BMW320 - Petrol or Diesel?

foxy-stoat

If your driving 20,000 a year then a diesel would be favorite. Buy on servicing and condition rather than the first M Sport that looks good in your price range

Stoke

I didn't own a 320 but I did own a 318 petrol and my recommendation is an A4 B8.

You're welcome.

foxy-stoat

Stoke wrote: »

I didn't own a 320 but I did own a 318 petrol and my recommendation is an A4 B8.

You're welcome.

I am sure he will when is engine is destroyed by the oil shaft failing.

Stoke

foxy-stoat wrote: »

I am sure he will when is engine is destroyed by the oil shaft failing.

Yeah.... true, I mean they can put his car next to my BMW 318i which currently requires a £6,000 engine due to the VANOS shaft seizing causing the pistons to hit the valves. Better yet, there's a cool 72k miles on the clock, so it can still be sold as low mileage if someone fancies a project? Yikes.....

I've had several Audi's..... all of which I sold on (except the last one, I crashed that). Just the one BM, which at this point is heading towards a scrap yard.

foxy-stoat

Trouble with Audis and BMW's 2007 on is they are a gamble on something that can destroy engines. Not as if its just the swirl flaps than need blanking and your good to go.

Switched to Hondas and never looked back.

Stoke

foxy-stoat wrote: »

Trouble with Audis and BMW's 2007 on is they are a gamble on something that can destroy engines. Not as if its just the swirl flaps than need blanking and your good to go.

Switched to Hondas and never looked back.

All cars have problems, but the issues with timing on the BMW's appear to be serious and fundamental design flaws. I have no idea about the oil issue you mentioned, but a lot of the problems reported with Audi's (like sludge on the 1.8T) are down to owner incompetence. That engine requires a very specific oil type, changed at a very specific interval (or earlier). Get it changed at the right time, with the right oil and you won't have problems whatsoever.

foxy-stoat

Just the shaft that turns the oil pump fails and starves the engine of oil BOOM - no amount of regular maintenance can cure it just has to be changed on the 2.0 tdi engines.

Heavy oil usage on the petrol engines - older manual Audi or VAG cars no problems that cant be sorted when spotted.

Dont know what the newer ones are like to be honest but think they are overpriced for what they are.

MEM62

Update.


All input was appreciated guys. I have gone for a 2011 320i with 56,000 miles on it and one owner. It is really clean and the cam chain was replaced 5,000 mile ago. (Because it was getting noisy, not because it snapped)

Stoke

MEM62 wrote: »

Update.


All input was appreciated guys. I have gone for a 2011 320i with 56,000 miles on it and one owner. It is really clean and the cam chain was replaced 5,000 mile ago. (Because it was getting noisy, not because it snapped)

This is a very nice guarantee for you. Just remember to service it on time. I don't know if the newer uprated parts are better, but best be safe rather than sorry

MEM62

Stoke wrote: »

This is a very nice guarantee for you. Just remember to service it on time. I don't know if the newer uprated parts are better, but best be safe rather than sorry

From what I read on the subject the service intervals are part of the issue. In order to appeal to the corporate market BMW stretched the service intervals out to 18,000 by which time the oil ain't doing much. The general wisdom is to change the oil & filter at 9,000 mile intervals which I will do.