e46 320d's and swirl flaps etc.....

Scania

Scania

Scania

Caporegime
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I'm looking to change my e46 318i, its due an MOT in a few weeks and is going to need best part of its value spending on getting it through (two tyres, exhaust cat rattling, prop shaft issues and a clutch that's starting to slip!)

So, I'm looking round for a replacement, ideally a touring (estate) version of what I have already due to recent puppy which is going to be a very large dog once fully grown, although my budget (ideally under £2k) seems to restrict my choices somewhat...

I've noticed far more 320d's around with various mileages for my price bracket as opposed to 318i's but then wonder about the dreaded swirl flap & turbo failure issues these engines are known for.

Am I right in assuming the 136bhp variants don't have swirl flaps anyway where the more powerful ones do?

I've done a bit of googling and am not clear on which variants of these engines have these damn things.

The turbo aspect does not worry me too much, I'd replace the oil feed pipe which I understand to be the weakness and am well versed in allowing a turbo to cool prior to turning off after a run etc.

I'm particularly interested in one from a local dealer, Y plate, 143k with FBMWSH the dealer says its the 136bhp variant,its a manual.

I'm wondering if I should just stick to what I have (& know) i.e. an e46 318i petrol - but in touring form - if I can find one at the right money / condition.

My head says do this, although my heart is sorely tempted by a manual W plate 150k mile 530d Touring I've spotted..... :o :D

Before the inevitable suggestions of Mondeo / Vectra etc, no thanks, myself and my wife are happy to stick with BMW's, I'm inclined toward the 3series as I'm teaching the wife to drive and imagine putting her on the insurance of a 530d as a new driver could be quite a bit more than it would already be on a 318i/320d....
 
Why bother? It's not as if another E46 is going to be immune from the bills that face your 318i. They are all old now, that's kinda what happens.

Fix yours or increasing your budget. Somebody else's life expired cast off diesel shed for banger money is hardly a good answer.

If you really need an estate then at 2k a BMW seems a bit pointless, swallow your pride and buy a Mondeo or similar. If you absolutely must buy a BMW then a petrol one is a better idea than the dreadful diesel.
 
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[TW]Fox;24831794 said:
Why bother? It's not as if another E46 is going to be immune from the bills that face your 318i. They are all old now, that's kinda what happens.

Fix yours or increasing your budget. Somebody else's life expired cast off diesel shed for banger money is hardly a good answer.
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I'm not inclined to fix mine, its an S plate, worth buttons even with 12months test and as I say, I need an estate.

So disregarding the fix mine aspect, I presume you'd agree with going for a petrol instead?

I was just asking re the 136bhp engine and swirl flap issue, I'm inclined against a TD generally, I don't do the miles to justify the diesel thing, but am finding at my budget (which is pretty fixed due to my current circumstances) more 320d's than 318's in my vicinity - the one I've seen is very tidy and drives a lot nicer than mine, and is an estate which now is a must.
 
Scania said:
I'm inclined toward the 3series as I'm teaching the wife to drive and imagine putting her on the insurance of a 530d as a new driver could be quite a bit more than it would already be on a 318i/320d....
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I can't help with your main question, but I'd recommend checking if this is actually the case before committing yourself to a 3 series. I'm a relatively new driver and find there's very little difference insurance-wise between a 320d and a 530d.
 
[TW]Fox;24831794 said:
If you really need an estate then at 2k a BMW seems a bit pointless, swallow your pride and buy a Mondeo or similar. If you absolutely must buy a BMW then a petrol one is a better idea than the dreadful diesel.
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Its nothing to do with pride, I like BMW's,prefer RWD to FWD and like the feel & build quality of BMW's over comparable fords. Yes a mondeo is a fairly obvious choice bar the small detail I don't want one.


geekman said:
I can't help with your main question, but I'd recommend checking if this is actually the case before committing yourself to a 3 series. I'm a relatively new driver and find there's very little difference insurance-wise between a 320d and a 530d.
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An extra £150 with my existing insurers, they won't even quote for the 530d with my wife on the policy as a new driver though - all a bit academic, I'm not seriously contemplating the 5.
 
rodenal said:
Have you checked the boot in an e46 touring? It ain't all that big, would it even work for you?
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For what we'll be using it for i.e. taking the dog short distances for walks, it'll be fine. My parents have a very large Labrador which fitted in an e46 touring loan car with no problem, it wouldn't be much use for long distance, that said,for that sort of trip the dog would probably be in the back & luggage in the boot anyway.
 
Spartacus said:
The 136bhp engine does not have the swirl flaps. They were first Introduced in 2001 on the 150bhp engine.

Cheers
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I've discovered this after yet more Google searching this afternoon, but thanks, it was the reply I was after in the first place. :)

The one I'm looking at is an 01, but its pre facelift and definitely 136bhp.
 
Scania said:
Its nothing to do with pride, I like BMW's,prefer RWD to FWD and like the feel & build quality of BMW's over comparable fords. Yes a mondeo is a fairly obvious choice bar the small detail I don't want one.
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The point Fox is making is that your budget does not allow you to get a good example of the car you want. Rather then compromising on the quality and reliability of a car, wouldn't it be better to compromise on the badge? RWD vs FWD is simply a non-issue on low powered load luggers.
 
Dogbreath said:
The point Fox is making is that your budget does not allow you to get a good example of the car you want. Rather then compromising on the quality and reliability of a car, wouldn't it be better to compromise on the badge? RWD vs FWD is simply a non-issue on low powered load luggers.
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I understand the point Fox is making entirely.

Thing is, I prefer BMW's I don't particularly like Mondeo's, the Mrs (who I'm teaching to drive) does not like them either, I've viewed a few Mondeo's regardless of this because obviously they are a cheaper car to run but they don't do it for me not to mention I've not seen any particularly clean examples once I've seen them in the flesh as such.

She also considers the Mondeo estate too big for her to drive once shes passed her test also, I certainly don't want a Vectra and the limited budget I'm at hasn't popped up anything else that ticks my boxes either.

The 320d I've looked at whilst high mileage is very clean & tidy, has plenty of invoices for work done and a full BMW S/H, its available from a dealer less than 2 miles away from my house - my wife knows the family who own & run the garage in question - and they are happy to take my 318i as a P/ex & save me the faff of getting rid of a car with short tax & test not to mention dealing with tyre kickers, which I've always hated.

I'm not 100% set on that 320d though, I'm also considering an 82k mile 318i touring on a 51 plate - which is most likely a far better bet - but, its a few miles further away, I'll look at it tomorrow maybe and then perhaps make my decision.

My current car has 3 weeks test left, so that's my timescale for changing it, in most scenario's I'd agree, there's next to nothing between a RWD and FWD on low ish powered cars but when pressing on, personally, I prefer RWD, perceived difference or placebo, I don't know tbh!
 
Spartacus said:
At the age of car your looking at I think you would be better with the petrol ;)
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After a lot of pondering, I've decided the oil burner just was too much of a potential liability, despite its good condition.

Just got off the 'phone with the seller of a 2000 X plate 325iSE Touring, having seen & driven it tonight and decided to ring him back and say yes!
I've been viewing 320d's and 318i's - all tourings - and this one stood out by a long way, its in very nice condition, a lot better than some of the dogs I've seen on my travels!
Sure, the MPG will be down abit on my current one, but the drive more than makes up for it.


Its got FSH, 89k miles, 12mths test, 4momths tax I'm paying £1550.

The 71 year old owner said he just used it for local running around and was selling as he now required an automatic - given how he walked, this made sense,its had recent battery,rear brake pads and rear shock absorbers & as you'd expect, it drives so much nicer than my 318i!

All I have to do now is shift my e46 318i, wonder if I'll get £300 for it??
 
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Now thats a far better option :) Pics at least make it look tidy, and lets face it - £1500 is a pretty great deal or anything 6 cylinder german barge shaped :)

Older owners are often the ones to-go for. A friend of mine picked up an old 90s 530i for £900, 1 owner and FSH - he went to pick it up and the guy takes him into the garage and takes the dust cover off! Literally was like going back in time!

Congrats!
 
[TW]Fox;24845495 said:
Better than a diesel but didnt you whinge about your 528i and get rid of it due to 'cost' :p
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Yes I did indeed.

It was older than my 318i and this one, vastly higher mileage (270k ish remember) , and undoubtedly due rather large bills in the not too foreseeable future - auto gearbox being the biggest ticking timebomb - add to that I was then saving for my wedding surely you see the logic of changing it for a cheaper car? - which the 318i was, very much cheaper on both fuel, insurance and tyres.

This will cost more to run than the 318i, but not anything like what I'd expect my old e39 would have cost me had I kept it, I decided against another e39 because of the cost of running one and - sadly - every one in this price range was an absolute turd. Quite sad to see really.

My wife now works in a different job at a senior level, I'm back to work soon (although employed, still off sick) costs are not the issue they were.
 
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I'd be amazed if, autobox risk aside, it ended up being much different given how similar it is. There are almost zero running cost differences between a 6 pot E46 and a 6 pot E39.
 
[TW]Fox;24845590 said:
I'd be amazed if, autobox risk aside, it ended up being much different given how similar it is. There are almost zero running cost differences between a 6 pot E46 and a 6 pot E39.
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I agree, I doubt there will be much in it day to day cost wise bar an improvement in MPG perhaps, but I'm pretty sure its less likely to throw a big bill @89k than my older e39 @ ~270k.

Had my fiscal circumstances at the time been different, I'd still have the e39 now.
 
It's mileage is irrelevent, it's 12 years old. It's not some sort of fresh out of the box nearly new example that won't need replacement bits for some time :p
 
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