Browsing for a cheap daily driver - The search is over! 27/05/2019

[Mr Tidy]

I had a facelift E46 320td Compact as my only car for three years from 2005 to 2008, and had no issues at all with it - mind you it had done less than 45K miles when I sold it. :roll:

It was never going to be a rocket, but I liked the RWD balance and with 150bhp it was more powerful than most other 4 cylinder diesels at the time. And despite using that extra power fairly often over the 40+K miles I had it the mpg averaged over 47, which I thought was good.

But I think if I was looking for a Touring I'd want a facelift 330d! :lol:

 

[QUIKSTER]

I've just put up for sale a car that I bought for Mrs for 6 months whilst she waited for her company lease car order.

It previously belonged to my Indi VW mechanic for years.

Its a 2002 VW Bora 1.8T Sport (180BHP) Pretty rare as find more the Diesel versions, has covered 159k miles.

Full add is on Gumtree.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/volkswagen/for-sale-vw-bora-1.8t-sport-180bhp-/1331354819

I'm after £1,350 ONO

 

[tee.gilding]

I've just put up for sale a car that I bought for Mrs for 6 months whilst she waited for her company lease car order.

It previously belonged to my Indi VW mechanic for years.

Its a 2002 VW Bora 1.8T Sport (180BHP) Pretty rare as find more the Diesel versions, has covered 159k miles.

Full add is on Gumtree.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/volkswagen/for-sale-vw-bora-1.8t-sport-180bhp-/1331354819

I'm after £1,350 ONO

Thanks, nice car! But I'm looking for a diesel, due to the mileage I'm covering on the daily.

I had a 2003 320td as my daily for a few years. The only maintenance it required were the replacement of a split turbo hose and eventually a new clutch at >150,000 miles.
Importantly, the previous owner had removed the swirl flaps (which are plastic and can break up damaging the engine). It’s a wise thing to do if running a BMW diesel of that vintage.
Mine was a compact and it was reasonably quick, efficient (except in town where a small petrol engine would have been better) and handled really nicely. I really wanted a 330d in M Sport trim but couldn’t find a good one at the time.

I used to run a 325ti Sport as my daily. Loved it! But I need something bigger now, hence the thought of a touring. Good to hear it was reasonably reliable - I've found one nearby on 115k miles, and I'd be getting the swirl flaps and CDV deleted as first priority!

 

[tee.gilding]

Reviving an old thread here, but I've been searching around now for a while (and struggling) to find a reasonable condition 320d touring for reasonable money within a reasonable distance from where I live. I narrowly missed out on one 15 miles away by getting in touch just after it sold, so I was gutted about that, but the hunt continues.

So, has anyone got, or know of, any 320d's in/around Portsmouth-Southampton-Bournemouth area, which may not necessarily be up for sale but might be considered for sale if the right offer was put forward?

Ideal spec would be:

2002 - 2005 BMW 320d ES/SE touring, facelift model
Manual, <150k miles, FSH, unmodified preferably
Darker colours (black, blue, or the darker silvers), in good condition for age (not a rust bucket or a demolition derby special please!)
Not too much of a "unique interior"! Something simple like black or grey cloth is perfect.

I keep finding cars which match my spec but are in Manchester, Glasgow, or Leeds, all of which are a very long way to travel for a car which isn't worth a lot of money!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[hopz121]

I have a golf mk5 1.9tdi as a daily and its great around 60mpg and fairy good at most things too.

Things to check,

Rust on front wings, (corrosion warranty is 12 years)
AC works (its always on in most golfs and usually this kills the compressor early)
Cambelt done every 5 years
Clutch and flywheel is around £1000+ my flywheel went at 127,000

 

[Worcester_spoon]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Mondeo-2-0i-16v-Auto-Ghia-X-Estate/254208372862?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Cheap, and low mileage (although it is auto...)

 

[tee.gilding]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Mondeo-2-0i-16v-Auto-Ghia-X-Estate/254208372862?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Cheap, and low mileage (although it is auto...)

Really looking for an E46 320d now, instead of my original thoughts of a Mondeo/Focus or Passat/Golf.

 

[tee.gilding]

Just found this gem, just been listed. I think I'll have to get over there and have a look!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201904036571445?make=BMW&body-type=Estate&postcode=so314rf&maximum-badge-engine-size=2.0&fuel-type=Diesel&advertising-location=at_cars&sort=recommended&price-to=2000&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&model=3%20SERIES&radius=1501&page=1&modal=photos

 

[tee.gilding]

Just found this gem, just been listed. I think I'll have to get over there and have a look!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201904036571445?make=BMW&body-type=Estate&postcode=so314rf&maximum-badge-engine-size=2.0&fuel-type=Diesel&advertising-location=at_cars&sort=recommended&price-to=2000&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&model=3%20SERIES&radius=1501&page=1&modal=photos

Lasted about 5 seconds before they deleted the ad! That one went FAST!!!

 

[tee.gilding]

UPDATE: 27/05/19

So my search is now over. On Saturday morning I became the proud owner of a 2006 E91 320d Sport. It's not what I was originally looking at, but after test driving a 123k Golf estate, then finding this E91 locally, I couldn't resist upping my budget a little and going for a look.

It's a Lemans Blue M Sport model with style 194 wheels, and a shadow blue / alcantara interior with aluminium trim. The bodywork is in great condition for its mileage (93k) but the wheels could do with a refurb. It's a fairly basic spec, but has a few niceties, like cruise control, reverse sensors, and working cup holders!

So thank you all for your input on this quest for a new daily driver. Much appreciated!

Here's the new daily:




I'll have to take some better shots when I get the chance. In the meantime, my old daily is up for grabs, if anyone fancies a bargain (at £900 ONO) gimme a shout!

 

[JamieZ4C]

Very nice! Love the colour and the M Sport kit always looks good on a E9X.

Glad you managed to up the budget and find something you can enjoy as well as being practical

 

[Mr Tidy]

It looks great in that colour.

Unless you get an ES model, the features you've mentioned are standard on 3 Series (unlike Z4s) plus you get a MFSW. :lol:

 

[tee.gilding]

It looks great in that colour.

Unless you get an ES model, the features you've mentioned are standard on 3 Series (unlike Z4s) plus you get a MFSW. :lol:

Nice that they decided to include some nice basic options as standard on the E91's then! I'm very thankful I went for a Sport model - there are a few ES and SE's for sale but they're definitely poverty-spec by comparison!