£3.5k budget. BMW, Audi or Merc diesel?

[johnfm]

Was looking for a 320d.


Some chaps on the BMW forum suggest that the E46 320D has a few known issues with turbos and injectora, and that a £3k-£3.5k high mileage car may have a 'hidden' repair bill lurking in the future.

So, I need a decent car (Merc, Audi or BMW), prefer a diesel (would like 35mpg+ around town. I used to get 39mpg from my last company car 320d) and must have leather. It must be 2001 X or later.

So, which of these three marques makes a 2litre~ish diesel with reknown reliabilty and leather?

Or are the BMW e46 320d horror stories actually not that bad?


HELP!

[johnfm]

wow. This is a fast moving part of PH. On page three in 5 minutes!

Hence my bump!

[Fittster]

I don't understand why you are limiting yourself to premium brands if you have, with respect a relatively low budget.

Would something for VAG or the Japanese manufactures be acceptable.

[alcovrugbyfan]

Why not have a look at something with a Pug HDi engine? they are bulletproof.

Why spend 3.5k on a high miles German car when there are plenty of other Diesel options about with lower miles for the same money?

[Deva Link]

Don't get a Merc of that age.

Something from VAG would be the obvious choice.

[johnfm]

Fittster said:

I don't understand why you are limiting yourself to premium brands if you have, with respect a relatively low budget.

Would something for VAG or the Japanese manufactures be acceptable.

Because I prefer one of those three 'brands' and my budget is enough, with an appropriate compromise on mileage and model year, to buy one.

[N Dentressangle]

I'd be surprised if you can identify a modern diesel car without any potential large bills at higher mileage.

320d turbos will likely blow between 80k and 150k miles, and cost ca £1k to put right. Other hdi diesels have their own issues. I'd look for a 320d that's already had a turbo, or any other make on condition, personally.

[rossmc88]

What's more important to you, the brand of car? or how good the car is?

[RizzoTheRat]

No problems with people preferring a particular brand but it's often worth widening your horizons a bit, for example you could get a Audi chassis and engine with a Skoda badge on it, which would mean a newer lower mileage car for your money. Also worth looking at Volvo as thier D5 is a cracking engine.

[V88Dicky]

Don't buy any German diesel for that price if reliability is your concern.

If you want something well built, reasonably economical, and reliable, I'd be looking at Japanese manufacturers, or British-built Japanese cars. And consider petrols at around the 1800cc size too, these should see the economy you're looking for.

Example below;

http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Fuel consumption (urban) 30.1 mpg
Fuel consumption (extra urban) 48.7 mpg
Fuel consumption (combined) 39.2 mpg
0 - 62 mph 10 seconds
Top speed 124 mph
Cylinders 4
Valves 16 v
Engine power 127 bhp
Engine torque 125 lbs/ft


Or perhaps;

http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Fuel consumption (urban) 28 mpg
Fuel consumption (extra urban) 47.9 mpg
Fuel consumption (combined) 38.2 mpg
0 - 62 mph 9.6 seconds
Top speed 138 mph
Cylinders 4
Valves 16 v
Engine power 155 bhp
Engine torque 140.1 lbs/ft


http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Fuel consumption (urban) 25.9 mpg
Fuel consumption (extra urban) 47.1 mpg
Fuel consumption (combined) 36.2 mpg
0 - 62 mph 11 seconds
Top speed 121 mph
Cylinders 4
Valves 16 v
Engine power 120 bhp
Engine torque 122 lbs/ft


Badge snobs need not apply

[soxboy]

How many miles a year do you do?

Is it enough to warrant the extra expense of a diesel over say a 318i? I had a Merc CLK 220 CDi auto, the economy was pretty awful (didn't get above 30 mpg except on long runs).

[confused_buyer]

Any of those cars will have "hidden repair bills in the future" and they will be fairly old and fairly high mileage in that budget.

It does not mean they're not good buys but you will have accept you will get maintenance bills on these cars.

I'd avoid the Merc as it will probably be a fairly rusty old bus at this price, BMW check injectors, turbo, intercooler plus all the usual BMW bits. An Audi using the 1.9 TDI engine may be the best bet as it is such a common engine and uses so many common VAG parts at least people know how to fix it!

[confused_buyer]

johnfm said:

So, which of these three marques makes a 2litre~ish diesel with reknown reliabilty and leather?

Honda.

[GreatGranny]

If you really want one of the 3 brands mentioned then below are the typical cars for £3500.

A4 Sport

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

A3

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

320d

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

C Class

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

BMW will be the best to drive, A4 IMO has the nicest interior, A3 is most practical with a hatch Merc..... can't see the advantage with the Merc TBH.

[jagnet]

And another suggestion that will no doubt irritate as it's not of Teutonic origin, but what about a 2ltr X-Type?

3.5k should see you in an 03/04 model with mileage significantly below 100k.

Fuel consumption (urban) 37.9 mpg
Fuel consumption (extra urban) 62.1 mpg
Fuel consumption (combined) 50.3 mpg

A touch of luxury at mainstream prices, and the engines in diesel X-types appear to be very reliable. Certainly no tales of woe regarding replacement turbos every 100k that I've come across.

Example X-type: 85k miles, 03 model, full leather, full service history, and in silver to help blend in

[Deva Link]

confused_buyer said:

johnfm said:

So, which of these three marques makes a 2litre~ish diesel with reknown reliabilty and leather?

Honda.

Plenty of issues with Honda diesels. And Accords generally aren't as great as Honda's reputation would have you believe.

[johnfm]

Cheers all.

I appreciate I can get an 'audi chassis with a skoda badge'. I don;t want one.

I would rather an audi chassis with an audi badge.

Thanks for the links.

Think I will go for a known quantity - I have had a few 320d and they tick my boxes. I can get a warranty for the major components for not much.

Job done.

[confused_buyer]

Deva Link said:

Plenty of issues with Honda diesels. And Accords generally aren't as great as Honda's reputation would have you believe.

Never found too much problem with them myself apart from the VSA ECu's packing up and the odd pipe issue.

[johnfm]

jagnet said:

And another suggestion that will no doubt irritate as it's not of Teutonic origin, but what about a 2ltr X-Type?

3.5k should see you in an 03/04 model with mileage significantly below 100k.

Fuel consumption (urban) 37.9 mpg
Fuel consumption (extra urban) 62.1 mpg
Fuel consumption (combined) 50.3 mpg

A touch of luxury at mainstream prices, and the engines in diesel X-types appear to be very reliable. Certainly no tales of woe regarding replacement turbos every 100k that I've come across.

Example X-type: 85k miles, 03 model, full leather, full service history, and in silver to help blend in

Not a bad shout.

[Fox-]

johnfm said:

Cheers all.

I appreciate I can get an 'audi chassis with a skoda badge'. I don;t want one.

I would rather an audi chassis with an audi badge.

With the greatest amount of respect it does rather sound a bit like champagne taste but beer money. Whilst I'm sure we'd all choose an Audi over a Skoda given sufficient budget, at the bottom end of the market the Skoda makes a million times more sense than an older and higher mileage Audi.