2.5TDS - Auto vs Manual

[lugy]

I'm looking for a stop gap car to replace my Vectra and one of the main contenders is either an E34/E36 2.5TDS. What are the engines like with both manual and auto boxes?
I've always felt that an auto box only works on some thing with over 200bhp and 6 cylinders so I'm a bit unsure whether it'd work on a 143bhp diesel.

[pacerpete]

Auto boxes work very well with turbo diesel engines as the torque convertor slip masks the turbo lag nicely. Alas the auto box will also cost you 3-5 mpg which will make running a TDS dearer per mile than a M43 engined turd.
This and the potential for expensive dramas mean they are best avoided.

[Baurluvva]

I have a 325tds tourer manual, it goes quite well although its jucier than I would like (bit lead footed) but its not given me any problems whatsoever in the last 25,000 miles!

[lugy]

Auto boxes work very well with turbo diesel engines as the torque convertor slip masks the turbo lag nicely. Alas the auto box will also cost you 3-5 mpg which will make running a TDS dearer per mile than a M43 engined turd.
This and the potential for expensive dramas mean they are best avoided.

Hmmm, the last bit is something on my mind, there seems to be a split camp, some say they're the best cars they've owned, others say they've been a nightmare. M43, that's the E36 318 engine yeah? I seem to remember being in one and it being deathly slow.... It wasn't a sporty one (IS?) though.

I have a 325tds tourer manual, it goes quite well although its jucier than I would like (bit lead footed) but its not given me any problems whatsoever in the last 25,000 miles!

You're on the positive side of the fence then! What mileage does your car have?

[pacerpete]

If you are looking for a stop gap car you want low purchase price and low pence per mile. That usually means avoiding diesels unless you can find a low owner properly maintained one, but unfortunately every other tight wad s looking for the same mythical turd

[Blitz]

The TDS's are liability now and not even that economical. Although about 12 years ago my dads friend had one on the continent a 325tds touring with climate. Now that was nice in its day.

E36 318i touring FTW! Even 518i's are good.

[lugy]

What sort of economy do you get from the 1.8 cars? I'll be doing 400miles/week minimum with it.

If you are looking for a stop gap car you want low purchase price and low pence per mile. That usually means avoiding diesels unless you can find a low owner properly maintained one, but unfortunately every other tight wad s looking for the same mythical turd

It seems the days of cheap motoring is long gone, I'm looking for something that'll last through the summer by which point I'll have decided if I'm staying where I live now or near where I'll be working (within cycling distance so I can get something non boring ).

[Baurluvva]

Mines done 242,000 miles and gets just over 400 miles to a tank (lead footed)

[Andyboy]

With the TDS, autos are more economical on long runs due to the tall gearing but are not so good around town. Manuals are better for that.
They are old shitboxes now but if you can find one that runs and drives okay for 500 quid, you can run it on 60/40 pump diesel and used veg oil. The higher the ratio towards veg, the bigger the chance of fuel leaks and a buggered diesel pump. Using filtered 'pre owned' vegetable oil is the only way to run a tds.
After 6 months, move it on- it'll still sell for £300 even if it has issues.

An M43 engined 318i will average 33 and do 38 on a run.

[lugy]

The more I read about them the more I'm put off, I'm currently feeling I should just sort what needs done on my car and keep it! There's nothing I'm seeing that seems worth buying just now!

Mines done 242,000 miles and gets just over 400 miles to a tank (lead footed)

25mpg?

[e30mtech]

518 is a good motor had mine for 4 years just scrapped it, barely cost a penny on upkeep, kicked its ass every winter and decent economy about 35mpg average.

if you got one i'm fairly close by and i have ivory leather front/rear seats for one sitting in my garage, and 16 inch v8 wheels

[DanThe]

M43 FTL, ive just raped a nice late 518i touring of its nice bits (rear seat, some trim, heater valve/pump, rear glass/tailgate bits) before the diff and cat is removed and its gets put out of our misery

I daily a 525i auto touring LPG'd and its great, I really dont want to get rid of it after 4 years and 74k miles

[Jhonno]

Mines done 242,000 miles and gets just over 400 miles to a tank (lead footed)

Wow.. Same as my 328iA then..

[DanThe]

90 litres to fill an E34 tank = juicy

[Jhonno]

90 litres to fill an E34 tank = juicy

63 to fill an e36 one hurts enough.. £85!

[DanThe]

My tank takes 50 litres = £32

[Jhonno]

If mine still worked it is/was the same..

[Baurluvva]

To be fair my car is always full up - approx 100kg in the back and I generally get just over 400 miles from full to just under 1/4 before it hits red

[e301988325i]

get an auto, helps keep the turbo spinning, a great car to do 400 miles a week in, there are a couple of E39 lpg 525 saloons on autotrader for around a grand which will be noticeably cheaper pence/mile. Ps, did nearly 60k in our e36 325 tds manual, get the auto!

[Simon13]

Mines done 242,000 miles and gets just over 400 miles to a tank (lead footed)

my 92 e36 316i on the j plate did better than that. I'd get 500 plus on a run and i'd fill it on 400 as the fuel guage didn't work. plus petrol is 7-8 litre cheaper.

The record was 550. When the 316's/318's are that good on fuel why bother with some smokey horrid old diesel sh!te. I don't want to put gloves on every time i fill up!

[DanThe]

/\ exactly, I hate diesels with a passion, nothing worse than pulling up to a junction and having to gasp for air because of the dirty smelly filth around you

[lugy]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Used-BMW-728i ... 27c28ba460

Worth a bag? Surely there has to be money in breaking it if it all went wrong!

[DanThe]

You would struggle to get your grand back breaking it, E38 parts are pretty much worthless.

[lugy]

Boo, couple that with mega insurance and it doesn't seem such a great idea anymore! A shame really, would have been ideal for me pretending to be Lithuanian