Budget up to £15k - 335d or 335i
Discussion
I have made plenty in the car buying side of things but hopefully I will learn one day soon & eventually get it right! I have a 335i M Sport Auto Saloon. 2010 LCI with the prefered N54 engine.
It's an amazing all rounder. In a similar situation to the OP that fuel economy doesn't really matter but it's nice to see 40mpg on a steady run from 400bhp. I think I have averaged about ~29mpg in the 12 months I have owned it. Reasonable insurance and Tax too.
I hate driving dervs so the 335d was never an option. I can't really see the point unless you are doing lunar mileage.
I haven't met an M3 yet that could get away in a straight line. The 335i pulls like a train in all gears at all speeds.
I paid over the odds as I was looking for a specific car. But a quick look on AT now shows no similar cars for sale. So it will surely hold it's value.
Enjoy whatever you get!
WM
It's an amazing all rounder. In a similar situation to the OP that fuel economy doesn't really matter but it's nice to see 40mpg on a steady run from 400bhp. I think I have averaged about ~29mpg in the 12 months I have owned it. Reasonable insurance and Tax too.
I hate driving dervs so the 335d was never an option. I can't really see the point unless you are doing lunar mileage.
I haven't met an M3 yet that could get away in a straight line. The 335i pulls like a train in all gears at all speeds.
I paid over the odds as I was looking for a specific car. But a quick look on AT now shows no similar cars for sale. So it will surely hold it's value.
Enjoy whatever you get!
WM
Still to this day I miss my 335i. It was a black 2007 saloon and, as has been already said, it pulled like a train. I had an XKR afterwards that supposedly had 120 brake more, but I could never tell the difference at speeds below 3 figures.
I hankered over an M3 for a while, but struggled with nearly double for insurance, double for extended warranty, double for servicing etc.
About the only downside of the 335 was also an upside, in that there was very little to tell visually between them and much lesser engined models. At times it would have been nice to look at it in a carpark full of 3's and see that it was the hot one. However when I got home and parked it backwards onto the drive with the pipes up against the garage door, the great unwashed would not give it a second glance in the way they would over the M model.
Hope you find a good one.
John
I hankered over an M3 for a while, but struggled with nearly double for insurance, double for extended warranty, double for servicing etc.
About the only downside of the 335 was also an upside, in that there was very little to tell visually between them and much lesser engined models. At times it would have been nice to look at it in a carpark full of 3's and see that it was the hot one. However when I got home and parked it backwards onto the drive with the pipes up against the garage door, the great unwashed would not give it a second glance in the way they would over the M model.
Hope you find a good one.
John
Loads of really informative replies, thanks fellas.
If I go down the 3 series route, I would really prefer the 335i just for the sheer grunt, but they do seem rather thin on the ground in saloon M sport guise.
The 330 seems more plentiful, so I'll plan a drive once I've sold my current car and before I buy anything else.
If I go down the 3 series route, I would really prefer the 335i just for the sheer grunt, but they do seem rather thin on the ground in saloon M sport guise.
The 330 seems more plentiful, so I'll plan a drive once I've sold my current car and before I buy anything else.
The 335i E92 and E93 come with MSport suspension. I would double check the E90 and E91 though as I'm not so sure they did.
Edit: The E92/E93 also come with the sports seats so the only real differences between SE and Msport (with these) are styling and trim. I actually prefer the SE bumpers to the Msport so it was an easy decision for me to buy the SE when I was looking for an E92.
Edit: The E92/E93 also come with the sports seats so the only real differences between SE and Msport (with these) are styling and trim. I actually prefer the SE bumpers to the Msport so it was an easy decision for me to buy the SE when I was looking for an E92.
Edited by mudster on Sunday 19th January 10:33
Vladimir said:
graham22 said:
I wish you hadn't found that; ouch!!!!windymissile said:
I have a 335i M Sport Auto Saloon. 2010 LCI with the prefered N54 engine.
It's an amazing all rounder. In a similar situation to the OP that fuel economy doesn't really matter but it's nice to see 40mpg on a steady run from 400bhp. I think I have averaged about ~29mpg in the 12 months I have owned it. Reasonable insurance and Tax too.
I hate driving dervs so the 335d was never an option. I can't really see the point unless you are doing lunar mileage.
I haven't met an M3 yet that could get away in a straight line. The 335i pulls like a train in all gears at all speeds.
I paid over the odds as I was looking for a specific car. But a quick look on AT now shows no similar cars for sale. So it will surely hold it's value.
Enjoy whatever you get!
WM
Hi - sorry for the slight thread derail, but I was wondering where you were getting your reasonably priced insurance from? I see you have modded your 335 up to 400HP. My renewal is coming up soon and I would like to know where I stand with modding if I choose to go ahead with some. Thanks!It's an amazing all rounder. In a similar situation to the OP that fuel economy doesn't really matter but it's nice to see 40mpg on a steady run from 400bhp. I think I have averaged about ~29mpg in the 12 months I have owned it. Reasonable insurance and Tax too.
I hate driving dervs so the 335d was never an option. I can't really see the point unless you are doing lunar mileage.
I haven't met an M3 yet that could get away in a straight line. The 335i pulls like a train in all gears at all speeds.
I paid over the odds as I was looking for a specific car. But a quick look on AT now shows no similar cars for sale. So it will surely hold it's value.
Enjoy whatever you get!
WM
I think your major problem re 335i is as you say, they are extremely rare in E90 and E91 spec. There's always some available in E92 shape.
The N54 is a very strong engine and has a quite unbelievable torque curve but there are some areas of the car that you need to watch. If it helps, I wrote this on a previous thread about buying a 335i:
"Make sure you get to start it from absolute cold, then check there isn't blue smoke from the exhaust (that would indicate turbos are on their way out - FYI you'll get lots of white water vapour which is normal), check there isn't a persistent rattle at idle from under the bonnet (that would be the turbo wastegates rattling) and when you do start it, check it doesn't crank the engine for longer than you'd expect before catching (more than 2 seconds - that would indicate that the fuel pump is on its way out). On your first drive, check there isn't any misfiring on very light throttle (that can indicate fuel pump or injector problems).
The only other problem to be aware of is that nearly all of the cars have water pump failure at some point, mostly around the 60k mile mark. There's nothing can be done to diagnose it in advance, it'll just happen.
The early cars seem to be some of the most robust - the 2007 cars from internet reports (...) seem to suffer the worst. Just make sure every time you drive it, you go very easy until you've got oil temp on the gauge, and if you've been driving it hard, let it idle for 30 secs before turning the engine off to let the turbos calm down.
ETA if it is a manual, when you are starting it make sure you don't lift off the clutch too soon after it fires - if you lift the clutch before the car has properly started, it cancels the startup procedure and the engine quits. Quite disconcerting until you realise it was your fault."
The N54 is a very strong engine and has a quite unbelievable torque curve but there are some areas of the car that you need to watch. If it helps, I wrote this on a previous thread about buying a 335i:
"Make sure you get to start it from absolute cold, then check there isn't blue smoke from the exhaust (that would indicate turbos are on their way out - FYI you'll get lots of white water vapour which is normal), check there isn't a persistent rattle at idle from under the bonnet (that would be the turbo wastegates rattling) and when you do start it, check it doesn't crank the engine for longer than you'd expect before catching (more than 2 seconds - that would indicate that the fuel pump is on its way out). On your first drive, check there isn't any misfiring on very light throttle (that can indicate fuel pump or injector problems).
The only other problem to be aware of is that nearly all of the cars have water pump failure at some point, mostly around the 60k mile mark. There's nothing can be done to diagnose it in advance, it'll just happen.
The early cars seem to be some of the most robust - the 2007 cars from internet reports (...) seem to suffer the worst. Just make sure every time you drive it, you go very easy until you've got oil temp on the gauge, and if you've been driving it hard, let it idle for 30 secs before turning the engine off to let the turbos calm down.
ETA if it is a manual, when you are starting it make sure you don't lift off the clutch too soon after it fires - if you lift the clutch before the car has properly started, it cancels the startup procedure and the engine quits. Quite disconcerting until you realise it was your fault."
N55 in coupe is 2010, same time as the face lift. I believe it has to be the same time for the other variants even though they were face-lifted a year earlier.
Your 2008 will be N54.
But if you go for newer cars always worth getting VIN and going to build sheet to be sure what you're getting.
I have N54 2009, no major problems approaching 70k but did, when looking at other cars, take note of any issues with High Pressure Fuel Pump, and turbos being replaced. They seemed to be issues most pertinent to 335i when compared to other cars in E9X series.
It's an excellent car, but get rid of run flats if attached.
Your 2008 will be N54.
But if you go for newer cars always worth getting VIN and going to build sheet to be sure what you're getting.
I have N54 2009, no major problems approaching 70k but did, when looking at other cars, take note of any issues with High Pressure Fuel Pump, and turbos being replaced. They seemed to be issues most pertinent to 335i when compared to other cars in E9X series.
It's an excellent car, but get rid of run flats if attached.
Smuler said:
N55 in coupe is 2010, same time as the face lift. I believe it has to be the same time for the other variants even though they were face-lifted a year earlier.
Your 2008 will be N54.
But if you go for newer cars always worth getting VIN and going to build sheet to be sure what you're getting.
I have N54 2009, no major problems approaching 70k but did, when looking at other cars, take note of any issues with High Pressure Fuel Pump, and turbos being replaced. They seemed to be issues most pertinent to 335i when compared to other cars in E9X series.
It's an excellent car, but get rid of run flats if attached.
Thanks Smuler Your 2008 will be N54.
But if you go for newer cars always worth getting VIN and going to build sheet to be sure what you're getting.
I have N54 2009, no major problems approaching 70k but did, when looking at other cars, take note of any issues with High Pressure Fuel Pump, and turbos being replaced. They seemed to be issues most pertinent to 335i when compared to other cars in E9X series.
It's an excellent car, but get rid of run flats if attached.
So which is supposed to be the problem child
I am like a cat on a hot tin roof , have a test booked for 1500 today
cant wait What are you trying, a manual or a auto; and what body type?
The N54 has always been noted as more of a problem child, but the better for tuning, if you go that route.
However, as I said, I have a 2009 N54 with none of the major problems, so tend to believe that whilst they do have the problems including those I mentioned (including one such car, same year lower mileage, I nearly bought) not all do. Such a risk would not drive me to a supposed more reliable car. I do have a warranty, with BMW and that balances out peace of mind.
Worth getting VIN number if this car interest you, always good to double check the spec sheet (BMW archive) and you can then check it's history, at least within dealer network and see what work it's had done.
The N54 has always been noted as more of a problem child, but the better for tuning, if you go that route.
However, as I said, I have a 2009 N54 with none of the major problems, so tend to believe that whilst they do have the problems including those I mentioned (including one such car, same year lower mileage, I nearly bought) not all do. Such a risk would not drive me to a supposed more reliable car. I do have a warranty, with BMW and that balances out peace of mind.
Worth getting VIN number if this car interest you, always good to double check the spec sheet (BMW archive) and you can then check it's history, at least within dealer network and see what work it's had done.
Smuler said:
Low mileage, nice
Can't be long now, hope the weather's nice your area; top down, golf tee mod done, all the other drivers in their "disease hells" dead jealous as you cut them up !
It is blazing already so perfect conditions for a new car pick up Can't be long now, hope the weather's nice your area; top down, golf tee mod done, all the other drivers in their "disease hells" dead jealous as you cut them up !
I am between Hastings and Tonbridge Wells down here in East Sussex , I worked from home yesterday and got a bit burnt in the garden during "lunch" 
They say today will be 22c + 1500 is blast off time
Edited by Lost soul on Wednesday 15th April 09:20
So OP what was the result?
One thing I noticed was nobody mentioned 335d is auto only but 335i was manual with an auto option, but you were going to see a petrol auto anyway!
I haven't driven either but have a 3 litre Z4C with the N52 engine that early E9* cars had and it is a fantastic engine with reportedly none of the HPFP / injector issues of later 3 litre petrols, and no turbo, but as an auto a 335i would probably work better.
But if mileage is not a factor I would avoid a diseasel - I had 2 black-pump BM's for over 9 years but have finally realised BMW's USP was (until recently) N/A straight 6 petrol engines!
The soundtrack justifies the lower economy -
One thing I noticed was nobody mentioned 335d is auto only but 335i was manual with an auto option, but you were going to see a petrol auto anyway!
I haven't driven either but have a 3 litre Z4C with the N52 engine that early E9* cars had and it is a fantastic engine with reportedly none of the HPFP / injector issues of later 3 litre petrols, and no turbo, but as an auto a 335i would probably work better.
But if mileage is not a factor I would avoid a diseasel - I had 2 black-pump BM's for over 9 years but have finally realised BMW's USP was (until recently) N/A straight 6 petrol engines!
The soundtrack justifies the lower economy -
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