320d - What Are They Like?

[Adz The Rat]

Need a diesel car next as moving house quite far from work, was thinking of a VW Bora but seen a few 320d's in my budget (£3k) so what are they like?
Saw a nice specced 320d touring on autotrader site, would the high mileage be a worry?

[dumbfunk]

I had a 2004 320d that I specified with the M sport suspension kit and 17" alloys and it was probably the sweetest handling car I've ever driven. Averaged 47mpg on a run, 39 around town and repeatedly hit an amazingly composed 145mph in the 20 odd times I took it to Germany.

I changed it for an E92 after 68,000 hard (but fair) miles and it had never had a spanner on it outside of regular servicing and used next to no oil. The new 320D M-Sport handles no where near as nicely by the way.

With that suspension set up I can't recommend it highly enough.


dumbfunk

Edited by dumbfunk on Wednesday 25th March 00:33

[silent k]

I've got a 135k 320d Touring I bought a year ago for 3.5k with no service history (I think at the time it was one of the cheapest on Autotrader!). I thought it was worth taking a punt on it, as it was a lot cheaper than any other cars around at the time and with the money saved we'd have some spare for any work needed doing. In the year I've had it, it's needed a new clutch (which was about £300) , and it's just failed it's MOT on worn ball joints up front and the front-rear brake pipes need replacing, which were mentioned in the previous mot's so have been due for a while.

It's not the best example out there, as it's a bit tatty in places but it's 10 times better than the same year Vectra it replaced! Much nicer to driver and feels a lot more solid.

[Ranger 6]

Have had two in the past - excellent cars, with a combination of good handling, performance and economy.

Watch out for rear spring breaks and on the early cars(up to '04) there are now potential engine failure issues with 'swirl flaps' in the intake manifold - google for more info, BMWland is especially good.

[Hammerwerfer]

They are the class of the field as far as handling is concerned.