BMW 123D - Advice Please
Discussion
rdb85 said:
I suppose he can ask the dealer or seller whether the cam chain has been done? Is that the correct term?
I'd seriously suggest he does some Googling to go in with his eyes open. Try searching "N47 timing chain failures" for starters, several of the top results happen to be PH threads so should give you all the info you need. Basic story is there's been a lot of engine failures due to the timing chain breaking, there was a BMW recall in about 2014 after a lot of bad press (Watchdog etc) where BMW replaced the chain and tensioners but there's recent stories of them failing even after being replaced so it's not a guarantee even if it has been done.Although I loved mine at the time, now I'd steer clear of anything N47 just because this issue is quite common and difficult to avoid with any certainty. Instead I'd swallow the 10-12mpg difference and get a 130i instead, which is exactly what I did do. It obviously costs more in fuel but the engines are pretty bulletproof. The 130i also has a bit of a cult following and they're unlikely to lose you much in depreciation so I don't think they're significantly more costly to run overall, but even if it does you have an additional 60bhp and a brilliant straight 6 petrol engine as significant compensation! If he wants a coupe then that only came in 125i flavour, but the engine is the same as the 130i and can be remapped to 130i power for a few hundred quid if he wanted the extra ponies.
Edited by LocoBlade on Tuesday 16th January 23:26
SebringMan said:
I'm surprised people are suggesting going Auto. Normally it's Manual or nothing for BMWs going by this place...
I think it is possibly the stupidly low gearing on the manual 123ds driving that - my 123d was lower geared in 6th than the E46 320td it replaced, which is never going to help economy!I think it was to enhance the performance, but as I said earlier with the benefit of hindsight I should have bought a 120d and had the 20bhp upgrade BMW offered.
Although I was disappointed to need a new battery after 4 years and a starter motor after 6 years (I blame stop/start) I did get past 80K miles on the original brakes all round!
But I bailed out of it primarily due to the cam-chain issues (this was before the "Quality Enhancement" programme) and then I discovered BMW straight 6 N/A petrol loveliness!
I bought a Z4 Coupe, but needed a daily so ended up with a 325ti Sport. Either is a much better drive than my 123d.
OK I pay for that at the pumps and when the road tax needs renewal, but it's a price I'm more than willing to pay!
OP, you really need to get him to try a 125i Coupe or a 130i hatch before he commits to a diseasel.
Had the coupe manual, great car but ride was really harsh, the mrs refused to go anywhere in it, apparently stiffening the suspension to insane levels was the only way to cope with the engine (so the guy at BMW said)
No real issues but, changed the suspension at 80k, ate tires but obviously that was me.
Acceleration was insane for a diesel, surprised a lot of cars, fuel economy was good filled it up twice a month doing about 200 miles to work a week.
Wish I'd kept it as it was a great pootling car.
No real issues but, changed the suspension at 80k, ate tires but obviously that was me.
Acceleration was insane for a diesel, surprised a lot of cars, fuel economy was good filled it up twice a month doing about 200 miles to work a week.
Wish I'd kept it as it was a great pootling car.
Mr Tidy said:
I think it is possibly the stupidly low gearing on the manual 123ds driving that - my 123d was lower geared in 6th than the E46 320td it replaced, which is never going to help economy!
I think it was to enhance the performance, but as I said earlier with the benefit of hindsight I should have bought a 120d and had the 20bhp upgrade BMW offered.
Although I was disappointed to need a new battery after 4 years and a starter motor after 6 years (I blame stop/start) I did get past 80K miles on the original brakes all round!
But I bailed out of it primarily due to the cam-chain issues (this was before the "Quality Enhancement" programme) and then I discovered BMW straight 6 N/A petrol loveliness!
I bought a Z4 Coupe, but needed a daily so ended up with a 325ti Sport. Either is a much better drive than my 123d.
OK I pay for that at the pumps and when the road tax needs renewal, but it's a price I'm more than willing to pay!
OP, you really need to get him to try a 125i Coupe or a 130i hatch before he commits to a diseasel.
I could ask him to look at a 125i, but I know the 130i are quite rare now. But I think the insurance would be quite high on them due to the engine being a 3.0 petrol. Also the tax is quite a lot too. I would have to look at one with him, then see what the insurance would be, and whether its possible. I think it was to enhance the performance, but as I said earlier with the benefit of hindsight I should have bought a 120d and had the 20bhp upgrade BMW offered.
Although I was disappointed to need a new battery after 4 years and a starter motor after 6 years (I blame stop/start) I did get past 80K miles on the original brakes all round!
But I bailed out of it primarily due to the cam-chain issues (this was before the "Quality Enhancement" programme) and then I discovered BMW straight 6 N/A petrol loveliness!
I bought a Z4 Coupe, but needed a daily so ended up with a 325ti Sport. Either is a much better drive than my 123d.
OK I pay for that at the pumps and when the road tax needs renewal, but it's a price I'm more than willing to pay!
OP, you really need to get him to try a 125i Coupe or a 130i hatch before he commits to a diseasel.
Just bought a 135i M-Sport manual convertible from a BMW dealer. They should be delivering it to me tomorrow.
Will be running it as my town runabout. Did think about diesels but really don't like all the stories about the engines. For that reason I started looking at petrol engines and ended up with a bit of engine-size-creep.
Okay, so £305 rfl is a bit steep (although the 335 is over £500), but insurance seems to be pretty cheap (for me anyway). Only £100 more than the Fiat 500c Twinair that it replaces.
One thing that I have noticed is that it appears no more expensive to buy from a BMW dealer than through a generic dealer. Actually in many cases, they appear cheaper. The benefits are pretty obvious too and you can be sure the cars are best of the bunch to be retailed. I got 2yrs warranty and a satnav update included in my deal which was still cheaper than buying elsewhere (and they deliver it to my house so I don't waste half a day).
Will be running it as my town runabout. Did think about diesels but really don't like all the stories about the engines. For that reason I started looking at petrol engines and ended up with a bit of engine-size-creep.
Okay, so £305 rfl is a bit steep (although the 335 is over £500), but insurance seems to be pretty cheap (for me anyway). Only £100 more than the Fiat 500c Twinair that it replaces.
One thing that I have noticed is that it appears no more expensive to buy from a BMW dealer than through a generic dealer. Actually in many cases, they appear cheaper. The benefits are pretty obvious too and you can be sure the cars are best of the bunch to be retailed. I got 2yrs warranty and a satnav update included in my deal which was still cheaper than buying elsewhere (and they deliver it to my house so I don't waste half a day).
rdb85 said:
I could ask him to look at a 125i, but I know the 130i are quite rare now. But I think the insurance would be quite high on them due to the engine being a 3.0 petrol. Also the tax is quite a lot too. I would have to look at one with him, then see what the insurance would be, and whether its possible.
Yes the road tax is £305 a year, but it's only a couple of quid more a week at the end of the day! I don't think insurance is too bad - my Z4 Coupe only costs about the same as my 123d did.
The diesel only really makes sense if he is doing a high mileage (which I did when I had mine) but the petrol is so much better to drive.
I nearly test drove a 325ti Compact in 2005 before I bought my 320td Compact, but it had been sold so I missed out. Now I have a 325ti Compact I know what I missed for 3 years!
Mr Tidy said:
Yes the road tax is £305 a year, but it's only a couple of quid more a week at the end of the day!
I don't think insurance is too bad - my Z4 Coupe only costs about the same as my 123d did.
The diesel only really makes sense if he is doing a high mileage (which I did when I had mine) but the petrol is so much better to drive.
I nearly test drove a 325ti Compact in 2005 before I bought my 320td Compact, but it had been sold so I missed out. Now I have a 325ti Compact I know what I missed for 3 years!
Yeah its not that much more on the insurance, also the tax if added over a monthly period is okay. Ideally he was looking at about 13k max, but if I can get under that great. It seems that the older 130i is a lot of money I think for an older car. Would he be better with say a 2014 plate? Also whats the difference between the 125i and 130i?I don't think insurance is too bad - my Z4 Coupe only costs about the same as my 123d did.
The diesel only really makes sense if he is doing a high mileage (which I did when I had mine) but the petrol is so much better to drive.
I nearly test drove a 325ti Compact in 2005 before I bought my 320td Compact, but it had been sold so I missed out. Now I have a 325ti Compact I know what I missed for 3 years!
rdb85 said:
Mr Tidy said:
Yes the road tax is £305 a year, but it's only a couple of quid more a week at the end of the day!
I don't think insurance is too bad - my Z4 Coupe only costs about the same as my 123d did.
The diesel only really makes sense if he is doing a high mileage (which I did when I had mine) but the petrol is so much better to drive.
I nearly test drove a 325ti Compact in 2005 before I bought my 320td Compact, but it had been sold so I missed out. Now I have a 325ti Compact I know what I missed for 3 years!
Yeah its not that much more on the insurance, also the tax if added over a monthly period is okay. Ideally he was looking at about 13k max, but if I can get under that great. It seems that the older 130i is a lot of money I think for an older car. Would he be better with say a 2014 plate? Also whats the difference between the 125i and 130i?I don't think insurance is too bad - my Z4 Coupe only costs about the same as my 123d did.
The diesel only really makes sense if he is doing a high mileage (which I did when I had mine) but the petrol is so much better to drive.
I nearly test drove a 325ti Compact in 2005 before I bought my 320td Compact, but it had been sold so I missed out. Now I have a 325ti Compact I know what I missed for 3 years!
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