its own merits only.
This Is a very common fleet car, so 57 plates which are now three years old, and most have finished their lease period now, will probably be the best value as there are so many on the market at one time. If you start looking for 2 year old cars, you should find there are much fewer cars, and therefore prices will be firmer (as well as a year newer, and a bit more expensive anyway).
Spec wise, buy what suits you. If you find one with a big option like Leather, Sunroof, or Sat Nav these will be much harder to find, and easier to sell in the future, but don't pay too much. I think Leather is worth £750, Sunroof, and Sat Nav are worth about £500 each, but a car with two or more of these, or any other extras will only be worth about £1,000 over a standard car.
There will be very few privately owned cars compared to the fleet cars, so you will almost certainly end up looking at one. Although nearly all fleet cars have to be maintained properly, they don't all have to be done by main dealers, and sometimes the book is not stamped, and it can be hard to trace the history if was not done at main dealers, so check this.
Also fleet cars very often end up with cheap paint repairs. (cheap meaning not to a good standard, and even the untrained eye should spot it if you look round the car properly).
Don't worry about what you might have heard otherwise about privately/company owned. There are just as many people driving company cars who know how to look after a car, as there are private owners, and equally just as many bad of each type of owner too.
Judge each car on its own merits only.
I collect my new 320d tourer on Monday. I got mine on a Park Lane buy-back deal. I bought the Sport Plus which according to the dealers is the perfect spec for resale. It only comes in blue, black or white, business sat nav, 18inch alloys, blacked-out windows, black leather and all the same bits as the M-Sport. I was told not to add anything else as they would do nothing to the value. However things like sat-nav are out of date in a few years.
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