TO 330D or not ?

[XMAX]

Ola people of the information super highway :banghead: (Sometimes with traffic jams).

I am considering trading in my 2004 e46 325i SMG, Exclusive (Proper exclusive with the crystal map lights front and rear, footwell lights, armrest, lights above sunvisors, wood trim, cd front loader) - 136k km, FSH (Last 2 Services done at Tunetech) - (flappy paddle thing-a-mabob) or selling. either way expecting around R100k.

I am considering taking on a E46 330D, but it MUST have an Auto Gearbox (I know, im weird that way)...

I would like to know from the few 330D drivers/owners we have here whether its a good idea.

OOOhh, and its gonna have to be a Sportpack / Individual. I know im probably gonna get into trouble for this, but everytime i see an individual or sportpack whilst sitting in my exclusive i feel "lesser" :cursin:.


Back onto track, 330i not an option. I want the tractor.


Last thing.


And im also looking into buying a car for the wife... Gotta be BMW, Auto with a maximum price of R70k cash.

 

[P1000]

The answer is always yes for a 330d/530d. Try to find a late model, 2004+ (pref 2005).
Alternatively, get the 530d, it not much bigger, but it is twice the car the E46 is and for less money.

 

[zaleonardz]

Ok...

Everything on that car is a go, except the auto box.

That does not mean to say that you cant have it, it just means you need to budget for it going wrong

If you buy something with 100,000 chances are that the box will still be good, but if you go up in km's, you need to be aware that the box does fail, and it will cost you between 20 and 25k to have it fixed properly.

If I am correct, then the 330d with have the GM box (P1000, help here, I am too lazy to google), which means that you can do a fluid flush on it fairly cheaply, if you have the ZF gearbox and it is the ZF 6HP26Z, you would do well budgeting about 5k to replace the filter and oil by a profesional.

Other then that, that motor is bullet proof as long as you de-swirl. Preventative you could have the turbo rebuilt or wait for it to fail, a new turbo is about 9k, and watch the injectors...

Edit : +100000.414 for the 530d... there is a bucket load of value in those, E39 or even the E60.....

Have you considered a V8

 

[P1000]

Yup, it will have a GM box. I agree with everything Leonard said

 

[MikeR]

no to auto box...:hammerhead: but the rest is good.

Why not keep yr car for misses rather.

 

[netercol]

+1 for the no go on the auto gearbox.. it is at this time (the e46 having been around a few years now) almost an accepted fact that its not a question of if, but only a question of when with the auto.

 

[XMAX]

Thank u all for the feedback.

I guess that I'm gonna have to save up a bit to get the better diesel.

I know its weird but I must have it with an auto box.

So with the problems that these cars are known for some problems I guess that I'm gonna have to save up for an e60 530d.

I've seen a few for R150 000. Should I go that route? And do the e60 530d's suffer the same turbo and gearbox faults that the 330d did.


And as for the wife. She has made it perfectly clear that her car is gonna have to be a BMW (at least she's got her priorities right) steptronic. She doesn't like the SMG.


Any further assistance will be appreciated.

 

[P1000]

What turbo faults of the 330d? The gearbox is not faultless, but it is at least twice as reliable as the 5speed GM box and it will be newer.

 

[zaleonardz]

Dude for 180k, buy my 730d.,....

You get it with a brand new filter and oil.... with 115 on the clock...

ANd it has the ZF 6HP26Z which is considered to be the better box between ZF and GM....