BMW 'Toy'

[Dadoc2001]

Hey all,
With boredom truly setting in I'm turning to PH and the usual websites trawling available cars for sale. With our stable recently changing to two CR-V's, as good and dependable as they are, they dont offer any driving fun!
In the past we've had decent driving cars - Prelude Vti, Civic Vti, EP3 and FN2 Type-R's and short stints in a Focus ST and a BMW 330d.
I've always wanted to do the NC500 and when we get out of this lockdown we will plan our trip. There is no way I'm doing it in a CR-V though!

Recently been turning my head towards the BMW stable. Primarily 130i, 330i and 335i (coupe). Some back seat space is welcome (2 children under 12) but, as it wont be a family Carson, not essential. This will be a 3rd/weekend toy so we want petrol and must be manual. Driving thrill is high on the list but not bone shattering suspension and ability to 'cruise' without the engine running at 4k+ rpm a-la VTEC engines would be a welcome change.

Budget 5-6k maybe 7 tops. What would you advise?

Examples

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2020...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2020...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2020...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2020...

[ZX10R NIN]

To be honest for me the 130i really isn't that sweet a drive & personally I'd go for the 3 series it's the better all rounder as well as nicer place to be.


That 335i you linked to would be where my money would go.

[Dadoc2001]

Thanks for the advice ZX10R NIN. We had a 330d SE for approx 4 months before my wife changed job. Was a lovely place to be but we both agreed if we went that route again it would be a manual. Are the 330/335 engines reliable? Read the diesels are prone to egr/dmf failures so would stay clear of them.

Thanks again

[ZX10R NIN]

Early 335's had wastegate issues but most will be sorted by now the gearchange on all of these BMW's isn't the sweetest but they're okay apart from that enjoy the 335i there are a few mods you carry out on the 335i that help with performance.

The main one is the intercooler as it's too small & on hot days means the car will derate even on standard boost.

[Mr Tidy]

ZX10R NIN said:

To be honest for me the 130i really isn't that sweet a drive & personally I'd go for the 3 series it's the better all rounder as well as nicer place to be.

I'm a bit surprised you say that, as so many people who have 130is seem to love them.

In fact if I could have found one within my (lower) budget I would have bought it, but instead I ended up getting a manual E90 330i last year!

Mine is an early one, so has the same N52 engine as the 130i (or 125i Coupe) which was replaced by the N53 in 2007 I think. I wanted the earlier engine because it reportedly has less issues.

But a 335i ought to be a bit more exciting OP, so long as you don't mind road tax costing almost £600 a year on the early ones.

[ZX10R NIN]

Mr Tidy said:

I'm a bit surprised you say that, as so many people who have 130is seem to love them.

In fact if I could have found one within my (lower) budget I would have bought it, but instead I ended up getting a manual E90 330i last year!

Mine is an early one, so has the same N52 engine as the 130i (or 125i Coupe) which was replaced by the N53 in 2007 I think. I wanted the earlier engine because it reportedly has less issues.

But a 335i ought to be a bit more exciting OP, so long as you don't mind road tax costing almost £600 a year on the early ones.

Yea but did they drive a 330i first? The 130i needs work to actually make it a drivers car so for me I class it as a slightly lesser alternative to a 330i.