Just can't pick. *things got worse*
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi Guys,

Need a spot of help. I bought just before Christmas a 2001 BMW 320D to use as a every day car. trip to work is all up and down the motorway and having 4 doors made sence. BUT it don't work right. Got it privatly so no come back. Its had low power since i got it and a number of atemps to fix it havn't done anything. It has now been classed as a money pit and needs to go.. so the question is what do i buy? Have to tight with the pennys having bough a house so budget is max of 5k. I would like somthing vaguely intersting but have to take in to account the motorway driving.
My MX5 (now for sale by the way) just wasn't the tool for the job.
Idea really... I'm stuck.

thanks

Edited by Alex1340 on 27th Jan, 2010.

i take it you still want an oil burner?

I've had two A4's so that would be my choice.

Did u get the injectors checked?

Bending the rules and ruling the bends,Since 1959

You can still do a compression test so if that is okay and the turbo works it should be relatively easy to fix - plenty of bimmer specialists out there - does not have to be a stealership you use!

Edited by Scruffy on 13th Jan, 2010.

On 5th Sep, 2011 Vegard said:
I stand corrected. You should know

I'm also on my second A4. Very good cars. I've done 65k in just over 3 years with no real problems.

Got a A3 for the other half which is a good car.
The BM has been in at a speiclist rather than a deal they have tried to get the injectors out but they won't shift. So the head needs to come off but the head bolts are under the rocker cover which can't come off with out taking the injector out. So there stuck.
Had thought about a Toyota celica. Any one had one?
Been put of oil burns abit now, but they make alot of sense. Good tow car got a car trailer.

Well i've had the audi for 3.5years now and stuck over 90k on the clock only really needing the flywheel and clutch replacing apart from the servicing and the odd suspension bush

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

Any one want a 2001 BMW 320d? Lol

Another vote for something VAG from me, if you want mildly interesting what about a remapped 1.8T? I do a 400 mile/week commute in mine and return around 35-36mpg which isn't too bad considering the performance.

Mr. Prawn, the friendly Crustacean- slowly making steps towards forced induction.

What about a Saab 93 diesel or petrol, both good engines and quite nice cars.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

when i test drove the 93 (120bhp) i was very disapointed with the performance to the point i turned round and went straight back to the dealership

The diesel saabs seem to have very low power outputs for the engine sizes.

That coupled with the fact that it's a tarted up vectra would put me off! Saab went massively downhill when GM took over.

Mr. Prawn, the friendly Crustacean- slowly making steps towards forced induction.

So much so that they have shut the doors!

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

audi a3 for me, never let me down

Changing from a 320D to a VAG-product based on engine reliability will forever be a mystery to me. The 1,9 engines found in A4s and Passats are absolutely shite compared to the 2litre from BMW. The horrid diesel injectors, the cambelts, the lack of 8 valves etc. Need I go on??

Fix the BMW. That has got to be much cheaper than buying a 10year old VAG-product which will break down due to some lame "Vorsprung durch technic" crap.. Butter cams, dieselpumps that even Bosch refuse to write their name on because of the junk quality made at a price.

Mmmm VAG!

Edited by Vegard on 14th Jan, 2010.

Problem is I've got a A3, don't really want to have two Cars the same. Did think about a TT but it might be abit ..... You know.

Passatt?

the wife has a got a TT - don't get her started on what it has cost us to fix in the last 2 years!

What about a 330D. From what I can gather the 3.0 engine doesn't have problems like the 2.0 d.

i dont agree with vegard at all, i have an a4 and apart from trying source and alternator its been fautless, i bought it because i dont recover them however i do recover plenty of bmw's and mercs

The VAG 1.9 and 2.0 diesels may seem agricultural by others standads but in my opinion there more reliable

I dont know how reliable the V50 is yet as we have only had it a couple of months but its a brilliant drive feels more gutsy than the 138 brake its got, another car i never recover although the insides not quite as well screwed together than the germans the car is more comfertable to drive than my audi

Edited by wolfie on 14th Jan, 2010.

I'd agree with wolfie. My 1.9tdi 130 might not be the most advance diesel engine about, but it returns 50MPG and it never misses a beat. This is my 2nd a4 and they've never once needed recovery.

V's point about the BMWs goes completly against Alex's first post saying that he can't get his BMW's engine to bits to fix the running probelm that has/is costing him a fortune!

Edited by Vegard on 14th Jan, 2010.

All fair points, but if it's the most sold engine it's logical that it will have proportionaly more failures. As a mechanic, I would expect him to see the poorer condition ones far more routinly than he sees the fully working ones.

My car is relativly fast, smooth and quiet. Certianly no rattles.

EDIT: Spelling

Edited by apbellamy on 14th Jan, 2010.