XSeries-forum

I have a Golf 2003 MKIV 1.9TDI (with 204K miles) I use for weekly drive to work. I currently clock about 28k miles yearly.

MOT is due. It needs a new exhaust + front pass door wont open

So I am thinking it time to dump it and buy something else hat i can use for another 3/4 years

I like the looks of the E46 .....

How economical are the diesels ?

what should I watch out for when buying?

cheers

We have an E46 Conv with the 30d in it and when driven modestly it can achieve greater than 40mpg.  However given that is has more torques than an M3, modest it not the way it's driven so mid 30's, maybe lower.  Given the Verts weigh a lot more and are less aerodynamic than the normal car with a roof, you should get more from one.

Richard

I had an E46 2.0d estate for nine years, it was great on fuel, on a run it was well over 50 to the gallon and around 40 general running, the only thing I had to replace in nine years was one rear spring for an MOT.
Loved that car and the only reason for letting it go was it was low to the ground. Getting in and driving was fine, it just got embarrassing when I got out!

Rear springs are a known issue.  We've had three in 9 years.

And as an aside, our E46 has just had a factory/VOSA recall due to potential air bag issues!  291,000 recalled!

Details..

Richard

My 330d was giving high 30's to high 40's mpg depending on the driving style.  Front and rear suspension bushes were all renewed. Rear springs twice. Thats about it for major work.  And my daughter is still driving it at over 200k miles. So not a bad car really!

I've had 320D coupe sport and a 330D cab sport back in the days (both manual). The 320 could do 40/44 mpg and 330 would do 30/37 mpg or somewhere near those figures. You need to be careful of swirl flaps, do some google searching. Having had both BMs and the Audi variants of A3 and A4 2.0 D Sline cars, if you want the 2.0 engine for economy purposes, I personally would look towards the A4 or A3 2.0 D 140/170 bhp which never gave me less than 40mpg no matter how hard they were driven, more like 45 ave.
If economy is not top priority then the 330d engine is a peach in the e46 and should last for a long time with a fair old boot of power.

Thanks for your replies,

Max, I was trying to stay away from from the VW/Audi/Seat  since they are mechanically similar ... with the same issues .... though thats probably is a good thing because there are lots of repair info online.

2.0 D engine will be ideal as I would like to stick to mid 40mpg+ range

I also started eyeing up the E90  (for the wife) as  a possibility as well if  she donates her Honda jazz to me. That way I won't have to get an E46.

I take it the E90 are good as well?. I had a petrol version from BMW as a courtesy car and I could not get use to it due to lack of idling engine noise !, thats what happens after 5 yrs of driving diesels

So I guess (2005-2008) E46 or E90 on the cards.

<2005 will be an e46 140bhp 2.0d
>2005 should be e90 163bhp 2.0d

If budget can stretch and you want to avoid VAG cars, a low miles e90 2.0d should see you out, get SE spec or higher

I will hopefully be doing the necessary work to get the golf through MOT this weekend.

So that gives me time to look carefully.

Is it a good idea to look at the BCA auctions? ...the one in blackbushe?

OR just stick to autotrader... forum ?

You will struggle to find  many tidy E46 at blackbushe as these are getting on a bit now. 320d swirl flap issues well documented and from recall it was facelift cars affected - Not sure if all or just some affected.

[quote="cooa99"]

I have a Golf 2003 MKIV 1.9TDI (with 204K miles) I use for weekly drive to work. I currently clock about 28k miles yearly.

MOT is due. It needs a new exhaust + front pass door wont open

So I am thinking it time to dump it and buy something else hat i can use for another 3/4 years

I like the looks of the E46 .....

How economical are the diesels ?

what should I watch out for when buying?

cheers
[/quote]
I'm curious why you don't want another VAG car, have you had loads of trouble with them.?
I've had 2 mates with 2.0 D Beemers, one ingested a swirl flap, the other blew a turbo seal causing the engine to rev itself to death, feeding on all the oil from the sump until it siezed.
Saying that I've had Beemers for years and had no problems with them, but was put off the 2.0d's by bad publicity over engine failures. I've only had 6 and 8 cylinder BMW's before, stayed away from the 4 potters. I've got a MK6 Golf 4 pot diesel now and I am very impressed so far , 58 MPG on a run too, 45 MPG mixed driving usually.
I miss the 6 cylinder BMW power and torque though

3.0 diesel also has swirl flaps on the E46, albeit the later, safer version.  I removed them from our 2005 version in the Summer.  Haven't really noticed much difference TBH.

As said above there are unlikely to be many good ones going through BCA these days.  Have a look on Pistonheads too though.

Richard

[quote="Horizon"]
I'm curious why you don't want another VAG car, have you had loads of trouble with them.?
I've had 2 mates with 2.0 D Beemers, one ingested a swirl flap, the other blew a turbo seal causing the engine to rev itself to death, feeding on all the oil from the sump until it siezed.
Saying that I've had Beemers for years and had no problems with them, but was put off the 2.0d's by bad publicity over engine failures. I've only had 6 and 8 cylinder BMW's before, stayed away from the 4 potters. I've got a MK6 Golf 4 pot diesel now and I am very impressed so far , 58 MPG on a run too, 45 MPG mixed driving usually.
I miss the 6 cylinder BMW power and torque though
[/quote]


I dont dislike VAG cars. In fact I find that issue diagnosing & DIY repairs are probably easier on them considering the wealth of info available on the web.

My X5 is currently used on the weekends only ... But just felt it would be nice to get back behind a smaller BMW for weekday use as well ..... after 4yrs

The only 3 series I ever had was a LHD E36 320i (I bough from Germany in the Deutsche Mark days ) which lasted to 260k miles  before head gasket issues after intended neglect to run it aground after her 18th birthday . It was a sweet car and only ever needed oil & brake part changes.

Are the E90's with the same problems as the E46?

cheers