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About LinkBacksSee post #6Originally Posted by DanceswithUnix
(OK I didn't mention cost, but I put it alongside injectors and DPF as expensive failure points).
See post #6
I had a BMW 525D (2000 - e39 body) which is still going strong (I passed it on to my brother). I've put 120000 (km) on it annually.
The fuel consumption is very nice, around 6.5-7.5l/100km. I haven't got any faults whatsoever.
Last time I've checked it on autotrader it wasnt too expensive either.
...only If you can find one which has not been abused....
So you did, oopsSee post #6
Still think it was worth a special mention though, as these flywheels seem to be a (hugely expensive) consumable.
Do the particulate filters fail? I know some of them can ruin the fuel economy.
Yep, in fact my Alfa v6 has one and it's only a little 2.5l engine. Shockingly for an Alfa I think it was cheaper to replace than my colleague's Focus clutchIt's not just diesel cars that have DMFs. Petrols too
On petrols engines they seem to be a luxury feature though. Not sure why, tbh I don't think the clutch on my car is much better than on my wife's GT which has a 3.2l version of the same engine but a traditional clutch.
Does kind of worry me for the future, the sort of shenanigans that have made second hand diesel engines such a lottery to own are now turning up on petrol engines too.
Yeah - if they're not regenerated enough/in time they clog up and need fully replacing. Which is unsurprisingly common for people who've bought diesels for the wrong kinds of journeys. Sometimes they just need replacing after a certain amount of use even if used correctly. I've always managed to avoid them though (very carefully chose my 55 reg engine
DMFs smooth out vibrations and roughness - shouldn't really be needed for a V6, but if they wanted to give an even more luxurious/smooth impression they might have used one. They're part of the reason modern diesels don't sound rough.Yep, in fact my Alfa v6 has one and it's only a little 2.5l engine. Shockingly for an Alfa I think it was cheaper to replace than my colleague's Focus clutch
On petrols engines they seem to be a luxury feature though. Not sure why, tbh I don't think the clutch on my car is much better than on my wife's GT which has a 3.2l version of the same engine but a traditional clutch.
Does kind of worry me for the future, the sort of shenanigans that have made second hand diesel engines such a lottery to own are now turning up on petrol engines too.
Going back to VAG diesels there are SMF conversion kits available for a lot of them if the clutch does go. Apparently they make a clattering sound when in neutral, but in gear you wouldn't know the difference to a DMF. As for DPFs my 2007 1.9TDI doesn't have one so if you shop around they can be avoided!
Ah, so the equivalent of a poisoned cat on a petrol engine, just by not letting it regen. Nice. The mechanic I use does a sideline in removing the DPF filters from FIAT & Alfa diesels and replacing them with a straight through pipe. I can see a lot of utility in thatYeah - if they're not regenerated enough/in time they clog up and need fully replacing. Which is unsurprisingly common for people who've bought diesels for the wrong kinds of journeys. Sometimes they just need replacing after a certain amount of use even if used correctly. I've always managed to avoid them though (very carefully chose my 55 reg engine
DMFs smooth out vibrations and roughness - shouldn't really be needed for a V6, but if they wanted to give an even more luxurious/smooth impression they might have used one. They're part of the reason modern diesels don't sound rough.
And yes, it is supposed to make the clutch smoother by having a DMF on my v6, but as I said I can't feel enough difference to warrant the cost.
Don't see how the clutch construction makes a diesel sound less rough, I believe that is largely down to the common rail system allowing oil to be injected in several short bursts to makes lots of little pops rather than the traditional one big inject giving one big rattly explosion. Turbos tend to muffle exhaust noise too.
I heard new MOT regulations will make that illegal unfortunately. If the car was produced with a DPF it'll have to have a working DPF to pass MOT.Ah, so the equivalent of a poisoned cat on a petrol engine, just by not letting it regen. Nice. The mechanic I use does a sideline in removing the DPF filters from FIAT & Alfa diesels and replacing them with a straight through pipe. I can see a lot of utility in that
Even with the micro injections a large capacity 4-cylinder diesel is going to be a bit rough.Don't see how the clutch construction makes a diesel sound less rough, I believe that is largely down to the common rail system allowing oil to be injected in several short bursts to makes lots of little pops rather than the traditional one big inject giving one big rattly explosion. Turbos tend to muffle exhaust noise too.
I hate the feel of a DMF - seems to make throttle response slightly elastic. But it's hard (impossible?) to get a good diesel without one.
Had a look a Mazda 6 diesel ?
I've been looking at a few Vauxhall Astra's online... I'm guessing a 2004 'G' model won't have a dpf? It uses a 1.7 CDTI engine and there are some DTI versions too (not too sure which is better?). I'm sure it will be fairly gutless, but MPG seems very good and it's cheaper to tax and insure than my Focus.
This!
I would steer clear of the DTI as they use the Bosch VP44 pump and they do fail regularly. I believe the CDTi is a more powerful unit too.
Having said that, I'd be inclined to steer clear of a Vauxhall and take the others advices of a Seat or Skoda.
This is going to be tough... If i get a diesel Skoda Octavia or Fabia, then it would have to be an earlier model to avoid the problematic piezo injectors and iffy Siemens ECU (words from our mechanic). The Vauxhall Astra CDTI seems good as i've now been told the 1.7 CDTI in the 'G' model doesn't have a DPF and it's actually quite a reliable and safe car. I'll have a look around and weigh out my options (running costs including tax and insurance are also a factor).
Anyway, on another note... I drove 160 miles yesterday in my 1.6 MK1 Focus and it reported as only using 1/4 of a tank of fuel (the tank holds 55 litres). I have a feeling the fuel gauge must be off as my Focus has never managed 50+ MPG before (mostly motorway driving around 70-80mph).
It really aught to on the motorway. Even my car does about 30mpg on a long steady cruise, with what is probably the most uneconomical engine Alfa have ever made
I had an Astra G for a long time and I miss it - very reliable, cheap to service, extremely economical, great feel for tyre grip and braking - really good in the snow. Wasn't the most powerful though and no ABS.
Make sure you get Y reg or later for tax - prior to that and they didn't have the CO2 system so it's just a standard rate based on engine size, so you don't get the discount for such an economical car.
I think the long and the short of it is that if you buy any kind of common rail diesel you're at risk of expensive problems with injectors, DMFs and the like, but the car will be nice to drive and very economical when its working. If you buy a diesel with a mechanical pump it'll most likely be reliable but will sound, and quite possibly drive, like a tractor.
There are a few mechanical pump diesels that are famous for responding very favourably to a few fuel pump tweaks- 90s Astras with the 1.7 Isuzu engine, PSA XUD engined models (most obvious the 306 DTurbo), and VAG VP engines are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. But all come installed in cars that can't match your Focus' combination of handling, ride, and safety (for example 306s handle great but won't crash as well as your focus, whereas a Mk3 Golf will crash O.K. but handles like a slug).
TBH I know Mk3 Mondeo TDCIs are a bit of a liability, but they're ever so cheap. They start at under a grand and even a 2004 Ghia X with all the toys shouldn't cost more than £2k. AFAIK Injectors are £200 each and a clutch/DMF £4-500. So you'd struggle to spend more than £1300 getting it right even if you were really unlucky. Not much else goes wrong with them AFAIK. If the market has already priced the known problems with a model into their secondhand value, then potentially you could get a bargain. I've never driven one but apparently they're great cars (my Mk1 diesel is a great car only hampered by its tractor engine. I put up with it as it's never cost more than £250 to get through the MOT).
To me, if you've got X budget for a car, it makes no sense to spend all of it on an apparently decent one which you then have to hope against hope doesn't go wrong. Spend X minus the potential cost of repairs on a cheaper car and you'd be unlucky to lose IMO.
I can't think of a single Seat or Skoda that I'd choose over a Mk3 Mondeo*.
*Fabia VRS- lovely car. Now compare the prices to Mondeo ST-TDCIs
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