2009ish 3 Series - most reliable?
Discussion
Hi all
Does anyone know if the 3 series around 2009 age in petrol guise suffer from expensive failures? I am thinking manual 318i or 320i, but possibly 325i/330i also.
I am aware the 4 pot diesels suffer in this regard so will be avoiding those. This car just needs to be a run around for 60k or so over 3 years as reliable as possible.
Thanks
TH
Does anyone know if the 3 series around 2009 age in petrol guise suffer from expensive failures? I am thinking manual 318i or 320i, but possibly 325i/330i also.
I am aware the 4 pot diesels suffer in this regard so will be avoiding those. This car just needs to be a run around for 60k or so over 3 years as reliable as possible.
Thanks
TH
I'd avoid the 4-pot petrols (320). Don't think the 318 petrol exists for the E90/92 3-series.
You may as well go for the 330i. No major downsides compared to the 325i (but buy the best example you can find).
You may as well go for the 330i. No major downsides compared to the 325i (but buy the best example you can find).
Trailhead said:
Hi all
Does anyone know if the 3 series around 2009 age in petrol guise suffer from expensive failures? I am thinking manual 318i or 320i, but possibly 325i/330i also.
I am aware the 4 pot diesels suffer in this regard so will be avoiding those. This car just needs to be a run around for 60k or so over 3 years as reliable as possible.
Thanks
TH
Does anyone know if the 3 series around 2009 age in petrol guise suffer from expensive failures? I am thinking manual 318i or 320i, but possibly 325i/330i also.
I am aware the 4 pot diesels suffer in this regard so will be avoiding those. This car just needs to be a run around for 60k or so over 3 years as reliable as possible.
Thanks
TH
wax lyrical said:
I'd avoid the 4-pot petrols (320). Don't think the 318 petrol exists for the E90/92 3-series.
You may as well go for the 330i. No major downsides compared to the 325i (but buy the best example you can find).
Why would you avoid the 320? Reliability or performance?You may as well go for the 330i. No major downsides compared to the 325i (but buy the best example you can find).
Trailhead said:
Hi all
Does anyone know if the 3 series around 2009 age in petrol guise suffer from expensive failures? I am thinking manual 318i or 320i, but possibly 325i/330i also.
I am aware the 4 pot diesels suffer in this regard so will be avoiding those. This car just needs to be a run around for 60k or so over 3 years as reliable as possible.
Thanks
TH
Does anyone know if the 3 series around 2009 age in petrol guise suffer from expensive failures? I am thinking manual 318i or 320i, but possibly 325i/330i also.
I am aware the 4 pot diesels suffer in this regard so will be avoiding those. This car just needs to be a run around for 60k or so over 3 years as reliable as possible.
Thanks
TH
None of the cars are inherently unreliable.
There was a discussion recently on E90post. Agreement was the 325i would be the most reliable, as it's an de-tuned 330i, so all the parts are not stressed at all.
Either way, I've got a 320D on 185k, it's on its original turbo and injectors etc (touch wood). Everything that's gone has been unrelated to engine as such, and due to age (clutch bearing, propshaft centre bearing, various bushes etc.
There was a discussion recently on E90post. Agreement was the 325i would be the most reliable, as it's an de-tuned 330i, so all the parts are not stressed at all.
Either way, I've got a 320D on 185k, it's on its original turbo and injectors etc (touch wood). Everything that's gone has been unrelated to engine as such, and due to age (clutch bearing, propshaft centre bearing, various bushes etc.
Digitalize said:
None of the cars are inherently unreliable.
There was a discussion recently on E90post. Agreement was the 325i would be the most reliable, as it's an de-tuned 330i, so all the parts are not stressed at all.
Actually this isn't strictly true as a 2009 car would have the later more complex and more troublesome N53 stratified direct injection engine, which is prone to injection issues. It is not as reliable as the N52 engine it replaced.There was a discussion recently on E90post. Agreement was the 325i would be the most reliable, as it's an de-tuned 330i, so all the parts are not stressed at all.
Fox- said:
Actually this isn't strictly true as a 2009 car would have the later more complex and more troublesome N53 stratified direct injection engine, which is prone to injection issues. It is not as reliable as the N52 engine it replaced.
Yes but of 2009, it would still be considered the most reliable.Fox- said:
I'd imagine the least troublesome engine in a 2009 3 Series is the N57 3 litre diesel.
Feels wrong to say that given the diesels are usually the worst
The general consensus was because the Diesel's all have turbo's to fail, swirl flaps etc that they were in general less reliable than their NA petrol counterparts.Feels wrong to say that given the diesels are usually the worst
2009 320i will be the direct injection N43 unit - apart from chain and guides you have the HP pump, coil packs, injectors and the BMW only £350 NoX sensor. Same issues with the 325i and 330i apart from the chain that is a rare problem. 2009 320d will be the N47 with the associated timing chain nightmares.
Whilst they are generally fairly reliable, they can generate some truly eye watering invoices when they aren't.
Whilst they are generally fairly reliable, they can generate some truly eye watering invoices when they aren't.
iSore said:
2009 320i will be the direct injection N43 unit - apart from chain and guides you have the HP pump, coil packs, injectors and the BMW only £350 NoX sensor. Same issues with the 325i and 330i apart from the chain that is a rare problem. 2009 320d will be the N47 with the associated timing chain nightmares.
Whilst they are generally fairly reliable, they can generate some truly eye watering invoices when they aren't.
Thanks for this. Is the chains issue the same issue on the petrol and the diesel then?Whilst they are generally fairly reliable, they can generate some truly eye watering invoices when they aren't.
It's hard to know what to do!
Digitalize said:
The general consensus was because the Diesel's all have turbo's to fail, swirl flaps etc that they were in general less reliable than their NA petrol counterparts.
Correct but the N53 is a special case as it introduced a complex and fragile stratified direct injection system.Fox- said:
Digitalize said:
The general consensus was because the Diesel's all have turbo's to fail, swirl flaps etc that they were in general less reliable than their NA petrol counterparts.
Correct but the N53 is a special case as it introduced a complex and fragile stratified direct injection system.Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff