e92 330i buying advice

[OldSkoO1]

I'm really stuck on a decision to make, between the 330i and the 335d.

I do 10k PA, i want something fun, with a good engine note (bit fed up with diesels), and i've got about 20k to spend. I'm a private buyer so it will be half px half savings.

Therefore, i want my money to go a long way, naturally.

I thought the 330i was an absolute peach. Although, i did find that the most fun can be had in the top 3rd of the RPM counter. Which, especially on the test drive didn't happen very much.

Queue the 335d, the sequential turbo's give shove at any point. But i loose the engine note and increase the complexity of the engine and i'm still stuck in a diesel. Although fairly epic one at that.

The complexity bothers me, being a private buyer, at 20k will put me onto a 40-50k miles 335d on or just outside warranty. Which, quite frankly scares me a little.

If i went with the 330i it would have to be the ED model with the improved engine, tax and co2. However, even that is direct injection with high pressure fuel rails so even that could be expensive to replace.

So my quandary is, 330i, more simple and cheaper to fix? Sounds good but less on the road performance, or the 335d, an epic car by anyone's standards but seemingly complicated, loose the engine note and smooth petrol power delivery up to red line, might get soot locked at 10k PA (town and a road) and more expensive to run? Forgetting fuel costs (irrelevant).

Please add your thoughts

Edited April 26, 2010 by OldSkoO1

[theduisbergkid]

You seem to be hung up on reliability ? I don't see any reason to fear any problems with either of these cars.

The 335d is ace, but is still a diesel... if you're only doing 10k pa, and don't mind fuel costs, I'd go petrol myself, esp if you can get a slightly newer car for the money. Without looking I'd guess the diesel is prob only 10 mpg better than the petrol anyway.

[OldSkoO1]

Thanks

I am hung up on reliability i admit it

No company car schemes or new leasing for me. So to plonk 20k of my own money on an out of warranty twin turbo charged high pressure injection car like the 335d does make me wonder.

I see the 330i as a brilliant, simple NA engine, very thrilling to drive.

I couldn't help but think the 335d might have the edge having greater performance low down, on the road, on the go... but then, it's a diesel, something i wanted to get away from etc...

I think as it seems, the ED petrol will probably do about 33mpg. The 335d probably mid 30's.

On my mileage the difference it makes per week is the equivalent of a few chocolate bars and a nice bottle of cider.

[theduisbergkid]

Only 2MPG more out of the diesel ? You'd be mad to consider it !

Probably biased as I have an E46 330CIs, but there is little to beat the sound of a revvy six, and aside from routine servicing I've only had to replace 1 bulb. 30+ MPG so far and that includes some tracktime. The E92 is supposed to be better still...

What are you waiting for man, go and buy it !

[CarMad]

Have a read of the review in my sig, still got mine and love it.

I got a 330i for 4k less than the exact same spec'ed 330d at the time 3 years ago, I checked last week and it is now only worth £1500 more at trade in.

I worked out that I would have had to have done 100,000 miles ish before the difference in economy would work out. Mine is getting 30mpg average at the moment and the straight six still sounds fantastic at full chat and for me in today's clogged roads it still seems pretty darn quick.

[330dcoupe]

Why not sit on a stool between the two and go for a 335i? It's quicker than both - has the noise and will still return you around 30mpg on a combined cycle? I haven't checked - but I'd imagine their slightly cheaper than the 335d at the moment.

Or why not go for a 330d? I'm currently averaging 40-42mpg on 90% town driving. It's not as quick as the 335d - but get it remapped and in manual guise - the 335d wouldn't know which way it went. I'd imagine the MPG wouldn't be effected much either. on a 300 mile motorway journey it gives me 52mpg.

Edited April 26, 2010 by 330dcoupe

[steelwind101]

The 335i is the unreliable one....!

[edo]

Stick with the 330i at your mileage.

Do you want manual or auto (of course the 335d is auto only)?

Why not a 335i (if you can get one in warranty)?

2007 BMW 3 SERIES 335i M Sport Highline 2dr DCT Coupe

Price: £20,950 ONO

Features:

20,820 milesAutomaticBlack sapphirePetrolCoupe2979 cc

Full Description:

Glossary of Terms

20,820 miles, One owner from new, 2 Dr Coupe Automatic with paddle gears, 20,775 miles. In superb condition with lots of extras including Cream-beige Dakota Leather, Burr Walnut trim, Electric Sunroof, Bluetooth, Hi Fi LOGIC7 loudspeaker system, 6 CD autochanger and MP3 facility, Professional navigation system, Front/rear parking distance control, active cruise control and Black Sapphire Metallic paint. Full service history and MOT. £20,950 ONO.

Private Seller:

Email address: Email Advertiser

Contact number: 08720 682598 or

07041 389340

Distance: 32 miles from GU32EA2007 BMW 3 SERIES 335i M Sport Highline 2dr DCT Coupe

Price: £20,950 ONO

Features:

20,820 milesAutomaticBlack sapphirePetrolCoupe2979 cc

Full Description:

Glossary of Terms

20,820 miles, One owner from new, 2 Dr Coupe Automatic with paddle gears, 20,775 miles. In superb condition with lots of extras including Cream-beige Dakota Leather, Burr Walnut trim, Electric Sunroof, Bluetooth, Hi Fi LOGIC7 loudspeaker system, 6 CD autochanger and MP3 facility, Professional navigation system, Front/rear parking distance control, active cruise control and Black Sapphire Metallic paint. Full service history and MOT. £20,950 ONO.

Private Seller:

Email address: Email Advertiser

Contact number: 08720 682598 or

07041 389340

Auto Trader UK - BMW 3 SERIES 335i M Sport Highline 2dr DCT Coupe

08 will still be in warranty if you can live with jewish racing gold:

Auto Trader UK - BMW 3 SERIES 335I SE 2DR +FULL CREAM HEATED LEATHER+SAT NAV

[cruiser647]

My mate (Company car or lease??) has a 335i... And he's had Nikasil issues and both turbos replaced under warranty. He has had lots of other issues including a mis-fire when he picked it up from the garage - brand new.......

However, he does say, when it's on song.......... :grin: :grin:

What do I drive?

A V6 twin turbo quattro automatic Audi with 190K miles on the clock...... Seems OK.....!!

Sounds great when the turbos kick in at 1500 rpm, feels great when the turbos kick in and thats at anything on the rev range! Lovely!

[OldSkoO1]

thanks for all tips

I think i will go for the auto this time. Never gave it a thought if i'm honest, went into the showroom asking for a manual. Test drove the auto, v.impressed and thought this will make life so much easier around town. Paddles an ok compromise to a manual on a twisty hoon, even though it is a bit xbox.

I think i discounted the 335i on a few reasons, each on their own wouldn't bother me; road tax is getting expensive, unlikely to get out of the 20's MPG, prefer/want the smooth power delivery from an NA engine, would like to be turbo free for a while.

Although the 335d is still at the front of my mind as possibly the best all round package road car bar things like engine noise and possible repair costs. I read things about turbo oil pipe issues, injector problems and even turbo replacements. That would be a lot to stomach out of warranty. You see, i'm still a bit confused but my lust for the petrol 330i is there, and i don't think epic / better performance from the diesel will sway me. So i told the guy who's trying to source one for me, 330i coupe, ED onwards, m-sport, red leather. Lets see how long i have to wait

It's obvious people aren't prepared to pay the 6k premium for the 330i from new. There are loads of 325i's and quite a lot of 335d/i's about.

Edited April 26, 2010 by OldSkoO1

[gizze]

The 272bhp 330i is the best non M 3 series you can buy, it is an absolute peach.

I was lent one for 2 days and I did 500 miles in it, on one tank!!

Over the two days it returned 38mpg.

Yeah you could get it down to 25mpg ragging it, but my 335i would be in the high teens when doing that, and 32mpg on a run at best.

The 335i is a technical marvel, you can put your foot down in any gear and it doesn't matter what the revs are you will have instant power and will be shoved down the road.

However, that is also its downfall, once the novelty of that wears off there really isn't alot left. Put your foot down, go fast, brake into corner and as soon as you are out again press the accelerator and you are flying down the road again.

In the 330i you have to get the gear changes right, you have to make sure you are at the right revs, come out of a corner and get it wrong and you are gutted, come out of the same corner and get it right and it rewards in a way the turbo car never can.

To be honest, if you are getting the 335i you may as well get a 335d and save some money on fuel. The 335i is just like the big diesel, revs a little higher (although not much!) and sounds nicer, but if you turned the stero right up and told the driver they were driving a 335d they would have no reason to disbelieve you.

Problem is finding one, I looked for one and gave up.

For some reason the 135i works better than the 335i, the slightly smaller car feels more alive and it seems to work in manual guise better too, a real go kart. Take one out and try it, some have been doing the rounds within budget.

[OldSkoO1]

Thanks gizze

I've seen your name popup a few times whilst searching for stuff. I did think that too, about the 335i i may aswell go diesel, 335d.

This REALLY interests me - 2007 BMW 3 SERIES 335D M SPORT 2DR AUTO

It's encouraging to know the 330i ED is quite frugal. At 10k PA it's only a matter of 20 quid or so a month but i guess if fuel prices reach £1.50 by the summer. I will be glad of the extra few i guess.

Thanks for your review CarMad, i've read that several times already, great review

[OldSkoO1]

Then there is this : 2008 BMW 3 SERIES 330I M SPORT 2DR AUTO

Perfect apart from not having red leather (coral i think). Which imo really makes a difference.

[gizze]

If you are buying an auto then it may be an idea to reconsider the 335i or the 335d, I think the 330i works really well with a manual 'box.

I think the paddles help, but you loose some of the benefit if a sweet NA engine with the auto.

[OldSkoO1]

Yea i found that, on my test drive i hardly used the upper sweet spot because of the auto box. You would have to flick it into paddle mode to hold onto the revs.

I was thinking at the time, i'm not getting into the power much here, a turbo would be nice and thinking the 335d would be much much quicker on the go.

To be fair, for a NA engine it does have a good amount of torque and power low down but it doesn't dance unless you get the revs a lot higher, as you say and as i found, hard to do with the auto box.

[OldSkoO1]

Could anyone suggest an alternative to the e92 330i coupe.

I might be waiting a while for the one i want, and i won't dismiss something else.

- I want something fun, but having kids would need a back seat as long as they can get their little legs behind the chair.

- Ideally would like to get back to petrol,

- Wouldn't mind an auto either, as i'm fed up of clutch in, clutch out, gear change every 10 seconds in town. (However i won't dismiss a manual as many great cars only come with a manual

- Needs to be fair on tax and mpg, < 200 g/km (225 if it's really special), > 25mpg tank combined. And not ridiculous to service / replacement parts.

- Up to about 20k

I choose the 330i coupe because i thought the engine is wonderful, and the chasis seem's very capable, cabin is a very nice place to be and the mrs thought it looked good, i must admit, so did i. The auto was a nice touch too, something i hadn't considered. So i'm looking for something quite comparable to drive.

Thanks,

[edo]

Only other things to consider:

Audi A5

Merc Coupe of some sort

Def need back seats? If not this opens you up to a number of other cars...