I've owned an E46 323i for the last 3 years now and think its an absolutely fabulous car even though it's been a bit pricey to maintain.
The problem is that I'm going to be doing a lot more trips up and the country from now on, as I have a job in London but tend to return to Harrogate (Yorkshire) more or less every weekend for the GF (450 miles round trip)
In mixed A/B/town, I get about 27mpg but now with the increase in mileage and the stratospheric petrol prices, I could do with something more economical - possibly a (urrghhhh) diesel. I thought about a 320d but read some horror stories in Bimmer magazine about the inlet manifold disintegrating and taking the engine with it.
I can get about £3.5k - £4k trade in for my current car and could spend about another £1k or so. Don't think private is realistic as there are a couple of minor dents in the bodywork which would probably put off private buyers
What do people think my options are? Should I get 320d (is it in budget) and pay the cost of replacing the manifold (with associated labour costs) or should I consider something else?
Any car has to be reasonably quiet as there's nothing worse having to put up with a constant done for several hours on the motorway and would prefer something interesting rather than usual Mondo/Astra fayre. Would a Lexus IS diesel be any good?
The problem is that I'm going to be doing a lot more trips up and the country from now on, as I have a job in London but tend to return to Harrogate (Yorkshire) more or less every weekend for the GF (450 miles round trip)
In mixed A/B/town, I get about 27mpg but now with the increase in mileage and the stratospheric petrol prices, I could do with something more economical - possibly a (urrghhhh) diesel. I thought about a 320d but read some horror stories in Bimmer magazine about the inlet manifold disintegrating and taking the engine with it.
I can get about £3.5k - £4k trade in for my current car and could spend about another £1k or so. Don't think private is realistic as there are a couple of minor dents in the bodywork which would probably put off private buyers
What do people think my options are? Should I get 320d (is it in budget) and pay the cost of replacing the manifold (with associated labour costs) or should I consider something else?
Any car has to be reasonably quiet as there's nothing worse having to put up with a constant done for several hours on the motorway and would prefer something interesting rather than usual Mondo/Astra fayre. Would a Lexus IS diesel be any good?
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