Audi A4 TDI or BMW E46 320D
 

I possibly will be in a position soon to get either if the above cars. Basically i need a reliable economical mile muncher - but heres the rub i've a max or 4-4.5k tops so i know its gonna be a high mileage example.

I'm sure the BMW will be quicker and nicer to drive whilst offering near 50mpg

The main thing is at this mileage which will probably be around the 100k+ mark reliability will take precedence over driving enjoyment. Its no good if something big lets go and it costs me a grand to put right.

So has anyone owned a leggy example of each car and what are they like to drive and haveyou had any issues?

Thanks chaps. :thumb:

Hi mate, I cant comment on the Audi, but my cousin has a remapped 320d with just over 100k on the clock. It runs sweet as a nut without any issues, and he drives like a kn*b everywhere!!! (chipped uk, remapped it)

I bought a 04 bmw 320d sport(estate) the 150bhp/6gears version about 4months ago it had 127k on the clock now has 134k so far no issues at all quite quick doesnt seem as quick as the saab 9-3 1.9tid(05) that it replaced but still adequate.On the fuel side the on board computer registers on average around 38-43mpg(43mpg on dual carriageways) dont seem to get the 50-55mpg as i did in the saab which is a shame.it is solidly built and drives very well,chose the bmw over the audi A4 as it looked better.

BMW has a known issue with that engine. Plasic intake manifold has a habit of dropping bits into the cylinders IIRC.

So make sure its been recalled and had necessary work done.

HTH

Ive had a 52 plate audi 1.9 tdi for a few years now, had 50k on it when I bought it, got nearly 100k on it now, still drives just as well as it did when I bought it, had no problems with it, sailed through each mot.
At 100k these cars are just run in!

Oh and I get 50 mpg out of it on average, 55 on motorways.

BMW every time, the Audi is nice but sooo dull.

Dont think i'll bother with the beemer after reading this....

BMW 320d 150Bhp Turbo Problems - The Consumer Forums

I went for a 99 1.9 tdi had no problems with it so far. I did consider a bmw but I heard too many horror stories about plastic impellers turning the engines to scrap.

If you get a high mileage a4 make sure you give the egr valve a good clean, as it can get clogged right up with crap


Attachment 65422


This isn't mine but mine was twice as bad. I had to scoop it out with a spoon:eek:

Are you after the saloon or considering the estate as well? If the estate is an option then also consider the Passat 1.9tdi 130 sport (in fact I think they do it in the saloon as well). I've got one and it's been great and bigger inside than the A4 - the boot is enormous and acres of space in the back for passengers and that is with me having my seat right back due to my height. It sits lower than my scoob and is enjoyable to drive. The egr rings true for the Passat as well. I got mine on 84k and it needed a new radiator and egr valve straight away and got them done under warranty. The radiator is common at 80k+ so make sure it's been done. Since then it's been faultless and is over 100k now. Reading the Passat forums when I was buying mine there were plenty of owners with over 200k on theirs still running perfectly.

Thinking this is the way forward tbh - ok the BMW might be quicker and a better drive but no good if its sat on my driveway because i cant afford to replace the turbo/intercooler/engine etc.

Passat, yep sounds a good choice, not bothered if its an Audi or a Passat to be honest. just need an economical mile muncher that has decent oomph at motorway speeds.

************** - how do you find the performance of these especially at a road/motorway speeds?

Audi every time for me.

Audi or passat as long as it has the red I you should not be dissapointed. Fair amount of oomph and you will still get 50mpg on the motorway.

The mpg seems to vary on the Passats. If you go on the forums once again you will find some will say they only get 40mpg average whilst others say they get 55mpg average! Mine is about 43mpg from £20 which is mostly popping into town with the occasional journey out of town. I get 180-190 miles to £20 of Shell normal diesel. I also find my economy is much better in summer for some reason. I know people say using the heater/more electrics in winter will affect fuel economy but I can't believe it affects it that much.

If I do a 20 mile trip across country to my parents it will do 50+mpg. If I go on the motorway at 80 it will be doing about 40mpg, obviously if you are happy to sit at 70 all day it will do the 50mpg. It is by far and away the most economical car i've had and the biggest for space inside. I was lucky with mine as its got climate control and a sunroof which I believe is quite rare as it is usually one or the other.

Oh and I may be selling mine if I decide that I must have a 7 seater. Either the Passat goes, the scoob goes or both :cry: if I go for a 7 seater.

Thanks for all the advice chaps :thumb:

I was singing the a4's praises then the cambelt went on me today :( my fualt for taking the smudged stamp for a cambelt change as gospel I guess.

BMW for me, I know of too many engine failures on VW diesels to keep me impressed (all serviced to vw standards, one was a 2ltr tdi with less than 30k on the clock, injector failed, 900 quid for the part, just outside warranty but they got the injector replaced foc but had to pay the labour@400 quid, one was 64k on the clock on an 04 vw golf bought 2 weeks previously from a vwmd, piston through the block, both standard).

Tony:)

My bro had a 320d on a 02, turbo was just replaced along with the maff £1500 about a month befor he bought it, had 107k now sold to his mate with over 150k on it, he had it just over a yr. When he bought he reserched and found the turbos last about 80k at best. Not sure why but you need a maff replacement is needed at same time. So if you do go bm route make sure it's been done. He also had 1 of them mods fitted from eBay £90 I think, increases bhp and mpg. 0-60 went to 7.2 yes no bull and max mpg at 60 on cruise was 69.7. Norm drivin was 53mpg It beat my scoob on the m-ways gutted but very good car.

Suspension prone to giving up on these BMWs too a common fault

Well bought a passat 130 TDi in the end. its a lovely car with quite a bit of poke but.......

within 10 miles of buying it the temp guage started going barmy and rocketing past the red and i think it was going into limp mode (no boost)

Thankfully dealer took it back and is going to sort it for me.

Hopefully it gets sorted as its a lovely car.

Glad you got what you wanted in the end :D still not saying anything about vw's though ;) my last post said it all about reliability :(

Tony:)

Tony neither of the examples you give above are on the pd130 tdi engine though which is what is in the Passat. They are both the pd150 at a guess which is known to have reliability issues from what I have read.

Chief did you get the saloon or estate? Also regarding the issue with it how many miles has it done? From the description you've put could be the radiator which goes on them at around 80k. As I mentioned above both the radiator and egr valve needed replacing on mine when I bought it with 84k on the clock. It's on 101k now and been faultless ever since having both those parts replaced.

Well done that man. Got one myself (estate) and it's got 145K on the clock. Starting to do less mpg but I reckon the EGR valve needs a good clean out. Cambelt at 60K intervals - make sure it's been done.

Info over at UKpassats.co.uk • Index page (for UK based) and Passat World Forums - Powered by vBulletin for mainly US based stuff so not many oil burners but lots of good info.

The 130 can be chipped quite easily but you may need to check/replace the clutch after. A remap can be had that limits the initial torque in the bottom few gears. 6-speed has a larger clutch than the 5-speed.

Dave

None are the 150 ;) out of the 3, 1 is the 2ltr later engine, one is a pd130 (which hasnt had any issues) and the other is a pd130 (which put the piston through the block).

Tony:)

I thought the tdi golf only used the 150 but just seen they use the 130 as well. The problems you mentioned were the exact issues i'd heard with the 150 losing a piston and not heard that as a common issue with the 130.

I have a volvo S40 2.0D (the 2 litre ford PSA diesel plant that seems to be in every car :rolleyes:) which has 136bhp.

Have you considered one of those?

I think it's a bit late to consider that now ;)

Don't let it be said i don't read posts to the end !

oh, wait...!

lol

Can you give me the spec model and price you paid, as this is exactly what I am looking for at the moment.

I'd be interested in those details too so if I put mine up for sale I know what is the going rate.