If I could give you any advice as a 320d owner - dont waste your time!!! I bought a 2002 320d October 2008. It broke down April 2009 - and still standing. I bought it for R99k at 100,000km. I've spent R56,000 fixing the piece of sh** and I still dont have it. I drove it for a week in Jan of 2010 and it went back for a further R10k repairs. The problem is the turbo - majorly so. If you are still looking at buying one, obtain the engine number. Do yourself a favor and phone BMW Assist, speak to Johannes Conradie and get the CIA report. If the turbo has been exchanged twice, DONT buy it. You will also probably notice that the crankshaft vibration dampers are worn. Not a good combination with a faulty turbo. Another problem is the catalistic converter. If that clogs up, the turbo goes. If the turbo goes, you get a bearing knock. Which means u gotta replace the whole friggin engine.
WORST BMW by far - and I've driven a few. Any diesel model is a waste of BMW's time as they dont fix the problems, they just add more!!! If you want to buy BMW diesel, buy new - not second hand as the previous owners driven the shyte out of it and the engines are crap.
P.s. I notice u still looking for a diesel car - dont waste ur time on a second hand model - any turbo diesel second hand is bound to give you problems. Buy new, with a motorplan and extended warranty. Turbo's seem to go after 100,000km. BMW's excuse = poor lubrication.
Eish you seem to have really gotten the bad end of the stick there.
Last August (I think it was) I got myself the 2004 Facelift 320d with 90000km on the clock.
Car was still in Motorplan and in that time had BMW give it the once over and got a new turbo out of them as well.
When researching the car, I also came across the nightmare stories of the turbos.
What I found out was that the '01 to 03' turbos were dodge and then after that the glitch was sorted and the newer design from '04 onwards are really not that problematic (as far as I've heard)
I've gotta say that I really enjoy my tractor
and it's economical and not giving me any hassles at all.
Just recently had my oil service done and always topping up my tank once a month with injector cleaner and touch wood, I'll be keeping this car for a long time to come.
I know of quite a few e46 and e90 320d owners and they honestly love their cars and I'm really pleased with mine.
I hope to keep this car and either get a bakkie or petrol performance car to go along with it, but will hopefully never get rid of it.
Don't know if the OP is still watching this thread, but all you need is car with Motorplan and have it checked out by BMW and then you'd know what you're getting yourself into.
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