Found a MY2004 320d Sport Touring For Sale....advice please.

[coldcarpaccio]

Hi all...

My first post here...

I have been looking for a new car, and today stumbled across a 320d Sport Touring which looks pretty cool...

I am wondering if you guys could help me with anything I need to know.

The trader has told me that the car has 110,000 miles on the clock, but these engines will go to 250,000 before any major issues arrive..

The car is up for £11k

Can anyone who possibly owns one let me know about consumption, how much are the tyres, services (in UK), what are they like to live with ?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thankyou.

Jonathan.

[rassi]

110k miles is a lot (relatively), so the price should reflect that - not sure it shouldn't be (a lot) cheaper. How old is it and what options does it have?

[olf]

Well I have a sport touring and it's lovely but given the choice again I'd probably go for a non sport model with some nice wheels. Sports suspension can be a bit tiring for a family car. Tyres for 18" wheels are about 700-800 fitted with alignment.

If I were you I'd go for this and keep some pocket money!

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/

Thats michelin pilots by the way.

Edited by olf on Wednesday 4th April 22:03

[daver]

I have a 330i Touring with sport suspension and 18" MVs.

Tyre consumption is directly related to driving style so it's impossible to generalise on how long they'll last. I recently replaced the rears with 255x35/18 Dunlop 9000s though and that came to £230 for the pair inc. VAT at Bracknell Tyres. The fronts need doing too now and I'd expect that to be a shade over £200.

BMW sports suspension seems to have developed a bad reputation in recent times but I'd suggest that has more to do with new cars being fitted with run-flats. The ride quality in a colleagues Z4 running the same profile tyres (but run-flats) was atrocious. Conversely, I've owned other E46s with non-sport suspension that was far too soft, so sports susp. + conventional tyres gets my vote.

Oh and my car has done 108,000 and is a 2000 X-plate in imperial blue with grey leather. I'll happily take £11k for it!

[coldcarpaccio]

Hi Guys, thanks for the replies and the info...

Interesting what you are saying about the suspension..

This is the description of the one i had found in particular... though now I have looked a little more closely I have found a few more...

4 Doors, Manual, Estate, Diesel, Grey, MANUFACTURERS SERVICE HISTORY, CD PLAYER, UPGRADED ALLOYS, ALCANTARA SUEDE, AREOSPORT SPOILERS, ABS, ADJUSTABLE STEERING COLUMN, AIR CONDITIONING, ALARM, ANTI DAZZLE REAR SCREEN, ANTI SKID CONTROL + TRACTION, BMW BUSINESS STEREO, CARBON-FIBRE SPORTS INTERIOR TRIMS, CLEAR LENSES, CLIMATE CONTROL, CRUISE CONTROL, DRIVERS CENTRAL ARMREST, ELECTRIC WINDOWS, ELECTRIC WING MIRRORS, FRONT FOG-LIGHTS, FULL CHILD SAFETY WINDOW LOCK, FULL MOTOR-SPORTS BODYKIT, FULLY COLOUR CODED, HIGH LEVEL REAR BRAKE LIGHT, IMMOBILISER, MOTORSPORT FRONT & REAR SPOLIERS, M-TECH STEERING WHEEL & GEAR LEVER, MULTI AIRBAG SYSTEM, MULTI FUNCTION STEERING WHEEL, ON BOARD COMPUTER, PAS, REAR HEADRESTS, REMOTE KEY CENTRAL LOCKING, REVERSE PARKING DISTANCE CONTROL, SPORTS. £11,000.


What mpg (truthfully LOL) do you get from your 330 ? Anything lower than about 32mpg driving easy, and going to be too pricey for me I think. Are the Alcantara seats really nice ? or more of a gimmick, when the fabric goes smooth and stretches ? My mother has a 330ci, and I drove it today round the M25 to M40 northbound slip road and nearly slipped off the seat becuase of the lack of grip from the leather...

JB

[olf]

You won't get more that 30 average for a 330i

A 320d should return you a good 42-45 average if driven wth a bit of respect!

[coldcarpaccio]

Hi Olf,

Yeah thats what I thought, I reset the consumption on the 330 today, and driving normally was around 28-30..

Jonathan,

[daver]

olf said:

You won't get more that 30 average for a 330i

What makes you think that? I drove the 40 miles home from my office near Windsor to down near Petersfield in Hants on a mix of A and B roads this evening and got 31.7mpg

A mate of mine regularly gets 34+ mpg in his 530i on return trips from down here up to Manchester and back if he tootles along at 75mph.

Of course, the motor is a peach but if you give it a good thraping you won't get anything like that. But then you'll be shortening your time between fill-ups if you do that in a 320d or a 330d as well.

How long have you had your 330d, olf, and what do you think of it so far? Heading for DMS or anyone similar any time soon??

[coldcarpaccio]

Any thoughts about the Alcantara vs Leather debate ?

Just found this actually, 4 new tyres too...

Manual 6 speed, Estate, Diesel, 88,000 miles. Full BMW history, 1 owner, Black sapphire pearl, with heated montana leather, 18" M Sport alloys, Multi function steering wheel, Cruise control, climate controlled air con, fuel & trip computer, Heated seats, rear parking distance control, rain sensing wipers, BMW business audio with 6CD, centre armrest, chairs adjustable in height, complete tailored overmats, Electric windows and mirrors, front fogs, height and reach steering adjustment, leather steering wheel, 3 rear seat belts and head rests, load compartment cover, Load restraint guard, multi airbags, power steering, remote central locking, roofrails, ABS. 88000 easy motorway business miles by one professional keeper, supported with full BMW history. Recently MOT'd with 4 new tyres.

Under £10k

What is the story with the 320d engines going on to do 250,000 miles before they go bang ?

Jonathan.

[olf]

I love the 330d. The engine is superb, really really superb. I get about 35-38mpg my wife gets 42 ish!

Just had a service under the service and maintenance thing and also got a load of warranty stuff sorted. My car seems to be a bit of a one-off. If I gave you the full spec you wouldnt believe me... so it has all the toys. Now I've got the 528i I regularly get reminded about how quickly diesels run out of steam and it is nice to hold the revs to 6k but the 330 makes up for it with that massive torque mountain.

Still not sure about DMS. It sounds so appealing but I'm not sure if they are eeking too much out at 268 or whatever they claim. 240 sounds more realistic. I was looking at the hartge map.

I love it. The auto is so well mated to the engine. it can be such a lazy drive when you want it to be and a bit of a beast when you go for it!

I can heartily recommend!

[MattOz]

Jonathan,

That first 320d is dear and is bog standard for a 320d Sport. The second car appears to be better spec'd and better value. I've had 330d's and have never failed to average less than 40mpg during my ownership. A 320 should be mid-40's and more.

Check for turbo smoke, oil leaks from the turbo pipework and that's about it really. E46's can crack rear springs, so have a good look. Tyres are relatively cheap at about £100 a corner.

Cheers
Matt

[coldcarpaccio]

Hi Matt, went to see a car today, and just noticing what you were saying about the rear springs, this car seemed a touch low (though not over the wheels). Are they normally that low ?

This trader supplies an RAC check free of charge, but I should probably get my own check done..

JB

[olf]

They do look low on big wheels yes.

Why won''t you trust his RAC? You could ask to be there when it happens?

[coldcarpaccio]

The car has been checked already by the dealer with the RAC, but for me £12,500 is a huge amount of money to spend, and as I am buying it to be a bullet proof work car, (being a TopGear photographer) I want to make sure it is going to last the distance, i.e the remaining 170,000 miles before the 250,000 miles when they are mean't to blow up lol...

The car is currently on 81k miles, and is selling for the above price. Is this a reasonable price ? It hasn't got a full spec on the car, but seeing as I will be using it as a work tool rather than a pride and joy car, I am not too worried about a few missing options, like bluetooth phone connection and lowering passenger side door mirror for reverse...

You reckon this is a fair price ?

Just want to thank everyone again for all their advice as I have posted the same message on bimmerforums and e46 forums, and not had one reply on either.. so respect to you guys that have posted. Thankyou.

JB

[Vee]

£12.5k seems high given E46 prices have been dropping like a stone for the past year, and continue to do so.

Expect a turbo replacement somewhere around 100-150k as well as other bits like bushes s a heavy car).

[olf]

Copying stuff in from Autotrader is a PITA but here a couple that would push your find very hard. Bear in mind there is an offer to be made on the 12,995 one. BOTH have bluetooth.

THIS ONE IS A SPORT
68,600 mile
MANUAL
GREY
Diesel
5 Door Estate
04 reg (2004

Manual, 68,600 miles, Silver grey,Alcantara cloth interior, Full BMW service history, 1 owner from new, 6 speed manual gearbox, Climate control, 18" alloy wheels, BMW bluetooth, ABS, Alarm, Usual sport spec with sports seats, sport body kit and suspension, M steering wheel, cruise control, Trip computer, Drives superb with fantastic mpg, Appointment only. £12,995


mk.1 motor company
Contact number: 07720 717595 or 01257 450495


55,000 mile
Manual
SILVER
Diesel
5 Door Estate
52 reg (2002)

Manual, 55,000 miles, Silver. 3x3 point rear seat belts, ABS, Air conditioning, Alarm, Alloy wheels, Audio remote control. Full BMW service history. Just serviced. 10 months Tax. 8 months MOT. Full black leather interior. CD player. Bluetooth. 50mpg. Excellent condition. £10,999

Pre face lift... Contact number: 01392 833372 or 07766 223711

Edited by olf on Friday 6th April 10:59

[olf]

If you PM me your email I'll send the cars direct form the autocar website.