Looking to downgrade or is it upgrade my 120D M Sport Coupe

[LGriffiths88]

evening all

So I need to shift my current 120d coupe as its too small for my family needs. Need a 4 door motor now to help get the kids in and out with ease.

Looking for a petrol as I have no need for diesel now due to moving closer to home for the family. Wife has mondeo diesel should I need it for work. My current diesel has given me no end of hell (egr valve, causing loss of full power for acronyms 15min until it clears (anyone else had this issue))

Is it worth looking at those BM diesels.

Here's what I've thought of, ideally in sport/m sport, do like the estates of both too

E39 520 to 530i.
E46 320 to 330i
Outside choice - 7 series
E60 m sport
E90 m sport


I have a budget of around £5k. The last 2 cars I imagine are out of budget. Are close to 100k 3 litre engines reliable enough. How do those engines sound? Would they be the same as my previous 04 reg 2.5 z4? Can't remember which n engine it was.


Need to fit kids in back with ease including baby seat
Percent boot to fit pushchair/double one
Reliable
Parking sensors

Cheers

Edited by LGriffiths88 on Thursday 3rd September 00:22

[LGriffiths88]

Can anyone offer advice on the listed cars? In a pickle.

[Smuler]

I'd go E46, but not below 325, so that or ideally 330. Excellent car, reliable. Is it big enough would be my ? Maybe touring option?

[roofer]

7, ultimate bang for bucks.

[somynameiswhat]

Maybe for £5000 you can catch a facelift 730d (e65) with the ok looking lights and better reliability.

[Kez86]

You can't be THE lee griffiths can you?!

[Mr Tidy]

I think your 04 plate Z4 would have had the M54 engine, same as the E46 325 and 330s.

Great engine, but you may be able to find an early E9* 3 Series - they use the N52 in 325 or 330 guise - I've got a Z4 Coupe with this engine and it is fantastic. Plenty of low-down grunt but even better when you chase the red-line (7,000 rpm)!

The M54 engines were rated at 192 bhp (325) and 231 bhp (330) but the N52 engine is 218 bhp or 258 bhp, so a noticeable improvement. Strangely the 3 litre N52 in a Z4 or 130i is 265 bhp.

A tourer may be more practical, but from what I have seen an E9* tourer is likely to be out of budget. As usual a compromise between space and pace!

Can't help much with your question regarding higher mileages, but my 325ti has done 85,000 miles now and still runs beautifully. And I test drove another before I bought mine that had 115,000 on the clock and it also drove just fine.

Good luck anyway!