Still worth getting a diesel?

[Sheets Tabuer]

Been eyeing up a 320d xdrive for getting about in the winter between the villages as my m240 was woeful last year.

Am I mad looking at a diesel these days?

[numtumfutunch]

More mad in thinking that a 3 series xdrive on run flats will actually accomplish anything when its sketchy

I had a 3 series years ago (E46) which wasnt great but wasnt actually lethal in the snow and thought my current 335d would have a bit of ability in 0.2cm of white powder but this proved to be a serious mistake

4wd does not compensate for terrible runflat performance at least when you're on Bridgestones

Cheers

[Mr Tidy]

I don't think X-drive is the answer really - just put winter tyres on!

My E91 with just RWD was fine during the "Beast from the East" this year on run-flat Bridgestone Blizzak winter tyres.

4WD may get you moving easier, but every car uses all 4 wheels to turn corners and stop!

[thatdude]

Surely a good set of winter-appropriate tyres would help a lot?

[mekondelta]

I had winter tyres on a 118i and I would often take the longer routes home as it was so much fun. If I drove normally it was perfectly safe even in snow (provided the snow is lower than the level of the car body otherwise it has nowhere to go) and if I wanted to pretend occasionally to be Ari Vatanen I could. It was immense fun. It was hilarious safely overtaking 4x4s who were struggling up even modest hills.

[Ninja59]

Another one that any form of AWD/4WD is unnecessary, as said above fit some correct tyres at a much cheaper price and you will still get around.

My 640 was fine in the snow on Winter tyres (Bridgestone Blizzak LM32, replaced for this WInter with Sottozero 3's).

Edited by Ninja59 on Tuesday 18th September 10:42

[aeropilot]

Sheets Tabuer said:

Been eyeing up a 320d xdrive for getting about in the winter between the villages as my m240 was woeful last year.

Another set of rims and some winters tyres is a much cheaper option surely..............!!

My old E82 135i was great fun on winters tyres and never got stuck......even to the astonishment of two Audi quattro owners that I stop to help in snow when they got stuck because they had stupid summer tyres on.

No point in changing to a 320d x-drive as it will still be useless on RFT summer tyres.

[CSLchappie]

Winter wheels all the way, I bought a full set for my 340i from mrwinterwheels.co.uk for under £900. They make a massive difference in just the cold, wet and greasy roads we have between November and March.

[Sheets Tabuer]

Cheers for all the replies, the 240 is probably going anyhow to make way for something more family friendly, if I keep it I'll get some winter bits.

I was wondering if diesels are still an option in this day and age with sales down and residuals likely to fall too

[Smuler]

Sheets Tabuer said:

Cheers for all the replies, the 240 is probably going anyhow to make way for something more family friendly, if I keep it I'll get some winter bits.

I was wondering if diesels are still an option in this day and age with sales down and residuals likely to fall too

Wouldn't it depend moreso on the miles you're doing and for how long?

I bought a 20d diesel, just before being aware of the issues primarily because expected mileage was 30k p/a for several years.

Other factors :- I didn't like the only 4 cyl petrol option (there were no six cyl options) and if a sudden change of circumstances, would be easier to sell with less depreciation.

Clearly the residual issue is now changed somewhat, but for this sort of mileage I wouldn't rule a diesel out now.

Lower mileage then I'd naturally try and avoid diesel in any event, just as I had done since 2006

[Christmassss]

Sheets Tabuer said:

Cheers for all the replies, the 240 is probably going anyhow to make way for something more family friendly, if I keep it I'll get some winter bits.

I was wondering if diesels are still an option in this day and age with sales down and residuals likely to fall too

A fully loaded 320d is a nice place to be. If you do the mileage to warrant a diesel, then i don't see why you wouldn't consider it.

[julian64]

I wouldn't listen to half the advice on here. I would simply try the cars out in the appropriate weather.

There is some argument which goes in winter weather

1. Best is winter tyres
2. middle is AWD on summers
3. worst is obviously RWD summers

However my experience of running 3 series BMWs in all of the above categories is that
AWD is better than RWD with winters as long as the AWD summers aren't bald. But I guess its where you are. I'm out in the country and in deep snow I've had to dig out a RWD with brand new winters on simply because the front wheels end up as snow ploughs and the rear wheels are unable to push them, simply digging a bigger and bigger hole on rocking.

However nothing beats a very slow moving front and rear wheel together under power. I've never been stuck since having a 335xd

However the actual answer seems to vary depending where you go on the planet. Europe is all euro boxes with FWD and winter tyres mandated in the snow

America is all 4x4's with crappy one tread fits all tyres in the snow.

I guess a bit of a sweeping statement, but my experience.

The one place you shouldn't listen is PH though because its full of people who can drive round the outside of audi quatros without giving a second thought using their god given skills .

[Eddieslofart]

RF Bridgestones, traction turned off, no problems of note.

Winters would make it better, but we don’t get that much winter.

[HARTLEYHARE1]

Reading this with a few raised eyebrows

Bought a 335 Xdrive this summer with the confidence that it will get me home in some snow and now it seems I need winter wheels and tyres

Depression guys

[Fox-]

HARTLEYHARE1 said:

Reading this with a few raised eyebrows

Bought a 335 Xdrive this summer with the confidence that it will get me home in some snow and now it seems I need winter wheels and tyres

Depression guys

I once rented an RWD 320d in Germany and drove it to Switzerland in February. It was absolutely brilliant in the snow - but then it had winter tyres.

If the tyres dont have any grip then spinning 4 of them instead of 2 isn't much more use?

[Pizzaeatingking]

If you're doing the miles then yeah, a diesel is still a viable option. It's the people who do 12k a year and still think a diesel is going to save them money that are slowly realising thats not really the case.

[Alan16ac]

numtumfutunch said:

More mad in thinking that a 3 series xdrive on run flats will actually accomplish anything when its sketchy

I had a 3 series years ago (E46) which wasnt great but wasnt actually lethal in the snow and thought my current 335d would have a bit of ability in 0.2cm of white powder but this proved to be a serious mistake

4wd does not compensate for terrible runflat performance at least when you're on Bridgestones

Cheers

Change the tyres...

I'd change from runflats on any car.


In response to the OP, I think diesel is still viable. We've bought two new ones in the household this year (Audi A5 2.0 TDI and a VW Tiguan 2.0 TDI).
IMO, at present there is no viable alternative with both cars doing 25k+ a year. Until there is it'll be diesel for us.

Edited by Alan16ac on Tuesday 18th September 22:33

[Sheets Tabuer]

Pizzaeatingking said:

If you're doing the miles then yeah, a diesel is still a viable option. It's the people who do 12k a year and still think a diesel is going to save them money that are slowly realising thats not really the case.

Interesting, using the calculator changing cars would save me 100 a month, only do 12k but have a heavy foot.

[Smuler]

If it’s only 100£ , how much would a 330 be ?
I have the same “heavy foot “and so end up driving my 20d very hard to get satisfactory performance.

There was no 6 cylinder diesel option for me , but I’m of the opinion mpg would be close as with the extra power I wouldn’t rev so much ?

Plus this way you keep straight six.

[anonymous-user]

Sheets Tabuer said:

Pizzaeatingking said:

If you're doing the miles then yeah, a diesel is still a viable option. It's the people who do 12k a year and still think a diesel is going to save them money that are slowly realising thats not really the case.

Interesting, using the calculator changing cars would save me 100 a month, only do 12k but have a heavy foot.

I’d be interested in seeing that calculation. What Pizza... says is true especially over the past few years when some quite efficient turbo petrol engines have appeared.

Eg, I’m getting an average of 40/41 from my 25T XF (250ps). The 530d it replaced did 44/45mpg. I’m sure the 2.0T BMW engine is equally capable.

On 12000 miles I calculate that’s about £110/120 more A YEAR. A no brainer given the smoothness of petrol and the possibly lower depreciation, potential pollution taxes (deserved or not).