Questions - Diesel engine and transmission / gearbox reliability circa 2014-2019 -BMW - Mercedes - Audi ( on small hatchback or coupe models)

[Cristian]

I thought the B48 engines were 2015 onwards (so you would want to pick up a 2016 or later)? id have to check, if its 2014, iv seen a few of these but i thought 2014 still had the N47 engine which is what i currently have now.

Also make sure you distinguish between B48 petrol and B47 diesel.
I think timing chains are still a question mark at higher miles (latest part numbers are the same for the chain and slides as the N47) but it's a high mileage / low maintenance problem and I haven't read too much into it for the B series engines.

 

[DJMK4]

Inbetween shopping today I had a look at this

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Although in person the a6 seems quite big!

Not sure about that. But it's outside an Audi main dealer for £11.5k with mid 50s milage. Again diesel though. Any thoughts on these ?.

Why are cars coming up always white. I dont want that really

Or a BMW 320d m sport saloon ?

2015 BMW 3 Series M Sport £10,991

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I'm not sure which engine is in the BMW I'd have to check, and I'm not sure about the Audi's engine transmission etc

 

[Rilot]

Both are poverty spec. The BMW even has halogen headlights!

 

[DJMK4]

Both are poverty spec. The BMW even has halogen headlights!

Going to keep looking

 

[jpaul]

Although in person the a6 seems quite big!

apart from size - seems to have real real leather seats, no rear camera , slightly high price for 2015 (but you have low road tax) ... don't know if they are giving you 12mths warranty ?
car-play (don't know if you get usb audioi from android) ... make sure you have roads that like S-line suspension.;
don't know about the TDI engines .. but audi seem to have a 144K maintenance on belts now (not 5 years it used to be)

 

[DJMK4]

apart from size - seems to have real real leather seats, no rear camera , slightly high price for 2015 (but you have low road tax) ... don't know if they are giving you 12mths warranty ?
car-play (don't know if you get usb audioi from android) ... make sure you have roads that like S-line suspension.;
don't know about the TDI engines .. but audi seem to have a 144K maintenance on belts now (not 5 years it used to be)

The roads in some areas of where I live in Cardiff are not great, So what ever car you drive it will be annoying. I do a mixture of city centre driving and dual carrageway driving

The belts if I remember correctly used to get changed on audis every 60k?

I just want something that is comfortable and doesn't rattle or let me down. Main concern is having a good engine that will last , i change oil service every 6-7k miles , good gearbox, transmission, and suspension.

With regards to features I'd like most features but if it's dating easily then I don't know

The a5 in the pic was with 12 months warranty and that was at the audi dealers

I'm still looking at BMW 220d / 220i

 

[Cristian]

Both choices are poor - poorly equipped cars, the service internals on timing belts do vary and are a lot longer on newer cars but bear in mind it's always mileage or age - x number of years.

Try and find a B9 A4, it's a much better balanced car and more modern.

 

[DJMK4]

Ok I'll include B9 A4 in to search.

Found this, I wanted more room but not sure it's going to be practical,

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Still looking for BMW's also

 

[DJMK4]

Ok really need to step up the search now.

My 120d e82 has its MOT this morning on 138k miles.

Failed..

Need two rear shocks and exhaust welding.

There is also a list of advisories including things like rear subframe corrosion, break hose corrosion, suspension arm bush pin worn both sides.

Aside from the above on this car the clutch is on Its way out but that's not an mot check


Going to get this passed today/tomorrow but I really need to start looking around properly for a new car now

 

[DJMK4]

Milage on this seems low ?

It's also higher in the budget range for me, I'd want pick one up around 60k miles or just over around 10-11k but I do have £15k.set aside for car. It's a 2015 so not sure it has the new engines or the old n47

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[Armageus]

Milage on this seems low ?

It's also higher in the budget range for me, I'd want pick one up around 60k miles or just over around 10-11k but I do have £15k.set aside for car. It's a 2015 so not sure it has the new engines or the old n47

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31k miles on a 9 year old diesel.... avoid

also
" 1-3 MONTHS ENGINE AND GEARBOX FAILURE WARRANTY ON ALL CARS ABOVE £1000" ... just lol and avoid

I'm also still not sure what a 5 year newer 2 series really is offering you over your current 1 series

It's still old enough that it could have a whole boat load of problems.

 

[DJMK4]

31k miles on a 9 year old diesel.... avoid

also
" 1-3 MONTHS ENGINE AND GEARBOX FAILURE WARRANTY ON ALL CARS ABOVE £1000" ... just lol and avoid

I'm also still not sure what a 5 year newer 2 series really is offering you over your current 1 series

It's still old enough that it could have a whole boat load of problems.

My current 1 series is ok but it's starting to get to its age and milage now where I would want to get something else. there is abit of clutch rattle

It's had new discs and pads,

new shocks going on today on the rear today with some exhaust welding

new abs reluctor rings and abs sensors at rear, but the car just feels like I need a refresh. . New starter motor. Amongst other bits .


Either that I go with something that has 12 months Warrenty which would be either extended from a used dealer or something from a main dealer..which is what I posted about re the a6 up above

I want something that's kind of like the size and shape of mine but a bit bigger . That's why I chose the 2 series as one of the cars to search for .

In the VW range ie golf what would people go for these days? Iv not had anything golf related since MK4 and Mk5 ownership circa (2006-2013)

 

[Armageus]

My current 1 series is ok but it's starting to get to its age and milage now where I would want to get something else

but in a couple of years surely you'll be back in the same boat?


Edit:

Despite multiple people saying that you should up your budget significantly or look at other brands, you are still looking at BMW's, so honestly you're probably better off just buying one rather than keep trying to get us to justify it.

 

[Kenai]

If you're looking at £14,000 cars, you should be able to get into a 2017 ish facelift 420d that doesn't have moon mileage on it now, that strikes me as bonkers money to pay for a 2015 2 series just because it's low miles.

(And honestly, such low miles on an old diesel would just put me off anyway, DPF is probably near enough clogged to death by now)

Not looked over these in detail, but this sort of thing (and these are all manual, even though you're mad buying a car like this and avoiding the auto imo):

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Edit - and to be honest, you would probably still be worth looking at petrols but you seem fixated on diesel as if a petrol is going to be completely useless if you take it near a motorway.

 

[DJMK4]

but in a couple of years surely you'll be back in the same boat?

The current one series won't last a coupe of years without sinking major money in to it. It's currently on 139k then you have a high miler

 

[DJMK4]

If you're looking at £14,000 cars, you should be able to get into a 2017 ish facelift 420d that doesn't have moon mileage on it now, that strikes me as bonkers money to pay for a 2015 2 series just because it's low miles.

(And honestly, such low miles on an old diesel would just put me off anyway, DPF is probably near enough clogged to death by now)

Not looked over these in detail, but this sort of thing (and these are all manual, even though you're mad buying a car like this and avoiding the auto imo):

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Edit - and to be honest, you would probably still be worth looking at petrols but you seem fixated on diesel as if a petrol is going to be completely useless if you take it near a motorway.

Cheers I'll take a look .
I dont have to select diesel, I could use petrol as my commuting (at the moment) is across city , however . I have looked at my last statements for milage and I do over 14k miles .

I don't have a set style of driving it's both city and some motorway driving . So I also dont want something that's thirsty on fuel if I was to go petrol

All cars I search for need to have

-good engine that will last with good servicing
- good transmission and gearbox
-doesnt rattle lots
Don't want something that's going to use 25-30mpg driving around. I would want something that can do if petrol (47+ or diesel 53mpg)

 

[Armageus]

It's currently on 139k then you have a high miler

139k isn't a high miler by any stretch.

 

[DJMK4]

Do you own a 1 series ? I service my oil every 6-7k miles and I have done since I owned the car when I picked it. My last 320d I done exactly the same . My last BMW had a complete engine failure at 156k . Bottom end rod bearings.

Not only does this have an n47 engine. Which seems to be holding up .I can't put my money on it living another 60-100k

Its coming up to its date for me to turn in or buy something and use that as a backup car until it dies

 

[DJMK4]

but in a couple of years surely you'll be back in the same boat?


Edit:

Despite multiple people saying that you should up your budget significantly or look at other brands, you are still looking at BMW's, so honestly you're probably better off just buying one rather than keep trying to get us to justify it.

What a load of rubbish .

Iv said I'd look at BMW, Audi, Merc, VW. Although I have never owned an Audi or Merc so I am not sure on the engines and what to look for some people have advised.

Of course you can pick up a decent BMW for under budget and infact other brands .

Hell iv known stories of people buying brand new cars, cars with 10k, or 15k and they are riddled with issues..

 

[Rilot]

What about a Lexus IS300H? Nice enough to drive. Well appointed. You can get a really nice one for the £teensK

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It will be faultlessly reliable.

There are several on the Lexus approved used site: https://used.lexus.co.uk/approved-u...cvt-euro-6-s-s-4dr-jthbh5d2305048605?___SID=U
If you keep servicing it with Lexus, they will keep warrantying it too (up to 10 years or 100k miles)