E90 320d Sport - Efficent dynamics or not

[Jimmer]

Newbie appreciating some wisdom

I'm looking at used E90 320d Sport's. Newer ED cars are clearly much stronger money however my dilema is as follows. Travel 40,000 miles pa for work getting mileage allowance. The ED car offers the following benefits:

1. Better fuel economy offsetting additional purchase or monthly finance cost against non ED car.
2. Expect long term residuals to be much better on the ED car.

However taking into account the above mileage the newer ED car will depreciate much quicker than an older 30,000 mile non ED car.

So confused trying to crunch the numbers. I think I'm trying to justify the more powerful 177hp car to myself. In the long term say 3-4 years they'll both be worth next to nothing anyway. Help!!!!

[pgilc1]

Is the bulk of the ED savings not because of stop/start, which may not be applicable in your circumstances (unless you drive around cities a lot)?

Depreciation is going to be the biggest cost overall, so if you're saying running the car for 4 years @40K per year is going to make it virtually worthless, or certainly not worth a big hill of beans, i'd be inclined towards the cheaper slightly older car.

Also, if you want a bit of extra poke - www.tuningbox.com - should give you an extra couple of mpg and take the 163BHP car up to around 200BHP.

[gizlaroc]

I went from a 163bhp non ED to a 177bhp ED car and the difference in economy is massive!!

Mine are autos, but I got between 32 and 39 in the 163bhp and the 177bhp one is returning 37 to 47 doing the same driving. Also the 163bhp was in a 1 series which is a lighter car.

The ED cars are holding their money well, I was bid £23k on mine this morning, he said there is a massive demand for them.

[pgilc1]

The old auto box was fairly reknowned for sapping power, as are most auto boxes.

Therefore you're probably seeing the improvement because of the box moreso than the ED technology.

For comparison, my manual 320d non ED was capable of over 50mpg on long runs, averaged 43-45mpg.

[Jimmer]

Thanks for the replies guys. Agree re the autobox. Pre ED made a huge difference to the economy of the car. Many comparisons with friends re E46 320d & 330d Manual vs. Autobox. Seemed to be 7-10mpg. I guess you touch on the answer which is does ED make any difference if 85% of your driving is on motorway/dual carriageway?

Anyone else have any higher mileage experiences of ED & non-ED cars?

[wobert]

Jimmer said:

Thanks for the replies guys. Agree re the autobox. Pre ED made a huge difference to the economy of the car. Many comparisons with friends re E46 320d & 330d Manual vs. Autobox. Seemed to be 7-10mpg. I guess you touch on the answer which is does ED make any difference if 85% of your driving is on motorway/dual carriageway?

Anyone else have any higher mileage experiences of ED & non-ED cars?

Not a 3er but my 120d (manual) (Non-ED) is just on 60k miles (2005 plate car) I do a run from Chester to Brum twice a week along fast A-roads & the M6.

The trip computer is reading 45-46mpg most of the time, averaged out. When I occasionally do a manual chack it's certainly within 1-2 mpg of the computer.

[gizlaroc]

Loads of people who have swapped say the consumption is around 20% better on the ED, those that were getting around 42-44 are now getting 48-52 or thereabouts.
Also, when I was looking I could get an 07 plate non ED over 3 years with a balloon of £11k and a 57 plate over 48 months with a balloon of £13k, so an extra year and £2k bigger balloon, so the finance worked out at £420 for the pre ED car and £438 for the ED car.