Should I buy a 320D Touring in 2022?

[AC_Cobra]

Should I buy a 320D Touring in 2022? It would like be high mileage around 60K+, ~£15K. I'm based in London so would not be doing long distances so worry about the DPF being an issue. I'm tempted because they look like great cars.

As far as I can make out the 2015/16 models I'm looking at are ULEZ compliant. Diesel is not the destination of travel for manufacturers or govt so I presume the risk is a rules change happens in the next 2-4 years. I've also read that as diesel demand drops so does resale value, naturally.

So on that basis I'm erring towards petrol but have found one particular 320d I quite fancy.

I have not owned a diesel car or high mileage BMW before so I'm not sure what to expect.

Thanks in advance

[mmm-five]

I have a 2015 320D, and I'd happily recommend it to anyone who's going to be commuting a good daily distance.

However, I wouldn't buy one for the very short trips inherent to driving in London.

I'd pick up a petrol version of the same if I were you...and it'll probably be cheaper to purchase.

For reference, I bought mine for £15k with 42k miles on it (AUC 320D M-Sport Touring Auto with M-Sport Plus pack) back in Jan '21 with the expectation of returning to my normal 30k mile commuting...but it never happened and I've only done 6k in it...including 2 trips to Germany.

I'm quite fond of the Estroil Blue (supposedly an M-Sport only colour on the F3x)...

Edited by mmm-five on Tuesday 12th April 13:22

[Touring442]

A 320i Auto will be fine as will a 3 cylinder 318i. I'd go for a higher mileage LCI post 2015 320i for the better B48 engine.

They are excellent and capable cars that drive very well. I would have an automatic every time because the 8 speed is both perfectly suited and very reliable. No more rattling flywheels or clutch replacement.

[smashy]

I live in london ,ulez forced my hand and had to sell my 7 year old bought new 330d I do 4 to500 miles a week bought a 2018 335d .However if I was only doing say 10k a year it would be petrol for me too many potential issues with diesel on just short journeys plus they take ages to warm up so you would never get the best out of it.

[AC_Cobra]

mmm-five said:

I have a 2015 320D, and I'd happily recommend it to anyone who's going to be commuting a good daily distance.

However, I wouldn't buy one for the very short trips inherent to driving in London.

I'd pick up a petrol version of the same if I were you...and it'll probably be cheaper to purchase.

For reference, I bought mine for £15k with 42k miles on it (AUC 320D M-Sport Touring Auto with M-Sport Plus pack) back in Jan '21 with the expectation of returning to my normal 30k mile commuting...but it never happened and I've only done 6k in it...including 2 trips to Germany.

Thanks for your input on this. You've convinced me to look at the petrols. I would also be after the M-Sport trim. Think it looks fantastic in Alpine White esp.

[AC_Cobra]

Touring442 said:

A 320i Auto will be fine as will a 3 cylinder 318i. I'd go for a higher mileage LCI post 2015 320i for the better B48 engine.

They are excellent and capable cars that drive very well. I would have an automatic every time because the 8 speed is both perfectly suited and very reliable. No more rattling flywheels or clutch replacement.

Thanks so much. I would be after the LCI if I can find one also AT so my fiance can drive it comfortably.

[AC_Cobra]

smashy said:

I live in london ,ulez forced my hand and had to sell my 7 year old bought new 330d I do 4 to500 miles a week bought a 2018 335d .However if I was only doing say 10k a year it would be petrol for me too many potential issues with diesel on just short journeys plus they take ages to warm up so you would never get the best out of it.

Thank you. I think there's a strong theme recommending petrol here.

[mmm-five]

AC_Cobra said:

Thanks so much. I would be after the LCI if I can find one also AT so my fiance can drive it comfortably.

Don't rely on production date if you want to ensure an LCI car, as mine is July 2015 and still has the older engine and infotainment system.

[mmm-five]

smashy said:

I live in london ,ulez forced my hand and had to sell my 7 year old bought new 330d I do 4 to500 miles a week bought a 2018 335d .However if I was only doing say 10k a year it would be petrol for me too many potential issues with diesel on just short journeys plus they take ages to warm up so you would never get the best out of it.

Agree with this, and to avoid some of the issues I've disabled the stop-start and take it for a 50-60 mile run every weekend to let it warm up.

Would have happily bought a 330/335d, but I couldn't find an AUC car that wasn't xDrive, and even they they were at least £3k more for similar spec.

Don't miss the extra power as I have a Z4M for fun.