A used 2012-2013 BMW 320D vs 2023 Suzuki Banelo GLX as first time car Buyer

[spaparuna]

I'm leaning towards the 2023 Baleno GLX as my next car, but after reading about the 320d F30, I'm reconsidering. I recently drove a Toyota Starlet from Durban to Pietermaritzburg and found it a great car, so I expect a similar experience with the Baleno. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to drive a 320d. I'd love to rent one for a day to compare them properly.

Insurance costs are similar for a 2013 320d, but a 2016 model is significantly more expensive to insure than the Baleno. This makes the Baleno the cheaper option to run.

Badget daily car is paramount to my decision making secondly having a big boot and overtaking capability is a nice thing to have since I work in Mthatha and I grew up in Durban.

fuel consumption is very important. The plan is to buy either car cash (R280,000 Max) and keep monthly car cost below R5,000 (insurance, tracker and fuel)

I'd appreciate your thoughts on this.

 

[AshG108]

As a BMW fan, the 320d is a perfect all rounder...if compared to the Baleno...it is luxury, bigger, more power, better consumption with that luxury and consumption and good looks.
If you getting lower insurance, then you in a good situation but important to buy one with FSH, visibility in good health, engine is clean, drives well and boosts well (Search the forum, plenty topics on them).
Baleno is a great car...no doubt but bang for the buck...you going to walk away with the BMW being more car for the money

 

[spaparuna]

As a BMW fan, the 320d is a perfect all rounder...if compared to the Baleno...it is luxury, bigger, more power, better consumption with that luxury and consumption and good looks.
If you getting lower insurance, then you in a good situation but important to buy one with FSH, visibility in good health, engine is clean, drives well and boosts well (Search the forum, plenty topics on them).
Baleno is a great car...no doubt but bang for the buck...you going to walk away with the BMW being more car for the money

Thanks for your opinion, where could I find a checklist or process of buying a car from someone (facebook marketplace) or a dealer, to avoid common mistake from first car buyers

 

[YozTruly]

I would recommend you buy a Startlet (or a Baleno) rather than a BMW 320d. Here is my reasoning:

1. Running costs of a car can be sobering. More so for a BMW. The title says “first time car buyer” so I will state the obvious. The problem with car ownership is not everyday / normal monthly costs. It’s the cost of mechanical / electrical failure that gets you.
2. You are in Mthatha, this is the middle of nowhere with regards to BMW. The closest BMW dealerships are East London (EL) or Port Shepstone (NPS). That is a long way to go if you want to service your car at BMW.
3. Continuation of point 2. You may struggle to find a genuine independent mechanic that specialises in BMW in Mthatha. You may find yourself having to go to EL or NPS with your car if the guy across the street messes up your car.
4. Mthatha roads are crap. You will need new tyres and suspension refresh regularly. See point 2 and 3 above.
5. The BMW will likely come with runflats. I am not sure how easy these will be to source in Mthatha.
6. If you get the Startlet, you will get better resale value than the Baleno. In South Africa, Toyota is king.
7. With your budget, you can get a brand new or demo Startlet / Baleno with some manufacturer warranty and maybe a service plan. These go along way for a first time car buyer.

 

[spaparuna]

I would recommend you buy a Startlet (or a Baleno) rather than a BMW 320d. Here is my reasoning:

1. Running costs of a car can be sobering. More so for a BMW. The title says “first time car buyer” so I will state the obvious. The problem with car ownership is not everyday / normal monthly costs. It’s the cost of mechanical / electrical failure that gets you.
2. You are in Mthatha, this is the middle of nowhere with regards to BMW. The closest BMW dealerships are East London (EL) or Port Shepstone (NPS). That is a long way to go if you want to service your car at BMW.
3. Continuation of point 2. You may struggle to find a genuine independent mechanic that specialises in BMW in Mthatha. You may find yourself having to go to EL or NPS with your car if the guy across the street messes up your car.
4. Mthatha roads are crap. You will need new tyres and suspension refresh regularly. See point 2 and 3 above.
5. The BMW will likely come with runflats. I am not sure how easy these will be to source in Mthatha.
6. If you get the Startlet, you will get better resale value than the Baleno. In South Africa, Toyota is king.
7. With your budget, you can get a brand new or demo Startlet / Baleno with some manufacturer warranty and maybe a service plan. These go along way for a first time car buyer.

Starlet/Banelo is a logical option while the 320D was all heart and my reality requires a logical option. You have made my option very easy now, thanks alot.

 

[///M Individual]

I would recommend you buy a Startlet (or a Baleno) rather than a BMW 320d. Here is my reasoning:

1. Running costs of a car can be sobering. More so for a BMW. The title says “first time car buyer” so I will state the obvious. The problem with car ownership is not everyday / normal monthly costs. It’s the cost of mechanical / electrical failure that gets you.
2. You are in Mthatha, this is the middle of nowhere with regards to BMW. The closest BMW dealerships are East London (EL) or Port Shepstone (NPS). That is a long way to go if you want to service your car at BMW.
3. Continuation of point 2. You may struggle to find a genuine independent mechanic that specialises in BMW in Mthatha. You may find yourself having to go to EL or NPS with your car if the guy across the street messes up your car.
4. Mthatha roads are crap. You will need new tyres and suspension refresh regularly. See point 2 and 3 above.
5. The BMW will likely come with runflats. I am not sure how easy these will be to source in Mthatha.
6. If you get the Startlet, you will get better resale value than the Baleno. In South Africa, Toyota is king.
7. With your budget, you can get a brand new or demo Startlet / Baleno with some manufacturer warranty and maybe a service plan. These go along way for a first time car buyer.

I think this sums it up perfectly.

Get the Baleno or Starlet as your first car and maybe get into a BMW diesel later on when it will be more feasible to maintain them.

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

I would recommend you buy a Startlet (or a Baleno) rather than a BMW 320d. Here is my reasoning:

1. Running costs of a car can be sobering. More so for a BMW. The title says “first time car buyer” so I will state the obvious. The problem with car ownership is not everyday / normal monthly costs. It’s the cost of mechanical / electrical failure that gets you.
2. You are in Mthatha, this is the middle of nowhere with regards to BMW. The closest BMW dealerships are East London (EL) or Port Shepstone (NPS). That is a long way to go if you want to service your car at BMW.
3. Continuation of point 2. You may struggle to find a genuine independent mechanic that specialises in BMW in Mthatha. You may find yourself having to go to EL or NPS with your car if the guy across the street messes up your car.
4. Mthatha roads are crap. You will need new tyres and suspension refresh regularly. See point 2 and 3 above.
5. The BMW will likely come with runflats. I am not sure how easy these will be to source in Mthatha.
6. If you get the Startlet, you will get better resale value than the Baleno. In South Africa, Toyota is king.
7. With your budget, you can get a brand new or demo Startlet / Baleno with some manufacturer warranty and maybe a service plan. These go along way for a first time car buyer.

Solid advice.

 

[cRed001]

Get an E90 320d (non- msport) and swop out the run flat tyres for normal tyres. You can buy the car cash and plenty to spare for repairs and maintenance. It may be an older car but it's a better drive and in reality the maintenance costs are not any more than a Toyota.

 

[spaparuna]

Good advice keeps on giving.😁

 

[Preggie Naidoo]

1st time owner= Toyota/Suzuki painfree!
Take your time to settle into car ownership and all that it brings. You have time on your side, use it wisely, upgrade in a few years with experience on your side

 

[FILV]

I say the 320DTake the extra cash and go to a good Bmw workshop and get it 100% checked and reliable.
Enjoy the much better driving experience

 

[msm]

Get an E90 320d (non- msport) and swop out the run flat tyres for normal tyres. You can buy the car cash and plenty to spare for repairs and maintenance. It may be an older car but it's a better drive and in reality the maintenance costs are not any more than a Toyota.

A 15 year old+ BMW is going to need a lot of replacement items over the next 10 years to keep it going, compared to a newish Toyota - which would largely be basic service items.

An E90 would be fine if it were a 5-10 year old. But time related maintenance does catch up with BMW’s in their later years - especially cooling components that need an overhaul, suspension parts that need replacing, injectors, etc - and a lot of random electronic gremlins, which some experience and some never do...

Yes, the E90 320d is reliable, but the age is now the issue - it will be a lot more expensive to keep in going. These cars hit 300k+ KM’s with ease if looked after - but you’ll start spending a lot more money to keep it going.

Where this does make sense is with a lower purchase price, as the E90 320d will be much cheaper and the difference (versus the newer car) can be used for maintenance and repair costs instead. The flip side is that the Baleno will have better resale though, so you’ll get some of your capital back on resale, whereas maintenance costs are never recovered.

Also consider insurance costs and risk factors of both these cars.

There’s a fair argument to be had both ways here.

 

[DRCraig]

You can pick up a pre-lci F30 320d for 100k less than a Baleno. The R100K surplus will go towards as servicing, maintenance for at least 3-4 years. East-London BMW is like what, 200km away from where you work for servicing purposes.

Should you opt for the Baleno, the itch for a 320d will remain. Can't say this if it was the other way around.

With regards to refinement, performance and fuel efficiency; the 320d is a no-brainer.

If you can, buy cash.

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

You can pick up a pre-lci F30 320d for 100k less than a Baleno. The R100K surplus will go towards as servicing, maintenance for at least 3-4 years. East-London BMW is like what, 200km away from where you work for servicing purposes.

Should you opt for the Baleno, the itch for a 320d will remain. Can't say this if it was the other way around.

With regards to refinement, performance and fuel efficiency; the 320d is a no-brainer.

If you can, buy cash.

I don't know if I would buy a F30 32d for R180k though. I'm assuming you used his budget of R280k. If it has to be a 320d Id rather look at a E90 in that price bracket but then you need to take what Mo said into account.

 

[DRCraig]

I don't know if I would buy a F30 32d for R180k though. I'm assuming you used his budget of R280k. If it has to be a 320d Id rather look at a E90 in that price bracket but then you need to take what Mo said into account.

I bought a 2013 F30 320d for less than that amount, privately. Had 180 000km on the odo. This car serves us well without breaking a sweat

 

[DRCraig]

I don't know if I would buy a F30 32d for R180k though. I'm assuming you used his budget of R280k. If it has to be a 320d Id rather look at a E90 in that price bracket but then you need to take what Mo said into account.

Agreed, but then the OP would be gravitating towards 330d E90 territory at that pricepoint.

 

[Benji]

Something that I dont see mentioned here - depreciation. Buying a new car for 300k and selling it on a few years later is 100k cost - cash out your pocket. An older car does not suffer as much from depreciation. Perhaps the increased maintenance of an older car offsets the money lost on depreciation.

However, considering this is a first car which will be spending more time on poorer roads, rather go with the Baleno, it comes with a relatively decent service and warranty plan for added peace of mind.

One could also do a tradeoff study by buying used and investing the difference as a "savings plan" to go toward a BMW later on

 

[spaparuna]

I bought a 2013 F30 320d for less than that amount, privately. Had 180 000km on the odo. This car serves us well without breaking a sweat

Thanks,
1. How are your running costs?
2. Facebook marketplace has good 320D options too for 2013 F30 model. Also insurance premiums match Banelo GLX and Starlet XR.
3. Until I figure out the process or checklist (paperwork required) of purchasing a car, then i can entertain options on Facebook Marketplace.

 

[DRCraig]

Thanks,
1. How are your running costs?
2. Facebook marketplace has good 320D options too for 2013 F30 model. Also insurance premiums match Banelo GLX and Starlet XR.
3. Until I figure out the process or checklist (paperwork required) of purchasing a car, then i can entertain options on Facebook Marketplace.

Unless the seller is disclosing all relevant information, service history, not shying away from questions, I'd stay clear from marketplace.

 

[DRCraig]

Thanks,
1. How are your running costs?
2. Facebook marketplace has good 320D options too for 2013 F30 model. Also insurance premiums match Banelo GLX and Starlet XR.
3. Until I figure out the process or checklist (paperwork required) of purchasing a car, then i can entertain options on Facebook Marketplace.

As mentioned, generally cheaper than our previous Grand i10.

There are some big ticket items that requires replacing as the car approaches the 200k km mark. Look up on the forum or you can check some of my posts.

Otherwise, no hassles this side from our ×2 320d's.