What automatic estate to buy?

steve-L

bodgerx wrote: »

It was the 318i with the direct injection petrol that almost sounds like a diesel the injectors are so clacky.

Although prices at this age of car are maybe not affected so much by trim level, stripper models are tough to sell. Nobody wants a poverty spec lux brand.

Absolutely, hence why mine ended up such a bargain and below the book price. To be honest though I bet if I put it back for sale with the leather it would sell for the original asking price!

I'm sure the the 3.0 six cylinder diesel is a peach of an engine. But, BMW reliability and running costs on a large and over complicated german engine would send me running a mile, out of warranty, I'm afraid. Each to their own

However the reliability issues are on the whole on the 4 pots! (Incl. the 2L diesel series....) whereas the 3.0 has less reported problems (might just be there are less about!!)

To be fair I also considered this and put a bit aside just in case (about 2k) as £8,000 was my absolute max price I was willing to pay at the time. I cheated a bit as the £600 for the leather didn't come out of the fix the overly complex german engine fund in case it goes wrong !!!

BMW don't really pay the same attention to any of their 4 cyl engines, either the petrol or diesel.... IMHO ... and I guess only the through the roof sales of the 320's as fleet cars has made them take them more seriously???