2005/6 320d - am I mad?

[911Spanker]

Have been thinking about a new cheapish family car and keep coming back to the E90/1.

An early 320d seems like a good choice but am I asking for trouble? Thinking around £3k max or thereabouts.

[helix402]

As long as it’s cheap. It’ll have the old M47. Expect it to drive like a tired old car unless all the suspension has been changed.

[MikeM6]

Depends on your expectations and how well it has been looked after. A 320d i(f cared for will) last many decades and miles. Even an abused one could be refreshed quite readily if needed, so I see no reason to be worried about looking for one of these.

An knackered M3 beware, a 320d not so much.

[I-am-the-reverend]

Most of them are shagged 180,000 mile wrecks now. But there will be the odd one with 100k, few owners and good s/history. They were really nice cars when new. Don't discount a 318d, they still go well enough.

[d_a_n1979]

911Spanker said:

Have been thinking about a new cheapish family car and keep coming back to the E90/1.

An early 320d seems like a good choice but am I asking for trouble? Thinking around £3k max or thereabouts.

My pal has literally spent all weekend looking at E91 320Ds for their dog car duties and they were all dogs; shagged/a mess (even though described as the opposite etc); so tread carefully...

They ended up with a Mondeo ST TDCi estate and it looks to be a superb car and in overall much better condition/better looked after than any of the E91s...

Think they viewed 8 BMWs all in! Says a lot about that end of the market IMO

If you can; buy low owners/owned & cherished by an enthusiast rather than a car that's been passed around time & time again

[Court_S]

d_a_n1979 said:

My pal has literally spent all weekend looking at E91 320Ds for their dog car duties and they were all dogs; shagged/a mess (even though described as the opposite etc); so tread carefully...

They ended up with a Mondeo ST TDCi estate and it looks to be a superb car and in overall much better condition/better looked after than any of the E91s...

Think they viewed 8 BMWs all in! Says a lot about that end of the market IMO

If you can; buy low owners/owned & cherished by an enthusiast rather than a car that's been passed around time & time again

I found a lot of E91’s were shagged when I was looking back in 2013 for a 330. I guess a fair few became family / dog wagons. Another 10 years won’t have helped those cars.

[d_a_n1979]

Court_S said:

d_a_n1979 said:

My pal has literally spent all weekend looking at E91 320Ds for their dog car duties and they were all dogs; shagged/a mess (even though described as the opposite etc); so tread carefully...

They ended up with a Mondeo ST TDCi estate and it looks to be a superb car and in overall much better condition/better looked after than any of the E91s...

Think they viewed 8 BMWs all in! Says a lot about that end of the market IMO

If you can; buy low owners/owned & cherished by an enthusiast rather than a car that's been passed around time & time again

I found a lot of E91’s were shagged when I was looking back in 2013 for a 330. I guess a fair few became family / dog wagons. Another 10 years won’t have helped those cars.

Exactly! They're rep mobiles generally, so will have been driven to the nth degree and no sts given etc!

There will be some good examples; but you'd have to sift through a lot to get to them

[Matt_E46]

In answer to the thread title, yes.

[sunnyb13]

Not at 3k. At £5k maybe

[911Spanker]

Thanks all, something to think about. We have a 330D in the family and I have an E36 328i which has some mods on it.

Need a family car and happy to spend £10k or so. After much thinking and considering the type of driver I am and driving I do, I think a M47 320d is probably the right answer.

Probably will look to fit some upgraded pads, get a remap, swirl flap delete qand the Birds B3 kit. Something with low 100k miles would be a good base car I feel.

Something like this:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023031753...

Edited by 911Spanker on Tuesday 11th April 19:49

[helix402]

911Spanker said:

Thanks all, something to think about. We have a 330D in the family and I have an E36 328i which has some mods on it.

Need a family car and happy to spend £10k or so. After much thinking and considering the type of driver I am and driving I do, I think a M47 320d is probably the right answer.

Probably will look to fit some upgraded pads, get a remap, swirl flap delete qand the Birds B3 kit. Something with low 100k miles would be a good base car I feel.

Something like this:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023031753...

Edited by 911Spanker on Tuesday 11th April 19:49

£10k will get a 335d E91. My owners thread explains how to turn one into a decent E46 replacement.

[d_a_n1979]

911Spanker said:

Thanks all, something to think about. We have a 330D in the family and I have an E36 328i which has some mods on it.

Need a family car and happy to spend £10k or so. After much thinking and considering the type of driver I am and driving I do, I think a M47 320d is probably the right answer.

Probably will look to fit some upgraded pads, get a remap, swirl flap delete qand the Birds B3 kit. Something with low 100k miles would be a good base car I feel.

Something like this:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023031753...

Edited by 911Spanker on Tuesday 11th April 19:49

I'm sure that's one that my pal went to see (1 in Oldham, 2 in Rochdale and 1 in Burnley); that one in Oldham he said absolutely stank and was really rough

I'd avoid anything like that at that price range; you'd be pouring money into a st heap and it's not worth it

If you've £10k budget; why the hell are you looking at the dogst bargain basement dregs?!

[911Spanker]

helix402 said:

911Spanker said:

Thanks all, something to think about. We have a 330D in the family and I have an E36 328i which has some mods on it.

Need a family car and happy to spend £10k or so. After much thinking and considering the type of driver I am and driving I do, I think a M47 320d is probably the right answer.

Probably will look to fit some upgraded pads, get a remap, swirl flap delete qand the Birds B3 kit. Something with low 100k miles would be a good base car I feel.

Something like this:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023031753...

Edited by 911Spanker on Tuesday 11th April 19:49

£10k will get a 335d E91. My owners thread explains how to turn one into a decent E46 replacement.

Thanks, will have a look..

[911Spanker]

d_a_n1979 said:

911Spanker said:

Thanks all, something to think about. We have a 330D in the family and I have an E36 328i which has some mods on it.

Need a family car and happy to spend £10k or so. After much thinking and considering the type of driver I am and driving I do, I think a M47 320d is probably the right answer.

Probably will look to fit some upgraded pads, get a remap, swirl flap delete qand the Birds B3 kit. Something with low 100k miles would be a good base car I feel.

Something like this:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023031753...

Edited by 911Spanker on Tuesday 11th April 19:49

I'm sure that's one that my pal went to see (1 in Oldham, 2 in Rochdale and 1 in Burnley); that one in Oldham he said absolutely stank and was really rough

I'd avoid anything like that at that price range; you'd be pouring money into a st heap and it's not worth it

If you've £10k budget; why the hell are you looking at the dogst bargain basement dregs?!

I am yet to have a look at one so it may be a very bad idea!

A few reasons I thought it was a plan:

- We have a 145k mile E90 330d in the family and it's ace
- I don't want an N47 engined car and also don't want a six as I find the weight spoils the handling
- Want RWD hence the Volvo is out
- Want hydraulic PAS
- Have driven a few 320ds of this vintage and think they make fine road cars (if properly maintained of course)
- I like a project e.g. my E36 and spending a few grand refreshing a tired car usually means you have a better end product than buying something for your budget
- I like the 205 section tyres and 16" rim combo

[sunnyb13]

what did you end up picking OP?