330e and service history
330e and service history
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willmagrath

Original Poster:

1,332 posts

171 months

Saturday
quotequote all
I'm looking for a used 330e (2020-2022).

Most of them seem to have been fleet owned and have done big miles each year. This means that most of them have only been serviced every 20 to 22,000 miles.

As someone with lots of mechanical sympathy, this scares me.

Should I be concerned about this? Anyone with experience of these?

I saw one yesterday with 78,000 miles that ticked all the boxes apart from the long service intervals and a ticking/rattling at cold idle. (Chain? Wastegate?)

Any help appreciated as I think these cars are a great package but I don't want to get burned

v8notbrave

304 posts

38 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Interesting dilemma, I was half considering 530e similar to your used fleet purchase, thoughts

Battery is an unknown, some seem to last others have very limited range. Did see somewhere a hybrid battery is cycled so many times Vs an EV battery their lifespan is limited.

Modern BMW engines are so good, as it's been fully warm eating easy motorway miles in a long 8th gear and modern oils etc I suspect it will be fine for 150k plus. I'm currently 520d and at 150k the engine is only half way thru it's life

Others will say run for the hills

As it is I'm skipping hybrid and going full EV as they're so cheap used. Liked a comment on other thread that a hybrid is a gateway drug to a full EV

Good luck, last thought is you can map the petrol to 300 bhp so with hybrid on top it could be mega quick!!!

willmagrath

Original Poster:

1,332 posts

171 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Thanks for the advice!

Yeah the company selling it say the battery is at 95% health according to their "check".

Yeah there's very little in the way of negative comments in terms of reliablity for 330e to be honest so maybe I just take the plunge on one with the thought that they are designed for this use!

Gassmi

84 posts

3 months

Yes be very concerned. 20k miles between oil changes kills engines slowly.
That ticking at cold idle on the one you saw is a red flag. Walk away.
Fleet owned + long intervals = worn timing chain guides, carbon buildup, and possible turbo wear.

If you really want a 330e, find a privately owned one with max 12k mile oil changes. They exist but rare. Otherwise look at a different car.

Alfahorn

7,821 posts

233 months

I’m interested in a G21. The cars generally within my budget are 330e’s, there’s some diesels as well. My concern is timing chain on either variants with the cost of replacement being high.

My current car is an Alfa Giulia 2.2 diesel, which I bought at 100,000 miles and it’s now on 161,000, it came with good history and has been very reliable. The Alfa is also belt driven which costs around £600 to replace, which I can live with.

I’m very concerned about ending up with a huge bill on the BMW.

Alfa don’t do a wagon anymore, I’m not over keen on an SUV and like the Alfa the BMW is RWD with XF8, which I love.

sam.rog

1,430 posts

103 months

I had one of these fleet 330e.
They run a condition based service schedule. Mine flagged at 18k. Serviced every 9 months.

I don’t think you will get one that will be serviced more than the bmw schedule as I doubt any were sold to private enthusiasts who are diligent in servicing. They were a bik tool and nothing else and the lease company certainly wouldn’t pay for extra services.

willmagrath

Original Poster:

1,332 posts

171 months

Yeah it's a tough one on these. Such great packages just a shame a lot have been treated this way.

The condition based servicing is all well and good, but is there a way of knowing if they've been serviced when the car wants, or they've left it with yhe service light on for 6,000 miles?!

I will hold out for one with a better service history!

SteBrown91

3,023 posts

154 months

willmagrath said:
Yeah it's a tough one on these. Such great packages just a shame a lot have been treated this way.

The condition based servicing is all well and good, but is there a way of knowing if they've been serviced when the car wants, or they've left it with yhe service light on for 6,000 miles?!

I will hold out for one with a better service history!
The idrive will show the service being late. If it’s yellow it’s been done slightly late but if it’s red it was done very late.

sam.rog

1,430 posts

103 months

The service log will be in the idrive. Green is good yellow is overdue but ok.

Bmw can also check the history using the key.

Fox-

13,553 posts

271 months

willmagrath said:
Yeah it's a tough one on these. Such great packages just a shame a lot have been treated this way.

The condition based servicing is all well and good, but is there a way of knowing if they've been serviced when the car wants, or they've left it with yhe service light on for 6,000 miles?!

I will hold out for one with a better service history!
You want a better service history than a full BMW service history? You'll be waiting a long time especially if you want a car that was almost entirely purchased new by fleets - private buyers generally went for a 330i or a 320i.