Which German?

[FarmerPug]

that question seems to have stuck a nerve

i dont understand

[mjb]

I guess there's a lot of ex-BMW owners on this forum, hence the extra votes for BMWs

I voted BMW, and I think my next car may well be a ~2000 530d touring or a 540 touring. Relatively cheap, powerful, better than 406 exec interiors, good handling, smooth ride... and RWD=fun

Oh, and unlike Mercs they don't suffer from ludicrously bad rust problems and they come with manual gearboxes made from something more substantial than cheese

[FarmerPug]

Mercs rust problems were all during their phase when they were making rubbish, but now they are building good stuff would anyone consider a new merc over a new bmw.

[waue1978]

I voted BMW, and I think my next car may well be a ~2000 530d touring or a 540 touring. Relatively cheap, powerful, better than 406 exec interiors, good handling, smooth ride... and RWD=fun

Oh, and unlike Mercs they don't suffer from ludicrously bad rust problems and they come with manual gearboxes made from something more substantial than cheese

Bit of a difference in running costs on those two! Have you not thought about a 525d instead? They're honestly not much slower than a 530d, but more economical. As far as the 540 goes I'll concede, that while a 530i is still pretty quick, the 540 (if you're not worried about mpg) has sooo much more power. Don't be too confident on the rust though, especially with the Tourings. Quite a few of the earlier E39s are starting to show a bit of rust now at the bottom of wheelarches on the sills, but a lot of Tourings seem to start rusting at the bottom of the tailgate.

Mercs rust problems were all during their phase when they were making rubbish, but now they are building good stuff would anyone consider a new merc over a new bmw.

I'd prefer to wait 10 years to see if the rust problem has really gone, but I'll admit that they are bloody nice now.

[FarmerPug]

doesnt bmw diesel engines have a tendancy to consume turbos, merc diesels are known for being strong and dependable and the old ones work well with veg oil. And the big e class estate is HUGE.
My 1988 e class estate did start to rust a bit, where it had been hit, where the aeriel was removed on the wheel arches, and that was it not bad for a 20 year old, it had sat for a year when i bought it, i put a battery in it and it started on the first turn of the key.

[waue1978]

From http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/bm ... ection=bad

Turbo trouble with early 530ds caused by ECU programme allowing higher boost than safe for turbo. Cured by replacing turbo, reprogramming ECU and thoroughly cleaning turbo inlet manifold and pipework because a blockage can cause the engine to run on its sump oil and self-destruct.

& if you get one late enough to avoid that:

Inlet manifold swirl flap of 530d prone to breaking off and being ingested by the engine, wrecking it. www.pmwltd.co.uk has a solution for this, which is a billet aluminium blanking plate that is substituted for the swirl flap. Well worth doing because it could save the cost of a new engine or having to scrap the car. Only cars from 2001 to 2004 are affected. So early E39 cars (from 1996 to 2000) are not affected. Some 2000 models may be affected, but very few. If you're not sure you can locate the air intake manifold (black plastic on the passenger side of the engine bay) and your hand fits underneath. If you feel a metal rod running the length of it underneath this manifold, then you do have swirl flaps. No rod, no swirl flaps, nothing to worry about.


525d = no such probs!

[mjb]

From http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/bm ... ection=bad
...
525d = no such probs!

The same page says 525d and 530d's are affected... but overall yeah I know it's a problem with them but it is a piece of cake to sort, like the ES9J4's little metal band in its air filter box which likes to jam the throttle wide open...

But that site isn't worth the effort to read... Just look what it says about 406s!


* 2.2HDI prone to shredding its timing belt due to water ingress under the cambelt cover
* Clocking of diesels (has it been a taxi?).
* Lots of problems with brake discs wearing rapidly or warping, so check these carefully before you buy. The reason for repeated problems is hubs not being cleaned properly when discs are replaced.
* Replacement of discs/drums, pads and parking brake shoes is a £450 job.
* Dozens of fires involving 2002/3 model year 406 HDIs in 2003.
* 2.1TD is a nightmare for mechanics to work on
* Spate of starter motor failures on 2.1TD model
* Speedometer failure of 2.1TD is common, new speedo heads are £650, and working used speedos are like gold dust
* ECU problems not sorted out in 96N/96P reg cars (an MOT emissions test should tell you)
* Oil consumption of 1.8i and 2.0i 16v petrol engines

The 406 is officially the world's worst car. Except I've not heard about ANY of the above...

[Gary406]

that would put any buyer off if they never owned a 406 before, shocking

working used speedos ? gold dust , what the hell hundreds online

[steve_earwig]

And it isn't the speedo that goes anyway.

[rwb]

that question seems to have stuck a nerve

i dont understand

I am surprised by the enthisiasm of the replies: I thought the poll would just be ignored.

[FarmerPug]

i like the way it says replacement of brake disks pads and shoes costs £450, WHERE does it cost that much is this if you get them made out of gold and ask prince charles to put them in for you in a lexus dealership. I got all that for £130, attempted it myself gave up on the front pads and connecting the rear handbrake cables, so i paid my cousin £20 and got him a chip and a 6 pack of bud. Still didnt cost £130.

[rwb]

Discs and pads all round, handbrake shoes cost me £250 plus another £250 to fit.

[FarmerPug]

Thats quite expensive, wouldnt you give it a go yourself?

[rwb]

I'd love to be able to a fraction of the stuff you lot get up to

I have no experience, and if I mess up then there's nobody I can ask for help. Therefore I'm apprehensive about doing anything at all.
And I have only very basic tools, and have to work outside the flat,... (excuses, excuses)

[rwb]

Just reading that back: they're crap excuses. I should get my arse in gear.