Diesel cars

[dem maser]

I had a 118d and i did not look after it, got it with 63k and sold it with 81k 3 years later....i was getting paid by work to run it so never gave it the love it deserved.....never went wrong

Had 2 services in 3 years and no other work needed, was sailing through mots...

 

[TridentTested]

I think you have to look very carefully at the whole picture.

My last car was my first foray into diesel ownership. I replaced a petrol 30 mpg (9.4 L/100km) Alfa 166 for a diesel 40 mpg (7.1 L/100km) Citroën C6. I was looking forward to 1,000 km trips between fills and cheaper fuel costs.

Yes, the fuel costs were less but like with most car ownerships the biggest loss was the depreciation. Insurance and VED were more. It would have been vastly cheaper to have kept the Alfa V6 and poured petrol into it.

Furthermore, in the UK diesel was significantly dearer than petrol during my ownership of the C6 so the actually saving on UK roads was minimal, if at all. It was only on French roads I saw a saving.

It's very easy to be lulled into thinking "I have an economical car, therefore my motoring costs are cheaper" but that's not necessarily so.

You need to carefully consider: respective fuel costs where you do most of your mileage, purchase and likely resale costs, local vehicle taxation, and of course maintenance. Modern diesels can be very fragile things with lots to go expensively wrong. Once you've settled on a model then find its forum and check what problems others are having with it.

For example, Google 'BMW swirl flaps' and be informed.




Another left-field suggestion would be a modern petrol. I raved about it before here, I had a rental petrol 1.2 Ibiza for a month this year and I couldn't believe how capable that car was. It could do everything: motorways in comfort, easy parking, packed with all mod-cons, decently fast and after a month's daily motoring I couldn't believe it would only take EUR €50 of petrol to top it up. If I was looking for economy I would seriously consider one.

 

[BennyD]

Not those bl00dy swirl flaps again. I read up on them and felt moved to investigate. I took off the inlet manifold on the wife's 320D at 198k and all the screws were too tight to remove so I left them. I know some people had problems but I am not convinced you shouldnt buy a BM because of the flap issue which has long since been addressed. None of the many diesels I have owned have been 'fragile' and they have been, and are, used hard. I was 'playing' with a Ferrari 360 last night at high speed and he was genuinely surprised at the pace my 335D can generate. Modern diesels are great cars and I will always have one because I love riding the waves of torque they can generate.

 

[TridentTested]

. I was 'playing' with a Ferrari 360 last night at high speed and he was genuinely surprised at the pace my 335D can generate. Modern diesels are great cars and I will always have one because I love riding the waves of torque they can generate.

Carry on with these facts and you'll have me changing the QP for a 335D

 

[dem maser]

I have been in a 535d which is heavier and that was dms it kept up with an M3

 

[GhostyDog]

Turbo powered diesel Beemers, give trouble after X miles.........not the same quality as the Germans would have you believe


P

84,000 miles in 4 years and not a single trip to the dealer other than routine servicing, which wasn't often under CBS

30,000 miles plus out of a set of tyres.

 

[Parisien]

....80K 3 series, in one 12 mth period a mate had turbo go, ABS unit and an ECU....no change of of £5k.......

P

 

[BennyD]

With the numbers they make you are always going to get a bad one and it looks like your mate got it. We all know the risks when we buy into a new marque but it didn't stop us buying a Maserati. Generally, modern BMWs are very reliable and there are dozens of fleet buyers that must agree with me.

 

[Parisien]

I agree Ian...but as they age.....for their original value, some can be put off the road very readily with not seemingly big issues, just expensive fixes....I've had a few Beemers........but none beyond 40K


P

 

[BennyD]

I've had 3 and when I got them none have had less than 65k! It's just the luck of the draw but I would recommend anybody to get an ex-lease BMW, you get an awful lot of reliable car for your money. There are a lot of BM breakers around and you can get cheap used car parts for most models. My wife's next car will be an ex-lease 320D touring and my next one will be either a 335D 4 door or a Diesel Ghibli.

 

[dunnah01]

If it was my choice I'd have a 4200 LPG'd - equivalent of 50mpg with 350bhp. I think the forum might go into melt down if the conversion was actually done...

 

[drellis]

Hope not, when i change the family wagon next year (s4 avant) i plan on converting a quattroporte to lpg, as it has a huge boot, bit of a gamble of running costs possibly. Not getting rid of the 3200ac, i just dont see the point, unless for an evora (sorry off topic)

Or just tell no one and dont let them see you fill up

 

[drewf]

Why not? I've run a couple of V8 Range Rovers on multipoint LPG, and realistically, you couldn't tell whether they were running petrol or lpg. Except when looking at the wallet... There was a tiny drop in power, but that's only important at full throttle - anything less isn't an issue, as the same power is available just by flexing the right foot a little more... So, 75% throttle on unleaded = 80% throttle on lpg, for exactly the same power and performance, just at lower cost. We are about to have the non-turbo Cayenne converted. It's a no-brainer for me. That said, I'd not bother with the Maser as personally my mileage in the QP isn't sufficient to even break even on the installation costs, let alone the long term lower running costs.

As it looks like I will be doing 30k+ pa once again, I'm looking for an A8 Quattro Sport 3.0 TDI. Splendid comfort on the motorways and good grip in the winter.

 

[Mr.Cambio]

Thank you guys for your feedback. I want a small car that will satisfy me on trips as well. If i would turn the S3 to a BMW, i would choose an 1-series coupe, not sure about 3 or 5 series. If it should be 3 series, then that would be a coupe.
Budget...well...it should cost less than the S3, which would cost, let's say 20000 euros today.

Any other makes? Citroen are famous for their cars lately..but they're French...prefer the 2cv...

 

[Max Swell]

You pronounce Citroen ....sh.troen.

Just making sure u don't make a big error.

I've had numerous diesel BMs currently a 330d and I have to say I think it's the best Diesel engine out there. Had it from new and now has 130k mls on it in 3 year 8 months....yes I do as many miles on the ground as Benny does in the air! The car has never let me down 4 services only Achilles heel is run flat tyres effin expensive and around 20k mls per rear set.

If your budget can stretch look at a 3 year old ex lease 635d massive torque and good fun. £22k will get a sub 30k miler

Max

 

[CatmanV2]

My 156 V6 was an LPG conversion. It was brilliant. Would happily consider it on just about anything.

C

 

[Mr.Cambio]

is there a huge difference in consumption between an 1.8, 2.3 or 3.0 diesel engine?

Stupid question, i know, but i can answer it for petrol models only.

 

[BennyD]

If its a mix of performance and economy, I would go for a chipped 2 litre. 3 litre if you want more performance with less economy but I'd leave the 1.8 s alone as they tend to be a bit gutless unless you are in a small car. Google BMW, Audi performance figures or go on 'Pistonheads' as that gives you the performance on each car you look at.

 

[Almichie]

I have a new 320d touring, managed 45k in 10 months so far and it's returned around 50mpg overall. If I'm careful can push 57mpg and if I'm not 46mpg.

I have a box of tricks that (supposedly) pushes it from 180bhp to 235. It actually made about 5mpg difference in a positive way. And means it can be unplugged for service time. Not quite as good as a full map (had one last time) but close enough.

Came with plenty of toys as standard but I would never have leather on a long haul car, especially in summer. You end up feeling very very uncomfortable. I added harmon kardon audio as I cannot be without decent sound. Sat nav option was £1500-2000 which is ridiculous. BMW know how to price options let me tell you!

Overall I actually really enjoy driving the car, rear wheel drive, very well balanced car, unless it snows.... Then don't expect to get it off the drive. It eats rear tyres, three sets in 45k so can only imaging what the larger engines are like!

Good luck!