BMW 335d or Merc C350d

cahonis

cahonis

cahonis

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Joined
21 Dec 2009
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265
Hi peeps :)

My current car (ST220) has been costing too much to run and the final straw came recently with a major engine problem that would cost me £3k to fix - so I'm getting rid of it.

I want a decent diesel with a little bit of poke and have boiled it down to either a 335d or a C350d.

I do about 350 miles a week, mostly M & A roads, so something comfy is a must and as the M25 is a car park most nights I'm going over to an auto.

I'm taking a look at a 2007 335d with 60k on it on Saturday but haven't been able to find the Merc locally to drive.

Anyone here had either of these and what's your impression of them?
 
If an ST220 is costing you too much to run, I wouldn't go for a 335D or C350d unless you want the same, or probably higher running costs.
 
This strikes me as the wrong sort of car to buy to save money. Both will cost more to run than the Mondeo I would imagine.

Are you expecting 50 to the gallon or something?
 
cahonis said:
350 miles a week in petrol was costing me about £260 a month, I'll save about £100 a month in fuel alone.
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Undoubtedly, I'm just saying that if you want a car to do lots of miles in and cheap running costs, those two cars are not the answer. Something like an Exeo or Mondeo diesel is what I'd be looking at.

If you're prepared to deal with high maintenance costs, out of the two I'd go for the 335D. All I'm saying is that it only takes one £1000 bill to wipe out 10 months of fuel savings.
 
ST220 will do ~32-33mpg on a run. Will a 335d realistically do 45mpg+? Otherwise you won't really save £100 a month in fuel.
 
mike gunnz said:
For an ST220 that's some pretty cheap consumption figures. You sure your figures are accurate?
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That is good consumption, I didn't even get that when I first got mine when fuel was a fair chunk cheaper than it is now! Used to get about 300 to a tank at £75 or so per tank.
 
I missed that, yeah without checking I'm sure my monthly fuel spend is 200-250 and I do probably on average 200-250 miles a week
 
Like Fox says, if a lowly ST220 is hitting you in the pocket, neither of the cars your considering will be cheaper to run long term, 40+ mpg or not!

If you do get a 335d get a warranty, you'll need it! - I have a mate with an 07 example and it's hit him hard in the pocket, his was at 70k when he bought it and didn't have any warranty, he's spent literally thousands on fixing the thing.

He does love it mind you, good job really!
 
I guess I worded my OP badly.

My ST220 has cost me an average of £1,000 a year for the 3.5 years I've had it in repairs & servicing. For a car that cost me £8k that's just too much. The current problem is a bitch to fix and my brother-in-law has told me that his mechanics think it's just not worth it seeing as the repairs would be more than the car is worth.

I've decided I want something a bit nicer again (had a 520i back in the '90s which was a beaut) so am looking at the two cars I mentioned as they fit the bill for me. Forget the running costs, I know what they are :)

As for fuel costs my numbers are accurate. I know because I do the same journey almost every day & I pay for the fuel ;) 300 miles a week to work plus about 30-50 at the weekends on average is about £65 a week in petrol. I get 28-29 to the gallon.

I just wanted to know if anyone else does or has owned either of these two cars and what they thought of them.

Howard said:
What's wrong with the engine? What colour is it? Can I have bits off it? :p
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He did tell me but when he said the part alone is £1,000+VAT and lots of labour I forgot as I knew I wouldn't be keeping it. It's blue and my brother-in-law is gonna put a 2nd hand engine in it when he finds a decent cheap one and flog it on for me.
 
cahonis said:
But why spend all that money on petrol when the diesel is so much cheaper?
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Because it's not 'so much cheaper' - the diesel costs more to buy, the fuel is 5% more expensive, the 335d isn't exactly a 50mpg ecowarrior and the 330i is suprisingly frugal. The 335d has its merits, its a nice car, but I honestly couldnt be bothered with a 7 year old one when a 330i is less trouble, sounds nicer and isn't a diesel.

The ST220 is amongst the thirstiest 3 litre cars around.
 
[TW]Fox;25760659 said:
The ST220 is amongst the thirstiest 3 litre cars around.
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I think "The 330i is one of the most economical 3 litre petrol cars around" would be a more relevant and appropriate statement :p
 
The 335d M Sport has the same performance as the 330i coupe and for my journeys would be cheaper on fuel, from what I've seen anyway.

Are the running costs on the diesels much more than the petrol ones?

The 335d M Sport I'm looking at on Saturday I could get for less than auction prices by the way. I haven't seen a decent one for less than £14.5k - I wouldn't be paying anywhere near that much for it.
 
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