Pre-owned cars....BMW and VW Polo

[ntflyboy]

I am in the market for a pre-owned 2003 BMW 320 and a 2003-2004 VW Polo for my child (student). Both vehicles will obviously be out of motorplan. I have read many different opinions on petrol vs diesel and also about turbo's failing above 100,000km. Any advise will be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[adamr]

two cars? or either a Polo or BMW ...

The Polo for a student imo is a more sensible purchase even if you could afford a Ferrari F430 ... just my 2 cents ...

Turbo Diesel BMW's i would be wary at above 150 000km. My concern is the cost of repair if the Turbo goes ... the cars most probably will do 250 000km without any hassle but again just my concerns regarding the diesel Beemers ...

My daily driver is a 2008 Polo 1.4 ... and a good car ...

 

[Pyro]

I am in the market for a pre-owned 2003 BMW 320 and a 2003-2004 VW Polo for my child (student). Both vehicles will obviously be out of motorplan. I have read many different opinions on petrol vs diesel and also about turbo's failing above 100,000km. Any advise will be greatly appreciated. Thank you

How long and responsible has he/she been driving?

A 1.6 Polo should make a good dependable car.

 

[Fazda]

A polo 1.4 or 1.6 is brilliant....I have owned several, if you want to look back at the archives of the listt of my cars...had Polos since they were first introduced, and never had a problem with any of them!!

Lucky bugger...I would love aniother Polo right now!!

 

[ntflyboy]

Thanks

Thanks to all for your input. Tend to agree that one should be carefull with a 320D BMW > 150, 000km. I hear the quality of our diesel is to blame for failures of the turbo??
Re: the Polo, I think that is the way to go, but do I buy a low Km Diesel or Petrol??

 

[HapticSimian]

The diesel will cost you more on initial purchase than a comparative petrol. Buy diesel if you prefer the drive offered by an oil burner, or if the practicality of longer distances between fillups appeals to you - not for economic reasons.

I love diesel - there's just no substitute for the effortless torque.

 

[Shake&Bake]

The diesel will cost you more on initial purchase than a comparative petrol. Buy diesel if you prefer the drive offered by an oil burner, or if the practicality of longer distances between fillups appeals to you - not for economic reasons.

I love diesel - there's just no substitute for the effortless torque.

Have to agree as a recent 1st time diesel owner.

If I could hijack a bit, about the turbo on th 320d.
I've just had mine replaced (thanks motorplan) at 91000kms.
What's the likelihood of me having any issues with the turbo in the forseeable future?

 

[HapticSimian]

Have to agree as a recent 1st time diesel owner.

If I could hijack a bit, about the turbo on th 320d.
I've just had mine replaced (thanks motorplan) at 91000kms.
What's the likelihood of me having any issues with the turbo in the forseeable future?

I spent a total of 4 years with VW and BMW and from my experience the same people repeatedly blew their turbos, whilst others just kept on going. Sure, we had the odd dud that would pop after 3,000km but on the whole I think it's a lack of mechanical sympathy that leads to failed turbos.

Even though most would tell you its no longer necessary, I would still advise people to idle their cars for a minute or two before switching off. And don't nail the throttle before everything's reached normal operating temperature. You're dealing with tremendous kinetic energy when the insides of a turbo are spinning at 100,000+ rpm - let the poor thing catch its breath before you cut the air/oil supply...

EDIT

And lucky you, being at sea-level. The issues of get exasperated in the Highveld's thin air...

 

[ID_10_T]

Have to agree as a recent 1st time diesel owner.

If I could hijack a bit, about the turbo on th 320d.
I've just had mine replaced (thanks motorplan) at 91000kms.
What's the likelihood of me having any issues with the turbo in the forseeable future?

What year and model. I 've got a 2007 320d 125kw 55000km on the clock. Turbo started to loose power had to replace. My dad got a 2001 320d, first 100 000km had 4 turbo's replaced, car is now on 260 000km and the last turbo is still going strong. They say most turbo probles is fixed but the risk of R25 000 -R30 000 for a new one

 

[Fazda]

I spent a total of 4 years with VW and BMW and from my experience the same people repeatedly blew their turbos, whilst others just kept on going. Sure, we had the odd dud that would pop after 3,000km but on the whole I think it's a lack of mechanical sympathy that leads to failed turbos.

Even though most would tell you its no longer necessary, I would still advise people to idle their cars for a minute or two before switching off. And don't nail the throttle before everything's reached normal operating temperature. You're dealing with tremendous kinetic energy when the insides of a turbo are spinning at 100,000+ rpm - let the poor thing catch its breath before you cut the air/oil supply...

EDIT

And lucky you, being at sea-level. The issues of get exasperated in the Highveld's thin air...

INCREDIBLY SOUND ADVICE!!

Diesels and turbo have to be treated gently, both on warm up and when switching off...despite the fact that there have been huge strides in keeping coolant running around a turbo after switching off, the diesle will thank you with great service if you treat it gently...just a mind set change really...allow them to idle for a minute or two before leaving in the morning, and then at the end of a trip allow the poor thing to idle for up to 5 minutes, whilst you unpack your clobber, and open up the house...the extra hassle is worth it...particularly on the wallet!

 

[Shake&Bake]

What year and model. I 've got a 2007 320d 125kw 55000km on the clock. Turbo started to loose power had to replace. My dad got a 2001 320d, first 100 000km had 4 turbo's replaced, car is now on 260 000km and the last turbo is still going strong. They say most turbo probles is fixed but the risk of R25 000 -R30 000 for a new one

2004 E46 320d

I spent a total of 4 years with VW and BMW and from my experience the same people repeatedly blew their turbos, whilst others just kept on going. Sure, we had the odd dud that would pop after 3,000km but on the whole I think it's a lack of mechanical sympathy that leads to failed turbos.

Even though most would tell you its no longer necessary, I would still advise people to idle their cars for a minute or two before switching off. And don't nail the throttle before everything's reached normal operating temperature. You're dealing with tremendous kinetic energy when the insides of a turbo are spinning at 100,000+ rpm - let the poor thing catch its breath before you cut the air/oil supply...

EDIT

And lucky you, being at sea-level. The issues of get exasperated in the Highveld's thin air...

INCREDIBLY SOUND ADVICE!!

Diesels and turbo have to be treated gently, both on warm up and when switching off...despite the fact that there have been huge strides in keeping coolant running around a turbo after switching off, the diesle will thank you with great service if you treat it gently...just a mind set change really...allow them to idle for a minute or two before leaving in the morning, and then at the end of a trip allow the poor thing to idle for up to 5 minutes, whilst you unpack your clobber, and open up the house...the extra hassle is worth it...particularly on the wallet!

+1 to you lot indeed for the sound advice

 

[ntflyboy]

pre-owned diesel car

and that brings me back to my origonal question: to buy a pre-owned diesel or not??........ from the very informative responses above: I think NOT. You never know how the previous owner treated his turbo!!

 

[LCBXX]

and that brings me back to my origonal question: to buy a pre-owned diesel or not??........ from the very informative responses above: I think NOT. You never know how the previous owner treated his turbo!!

Get your child a 1.4 or 1.6 Polo, Comfortline trim level. The 1.6 Comfortline additionally comes electric-everything and late 2005-onwards models (1.4/1.6) have a MP3 frontloader as well. Very few seconhand 1.6's do not have 15" alloys fitted.

They are cheap to maintain, the engine is used in the CRAPciti Golf as well and parts are available everywhere as these cars are part of the Avis fleet.

 

[HapticSimian]

Ah, yes... the original question...

Personally, I'd look for a 2.0 Polo. It's an outdated, simple, lazy motor that actually works surprisingly well in the Polo. Drove one as a company car for about 6 months, and I consistently got better fuel consumption than colleagues with the 1.6...

I'd still be tempted to look for a 320d instead of an i, though. It's a much, much better drive. If you're not hasty, something nice will come along - signs of abuse are normally evident on a 2nd-hand car...

 

[Fazda]

Get your child a 1.4 or 1.6 Polo, Comfortline trim level. The 1.6 Comfortline additionally comes electric-everything and late 2005-onwards models (1.4/1.6) have a MP3 frontloader as well. Very few seconhand 1.6's do not have 15" alloys fitted.

They are cheap to maintain, the engine is used in the CRAPciti Golf as well and parts are available everywhere as these cars are part of the Avis fleet.

A very good suggestion, as you never know if a diesel has been abused or not if you buy second hand. Servicing is also cheaper and more spread out on petrol models....nothing wrong with an Avis/Eurocar used vehicle either, as it has normally had the crap driven out of it, been regularly serviced and any possible problems have been well and truly sorted out, by the time you own it and give it some well deserved TLC!!

I would HAPPILY buy the Polo 1.6 Classic Tiptronic that I had as a rental three weeks ago...just about to clock up its 30 000 km, and ready to be replaced...not a rattle or squeak to be heard, and just dying to be owned by me!!!

That tiptronic box is an absolute delight to use...