Petrol or diesel

[jyzelle]

One always hear that a diesel engine lasts for ages, but then one also hear that the turbo or some odd piece blow, breaks, crack on the BMW diesel engines (apparently because the can not take the heat in SA ?!) and that one should not buy a pre-owned BMW diesel model.
How true is this and can someone give me some feedback on this issue please.

Some background, I saw a E90, 2008, 320d, 60 000km, for R269k at a local BMW dealership.

Hope you can help.

 

[Hellas]

It's not because of the heat. I live in the Northern Cape and my E46 320d took the punch, heat or no heat. If you are looking at the E90 though, your chances for turbo failure are a LOT LESS though. Still, if you decide to keep the car till 200000km, it will be wise to perform a turbo service from 120-150k km. Such a service could be R1.5-2.5k if you DIY, and could save you R20k in the long run

 

[jyzelle]

Thanks for the advice.
I would not dream to do the turbo service myself, I might as well then give the car to my daughter to use as a go-cart afterwords.
I do intend to keep the car until after 200 000km though.

 

[STREETRACER]

bud the turbo does go cause of the heat! the heat in our head (WARMKOP) LOL
if a turbo car is nurured when cold and idled after heavy foot driving or long distance driving it will last a life time!
But i will not buy a new generation car and drive it till the doors fall off never the less what make it is!
They are too expensive to maintain and with all the new electronics on the cars, small sensor = car doesnt drive = R10 000 out of your pocket! we are forced to change cars every 3-5 years..

buy an E36 328i if you want to drive it for ever..

 

[Philip Foglar]

I love the character of a good turbo diesel, but let's put it this way, I wouldn't want to own ANY modern turbo diesel out of motorplan or similar service/warranty... Also the saving in fuel is often cancelled out by servicing costs and failures, especially when out of motorplan. Same with owning the awesome M5/M6 - heard of so many gearbox/diff problems which is fine while covered by motorplan, but crazy otherwise! I think it was on this board that I heard that in the US the M5 is available with a trusty manual gearbox of all places (US generally love automatics) - that would be awesome if it was available here!!!

But for what it's worth I agree with Streetracer, if a turbo diesel is treated properly it should last and should be reliable. And preventative measures such as having the turbo inspected/serviced should be able to prevent tears. OR, just stick to a good and trusty naturally aspired petrol engine...

Philip

 

[zaleonardz]

I disagree on the above.

Service cost at the agent for my last service on the E65 730d was about R800, including the oil, a glow plug, wiper blades and some other bits,

That is really not that bad.

I agree with the balance of the thread, love your turbo, and your turbo will love you, mandatory oil warm up/cool down time, and you really should have no problems from her

 

[james]

200000km, fsh, motor has never been opened. Good warm up and cooldown times. I'm still happy. 9mts ownership, R13k, an oil cap and light bulb, R80, Service, R1,200, look on peoples faces when I come smoking past in my 12yr old oiler, Priceless.

 

[STREETRACER]

I disagree on the above.

Service cost at the agent for my last service on the E65 730d was about R800, including the oil, a glow plug, wiper blades and some other bits,

That is really not that bad.

I agree with the balance of the thread, love your turbo, and your turbo will love you, mandatory oil warm up/cool down time, and you really should have no problems from her

i agree but do you think today's cars will last long enough to become a classic? i highly doubt it!
change fuel pump and a set of injectors on the 730d and you talking R30000. that what i mean! i will always support BMW coz BMW supports me :clap: but facts on todays newer cars are built to last the motorplan!

 

[zaleonardz]

Good point SR,

The average joe depending on a dealer will pay those prices, and it makes the cars totally unaffordable, and ya, I also agree that today's cars will be much harder to keep on the road then the oldsk00l classics.

However, I firmly believe that if your an enthusiast, and prepared to do a few things yourself, that you can maintain your bmw, and shopping correctly, that 30k bill becomes like 4 or 5k.

 

[msm]

The other challenge is that as cars get older, parts become more scarce and more things need replacing due to age. So u need to balance that off with a newer car too.

 

[STREETRACER]

facts all facts! i would anyday drive any bmw out of motorplan! im known to void my motorplans on all my cars in the first 1000km doing mods on them but a normal day to day driver must do his homework before he just goes and buys any new-GEN car never the less what make, out of MP

 

[zaleonardz]

I actually will not buy another BMW in motorplan again.

The pricing premium you pay for a car with motorplan is simply not worth it.

Two cars, identical, same condition, one has 10,000km left on the motorplan will go for 40k more then the one without, its hardly worth it for that.

So, the argument is that you should buy a newer car or a car with at least 60,000 on the motorplan right.... ?

Wrong, cause of the pricing premium, you are paying so much more for the car, with the relevant depreciation it could be as much as 100k a year that you loose, and you do loose it, if your paying in cash for the repairs, or depreciation, you are still loosing.

I would rather go for a well looked after 4 year old and do a decent inspection before buying it, then go for a 2 year old...

Case in point, andrews dad paid 250k the other day for an E60 525, whereas for the same money you could have gotten a 550 same year (i think, the 550 was a 06) like the one that Don showed us, the 550 was out of motorplan... now where is the logic in that, whereas a 550 with 75,000 on the clock and 25,000 left on motorplan will cost you upwards of 350k... and on the one for 350k your getting screwed with the depreciation, and as soon as that car runs out of motorplan, you are loosing so much more...

 

[petermoffat]

What is a turbo service??

 

[msm]

I actually will not buy another BMW in motorplan again.

The pricing premium you pay for a car with motorplan is simply not worth it.

Two cars, identical, same condition, one has 10,000km left on the motorplan will go for 40k more then the one without, its hardly worth it for that.

So, the argument is that you should buy a newer car or a car with at least 60,000 on the motorplan right.... ?

Wrong, cause of the pricing premium, you are paying so much more for the car, with the relevant depreciation it could be as much as 100k a year that you loose, and you do loose it, if your paying in cash for the repairs, or depreciation, you are still loosing.

I would rather go for a well looked after 4 year old and do a decent inspection before buying it, then go for a 2 year old...

Case in point, andrews dad paid 250k the other day for an E60 525, whereas for the same money you could have gotten a 550 same year (i think, the 550 was a 06) like the one that Don showed us, the 550 was out of motorplan... now where is the logic in that, whereas a 550 with 75,000 on the clock and 25,000 left on motorplan will cost you upwards of 350k... and on the one for 350k your getting screwed with the depreciation, and as soon as that car runs out of motorplan, you are loosing so much more...

Could'nt agree with you more.

I find it hilarious how some people will insist on trading in their "old" car (with MP that is just about to expire) and getting themselves in more debt in order to avoid driving something out of MP. Their excuse is that they would not be able to afford fixing the car IF it breaks out of MP, yet they can justify the huge financial burden of buying another new car :thinking:

But, looking at the bright side - someone needs to buy a new car and take the huge knock on depreciation for us to pick up a bargain later :mmm:

 

[james]

Thats where I come along with cheque book.

 

[P1000]

What is a turbo service??

I think he meant turbo overhaul, where the bearings and seals are replaced.