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Does the older BMW 320d really have a big problem?
Hi there, I am currently looking at buying an 09 or 10 BMW 320d, but have heard horror stories about timing chain slippage costing thousands to rectify. I am wondering how prevelent the problem actually is; should I save a little more and go for a car with a build date of post 04/11 (as recommended by forums) or is this being blown completely out of proportion?
Our answer:
Hi Mike,
There are some well-known problems with that BMW 2.0-litre diesel. The timing change is one and the turbo is another. While it’s perhaps blown a bit out of proportion, the issues are there and the best thing you can do is buy carefully. Buying as recent a car as you can will help but the best thing is to buy an approved used one from as BMW dealer – that way you can be certain that the car has been checked, has a full service history (which in and of itself is vital) and you’ll get a two-year warranty for a bit of peace of mind.
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