Alternative engine to 330d?

Alternative engine to 330d?

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Discussion

fjord

Original Poster:

2,143 posts

138 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
I'm looking for an E91 330d or 335d. Cant find one for the right price or spec that I want.

What's the alternative? Is there a diesel estate out there that gives the same power and economy balance that a 330/335 would?

The figures for the 2.0d Audi engine is woeful, the V70 d5 engine is in the same boat, and the 3.0 audi engine is very rare. The octavia vrs is too ugly to justify.

JoPo1

386 posts

158 months

Monday 7th October 2013
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Volvos D5 engine in a V70 is brilliant I thought. I didn't want to give it back when my M Sport 5 series was in for paintwork.

And Audis 3.0d isn't difficult to find atall??

HustleRussell

24,724 posts

161 months

Monday 7th October 2013
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Figures don't tell the whole story. Try some.

Having said that, I do think the BMW 3.0D is probably the best unless you're talking really recent...

Monty Python

4,812 posts

198 months

Monday 7th October 2013
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The Jaguar V6 3.0 twin-turbo diesel is supposed to be quite good, but unfortunately you'd need to buy an XF, which is more a 5-series competitor than a 3-series.

Axionknight

8,505 posts

136 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
The Volvo D5 is a good engine, easily tunable with a remap for some extra ponies as it would likely feel lacking against the 330d to start with, figures don't tell the whole story though, they are pretty good on a longer run - the sound around town at low speeds can be a bit crap though, a rattly diesel engine note.

Vladimir

6,917 posts

159 months

Monday 7th October 2013
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What sort of age? Thinking of shifting mine (E91 335d SE); 55k miles but it's an older model; late 2006.

Fox-

13,241 posts

247 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
The later E91 330i's have combined fuel consumption figures of almost 40mpg. Sure, we all know the figures are daft but the same applies for the 330d so the difference between the two combined figures is useful. It's more economical than you'd think. Sadly the tech that makes it so economical is just as unreliable as the diesel so you'd still need a warranty but you'd be no worse off versus the 330d in that regard so it's a good alternative.

Vladimir

6,917 posts

159 months

Monday 7th October 2013
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The diesel is far more reliable; ours hasn't missed a beat in five years.

Monty Python

4,812 posts

198 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
Vladimir said:
The diesel is far more reliable; ours hasn't missed a beat in five years.
Same here - 335d, 2007, 80k miles, no problems at all (touches large piece of mahogany).

epom

11,547 posts

162 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
fjord said:
I'm looking for an E91 330d or 335d. Cant find one for the right price or spec that I want.

What's the alternative? Is there a diesel estate out there that gives the same power and economy balance that a 330/335 would?

The figures for the 2.0d Audi engine is woeful, the V70 d5 engine is in the same boat, and the 3.0 audi engine is very rare. The octavia vrs is too ugly to justify.
What kind of price range are you in ??

ArsE92

21,019 posts

188 months

Monday 7th October 2013
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fjord said:
What's the alternative? Is there a diesel estate out there that gives the same power and economy balance that a 330/335 would?
What kind of economy are you expecting from the 335d? Make sure you read the real-word MPG wiki on here before you buy one expecting it to do 45MPG.

Krikkit

26,538 posts

182 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
Monty Python said:
Vladimir said:
The diesel is far more reliable; ours hasn't missed a beat in five years.
Same here - 335d, 2007, 80k miles, no problems at all (touches large piece of mahogany).
Is it really? How many 330i/335i's are out there without missing a beat in the last 5 years or so?

100 IAN

1,091 posts

163 months

Monday 7th October 2013
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I've had in the past a 335d touring and loved it. Now have an RS4 which I think is even better.

Whilst you've said mpg is a consideration, so is depreciation.

Since buying my RS4 last Decemeber prices seem to have gone up a couple of k which more than pays for the additional fuel.

If you've never driven an RS4 give one a go, but be warned they're very addictive......

ps also bought a 3x year comprehensive warranty inc' wear & tear for £1800 which covers me for up to 24k miles a year. Seems like very good value to me but haven't tried to make a claim yet so can't say whether they will wriggle when the time comes!

Vladimir

6,917 posts

159 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
Is it really? How many 330i/335i's are out there without missing a beat in the last 5 years or so?
335is are incredibly prone to faults and the later 330is are troublesome too; I don't have figures but I would confidently say that the six pot (NOT 4 pot) BMW diesels since 2006 are near bombproof, the petrols aren't. Not snot petrol as I want an M135i next but I wanted to wait and see how reliable it's N55 engine is before taking the plunge. Luckily they seem fairly solid.
The N54 was pretty flaky.

djdestiny

6,542 posts

179 months

Monday 7th October 2013
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I nearly gave up on trying to find my ideal E91 330d, but eventually it appeared and I love it!
Well worth holding out for.
What is your criteria?

ArsE92

21,019 posts

188 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
Vladimir said:
Krikkit said:
Is it really? How many 330i/335i's are out there without missing a beat in the last 5 years or so?
335is are incredibly prone to faults and the later 330is are troublesome too; I don't have figures but I would confidently say that the six pot (NOT 4 pot) BMW diesels since 2006 are near bombproof, the petrols aren't. Not snot petrol as I want an M135i next but I wanted to wait and see how reliable it's N55 engine is before taking the plunge. Luckily they seem fairly solid.
The N54 was pretty flaky.
But without figures, all you are stating is based on what you've heard on Internet forums. It's not fact, and shouldn't be considered so.

Nobody ever joins a forum to say "Hey, just got a 335i and there's nothing wrong with it. As you were."

There are plenty of N54's out there with stellar mileages that have been fault-free.

Jazzer77

1,533 posts

195 months

Monday 7th October 2013
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Axionknight said:
The Volvo D5 is a good engine, easily tunable with a remap for some extra ponies as it would likely feel lacking against the 330d to start with, figures don't tell the whole story though, they are pretty good on a longer run - the sound around town at low speeds can be a bit crap though, a rattly diesel engine note.
My wife isn't the most sympathetic driver in the world but even she manages 40+mpg doing the school run in the morning with a v70 D5. Its a strong proven engine that will take high mileage with ease.

Kenny-Mack

197 posts

197 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
Nothing to add to the alternative list but i also spent some time hunting for an E91 330D, and when i finally got one few months ago (Black M Sport no less) i loved it and still do, the car as a package is very good. Coming from E46 320CD the 2 cars couldn't be any more different.

fjord

Original Poster:

2,143 posts

138 months

Monday 7th October 2013
quotequote all
epom said:
What kind of price range are you in ??
15k (ish).

djdestiny said:
I nearly gave up on trying to find my ideal E91 330d, but eventually it appeared and I love it!
Well worth holding out for.
What is your criteria?
Silver/grey/white, black interior, M Sport, probably auto, Xenons & Idrive.

djdestiny

6,542 posts

179 months

Tuesday 8th October 2013
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If it helps widen your search, I too wanted idrive, but now wish it didn't have it!
However, that is mainly because I found it to be such a nightmare when adding ipod and wanting to expand the set up in various ways. If you're happy to keep just the stock setup then its ok I suppose.
Also, the sat nav is rather annoying in that you can't search by postcode (unless you get a newer one with CIC idrive)

The biggest surprise I found was the quality of the leather. After the nappa leather in my RS4, the standard leather in a E9x BMW felt like it wasn't even real leather, its firm and plastic in looks and feel.
I then decided to get one with alcantara, and I'm SO glad I did! Its much nicer and holds you in the seat so much better too.

I'm surprised you cannot find one though, as I specifically did NOT want silver or grey, and they are all I could find! Mostly autos too