bmw 320d are they a good car??

[_bmw_316_lad_]

hi all just doing a bit of research on the 2001-2004 models not sure are they e46 or e36 im only used to the e30s

just wondering are they a reliable disel?? And what milage should they do before you start paying big bills?? many miles per gallon and what power are they?? i no you can get 150brake 6 speed ones but my budget cant afford one
alot of qs but i want a disel and i want to continue having bmws in the yard
many thanks Aran

[VeinAST]

e46 they are.

My dad has a 320i 2000 X reg.

Petrol though so my MPG stories of it wont help!

He's put 28000 miles on it so far though and it's cost him sod all

[darkchild]

I think the 2001-2004 E46 320d models are the 150bhp models (earlier cars were 136bhp). First priority would be to get the inlet manifold swirl flaps removed before your engine eats them. This was a BIG problem for BMW and the internet will be full of horror stories of wrecked engines, blown turbos etc.

With preventative maintenance they're good cars and always let the turbo cool down before you switch the engine off. Try having a look on E46 Zone.

[jonny323i]

anything after 2004 is best as the turbo issues they have too were fixed after that they had air bubbles in the casting for the turbos on earlier cars

[_bmw_316_lad_]

hmm ok sounds good so far. are they making alot of money in england?? average price of a 04 320d wit m_tec kit are 100,000miles are making 8to 12,000 euro!!

[Blitz]

hmm ok sounds good so far. are they making alot of money in england?? average price of a 04 320d wit m_tec kit are 100,000miles are making 8to 12,000 euro!!

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1435979.htm

[LagunaE30]

my friend has a 320d on a 53 plate, i have personally driven the car, it is surprisingly quick for a diesel and when driven sensibly and on motorway runs it returns over 30mpg.
i would personally go for something with a bit more oomph and a petrol model, the engine is slightly noisy as with all diesels, he paid £8000 for it around 6 months ago and its an m sport model.

[madaboutthe30]

Refer to this:

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/sum ... x?model=96

And then click on more info on the right hand side...

I am exactly in the same shoes as you are.......I just want a diesel as a workhorse which will happily drive me around up to scotland, the alpes........without too much burden on fuel..........I am swaying more to the focus 1.6tdci now though, it is generally cheaper, cheaper to run (e.g. 35 a year road tax), and it wont hurt so much when you notice your latest parking dent

George

[_bmw_316_lad_]

good points alright.. i do like the style of the mtec ones. they do have good enough power for wwhat i need, i always say you dont buy a disel for speed. well thats wat i feel anyway .. road tax will be a bit on the high side alright. can you compare them to a audi a4?? 130bhp?

[Cook318IS]

I think the 2001-2004 E46 320d models are the 150bhp models (earlier cars were 136bhp). First priority would be to get the inlet manifold swirl flaps removed before your engine eats them. This was a BIG problem for BMW and the internet will be full of horror stories of wrecked engines, blown turbos etc.

Exactly what i was going to say. There was an artical in TBMW about it too:

http://www.pmwltd.co.uk/swirl_flaps.pdf

A mate of mine has a e46 320d, a very nice car imo. It's quiet (inside!) and comfy to drive. He's not had any problems with it either afaik.

[fingerman]

Few months ago I was pushing a 320d up the A34 duel carriageway (around Wilmslow) in my diesel

Sorry not much help but I was impressed with my old girl

[jonny323i]

if you want a car for cheap tax and good economy and plenty of speed get a vw bora 150 sport diesel i had one and it was rapid and very good on fuel i used to get 40mpg round town and upto 60mpg on a run but could out run alot of cars
the only reason i sold it was i needed something bigger to do jobs in now my dad has it and he say he will keep it till it dies as he loves it so much

[Ric_Vezza]

Chip it, i think u can get 230lbs out of a late 320d

[M42]

Iv got one its an individual one in Estoril blue with AC wheels, looks very nice. back to the engine, just make sure you get the flaps removed from the inlet, service it on time, and let the turbo cool down after a long drive and youll be fine. i had mine remapped by DMS and ill leave a standard 330ci standing, its got sooooooo much Tourque for a 4 pot! plus you can get around 52mpg on the motorway.

[_bmw_316_lad_]

well lads i looking at a 01 320d are they 130bhp?? chipping is good only bein hoest i want to keep it standered and not bother with mods . so what milage outa the older ones are they good for and what mpg?? any way of tightening these flaps of horror or do you just remove em completly? many thanks

[M42]

You take them off and fit blanking plates there instead. You can buy a complete kit with everything you need. Its the spindles that hold the flaps on that can break off. The kit is well under a 100 quid, very small price compared to a new engine.

[Blitz]

I think the 136bhp ones dont have the flap problems.

[Andy325i]

A friend has an 04 plate 320D M sport and it goes like a scalded cat!

Very nice car indeed. He paid £11k about 2 years ago and it was one owner with about £68k iirc

Only think he's done is service it and tyres (not cheap lol)

The prices have fallen a great deal now. Don't rush and you will find the right car at a sensible price

This is his car:







Andy

[BMJG]

my dad had the 320d M sport not one problem pulled real well very nice car as sporty derv's go

[kieran325]

I've got one, I bought it brand new in 2004 and it's never failed me yet.

The only thing I had to replace was a broken spring.

It's been serviced under the maintenance package and I always drop the oil every 12 months, just changed the oil and put new discs and pads all round.

It's done just over 30k and I cant fault it, I was thinking about it giving it to the gf and getting a E60 535d but I don't think I want to

[Andyboy]

You take them off and fit blanking plates there instead. You can buy a complete kit with everything you need. Its the spindles that hold the flaps on that can break off. The kit is well under a 100 quid, very small price compared to a new engine.

The spindles are normally okay, it's the screws that hold the plates to the spindles that fall out. After these go into the engine, the flap follows and destroys the engine. Sometimes the whole lot goes in.
I saw a 2004 530d E60 once where the owner asked the garage to remove the manifold just to check - No.6 flap was literally about to fall off - they caught it just in time.

136 bhp cars don't have the flaps, neither do any X5's or manual gearbox 525d/530d's. After late 2004 they were redesigned with a bigger flap that has a rubbery plastic surround. These are too big to get into the inlet port.

[_bmw_316_lad_]

well lads im after looking and looking and still no car better or worse mpg in the 136 and 150bhp? and how long should engine last. any1 on ere wit high milage car?? many thanks for comments and dem 320ds shown in the pics are well good in fairness

[Jones]

Havent read every thread post so this may have been said already... I have been thinking about going down this route myself, the swirlf flap problem does happen but google it, and you can actually remove the flaps altogether, and put in these billt machined plates which a bmw specialist have designed £14 each. aparently the flaps are only there for emission purposes, and once removed there wont be much noticeable difference if at all...

http://www.pmwltd.co.uk/?tag=swirl-flaps

other than that, i'd say e46 is one of the best BM's i have been in apart from e30 obviously...

[_bmw_316_lad_]

hmm sorry to bring this up yet again but the 150bhp models what are they called for to get quote from insurance company? are the 136bhp the only ones called the se?? many thanks

[darkchild]

hmm sorry to bring this up yet again but the 150bhp models what are they called for to get quote from insurance company? are the 136bhp the only ones called the se?? many thanks

SE is just the trim level. Early E46 320d models were 136bhp and were later replaced by 150bhp engines. I'm not sure the exact date of change but I expect someone on here will know.

[Andyboy]

2001 when they facelifted them with the new grille/lights/indicators.

I would just avoid the 150 bhp cars and go for a nice 136 instead, if you can find one before it falls into typical E46 rattiness.

SE is a trim level. On 150 bhp cars it meant climate a/c, cruise control, fogs and coded door handles.

[_bmw_316_lad_]

ok lads thanks very much for the help again!!!