E46 330d or E90 320d -Hope it doesn't break or Mr Sensible..

[seapod]

I need a new car to carry me from Devon to Surrey at either end of the week, which means I will be doing about 25,000 miles a year.

Lots of reasons why I have ended up on a 3 series touring as my tool of choice for the task, now I need to narrow down my choices to a late E46 330d versus an early E90 320d.

Budget is £6-8k, which I think will get me a decent 65,000 miler E46 or a 80,000 miler E90 55 plate. The later car is also nearer the top of the budget. I am only planning to keep the car for 2 years max.

If I am being super sensible my head says spend the £8k on the later car - newer design, better mpg, lower tax etc. But its more money in the first place..

Or, I go for the 330d E46 that appeals more to my heart, the mpg doesn't seem dramatically less and the tax bill is manageable. Or am I being over optimistic on the running costs?

I don't know much about either - people keep mentioning swirl flaps - forum doom mongering or a real issue?, I have a fun car for the weekends so this is just a tool, but I can't bring myself to be too boring eg Golf diesel, Skoda Octavia estate.

Can anyone add their 2 pennyworth to help me get to a decision?

[Ranger 6]

Easy, the 3.0d is a peach in comparison with the 2.0d. Even though the bare figures favour the 2.0 economy the 3.0 is almost as economical in the real world and far better to live with.

On our skiing trip this year the 3.0d was actually better on juice than the old 2.0d.

[mike325112]

Ive owned a 20d in a 1 series and now have a 30d in a 3 series and an X3.

They all have swirl flaps at the ages you mention. Its a £250 max fix (more like £200). Also the newer cars have more issues with the traction control systems and electrics.

The 30d is the better engine and I actually get better MPG out of a 330d than I did from a 120d.

Oh and Ranger6 - forgot to mention, thanks for the advise on the tyres for the X3 a while back, ended up with a full set of the OEM Dunlops in the end. Out of interest what do you get out of your X3 mpg wise. I get around 32-35mpg 330d is doing 45mpg.

Edited by mike325112 on Thursday 19th April 13:38

[seapod]

Ranger 6 said:

Easy, the 3.0d is a peach in comparison with the 2.0d. Even though the bare figures favour the 2.0 economy the 3.0 is almost as economical in the real world and far better to live with.

On our skiing trip this year the 3.0d was actually better on juice than the old 2.0d.

What were you getting on the ski trip? 35-38mpg or better?

[Ranger 6]

Hi Mike, glad it was good advice

Edit: missed your ques about mpg. The new 3.0d X3 is getting 30mpg as an average. That includes rallies where I'm either caning it or sitting going no where with the engine running because of the radios. OBC shows 32-35 usually.

No, the skiing trip was 4 up with a roof box full of kit and cruise set at 95mph. I was getting, 28/29mpg from the 2.0d at that sort of pace and 32ish from the 3.0d. Please remember this is an X3 which is a thirstier beast than the 3 series. From my 'sad b*stard' fuel spreadsheet my old E46s, both 2.0d averaged 37-38mpg over the time I had them.

Edited by Ranger 6 on Thursday 19th April 14:53

[to3m]

The 3L engine is a lot better. It runs more smoothly, and doesn't sound quite so pained when you rev it. My E46 330d uses a bit more fuel than the E46 320d I had before though - 45mpg vs 48mpg on longer motorway journeys, and 31.5mpg vs 33mpg when doing lots of stop-start town driving. That's with just me in it though, keeping up with traffic as necessary - perhaps things would be more even if it were loaded up with stuff and going quickly.

[seapod]

Thanks all for the insight.
Great, so i can follow my ph instincts and go for the bigger engine..
and still get a fairly sensible economy.
The £200 referenced for the swirl flaps issue, I am assuming is the preventative cost? I am still learning about this, how can i found out if its been done or am I really making a mountain out of a molehill?

Have any of you done anything preventatively or experienced the issue?

[Max M4X WW]

Are you going Auto or Manual? Do the Auto boxes fail on these like they do with E39's?

[Fox-]

Max M4X WW said:

Are you going Auto or Manual? Do the Auto boxes fail on these like they do with E39's?

Yes, its the same box as the 530d.

[cerb4.5lee]

Max M4X WW said:

Are you going Auto or Manual? Do the Auto boxes fail on these like they do with E39's?

Our e90 330d auto is approaching 145k miles that we`ve had from new & not any issues yet! Touch wood.

I also agree with whats been said around the 20d engine i have it in my e61 520 m sport & its pants noisy not very quick & only returns 1mpg better than the 30d, 6 cylinders is the only way, they should ban 4 pots forever!!

[seapod]

So auto seems the one to avoid.


Otherwise, 6 cylinders all the way....

I love the rhetorical question response on ph.`Shall i buy the less powerful or more powerful car?` Answer- More powerful!

I shall however be using the market evidence (ie your answers) as the validation and proof points needed to ensure a simple approval from mrs sp....obviously i am not under the thumb but always wise to get swmbo onboard;-)

Thanks again all

[mondeoman]

330d every day - oh and get it chipped!!! s'only £500 notes and makes a nice difference.

[Max M4X WW]

If I'm getting 21mpg out of my 540i Auto round town what will I get from a 330d Manual/Audo being driven 'like a diesel' IE quite hard?

It will involve putting in as good as +%50 value so needs to be worth it.

[Fox-]

Max M4X WW said:

If I'm getting 21mpg out of my 540i Auto round town

Then you are doing very well and I suspect your idea of round town is a bit generous

I get 20-22mpg around town from a manual 530i and 16-19mpg from an auto 530i. My definition of around town is short trips from cold in traffic. Used to get 29ish from a 530d.

Not wafting around the ringroad

[Max M4X WW]

Ok well I don't reset the damn thing that often as I don't really care but most of my journeys are short - not necessarily stuck in traffic.

It does about 270 miles to a tank (until down to 1/8th ish)

[Welshbeef]

cerb4.5lee said:

Our e90 330d auto is approaching 145k miles that we`ve had from new & not any issues yet! Touch wood.

I also agree with whats been said around the 20d engine i have it in my e61 520 m sport & its pants noisy not very quick & only returns 1mpg better than the 30d, 6 cylinders is the only way, they should ban 4 pots forever!!

Have you replaced the DPF yet?
I'm on 93k miles at the min and idrive says 50 k miles until the DPF is due to be replaced.


Also very good to hear

[Ranger 6]

seapod said:

...The £200 referenced for the swirl flaps issue, I am assuming is the preventative cost? I am still learning about this, how can i found out if its been done or am I really making a mountain out of a molehill?

Have any of you done anything preventatively or experienced the issue?

I removed the flaps on my old 2.0d X3 - changed the glow-plugs at the same time as two had failed. Total cost £280. I used these guys http://www.pmwltd.co.uk to supply the blanks, their website gives £175 fitted for a 6 cyl.

For info (some scary) on flaps have a look at this thread: http://www.bmwland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&... it started in 2007 and is 130 pages long. Much discussion on failures and solutions.

I haven't done the 3.0d yet as it's still covered by a BMW warranty.

Oh and BTW - I think if it's the six speed auto you'll be OK - that 'box and the 3.0d works well together.

[cerb4.5lee]

Welshbeef said:

Have you replaced the DPF yet?
I'm on 93k miles at the min and idrive says 50 k miles until the DPF is due to be replaced.


Also very good to hear

Hi welshbeef, the DPF hasnt been replaced yet & we are considering changing the car anytime soon hopefully, so i hope this gives you some good piece of mind around yours.

The car has been brilliant & its hard to know what to swap it for, the 330d is all the car you can ever need in many ways.

[Welshbeef]

cerb4.5lee said:

Hi welshbeef, the DPF hasnt been replaced yet & we are considering changing the car anytime soon hopefully, so i hope this gives you some good piece of mind around yours.

The car has been brilliant & its hard to know what to swap it for, the 330d is all the car you can ever need in many ways.

Would you consider the newer 245bhp version?

Or the new shape 3 series 330d with 8speed auto???
Or dare I say it 335d POWER

[mike325112]

cerb4.5lee said:

the 330d is all the car you can ever need in many ways.

Apart from snow, I think I agree. Mine needs quite a bit of work doing at the momment - I thought about selling, even took a couple of test drive, but I don't think I'd replace it with anything other thans something else with a 30d or 35d engine.