E92 330i - How rare?

[Badgerboy]

Hi Chaps,

I'm in the market for a decent E92 330i but having real trouble finding the spec I want;

330i - M Sport - Dark Grey - Black Interior - iDrive - Petrol - 70k or less

Is this a rare spec? I have 11k to spend. There seem to be large amount of the smaller engined cars with all the toys, I'm assuming becuase they were previously company cars. I'm loath to get something under engined, although after hearing about the potential issues with the 335i perhaps not get the most powerful engine available. the 330i seems the best compromise.

I have looked potentially at a 325i, am assuming it wouldn't feel gutless? My weekend drive is a S2000 so the daily driver doesn't have to be too powerful, just don't want the 'Wish I'd bought the 330' to haunt me afterwards!

[Smuler]

I briefly considered the E92 330i and they were certainly rarer than 335i. On average I found 1/2 as many. Things could have changed, as this was last summer. But on balance, I doubt you will be spoilt for choice of 330i's in grey and black, the grey I assume would be the very nice sparkling graphite?

I chose 335i, I've had no issues for 5 months of ownership

[Badgerboy]

Perhaps I have been scare mongered slightly by the wastegate issues. The other factors such as HPFP etc are shared across the engines so I won't be avoiding that with the 330 I suppose!

Yes, the sparkling grey graphite. I think it suits the lines!

[Smuler]

I took the attitude that not every car will have problems, and decided I would only buy if the car had been without problems, on the logic that it was a "good one." It's the better car of the two and I believe I would deeply regret going for a 330i on fear factor alone if that car developed costly issues. I think Sparkling Graphite is much nicer than space grey.

[Rdawson]

There are two schools of thought when it comes to cars with known issues. Is it better to buy one that exhibits none of the issues and is often at a lower mileage - but may still end up developing all those issues in your ownership, or is it better to buy a car that has had them rectified throught recalls or repairs, but is sometimes at a higher mileage? In some ways, the latter option provides more peace of mind. I bought my 335i at 79K miles, and at that point the previous owner had had both turbos and 4 of 6 injectors under warranty at 60K. Several months after buying, I had to replace the water pump and the DSC pump. Overall it wasn't too bad of an outcome for me - not ideal, but it could have been a lot worse! In the last 18 months of ownership, nothing has gone wrong with the car, and it is now on 92K.

Edited by Rdawson on Tuesday 3rd March 19:51

[Dannbodge]

I'd aim for one with less than 60k so that you can get cheaper BMW warranty.

Also the internet has made the 335i "issues" sound much worse than they are.
My colleagues is on 140k and had had no issues at all.

Plus if you get BMW warranty it only costs you the £100 excess to get the "issues" fixed.

[Smuler]

Reading E90 post and hearing of cars which had these issues addressed, only for problems to recurr e.g. HPFP being replaced, say, twice was a big steer against such an option, although I don't think I could ever buy a specific car with a history of problems. I still believe that not every car will be problematic. But even if mine is, I have a warranty and I really like it. Sometimes the biggest thrills come with risk attached

[Rdawson]

Exactly. No one really goes on internet forums to praise their worry-free car. A few dozen complaints from owners means little when there were thousands of the model produced.

Dannbodge said:

I'd aim for one with less than 60k so that you can get cheaper BMW warranty.

Also the internet has made the 335i "issues" sound much worse than they are.
My colleagues is on 140k and had had no issues at all.

Plus if you get BMW warranty it only costs you the £100 excess to get the "issues" fixed.

[Badgerboy]

I may factor that in, you are quite correct the people with issues are the ones that shout the loudest typically.

A shame more don't have iDrive. I plan on getting an earlier model so will likely retrofit the CIC at a later date to gain the extra features.

[cerb4.5lee]

For years now everyone has wanted the 320d for its economy/low emissions and relative pace and the 330i has been virtually ignored sadly so there aren't many about and its the same if you want a manual 330i because most were specced as an auto which is equally baffling.

Hope you get one that you want because the N52/53 is a lovely engine I reckon.

[DixonH]

I've just bought one today after a few months of looking for the right spec and they aren't easy to find, to get all the toys you want you may need to up the budget a little IMO.

[TX1]

Have one myself in the colours you want however its the SE version.
Like others have said I suspect you shall have to up the budget for the Msport as they are quite rare and prettier.
Great sounding engine, you shall not be dissapointed.

[toon10]

I ended up with a 325i after spending months looking for a 330i on budget, in Le Mans blue and M Sport spec. I looked at a lovely grey 325i in SE spec and a basic 330i in black on small wheels and none sport suspention. I did notice the extra shove as you would expect but it was a bit too soft for me.

I tested the M Sport and knew on the first bend it was for me. I was also worried I'd see a 330 pull up next to me and I'd have regrets but it doesn't bother me. The 335i was just out of reach at the time but with all the horror stories about the engine, maybe that was for the best. I know a lad who bought the E93 335 and had 8 months of hassle with it before getting rid. I think most of the work was done on warranty but his pockets are a lot deeper than mine.

[Dannbodge]

toon10 said:

I ended up with a 325i after spending months looking for a 330i on budget, in Le Mans blue and M Sport spec. I looked at a lovely grey 325i in SE spec and a basic 330i in black on small wheels and none sport suspention. I did notice the extra shove as you would expect but it was a bit too soft for me.

I tested the M Sport and knew on the first bend it was for me. I was also worried I'd see a 330 pull up next to me and I'd have regrets but it doesn't bother me. The 335i was just out of reach at the time but with all the horror stories about the engine, maybe that was for the best. I know a lad who bought the E93 335 and had 8 months of hassle with it before getting rid. I think most of the work was done on warranty but his pockets are a lot deeper than mine.

I was in a similar position. I wanted a new BMW and had 3 main criteria, It had to be manual, 6cyl and Petrol.
Unfortunately I soon found myself only looking at the 335i as I knew one day I could be in a 325i or 330i and a 335i would come up beside me and I'd regret not buying one.

So I bought a 335i

OP if you are after spec more than engine, I would say go for the 325i as most are very well spec'd (normally much better than 330/335i)

[Badgerboy]

I will keep looking! Where did you chaps buy your from? AT and PH are a bit thin, as is BAUC.

I suppose my only worry is that if I were to end up with a 335i, it would make my S2000 which I use for fun feel a little slow. The Honda is a lot more frantic however, (and lighter!) so that might be a moot point!

[toon10]

Badgerboy said:

I will keep looking! Where did you chaps buy your from? AT and PH are a bit thin, as is BAUC.

I used AT but had to travel about 40 miles for it. You would think such a common car would be easy to source but getting one close to the one I wanted took a few months of looking. There were a few that matched but at the other end of the country.

[Dannbodge]

AT for me but the car was also on eBay.

[Smuler]

this is around your budget, should you go 330i

http://www.birdsgarage.co.uk/used-cars/bmw-3-serie...

[Fury RS]

I was looking for an E46 M3 this time last year but just could not find a clean enough example. Bought an E92 335i instead, 2006 model, 69k rec. I read up on some of the horror stories but thought i'd take a chance. A year on and it hasn't missed a beat thus far, it does everything so well and with a small remap it makes a very rapid means of transport. A lot of car if you find a good one...
Just hope I haven't spoke too soon

[DixonH]

Badgerboy said:

I will keep looking! Where did you chaps buy your from? AT and PH are a bit thin, as is BAUC.

AT for me too, been looking for months as i did not want to travel