Dilema - same boat, D4 river 800 hrs, D3 salt water 300 hours. Which one???

[ozzie]

after a stressful week with the heat exchanger issues, looks as if the engineer is on the top of it now, and sale should complete end of next week. We are now looking at a replacement, we did want the Elan 30 but after finding it had no service history and loads of GRP issues, we have decided not to proceed. We are now looking at Bavaria 35 Sports. There are two currently available, one is a hardtop with D4s, freshwater use and 860 hours. The other is an open version with D3 200s, based on the coast with 360 hours. After the issues with our D4s I was hoping to steer clear of them, but we really like the boat. The engines and legs have been regularly serviced, and the fact that they are in fresh water would seem to me to be a positive. Having regular use I think is better than little use, but would this amount of hours at slow speed with just one blast a year down the coast cause any long term problems? I have not had any dealings with the new generation D3, so am unaware on their reliability and any common issues to be aware of. We are going to look at the open version, but SWMBO prefers the hardtop. Would like to here your opinions!

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Can't comment on the engines but I've just bought a hardtop Bav. I wanted the HT because it gives shelter from the UK weather with the flexibility of the opening roof panel for sunny days. Very early days but I'm happy so far. Much less canvas to wrestle with.

 

[ozzie]

Scala, that's exactly why we are leaning towards the hardtop albeit not sure on engines. Our current hardtop with the fibreglass roof does not open particularly wide, so the canvas full section was a real positive! What engines do you have in yours?

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Scala, that's exactly why we are leaning towards the hardtop albeit not sure on engines. Our current hardtop with the fibreglass roof does not open particularly wide, so the canvas full section was a real positive! What engines do you have in yours?

Mine's got the half GRP sliding roof.

Engines are D4 300s on DPH legs. Its a 40. Only got 12 hours on it so a bit early to tell whether it's a good engine choice but I was very happy with the package as a whole ...

 

[volvopaul]

after a stressful week with the heat exchanger issues, looks as if the engineer is on the top of it now, and sale should complete end of next week. We are now looking at a replacement, we did want the Elan 30 but after finding it had no service history and loads of GRP issues, we have decided not to proceed. We are now looking at Bavaria 35 Sports. There are two currently available, one is a hardtop with D4s, freshwater use and 860 hours. The other is an open version with D3 200s, based on the coast with 360 hours. After the issues with our D4s I was hoping to steer clear of them, but we really like the boat. The engines and legs have been regularly serviced, and the fact that they are in fresh water would seem to me to be a positive. Having regular use I think is better than little use, but would this amount of hours at slow speed with just one blast a year down the coast cause any long term problems? I have not had any dealings with the new generation D3, so am unaware on their reliability and any common issues to be aware of. We are going to look at the open version, but SWMBO prefers the hardtop. Would like to here your opinions!

D4 to D3=, I can only say out of the frying pan and into the fire .

 

[ozzie]

Volvopaul, I take it the D3 engines or drives have some issues to look out for??

 

[novanta]

I would go for the D4's. Much bigger engine the D3.

 

[[2068]]

The slight issue with D3's are the variable vane turbos, which are great on a car, but not quite so great on something close to salty water that doesn't get used regularly.
The "new" D3 engines post 2010 are better than the original D3, but I would still prefer the D4 option ... bigger displacement, more oomph.

 

[volvopaul]

Volvopaul, I take it the D3 engines or drives have some issues to look out for??

It’s the engines that have been unreliable in past , are they the new generation D3 or the old one ?

 

[ozzie]

They are the new generation. After the issues with after coolers, oil coolers/heat exchangers on the D4 I am just a bit wary of them...

 

[Frederick911]

Hi, I have a 2012 D3 200hp engine presume that to be the new generation. Over the last 4 years I have been very happy with it and still am today. It is quiet and economical. It is serviced properly and have had no issues at all that seemed to plague the earlier versions of the D3. I believe these engines need to be used rather than just sitting in the marina.