2009ish 3 Series - most reliable?

[Trailhead]

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

[wax lyrical]

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).

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

[Trailhead]

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).

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

Why would you avoid the 320? Reliability or performance?

[wax lyrical]

Both really. It also sounds pretty rubbish. A BMW really NEEDS to be at least 6 cylinders.

Trailhead said:

Why would you avoid the 320? Reliability or performance?

[kiethton]

That and the fairly common chain guide/oil consumption issues which develop at medium-high mileage

[Digitalize]

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.

[Fox-]

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.

[Digitalize]

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.

[Trailhead]

Thanks all

Is the chain issue petrol as well then? I thought it was only diesel...

[Fox-]

Digitalize said:

Yes but of 2009, it would still be considered the most reliable.

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

[Digitalize]

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.

[kiethton]

Trailhead said:

Thanks all

Is the chain issue petrol as well then? I thought it was only diesel...

My only knowledge/experience relates to the 318i/320i

The 330i/325i are generally good iirc

[iSore]

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.

[Trailhead]

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?

It's hard to know what to do!

[Fox-]

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.

[Trailhead]

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.

Is it better to get something a bit older then?