BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations

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Fri 12 Jul 2019 12:22
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - Steveieb
Well Captain Slow has been put on the spot in his latest Drivetribe. Can someone provide a link please ?
But can you recommend a 3 series diesel going back to pre Dpf days that does not have the dreaded chain problem.
Also do the more recent 320 D s have Dpf problems?
Would welcome your recommendations.
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Fri 12 Jul 2019 18:52
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - Avant

I don't think you'll find many on here who will recommend a used diesel BMW, unless (a) it's recent and (b) you do a high annual mileage.

I know from the other thread that your A4 TDI 130 gave good service, but that was no doubt pre-DPF.

What's your annual mileage?

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Fri 12 Jul 2019 19:02
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - Steveieb
Just around 10k Avant .
Ideally I would have liked the car you named yourself after.
But are all 320 D s best to avoid ?
The Aircon on my A4 PD 130 is going to cost £1300 minimum to repair and virtually writes the car off this weather.
I have ordered window wind deflectors as a temporary fix.
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Fri 12 Jul 2019 19:07
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - Steveieb
www.motor1.com/news/301866/james-may-drivetribe-in.../


Here is the link Avant
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Sat 13 Jul 2019 00:25
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - phil_z70

The newest you could buy with no dpf was made between 2005 - 2008 E90 model

You would need to find a 320d with the M47 engine, listed at 163 bhp, the only major problems was the swirl flaps which more than likely would have been removed by now

The biggest issue nowadays would be that even though you can find something that at 11 to 14 years old with low mileage on it (under 100k), it would have been lucky to have had 5 to 6 engine oil changes in its life, the BMW longlife service intervals will have done it no favours mechanically

Having had one as my last car I would stay away (it was reliable with few problems), don't get me wrong I really enjoyed the car but there are much better alternatives

Edited by phil_z70 on 13/07/2019 at 00:51

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Sat 13 Jul 2019 00:54
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - Avant

Looking through this and your other thread, I can't see you saying anywhere why you want a diesel: doing 10k a year you don't need one, athough you may prefer them to drive.

If it's a matter of head v heart with your £5k budget, the head will lead you to a petrol Honda or Toyota, the Accord or Avensis being nearest in size to your A4.

If the heart is after a BMW, I think the expert view is that the 3.0 six-cylinder engine is more durable and reliable than the fours. It's also a lovely smooth engine with lots of torque.

I loved the 2.5 TDI A4 Avant that I had in 2004 when I joined this forum, but I'm not sure I'd want an old diesel of any make. If you can find a petrol Audi with full service history within budget, you might be lucky - but old 'prestige' cars cost prestige prices to repair when they go wrong, which they do just as often as non-prestige makes.

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Sat 13 Jul 2019 01:04
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - SLO76
“Would welcome your recommendations.”

Yes, don’t buy one. A cheap BMW diesel is simply a premium badged bottomless pit in which to throw your money. Unless you’ve another £10k or so under your pillow then forget BM.
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Sat 13 Jul 2019 10:01
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - Steveieb
Thank you everyone .
It's interesting how the contributors to this site are at odds with motoring commentators like James May. I go along with everything you all say 100%.

But as James May says choosing a car is like choosing a breed of dog . If you don't like the look of it you are never going to love it.
My son found me a lovely Honda Civic which I have turned down, and probably will regret it but a car means so much more to me than getting around.
And now I am retired I always remember the saying that when your children suggest you buy a Honda,, its a wake up call that it will be the last car you own before the trip in the Black Mercedes.

When I remember my old work colleague Major Arthur Mallock , who developed the U2 race car, arrived in his Accord in the seventies I knew I had to have one. But Honda styling today ?


www.arthurmallock.com/about


His son Ray Mallock is still involved with motor racing today but Arthur's history is worth a read.

Thank you Avant for suggesting the six cylinder BMW which was fitted to the 530 I gave to my son and he wrote off. I equally love the E320D Estate I found for him . Perfect no Dpf facelift model and speaking to the previous owner who refers to it as the best car he ever owned.
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Sat 13 Jul 2019 12:44
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - SLO76
“Thank you everyone .
It's interesting how the contributors to this site are at odds with motoring commentators like James May. I go along with everything you all say 100%”

You’re forgetting (or ignoring) the fact that multi-millionaire James May is talking about a brand new example. Ask his opinions on a car at £5k and I’ll bet his advice would be very similar to my own. Stick with petrol and keep it simple.

If I didn’t have to worry about the huge depreciation a new 3 series will suffer I’d have a nice new 330d Touring with an auto box but you’d lose a working mans salary in the first year alone.

Edited by SLO76 on 13/07/2019 at 12:46

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Sat 13 Jul 2019 17:49
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - Steveieb
Brilliant summing up of the position that so many of us find ourselves in SLO.
We all love to aspire to a German Executive car and play a game of Russian roulette hoping we don't get into financial distress.
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Sat 13 Jul 2019 21:00
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - badbusdriver

We all love to aspire to a German Executive car and play a game of Russian roulette hoping we don't get into financial distress.

No we don't.

And as has been mentioned, it is not the 3 series, or indeed the BMW brand which is questionable here, but the 4 cyl diesel engine. You don't cover that much miles, so why take the risk with this engine when you could much reduce this risk by going for a 6 cyl petrol?. Not only would there be less chance of it breaking down, but it would also be much more enjoyable to drive.

Edited by badbusdriver on 13/07/2019 at 21:07

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Sat 13 Jul 2019 23:43
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - alan1302
We all love to aspire to a German Executive car and play a game of Russian roulette hoping we don't get into financial distress.

Erm, nope - not interested in one.

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Sun 14 Jul 2019 00:47
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - Happy Blue!

I think James May's daily driver is a Panda.

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Sun 14 Jul 2019 01:54
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - SLO76

I think James May's daily driver is a Panda.

It was but currently it’s a BMW I3
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Sun 14 Jul 2019 11:43
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - madf
. We all love to aspire to a German Executive car

Nope

Highly overrated.

Attracts idiots like bees to honey.

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Sun 14 Jul 2019 15:13
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - Happy Blue!

Not totally fair.

I spent a great deal of time testing driving large saloons and estates from Germany, England, Sweden and France. SWMBO didn't want a Skoda.

We were disappointed in all apart from the E-class. Just so much more comfortable, fewer compromises, and on sensible tyres. I do wish the Japanese made large saloons with decent boots or estates. The Lexus' all had boots far smaller than the length of car suggested. Bring back the Camry estate...

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Sun 14 Jul 2019 16:15
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - gordonbennet

Bring back the Camry estate...

Agreed, and Kia Magentis, Hyundai Sonata estates would have sold like hot cakes at sensible prices too especially during the period when previously brilliant european estates such as 406/C5 up to 08 were replaced by less versatile models.

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Tue 16 Jul 2019 11:36
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - Steveieb
Agree with your view of the e class.
Found my son a 2007 E320 CDI facelift model and it really suits me.
No Dpf. Sunroof Harman sound system and comfort. 40 mpg.
Found a MB independent in Northampton who looks after all the taxis and he really knows his stuff and has all the Star software and a supply of scrap cars to try out expensive electronic parts to prove a fault.

Just need a clone !
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Tue 16 Jul 2019 14:17
BMW 320 I and Suzuki Swift - James May's recommendations - SLO76
Agree with your view of the e class. Found my son a 2007 E320 CDI facelift model and it really suits me. No Dpf. Sunroof Harman sound system and comfort. 40 mpg. Found a MB independent in Northampton who looks after all the taxis and he really knows his stuff and has all the Star software and a supply of scrap cars to try out expensive electronic parts to prove a fault. Just need a clone !

Here’s how to do it correctly. Do your homework, find the least likely version to give grief, buy a good one with excellent history but only do so if there’s a good local specialist to keep costs down. I’d take a Merc over a BMW as a used buy but I’d still favour a simple petrol engines Jap over any prestige brand if the budget is limited.
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