And still looking for an e90

[crankedup]

Seems a rare beast that's difficult to find, E90 325i or 330i saloon in the 7/8k price range. Missed the most likely prospect thanks to my dawdling.
Moving into the coupe market more choice but other half insists on the four door. Having moved out of a E46 M3 and listened to the complaints about the hard ride I am limiting the search to an SE version, those that pop up are wrong spec' for me, a few have been OK but non leather is a no no.

Our budget seems to hit the upgrade of engines over to the high pressure fuel pumps and injectors which I read have a habit of failing? Not sure which to go for N52 or N53 .
Nice problem to have and not in any hurry particularly and so the search goes on.

[Swervin_Mervin]

The ride's not that bad at all in MSport spec. I bought my N52 330i Touring after 4.5yrs in a Cup-chassis Clio 197, and it was like a limo by comparison. Switching to non-RF tyres also improved the ride considerably.

[bmwmike]

I drive an f10 n53 so perhaps a later version of the engine.

Overall it's a good engine but honestly I'd probably go for the n52. The n53 is better on fuel and slightly more powerful but both of these are offset by the ability to throw a 1k bill at you.

Fuel pumps are reliable these days, it's really only the injectors that might go wrong and they are not cheap.

If you find an n53 that has latest revision injectors (index 11) it might be worth a punt as these are are a lot more reliable. If not I'd budget 1k or so into doing them at some stage or get an n52.

Both engines can throw you a 500 quid bill for a new electronic waterpump btw.

There was a similar question recently I think. Might be worth a search.

[Smuler]

crankedup said:

Seems a rare beast that's difficult to find, E90 325i or 330i saloon in the 7/8k price range. Missed the most likely prospect thanks to my dawdling.
Moving into the coupe market more choice but other half insists on the four door. Having moved out of a E46 M3 and listened to the complaints about the hard ride I am limiting the search to an SE version, those that pop up are wrong spec' for me, a few have been OK but non leather is a no no.

Our budget seems to hit the upgrade of engines over to the high pressure fuel pumps and injectors which I read have a habit of failing? Not sure which to go for N52 or N53 .
Nice problem to have and not in any hurry particularly and so the search goes on.

I went the other way and would say E46 M3 ride is harder than E92 (335i in my case) on 19s non RFTs.
I actually put on a square set of 17s, they would have been from a SE, and with the then brand new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, the ride was very comfortable and handling excellent, car felt lighter like an M Sport E46.

The risk of going for a SE is the poor seats (unless someone added sports seats) which mean the ride is never going to be as comfortable as they're not supportive.

Speaking directly to "Mrs. Cranked Up," for practicality purpose coupes have folding rear seats ( a rare option on saloons it seems) nice wide front doors with a power button so they move forward/back , meaning access to the rear is much easier than the E46 your husband used to have
Pretty sure they discontinued the 330 saloon 2/3 years earlier than the E90 range as a whole so that might limit your search.

[crankedup]

Thanks chaps, some really very good advise /tips .
A 325i SE has sprung up on autotrader which may fit the bill.

2008 in graphite with terra leather and wood. Great history and 80,000 miles up at £6989.
Sorry hopeless at links!! Thinking about having a look at this one, any thoughts please.
The images on this car for sale included a image of cost of the 'extras. when new. I will have another look at this.

Edited by crankedup on Tuesday 3rd October 14:43

[Smuler]

crankedup said:

Thanks chaps, some really very good advise /tips .
A 325i SE has sprung up on autotrader which may fit the bill.

2008 in graphite with terra leather and wood. Great history and 80,000 miles up at £6989.
Sorry hopeless at links!! Thinking about having a look at this one, any thoughts please.

It's a really nice color combo, a friend looked at a 335d is SG and Terra, think I still have the BMW video it had the wow factor, not sure if it was that same wood though but wood , I don't like normally, did work with these other colors.
It's a SE BUT has sport seats so the big, inmho, issue sorted.
A sunroof is always nice, crucially the split rear seats, folding mirrors handy for keeping them safe if street parking.
Not sure all that equalled 6k tho, so maybe there is more.
NB no Nav aka iDrive if that's key to you, so no graphic either for rear parking sensors.
Missing from my ideal spec are electric adjust seats and I believe Xenons were not standard on saloons. shame. Another reason coupes are much better value.
17 inch wheels of the type I mentioned earlier, so good for ride. Preferably not on RFTs thos.

I think 2 owners is good so if the history checks out and I'd be getting a copy of the service book emailed and post up here if needs be.
Nothing scary in the MOT history here.

https://cazana.com/uk/car/HNO8LXR
Seems hardly used tho since April when MOT said 80.912 miles , ad says 80k but no pictures so I'd be curious a little on history, how it got to where it is now. was it an auction buy, been lying around and does that mean recent problems?

Edited by Smuler on Tuesday 3rd October 12:59

[crankedup]

Brilliant comments and not all favourable, thank you for taking the time and trouble for posting.
It helps tremendously to read of others considerations and I will be asking for a look at the service book. Thanks again I will post up how I get on.

[Smuler]

crankedup said:

Brilliant comments and not all favourable, thank you for taking the time and trouble for posting.
It helps tremendously to read of others considerations and I will be asking for a look at the service book. Thanks again I will post up how I get on.

Happy to help. BTW, I found my friends' video but it says saddle brown not terra, hmm, similar I guess. still lovely.
PM me if you want an email of the video as the brown is still a lovely combination, with Sparking Graphite.
She didn't buy, went petrol in the end

The mileage on "yours" is similar to what I reached in my 335i (85k) so from memory that had 7/8 visits for servicing. It's a big issue I found with E9X generation cars, gaps in history so post pics of service book cos I'm sure amongst the PH collective, any omissions will be noted.

[cerb4.5lee]

My old E90 330i(N52) 2006 M Sport with 69k miles on it was recently up for sale for £6400 at a dealer(now sold), ride wise I don't blame you for searching out the SE because I detested the runflat/M sport suspension combo.

I didn't like the standard seats in the SE but many do have the sports seats in them as an option, the sport seats are great and hold you in really well, hope the right one pops up soon for you.

[crankedup]

cerb4.5lee said:

My old E90 330i(N52) 2006 M Sport with 69k miles on it was recently up for sale for £6400 at a dealer(now sold), ride wise I don't blame you for searching out the SE because I detested the runflat/M sport suspension combo.

I didn't like the standard seats in the SE but many do have the sports seats in them as an option, the sport seats are great and hold you in really well, hope the right one pops up soon for you.

My e46 M3 ride was rock hard, even our son who runs his cerbera commented on how rock hard it was. Read up reviews regarding the ride comforts and all reflect your comments, so yes it's got to be an SE.
Thanks for input.

[Swervin_Mervin]

I'll reiterate though that it's very, very far from rock hard in an E90 330i MSport, especially if it's on non-RFTs. I wouldn't discount them out of hand unless you've tried one.

[crankedup]

Swervin_Mervin said:

I'll reiterate though that it's very, very far from rock hard in an E90 330i MSport, especially if it's on non-RFTs. I wouldn't discount them out of hand unless you've tried one.

Thanks, if one comes up if I am still looking I will see if I can have a test drive, but I have to confess I have heard and read so many tales of the hard ride I have been blinded perhaps. I will post back when I have a car on the drive

[Funk]

Crankedup; you've sold the M3 you bought last year?

[Zebrs]

I used to have an E46 M3, I now have a N52 330i with M sport suspension. The ride is much more compliant than the M3, just make sure you ditch the run flats - it was like wrestling a bear driving some of my local roads prior to this.

Took me a while to find mine but I was very picky on spec (dread to think what the original owner must have paid - I reckon easily more than my M3) - I was surprised how many are poorly specced when I was looking. I did have to fly across the country to buy it though.

[crankedup]

Funk said:

Crankedup; you've sold the M3 you bought last year?

Yes, it didn't work out for me, great car but just didn't work out. Sold it privately within a few weeks and it went for the price I paid to dealer. New owner was very happy with the car
Now about to buy something less focused and keep Mrs crankedup with a smile on her chops.

[crankedup]

Zebrs said:

I used to have an E46 M3, I now have a N52 330i with M sport suspension. The ride is much more compliant than the M3, just make sure you ditch the run flats - it was like wrestling a bear driving some of my local roads prior to this.

Took me a while to find mine but I was very picky on spec (dread to think what the original owner must have paid - I reckon easily more than my M3) - I was surprised how many are poorly specced when I was looking. I did have to fly across the country to buy it though.

Yes I have also noticed a high number of 325i and 330i poorly speced, many non leather which I find surprising. But now, after several months searching, I think I may have found the right car. Dealer emailed over images of the S/H tonight and it looks good. The spec is what I like, not overdone with to many gizmos. Couple of things I would like not on it but it's near enough. Make appointment for view and test this Saturday.

[Mr Tidy]

crankedup said:

Yes I have also noticed a high number of 325i and 330i poorly speced, many non leather which I find surprising. But now, after several months searching, I think I may have found the right car. Dealer emailed over images of the S/H tonight and it looks good. The spec is what I like, not overdone with to many gizmos. Couple of things I would like not on it but it's near enough. Make appointment for view and test this Saturday.

Good luck on Saturday OP.

I have a Z4 Coupe with the same N52 engine fitted to early E90s, and I love it (despite an electric water pump failure)!

What I have read in various places has put me off the N53 with HPFP and Injector issues to go with the electric water pump.

But I still keep looking at E9* models as potential replacements for my E46 325ti daily.

[crankedup]

Thanks Mr Tidy

[crankedup]

Received images of the S/H and its looks good, just one ? I noticed that the car had its pre delivery check when new, the next service was at 20,000 miles when the engine oil was changed. Would this be acceptable ?? Rest of history good.
Thanks for comment and advise.

[cerb4.5lee]

Oil changes on my N52 330i were every 19k miles according to the on board computer, so that seems about right, alot of people do moan that it's too many miles between changes but I've never had any issues with the beemers I've had.