BMW 330d e46 - pros and cons

squarehead94 · 27 Dec 2013 at 15:59

Hi all, looking for a fast, reliable, economical and powerful motor. So considered v6's and i6's as they tend to have a lot more torque than most standard turbo diesels.
I currently have a saab 9-3 1.9 Tid, I just fancy more oooomph.
So I've considered an e46 330d. Im looking at straight exchanging, so id be looking circ 51 reg with eg. 140,000 miles. is there anything to look out for in these 2.9 i6 330d's? can anyone recommend a good powerful diesel (over 2 litre) thats similar?

Thanks,

Ste

rodenal · 27 Dec 2013 at 16:06

Its a bit of a mad car to buy for economy reasons at the age now tbh. You'll not see a huge difference between it and the m54 petrol.

That said it was a very nice ( for a diesel) engine when new. At 140k you would need to anticipate replacing next to everything that can go wrong plus refreshing suspension bits and pieces. A lot to spend on quite an old diesel motor

Scania · 27 Dec 2013 at 16:59

rodenal said:
Its a bit of a mad car to buy for economy reasons at the age now tbh. You'll not see a huge difference between it and the m54 petrol.

That said it was a very nice ( for a diesel) engine when new. At 140k you would need to anticipate replacing next to everything that can go wrong plus refreshing suspension bits and pieces. A lot to spend on quite an old diesel motor

It should be noticeably better on fuel than an M54 IMO albeit not massively noticeable, a workmate gets ~ 33mpg from his 330D on his OBC where I get ~ 24ish mpg from my m54 325i touring (e46).
That said, I've not had the injector issues he's had, but at that mileage it will want a suspension refresh urgently, my 94k example is due the same soon IMO, it's getting noticeably crashy on some roads.

Ultimately, 330D and economy be it fuel or running cost wise are not IMO good bedfellows!!!

rodenal · 27 Dec 2013 at 17:19

I get between 26 and 30 on my mixed commute but assuming yours and your workmates are roughly the same driving mix I just don't see 9mpg making enough of a difference to warrant taking on the extra risk, especially not at the age.

My car is the same at 112ish k with suspension. Its had relatively recent new arms / ball joints track rods and ends, springs have been replaced at least once all round but it could definitely be tighter. Probably renew the lot including shocks/ springs in the spring. Doing it all on a random diesel commuter that was nearing the end of its real world economical life would break my heart.

Voxination · 27 Dec 2013 at 17:25

squarehead94 said:
Hi all, looking for a fast, reliable, economical and powerful motor.

So I've considered an e46 330d.

If your priorities are cheap to run, don't look at a diesel E46.

Liampope · 27 Dec 2013 at 17:28

Please do yourself a favour and get a petrol. What's your annual mileage and budget for the car?

rare · 27 Dec 2013 at 18:36

Trouble with modern diesels they are a potential money pit outside of warranty.

Injectors,high pressure pumps etc etc.

[TW]Fox · 27 Dec 2013 at 18:38

Reliable, lol. It's a 10 year old BMW diesel.

bradUK · 27 Dec 2013 at 19:55

As with any E46 check the rear subframe bushes. Absolute nightmare to change once they go and the cost is extortionate due to the length of the job.

Also check for excessive play in the front suspension. Test by slowly applying full lock in both directions and gently bumping over a LOW dropped kerb. If there is any knocking or vibration walk away.

squarehead94 · 28 Dec 2013 at 02:56

Everyone says the annual mileage quote. I do about 12k a year. However id rather get 400 to a full tank than 200 that my old golf gti 1.8t used.
My saab is doing 500 to a tank town driving 650 to a tank on a run. So im spending near enough 1/3 of the money in fuel. I used to put in 60 a week in my golf, saab gets 80 every 3 weeks. You do the maths.
Ok so a 330d is a bit silly, but my desire of essentially a v6 diesel is tempting. Anyone else recommend a nippier better tuneable diesel? Only looking at stage 1 remap. Thanks

squarehead94 · 28 Dec 2013 at 02:58

Anyone tell me a 05 or older turbo that can manage 30+mpg mixed driving then? Ive had a vag turbo, and experienced a z20let astrs coupe turbo, both shocking on fuel but to be expected i guess.

rodenal · 28 Dec 2013 at 10:50

My own vag 1.8t used to do close to 35mpg on a 2/3 motorway mix no problem. As I mentioned above my current 330ci will do 30 on a similar route without making a particular effort. My civic 2.2ctdi would be around low to mid 40's. In terms of actual fuel spend every week its hardly a ground breaking sum and that's with me running the BMW on super so costs the same as diseasel. I do circa 200 miles a week just now so call it 10k per year using 48 working weeks.

If it must be a 5 cylinder plus diesel then the BMW is an interesting unit ( its an inline 6 btw), the Volvo d5 is decent, the Honda 4 pot is about the best "modern" 4 pot without likely massive bills.

Scania · 28 Dec 2013 at 12:10

FFS!
Drove my 325 this morning and it's developed a noticeable clunk / shunting sensation from the rear as I change gear and especially when pulling away.
Any ideas?
It's a bit of a bitch on gearchanges anyway because of the clutch delay thingy but this I fear is something else.....

German reliability eh! :/

rare · 28 Dec 2013 at 12:11

Possibly prop coupling.

rodenal · 28 Dec 2013 at 13:36

Does it do it in neutral when braking? If so probably the trailing arm bushes

rare · 28 Dec 2013 at 13:45

Trailing arm bushes are more likely to show wear during movement than initial gear selection I would say. Though they are common.

rodenal · 28 Dec 2013 at 14:07

That's why it'd be interesting to see if taking the drive line out of the equation still makes the noise. If they're really bad then gear changes could cause it too. Be u usual not to notice before they got that bad though

Scania · 28 Dec 2013 at 19:45

rare said:
Possibly prop coupling.

I'm wondering, certainly felt this in a truck before although its was a lot more "violent" as such.

rodenal said:
Does it do it in neutral when braking? If so probably the trailing arm bushes

Been out in it this afternoon (hence late reply) and tried this, it does not do it at all in neutral, it seems to do it in the main on pull away and sometimes I feel it when changing from 1st to 2nd, but not other changes, nor going back down the 'box.

Edit: I should have posted this in the BMW/M Power thread with hindsight, apologies OP.

Conanius · 28 Dec 2013 at 20:15

People really need to do the maths on diesel.

I worked out that, through cheaper purchase price, it would be nearly 50,000 miles of petrol motoring before the petrol broke even with the diesel on fuel costs alone.

When you then consider on my example that the diesel was belt driven opposed to chain, and that the diesel had the usual turbo, injector, egr etc issues, as well as a diesel specific issue with the gearbox, you realised that in real terms, the petrol was a cheaper vehicle. Road tax is identical due to age of vehicle.

Really, really check your sums. The problem I found is that the petrol production numbers were shockingly low, so finding a good one was difficult.

Spartacus · 28 Dec 2013 at 22:24

I would stay away from 12 year old BMW diesels if you want a reliable and economical car.

There was a thread on the BMW forum I frequent discussing reliability of the cars, .. Quite a few users reported owning 12 year old cars they'd owned for years with hardly any problems .. But you wanna know what they all had in common? All the ageing BMWs that had been reliable we're petrol, not one post from a diesel owner with a car over 10 years old.

BMW 330d e46 - pros and cons

Chooser of poor weather meets