120D Coupe

[RexRich]

Looking to move from my 320D compact to a 120D coupe. I do a fair amount of short journeys . Obviously from what others say this will cause DPF problems. Would a 'blast' once per week, say twenty miles or so to help prevent ?

[ManOpener]

If you're doing shorter journeys, there's no point getting the 120d. Not when you can get a 125i for the same or less.
215bhp (or 270 if remapped up to 30i spec, as the only difference between the engines is the map). Vastly more enjoyable and entertaining powerplant.

Edited by ManOpener on Saturday 14th July 11:09

[RexRich]

Thanks but the thing is I do long journeys two or three times a year and appreciate the 60mpg. My 320D returns about 48mpg on short local trips also. I'm not a racer these days and 150-170 bhp is ample . I can see you point though, but I love the dirty old oil burners ! Cheers .

[Fox-]

RexRich said:

Thanks but the thing is I do long journeys two or three times a year and appreciate the 60mpg.

I doubt you'll get 60mpg out of it.

Is a couple of journeys a year really worth picking a diesel for? Work out the actual fuel cost difference and you'd be surprised.

[thebraketester]

Get the petrol. 3 long journeys a year doesn’t warrant a diesel.

[ManOpener]

IMO buying a diesel car to do 3 long journeys a year when the vast majority of its use will be very short runs is an expensive recipe for engine related troubles.

[Mr Tidy]

I bought a facelift 320td in 2005 and over 3 years and 42K miles it averaged 47.8 mpg.

I replaced it in 2008 with a 123d that I had for over 6 years and 81K miles and that averaged 48.7 mpg so not significantly better, despite the stop/start nonsense that killed the battery in just 55K miles and less than 5 years - and being a coded AGM one the replacement cost over £250! Then just after 6 years and 77K miles the starter motor died, so that was another £600!

I was doing enough miles for the dpf to not be an issue, but the N47 cam-chain issues got my attention and as I wasn't doing business miles any more I sold it and got the car I had always wanted. A BMW Z4 Coupe - lovely!

I liked straight 6 petrol power so much I then bought a 325ti Sport Compact as a daily - and realise that is what I should have bought instead of the 320td.

Unless you do mega-miles OP I'd recommend trying a petrol 6 cylinder, like the 125i someone suggested before you commit to a 120d (or better still a 123d)!

[smashy]

OP I had a 120d auto ed 2007 from 6 months. old on long journeys I usually got around 48mg ..my F30 330d is actually better on fuel

[gtidriver]

I’ve got a bmw 125i auto, the gearbox is a bit dim witted but it’s a great car. Not sure on mpg as it’s mainly a works car that the wife uses but it’s quite good on a run. Small fuel tank knocks the range. Make sure it has blue tooth as it was an option that wasn’t always selected. Expensive to retro fit as I found out..

[p1stonhead]

Fox- said:

RexRich said:

Thanks but the thing is I do long journeys two or three times a year and appreciate the 60mpg.

I doubt you'll get 60mpg out of it.

Is a couple of journeys a year really worth picking a diesel for? Work out the actual fuel cost difference and you'd be surprised.

I had one. Averaged around 43mpg over about 6000 miles. The manual in it was horrible too.

[thebraketester]

p1stonhead said:

Fox- said:

RexRich said:

Thanks but the thing is I do long journeys two or three times a year and appreciate the 60mpg.

I doubt you'll get 60mpg out of it.

Is a couple of journeys a year really worth picking a diesel for? Work out the actual fuel cost difference and you'd be surprised.

I had one. Averaged around 43mpg over about 6000 miles. The manual in it was horrible too.

Wifes does about the same.... maybe not even quite 40mpg. She has got a lead foot though

[Monty Python]

Get a 120i instead - makes much more sense for that type of driving.

[RexRich]

Thanks everyone . Looks like the 120D is inferior to the E46 320D in many ways . My 120,000 ml 320D has been fine in the three years I've owned it . A great little car. These 1 series diesels must keep the workshops busy as there's dozens of them trawling about this city area.

[aeropilot]

RexRich said:

Thanks but the thing is I do long journeys two or three times a year and appreciate the 60mpg. My 320D returns about 48mpg on short local trips also. I'm not a racer these days and 150-170 bhp is ample . I can see you point though, but I love the dirty old oil burners ! Cheers .

If you could see his point you wouldn't be contemplating buying a 120d.

As said, you'll never get 60mpg out of a 120d........ever.

As also said, buying a 120d just for 3 long trips a year is false economy on a monumental scale, unless you are driving to Moscow and back 3/4 times per year?
I knew people that were getting 40mpg out a 125i on a long run........hell, I could get nearly 34 mpg out of my old 135i on a long run, while not even having to drive it like a granny....

I also knew of a lot of 120d owners that struggled to get better than 30mpg out of 120d's doing regular short urban journeys.

By all means buy a 120d, its your money, but don't expect it to deliver what you think it will.

[smashy]

Re short journeys ...
On 5 to 8 mile runs around the west side of londons north circular in not very bad traffic just normal which agreed is bad enough in my 120d plenty of times I saw 21 mpg....

[bodhi]

I've got a 125i Manual, over the 4 years I've had it I've had to replace two brake calipers and a battery, everything else has been wear and tear. Over a long journey it will easily do 40 mpg if you keep it below 80 (I don't, so get closer to 30) - I've even seen 48 mpg through the roadworks on the M1 north of Nottingham.

I moved to this from an E46 330d, and as a driving experience they aren't even on the same page - the 125i is far more fun, has a much better engine, and sounds utterly divine.

[Mr Tidy]

I live in the Shires and don't commute any more, but after 3+ years with my E46 325ti and 23K miles the OBC was showing 34.9 mpg.

I replaced it this year with an E91 325i and after 2.5K miles the OBC is on 34.8 mpg.

I've had my E86 Z4 Coupe (same engine as a 130i) for just over 2 years and 9K miles and the OBC says 33.6 mpg - but that car does tend to get driven a bit quicker!

All the time I can get mid-30s for mpg from a straight 6 petrol I won't ever consider any diesel.