We went travelling and were therefore 'forced' to sell our beloved vRS. We're now back and its time for a mid-sized estate.

We've got 3k to spend and we seem to do 25k miles a year.

Audi A4 Avant 130 seem too pricey.

Octy 105s (saw a nice spec 4x4 yesterday, 140k miles, 06) but going up in size and down in power both at once seems like a bad idea.

320d touring - drove one yesterday and I was blown away by the drive but they feel like 'old' technology and I worry that at the mileages we're looking at these may be a bad idea (04, 110-130k). I'll get it de-flapped instantly BTW.

Any thoughts from the forum?

Octy elegance estate? They did a pd130 too

With the 2.0? I 'thought' that engine had a fair few more problems compared with the 1.9 we've just come from (a friend definitely had problems with it in his Audi A3)?

The Octy A4 130 has the same engine as the Furbie, but a 6-speed box. Also, at least IMO, it "feels nice" to drive with the 205/55R16s.

The Octy A4 130 has the same engine as the Furbie, but a 6-speed box. Also, at least IMO, it "feels nice" to drive with the 205/55R16s.

 

what kind of mileage/year am I looking at with a 3k limit? When I put 130 into 'trader I didn't get much back and I put Elegance in I get 2.0 engines.

 

(the Furbie had a 6 speed box too?)

You should be able to find easily within budget a nice VW Passat Estate Diesel 130 ps without huge mileage,

& get a Big service done, & the Belts and water Pump replaced.

 

george

 

eg about £1500 max on a 52 plate with under 100K,

so £2500 get newer.

You should be able to find easily within budget a nice VW Passat Estate Diesel 130 ps without huge mileage,

& get a Big service done, & the Belts and water Pump replaced.

 

george

 

Indeed. I found a few great looking ones (one was the V6 tdi but spectacular condition) but my wife (who drives most of the miles) thinks its just a bit too big. She parks daily in two tight multi-storeys so I can 'kinda' understand.

Has she tried the Octavia or A4 then,? hardly the difference between Ooo & Ahhhh,

 thats women for you, excited or disapointed by about 2"'s difference.

 

(the difference in length of A4, Octy, Passat Saloon and Avant and estates Octy/Passat is around 110 mm/4 1/2")

 

george

yeah, there was one (unhelpfully) parked at the garage next to the 320d we went to look at yesterday. Therefore a lot of yesterday was spent looking at the 'wrong' car. To me it felt a good deal less powerful but I only sat in the back on that one.

 

We have also just been driving a Ford E-150 5.4 v8 around the states for 6 months and that thing was bloomin' massive (351 bhp and would barely do 70 mph).

 

(the difference in length of A4, Octy, Passat Saloon and Avant and estates Octy/Passat is around 110 mm/4 1/2")

 

Width too?

 

TBH I think the 3-series would suit better for size but you DO get a lot of toys on the Octy for the same money (I was really impressed by the interior of the 4x4).

BMW 320 width,  Excluding mirrors  1811mm

Octavia   mk2 excluding mirrors       1814 mm,,,,  Width with Mirrors different models, 1,973-2018 mm.

Passat       "                "                   1820 mm

A4             "                "                    1826mm

 

Skoda Fabia mk2 vRS, including mirrors 1,886 mm

(car width without mirrors 1,642 mm)

 

From car buyer and other car specs.

Thanks, naff all difference.

I have a friend that used to own an A4 s-line estate and the boot seemed tiny compared to my Octavia, if that's of any concern to you.

Don't look in a 3-series then, the RWD makes the boot really tiny!

The boot in the e46 is a decent size IMO, there maybe bigger, but it's not bad. Space for a full size spare too The rear passenger space isn't the best for adults, but it's not too bad.

 

Out of the ones you've listed I'd take a 320d any day of the week, it's just so much better than anything VAG I've driven from the same sort of era. The mileage wouldn't put me off either (speaking from experience). The engine is so much nicer to drive than the PD150 I had too. (Although the shove from the 330d won me over, but a remapped 320cd I drove went pretty well.)

 

Out of the ones you've listed I'd take a 320d any day of the week, it's just so much better than anything VAG I've driven from the same sort of era. The mileage wouldn't put me off either (speaking from experience). The engine is so much nicer to drive than the PD150 I had too. (Although the shove from the 330d won me over, but a remapped 320cd I drove went pretty well.)

I'd agree there. I took my 320D to 170k no worries. I also think they have a great driving position - even if the pedals are off set. IMO the interior is much nicer too. You don't get the shove you get from a PD130 but mine pulled hard to the red line and the pull was nice and linear. Against the clock it was quicker then my old golf PD130. If you go for a 320D make sure it's deflapped and change the crankcase breather. Just look out for rust....

If you can get a 105 octy why not get it remapped? That should take it to 140ish. If you want to stay VAG, like others have said you can get a decent PD130 passat for your money.

We're off to see a 320d touring, sport with leather and a lot of toys.

150k miles. FSH and the garage took it in as a part ex and changed the turbo as it was smoking a bit. Sound OK?

The boot in the e46 is a decent size IMO, there maybe bigger, but it's not bad. Space for a full size spare too The rear passenger space isn't the best for adults, but it's not too bad.

Out of the ones you've listed I'd take a 320d any day of the week, it's just so much better than anything VAG I've driven from the same sort of era. The mileage wouldn't put me off either (speaking from experience). The engine is so much nicer to drive than the PD150 I had too. (Although the shove from the 330d won me over, but a remapped 320cd I drove went pretty well.)

Id agree with that

I've just bought a 320d after having a bunch of VAG diesels and imo the bmw is in a different league

Thanks all, we just bought an 04 320d sport touring with the M pack, leather, satnav, cruise, sunroof and full leather.

There were a few minor niggles but they'll be sorted before we pick it up.

I can't decide if we bought with our heads or heart but I do love it.

They are nice cars and yours seems like a nice spec. Just make sure the oil breather is changed and its deflapped. Keep an eye out for rust around the wheel arches and touch wood you shouldn't go wrong.

...we'll see I guess!

Good choice! Should be running the later type oil filter but then I think, but defo check. And get those swirl flaps out as said!

 

e46zone is a good place IMO. There's other BM forums, but they're pretty hard to navigate at times as they're not model specific.

 

If you're into coding (VCDS) stuff, check out INPA and NCS. Both pretty awesome bits and there's a lot of cool stuff you can do.

I've a friend who works as a BMW tech so he's going to go on a swirl flaps mission when I take delivery (TBH I'd rather not have to drive it home across the snake before I've had it looked at!).

 

I joined BMWland for buying advice which seems ok, if a bit slow.

 

What can you achieve with the coding? I'm pretty geeky with stuff like that so it sounds interesting and if there's a chance it'll save some cash in the long run then I'm sure the Mrs. will be on board too.

Slow it is, not as focused as e46z either.

 

Good job with the swirl flaps too. Mine came without any happily

 

Quite a fair bit - some stuff that isn't new and VAG stuff should be able to do. A quick list of the better changes I've found off the top of my head:

• auto locking
• windows/roof/sun roof up/down from fob (and remote folding mirrors)
• windows working with the doors open and key out of ignition (love that!)
• auto wipers/light sensitivity
• DRL coding/various lighting options
• brake force display options (i.e., more lights under hard braking, flashing when ABS kicks in etc.)
• this one sounds anal, but solved a really annoying little issue - adjusting the delay between pulling the washer stalk and the wipers moving and the water spraying (the water never used to get far enough up the screen before being wiped - it does now with a longer delay)
• voice control if Bluetooth fitted
• beeping/flashing on un/locking
• seats/mirrors moving to position depending on what key unlocked the car

I there's more, that's just what springs to mind off hand though. It also varies with what options the cars too. I've spent several hours tweaking things and made a few small changes that make the car much nicer day-to-day.

 

Cable's only £20 and gives you access to BMW's factory/dealership tools, so well worth it. Less than the cost of any diag session anyway. 

so at a minimum I get a diagnostics tool? (for just £20 or is the software $$$ too?).