The two most popular used premium saloons in Ireland — and both have expensive engine faults that have caught Irish buyers out. Know exactly what to check on each before you spend a cent.
Better to drive than the C Class, more driver-focused, and the F30 330d N57 is one of the outstanding used car engines on the Irish market. N47 chain issue is well documented — easy to check and avoid.
More comfortable and refined than the 3 Series, better rear seat space, and the W205 interior is genuinely premium. The OM651 diesel chain tensioner is the fault to know about on pre-2012 W204.
| Category | BMW 3 Series | Mercedes C Class |
|---|---|---|
| Driving enjoyment | Best in class ✓ | Comfortable |
| Ride comfort | Firm | More refined ✓ |
| Rear space | Adequate | Better ✓ |
| Interior quality (latest) | Excellent | Outstanding ✓ |
| Engine fault risk | N47 — check build date | OM651 — pre-2012 only |
| Running costs | Slightly lower ✓ | Higher |
| Parts availability | Good | Good |
| Irish price (sweet spot) | €14k–€24k | €13k–€24k |
| Estate version | F31 outstanding ✓ | Good |
The N47 2.0 diesel in the F30 320d and E90 320d has a rear-mounted timing chain requiring full engine removal to replace — €3,000–€6,000+. Post-mid-2012 F30 has a revised tensioner. Always verify build date, not registration date. Any cold-start rattle — walk away immediately.
The W204 C220d pre-2012 has a known timing chain tensioner issue. Post-2012 revised and largely resolved. The W205 (2014+) C220d is essentially fault-free in this regard. Buy a W205 and the chain concern disappears entirely.
The 330d with N57 six-cylinder bypasses the N47 issue entirely and delivers a genuinely outstanding car. The F31 Touring estate is the outstanding recommendation — more space than any compact SUV, better to drive than all of them.
The W205 generation is a significant step up from the W204 in every way. Post-2015 C220d with 170hp BlueTEC is the engine to have — efficient, refined, and largely trouble-free with full service history.
BMW F30 320d — €13,000–€20,000. BMW F30 330d — €15,000–€24,000. BMW F31 330d Touring — €14,000–€23,000. Mercedes W204 C220d — €10,000–€16,000. Mercedes W205 C220d — €16,000–€28,000.
The BMW 3 Series is the better driver's car and the F31 330d Touring estate is one of the outstanding used car purchases available in Ireland at any price. If you want comfort and rear space over driving enjoyment, the W205 C220d post-2015 is a genuinely excellent car. Avoid W204 pre-2012 on both chain grounds and age. Never buy either without confirmed service history and a cold-start check.
A Cartell or Motorcheck report costs €10–€15 and takes two minutes. These are the flags to watch for on a used BMW 3 Series or Mercedes C-Class:
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