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I'm pondering buying a BMW 4 series around 2012 or later vintage in the £10-12k range.
It will probable be in the 80-100k mile range, will be an automatic and will probably do less than 10k miles per year with me. Probably used only for decent runs of 50 miles + so DPF shouldn't be an issue.
Any thoughts on petrol vs diesel engines? I had a 2015 320d and the engine was great, loads of torque, twin turbos etc.
But in terms of longevity and maintenance would a petrol be a better bet? Obvs the oil burner returns better mpg, but I'm not too concerned about that.
Bonus points for a recommending an engine variant.
TIA
Bonus points for a recommending an engine variant.
well has to be one of the 6 cylinder diesels then ! Not sure if they will be in your price range though ?
well has to be one of the 6 cylinder diesels then ! Not sure if they will be in your price range though ?
435xDrive would be nice!
440i or 435d.
Edit: beaten to it!
A 6 cylinder diesel would be nice. Check if the diesel is euro 6 emissions though. If it's not, there's a growing list of places you'll not be able to drive it, whereas a petrol will be fine. If your bothered about driving into towns/cities.
2015 320d is a single (twin scroll) turbo.
Designated 4 series is from 2013 onwards, so it wont be 2012 or older?
Ive had many, at that price and mileage requirements, you looking at 420ds mainly, id avoid the 428i, reputation for having loads of issues. Wouldnt go xdrive unless you need it.
Any particular reason to avoid X drive?
worse mpg, more to go wrong, doesn’t drive as ‘sporty if that means anything in a non sports saloon car. I imagine they still have a slight cost premium too
Just out of interest why a 4 and not a 3 ?
More complexity and lower mpg with xDrive.
Although I did love my 320 Touring xDrive
on winter tyres it would go anywhere.
I had a 2015 320d and the engine was great, loads of torque, twin turbos etc.
It's actually amazing how many people believe their diesel Beemers have twin turbos.
I've had the conversation in person more than once.
t’s actually amazing how many people believe their diesel Beemers have twin turbos.
I’ve had the conversation in person more than once.
Given how it is named it’s not unreasonable or indeed amazing for folk to think that.
Just out of interest why a 4 and not a 3 ?
A 3 is an option, but I fancy a 3 door coupe.
I’d be spending a little more and go for a 335i or 435i non xDrive.
Better MPG, less to go wrong, better feel and a tighter turning circle, which I always find useful.
Given how it is named it’s not unreasonable or indeed amazing for folk to think that.
It’s also confusing that after 2017, many of the models that weren’t twin turbo became twin turbo.
Prior to 2017, I believe that everything 2.0l and twin turbo was listed as *25d or *28/30i rather than *20d/i.
Six cylinder Diesel. 2 Wheel drive. So a 430D.
Although your budget is somewhat optimistic, you'll have to be savvy.
Given how it is named it’s not unreasonable or indeed amazing for folk to think that.
'Twin Power Turbo' is the naming convention BMW have used a lot
Which seems to cause the exact same confusion as Toyotas 1990's "Twin Entry Turbo" and actually describes pretty much the same technology!
Whatever you do, don’t get a manual 20i around the 2015 era.. we had a 320i and it was by far and away the most difficult manual car I’ve ever driven to drive smoothly. I posted a long thread on here a good while back on the clutch delay valve (CDV) on that particular car. I imagine manual 420is have the same. Compared to my lovely older e90 325i the box wasn’t even in the same league. 6 cyl probs helped but not as much as the lack of a CDV! You can do a CDV delete but easier just to avoid TBH.. I think the manual Golf Rs have similar.
I think the CDV was meant to reduce drivetrain shock and increase the life of components if my understanding is correct. However, a side effect of that was having to be VERY precise with your inputs in lower gears in order to get a smooth shift. Automatics all the way for me now and if you’re looking at 6 pots you often don’t get a choice anyway. My 540i is auto and x drive only for example.
Check if the diesel is euro 6 emissions though. If it’s not, there’s a growing list of places you’ll not be able to drive it, whereas a petrol will be fine. If your bothered about driving into towns/cities.
This. I'd not touch a pre Euro-6 diesel now as they're going to become an issue.
I've had a 435d (comes with auto & xDrive), wouldn't recommend one.
Engine is stunning and loads of space inside but the chassis has a problem, always feels like it'll chuck you into a ditch - nervous, especially on bigger wheels/tyres (drove far better on 18" winter tyres than 20" summer tyres).
Replaced with a 320d auto xDrive and TBH it might only have 190bhp as opposed to the 310bhp but unless you're wanting to overtake just about anywhere rather than almost anywhere the 2-litre is fine and (interestingly) handles a damn sight better on either summer or the same winters as I had on the 4-series. Fuel-wise, about 10mpg in it but neither are heavy.
No idea if the small engined ones handle better.
nervous, especially on bigger wheels/tyres (drove far better on 18″ winter tyres than 20″ summer tyres).
That sounds like your alignment was out as opposed to the car be poor handling. And also 18" winter tyres are always going to make the ride far less responsive than 20" summer tyres. Some would argue that putting 18's on a semi performance car is just wrong anyhow.
Also nervous to me comes across as responsive and agile, hence why some people do not get on with BM's and would be better suited to things like my current Merc which are as about as dull as dishwater.
Thanks all. I can revisit the budget.
@daffy, better mpg? I’m guessing you mean than the 320i?
That sounds like your alignment was out as opposed to the car be poor handling. And also 18″ winter tyres are always going to make the ride far less responsive than 20″ summer tyres. Some would argue that putting 18’s on a semi performance car is just wrong anyhow.
Also nervous to me comes across as responsive and agile, hence why some people do not get on with BM’s and would be better suited to things like my current Merc which are as about as dull as dishwater.
Brand new, and checked.
18" winter were full-on Pirelli's, rated for +150mph.
Nope, definitely nervous - I've had and driven plenty of sport(ing) cars off & on-track, something just wasn't right. Also at the time Son #2 had a 530e with the same wheels & tyres - his car drove as on rails.
Go try one, report back.
Slight thread hijack, I'm looking at buying a 320i touring (or Merc c200). Probably 2017-2019. I've read of lots of reliability issues on the pre-2015 cars. Some recommend trying to get the newer G20 (2019 +) cars but I feel they're less proven than the 'bug fixed' 2016-2019 cars. Not likely to look at the 6 cylinder cars as we have another car that's a gas guzzler, can't really justify two of them. Anyone got feedback on the 2 litre petrols and their issues?
As mentioned above, watch the euro emissions standards.
"Owners of vehicles that don’t meet the following emissions standards have to pay the ULEZ charge:
Cars: Euro 6 emission standards for diesels and Euro 4 emission standards for petrol-powered cars.
Petrol cars that meet the ULEZ standards are generally those registered with the DVLA after 2005, although cars that meet the standards have been available since 2001.
Diesel cars that meet the standards are generally those registered with the DVLA after September 2015."
Ive gone xdrive, living and covering Scotland for work i thought the extra traction would be worth it.
If i wasnt up here I'd stay RWD for sure.
The zf8 spd auto is ment to be about the best too.
Ive gone xdrive, living and covering Scotland for work i thought the extra traction would be worth it.
If i wasnt up here I’d stay RWD for sure.
The zf8 spd auto is ment to be about the best too.
That’s what I had in the shape of a 15 plate 320d xDrive Touring
Not likely to look at the 6 cylinder cars as we have another car that’s a gas guzzler, can’t really justify two of them.
The 6 cylinder diesels are not gas guzzlers, can get very reasonable mpg and stonking performance
The 160k mile, never serviced, ZF in my 520D was infinitely superior to the freshly serviced 130k mile 7G-Tronic+ in my CLS.
The 530d I’ve had for the past few days as a hire car has been pretty good on fuel - 40mpg ish, mostly on shortish journeys and pulls like a train. It’s a 2023 car so not quite sure how that translates back a few years but it implies to me that a 430d would be a brilliant car to drive.
The 6 cylinder diesels are not gas guzzlers, can get very reasonable mpg and stonking performance
I'm not looking at diesels, my wife needs to park in Central London for work and we have family in the proposed extension area of the ulez too. My last bmw was a 335D so I'm well versed in their great economy to fun factor 🙂