Buying an E90

[Pazzify]

Morning guys,

Looking to purchase a new car and have always wanted a BMW 3 Series ever since I use to help my old man with his E30.

Looking to spend around 5k-6k and possibly more if the car was worth it. Looking at the market seems there are some good E90's around for that price.

Quite a few are high milage though around 90k+ if the car has been looked after and FSH am I looking at a good buy? Or should I drop to an E46 and get something with less miles? Don't really care about re-sale value just want a nice car that will last me around 4/5 years.

Also anything I should look out for when buying a E90?

Thanks for the help.

[Smuler]

What E90? Advice will differ for each model.

In general, I would go for E46. But there are some exceptions, where E90 generations excels.

[Pazzify]

There does seem to be alot of the 320d around, guessing they have been used as company cars. Only other models for that price range are 318i

[stevesuk]

If you're buying a petrol, then I'd recommend going for the 325i or the 330i with the N52 engine. They have a reputation for being fairly bullet proof. We've run an early (2005) E91 325i for nearly 6 years, and no dramas engine wise at all in that time. In fact the only non-service item was a rear wheel bearing. You can coax approaching 40 MPG out of them on a motorway run.

Have had two E46 coupes in the past, and the big issue the E46 struggles with - especially now they're getting on - is rust. I'm not aware of that being an issue on the E90, and for better or worse, it also feels like a more modern car both on the road, and with the interior (the switchgear etc. is from a different generation, and you get stuff like iDrive etc. that isn't found on the E46). So if it was my money, I think I'd go with the E90. The styling can seem a bit bland after the E46 - but if you get one in the right colour and right specification, they still look good.

I haven't tired of ours yet, despite owning it for 6 years this December - it still does everything we need as a family.

[nitrodave]

The e90 is worlds apart from an e46. i went from one to the other and much prefer the later car.

I have an e92 330i manual with 115k miles and it feels great. As long as it's been cared for you should be fine, they soak up mileage without many concerns.

[Pazzify]

Thanks for the advice guys, the 330i does look good but struggling to find one between the 5k to 6k Mark. Most of them are the 320d....which I've not heard great things about.

[stevesuk]

Pazzify said:

Thanks for the advice guys, the 330i does look good but struggling to find one between the 5k to 6k Mark. Most of them are the 320d....which I've not heard great things about.

They probably weren't the most popular model to start with (most company car drivers probably chose the 320d/318i for tax reasons), so they won't be as plentiful on the used market as the diesels and 4 pot petrols.

There are a few on Autotrader in your budget, but they'll be SE specification at that price (not Sport) - unless you're willing to take a big hit on the mileage. Given their comparative rarity, you may also find you have to travel a bit to find the right one - unless you're lucky and one pops up round the corner (sometimes happens).

Edited to add - if you're happy to settle for a 325i, there are a fair few on eBay too. E.g. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272023135330 - not the highest spec, but a nice clean looking low mileage car? Or if you want an auto, how about http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281830881862? Both well within budget.

Edited by stevesuk on Thursday 22 October 10:52

[Pazzify]

stevesuk said:

Edited to add - if you're happy to settle for a 325i, there are a fair few on eBay too. E.g. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272023135330 - not the highest spec, but a nice clean looking low mileage car? Or if you want an auto, how about http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281830881862? Both well within budget.

Edited by stevesuk on Thursday 22 October 10:52

Some good finds there thanks, maybe you're right just need to shop around and may need to travel a little bit being based down south. Will have a look on eBay as well.

[cerb4.5lee]

stevesuk said:

If you're buying a petrol, then I'd recommend going for the 325i or the 330i with the N52 engine. They have a reputation for being fairly bullet proof. We've run an early (2005) E91 325i for nearly 6 years, and no dramas engine wise at all in that time. In fact the only non-service item was a rear wheel bearing. You can coax approaching 40 MPG out of them on a motorway run.

Have had two E46 coupes in the past, and the big issue the E46 struggles with - especially now they're getting on - is rust. I'm not aware of that being an issue on the E90, and for better or worse, it also feels like a more modern car both on the road, and with the interior (the switchgear etc. is from a different generation, and you get stuff like iDrive etc. that isn't found on the E46). So if it was my money, I think I'd go with the E90. The styling can seem a bit bland after the E46 - but if you get one in the right colour and right specification, they still look good.

I haven't tired of ours yet, despite owning it for 6 years this December - it still does everything we need as a family.

Agree with all of this.

[Pazzify]

cerb4.5lee said:

stevesuk said:

If you're buying a petrol, then I'd recommend going for the 325i or the 330i with the N52 engine. They have a reputation for being fairly bullet proof. We've run an early (2005) E91 325i for nearly 6 years, and no dramas engine wise at all in that time. In fact the only non-service item was a rear wheel bearing. You can coax approaching 40 MPG out of them on a motorway run.

Have had two E46 coupes in the past, and the big issue the E46 struggles with - especially now they're getting on - is rust. I'm not aware of that being an issue on the E90, and for better or worse, it also feels like a more modern car both on the road, and with the interior (the switchgear etc. is from a different generation, and you get stuff like iDrive etc. that isn't found on the E46). So if it was my money, I think I'd go with the E90. The styling can seem a bit bland after the E46 - but if you get one in the right colour and right specification, they still look good.

I haven't tired of ours yet, despite owning it for 6 years this December - it still does everything we need as a family.

Agree with all of this.

Yeah seems a few people do like the 330i and 325i. There a couple 325i near me for 5-6k but have 100k+ miles on the clock. If they have FSH and been looked after should be good cars shouldn't they?

[cerb4.5lee]

Pazzify said:

Yeah seems a few people do like the 330i and 325i. There a couple 325i near me for 5-6k but have 100k+ miles on the clock. If they have FSH and been looked after should be good cars shouldn't they?

Yes I think so and a few years ago we sold a E90 330d with over 150k miles on it and it still drove lovely and felt solid and I believe its still going strong.

The 325i/330i N52 engine has a decent reputation for reliability too so as long as its been looked after and serviced regularly the higher miles wouldn't put me off at all.

[bigalx]

I've had a diesel e36, diesel e46, 330CI E46 and currently own an E36 M3 and E90 330i...

I bought a 2005 E90 330i 6 months ago manual SE spec with 64k Miles and full BMW SH and private plate for £3.7K. Put it through an inspection 2 since a service was due, MOT'd it, had a full MOP done since the previous owner hadn't looked after the outside of the car and had a full OE BMW M-sport kit fitted and OE BMW 18" alloys with new Bridgestone tyres - all in with new MOT and fresh service and new tyres it owes me £5k...

I would say the E46 330ci was genuinely cracking and I loved it - but the E90 has a fantastic engine and can be fairly frugal if you don't drive it too hard (which is hard not too). I had a Vanos solenoid fail recently - £80 and 20 mins of my time to fix - other than that the engine as people above have said seems bulletproof and well behaved - my E46 diesel had a turbo blow and the kind of miles a £5k E90 will have will be around that time!

Plus BMW don't make a straight 6 normally aspirated turbo engine anymore and having a manual one is rare as well.

Only thing I would say is either buy or as soon as you can change the run flats - I think the E90 engine is a step above the E46 330i - however I've only ran the E90 so far on run flats and in terms of handling I would give it to the E46 - although one im on the non run flats I think I could be changing my mind.

Only go diesel if you need the mpg - ie big commutes - if you don't then the running costs of the N52 compared to a diesel are probably lower - and will be if the turbo goes.

Pic of what I would say is a £5k bargain:

[cerb4.5lee]

bigalx said:

Only go diesel if you need the mpg - ie big commutes - if you don't then the running costs of the N52 compared to a diesel are probably lower

Agree and after running a E90 330d for six years and over 150k miles doing long distance commutes the diesel did make some sense and I was that impressed with the car overall it made me want another, only I decided to plump for a E90 330i instead as I always fancied one and am not doing big miles now so it made sense.

The N52 is a really nice engine and as you say BMW only make cars with turbo`s now so its nice to enjoy a smooth six cylinder N/A engine while we still can.

[Smuler]

bigalx said:

I've had a diesel e36, diesel e46, 330CI E46 and currently own an E36 M3 and E90 330i...

I bought a 2005 E90 330i 6 months ago manual SE spec with 64k Miles and full BMW SH and private plate for £3.7K. Put it through an inspection 2 since a service was due, MOT'd it, had a full MOP done since the previous owner hadn't looked after the outside of the car and had a full OE BMW M-sport kit fitted and OE BMW 18" alloys with new Bridgestone tyres - all in with new MOT and fresh service and new tyres it owes me £5k...

I would say the E46 330ci was genuinely cracking and I loved it - but the E90 has a fantastic engine and can be fairly frugal if you don't drive it too hard (which is hard not too). I had a Vanos solenoid fail recently - £80 and 20 mins of my time to fix - other than that the engine as people above have said seems bulletproof and well behaved - my E46 diesel had a turbo blow and the kind of miles a £5k E90 will have will be around that time!

Plus BMW don't make a straight 6 normally aspirated turbo engine anymore and having a manual one is rare as well.

Only thing I would say is either buy or as soon as you can change the run flats - I think the E90 engine is a step above the E46 330i - however I've only ran the E90 so far on run flats and in terms of handling I would give it to the E46 - although one im on the non run flats I think I could be changing my mind.

Only go diesel if you need the mpg - ie big commutes - if you don't then the running costs of the N52 compared to a diesel are probably lower - and will be if the turbo goes.

Pic of what I would say is a £5k bargain:

Some good points made here.

I have a 335i, the coupe, and the change from RFTs to Michelin Pilot Sports really improves the car.

It handles better than my E46, and to be clear I am defining handling by it's control, composure at usually , for me, high speeds! However, there was more feel and a greater connection with the road with the E46. The E90 series is still good , from this perspective, and a lot better than the newer BMWs, but I prefer E46 from this perspective.

For the OP, I think a straight six BMW (E90 series) well looked after will be good past 100k and a smart way to spend 5-6k , plus the cost of ditching those RFTs

[cerb4.5lee]

Smuler said:

Some good points made here.

I have a 335i, the coupe, and the change from RFTs to Michelin Pilot Sports really improves the car.

Agree completely and have swapped the run flats on the 640d to normal tyres and the difference is night and day, haven't done it yet on the 330i as all the tyres were brand new when I got it but as soon as they need doing they will be ditched for normal as well.

I have said it before but whoever came up with the idea of run flat tyres needs a good punch on the nose! they are just such terrible things and its like riding around with a slab of concrete wrapped around the wheels.

[Pazzify]

Thanks for the help guys, some really good points here. Seems no one like the run flats that for sure!

Will be on the look out for a 325i or 330i and see what I can find, making sure it been looked after. Can understand going for petrol instead as it won't be used for long commutes so will see what comes up

[stevesuk]

We've resisted the temptation to ditch the runflats on ours.

They do seem fairly pointless though. The one time we picked up a puncture, I certainly wouldn't have wanted to drive the car with the dodgy tyre - felt horrid to drive and made an awful noise!

Also, virtually no tyre place will attempt a repair on a runflat (as I found out), so if you do get a small puncture, you end up having to throw away the tyre and buy a new one.

The only good thing is that the price of them has come down a bit since the early days (in comparison to a non-flat of the same size).

[Sohlman]

Have run a number of e46's and an e90 330i

The e90 is significantly bigger, has great steering feel, better brakes, more powerful engines and are great cars. The e46 is prettier is still a great car but is beaten by e90 on almost any metric. I ran a 330i e90 for just under 3 years and 36k. It cost me two services. 1 set of tyres, rear brake pads, 6 coils. Bought for £9k with 19k on the clock and sold with 55k on the clock as a trade in at £6k. It was an auto se with a few choice options. Fantastic car and I have no hesitation recommending. Far more reliable then all the e46's.

My advice is get a 6 cylinder car. Buy on condition, and I think a se spec is far better than a sport for ride and you will get far more car for your budget. The earlier engines have few foibles. Ditch run flats.

J

[Pazzify]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Any feedback appreciated, is this the kind of car I should be looking at?

[cerb4.5lee]

It doesn't look too bad for the money but apart from Leather it doesn't seem to have any extra options on it from what I can see, a fairly big gap on its last service too as an oil service is every 19k miles/2 years and that`s gone from 76k miles to 105k miles according to the write up.