What to replace an E91 330d with?
Discussion
Afternoon all, been reading PH for years and now I would like the guidance of the collective for ideas on what to replace my lovely old 330d with.
I bought it brand new back in 2010, and it is now on 150k. It has been faultlessly reliable in that time, I put that down to 10k / annual services and general mechanical sympathy. Original clutch too. I don't need to change it, but after 9 years I fancy something a bit different, but I am having trouble coming up with a suitable replacement.
My criteria is:
What has crossed my mind:
I bought it brand new back in 2010, and it is now on 150k. It has been faultlessly reliable in that time, I put that down to 10k / annual services and general mechanical sympathy. Original clutch too. I don't need to change it, but after 9 years I fancy something a bit different, but I am having trouble coming up with a suitable replacement.
My criteria is:
- manual
- estate or hatchback - no saloons or coupes
- comfortable, maybe a bit more refined than the 330d
- reliable
- quicker than the 330d
- under £25k
What has crossed my mind:
- BMW M140i - not sure about the comfort and refinement aspect
- Audi S3 / Golf R - not sure about a 4cyl
- B7 Audi RS4 - Getting on a bit now, so maybe not reliable?
- 335i touring - manual ones seem very rare, and I am not convinced it will be enough of a change from the 330d
- B8 Audi S4 - top of the pile at the moment
Take a look over on the F30 section of Bimmerpost classifieds.
2.5 year old 440i Gran Coupe in good spec being sold at trade £21.5k with 53k on the clock.
LCI model with lower tax. Not my car - just spotted it this morning.
I came from a 335d E91 to my 440i GC and don't regret it - a better car in all respects apart from caravan towing fuel consumption (I try to ignore it when it goes below 15). Solo is better than the 335d.
I know it's Auto, but I am a die hard Manual man, and I really like the ZF8 -:a slush box when pottering to a kick in the back change when pressing on with paddles. I love it.
2.5 year old 440i Gran Coupe in good spec being sold at trade £21.5k with 53k on the clock.
LCI model with lower tax. Not my car - just spotted it this morning.
I came from a 335d E91 to my 440i GC and don't regret it - a better car in all respects apart from caravan towing fuel consumption (I try to ignore it when it goes below 15). Solo is better than the 335d.
I know it's Auto, but I am a die hard Manual man, and I really like the ZF8 -:a slush box when pottering to a kick in the back change when pressing on with paddles. I love it.
Pica-Pica said:
DoubleD said:
Pica-Pica said:
ahenners said:
*edited - suggested an F31 340i but I think these are auto only.
Fine, just use manual mode! Edited by ahenners on Friday 20th September 22:00
I'd avoid an F30 if you're coming from a very enjoyable E90/91.
Like you, I had a 330d mSport from 30k to 120k+ and was never less that totally impressed by it and often came home from a longish drive feeling like the journey had been an enjoyable steer.
Although nothing wrong with mine, I felt it time for an upgrade and bought a 17 plate 330d mSport (rwd) with 9k on it. On every level it was 'better' - smoother, faster, more economical, 8 speed auto gearbox was much better than the 6 speed in the old one, toys inside much more up to date, lovely colour and high spec so had everything I wanted.
I had it 14 months and 15k miles. It didn't 'gel' like the E90 and I found myself constantly irritated by the way it drove. Couldn't get the chassis and powertrain setting in a nice compromise, it was almost too efficient to the point of taking any character out of it. I never really relished getting in it to drive like I did the old one. I changed from 19 to 18 inch rims, ran it on winters for a while but finally concluded it was the electric steering that had taken much of the 'fluidity' from the way the thing drove.
I chopped it in for an 80k mile / 65 plate LR Discovery and have done 6k in that since June. It's vastly nicer to drive than the F30 was, albeit much slower and is averaging about 13mpg less. I really look forward to a long trip in it the way I used to with the E90!
My advice, if you really like the 330d and there's nothing wrong with it, be careful about changing for something newer, especially BMW, as much magic has been lost since the era you have. Definitely a high watermark.
Like you, I had a 330d mSport from 30k to 120k+ and was never less that totally impressed by it and often came home from a longish drive feeling like the journey had been an enjoyable steer.
Although nothing wrong with mine, I felt it time for an upgrade and bought a 17 plate 330d mSport (rwd) with 9k on it. On every level it was 'better' - smoother, faster, more economical, 8 speed auto gearbox was much better than the 6 speed in the old one, toys inside much more up to date, lovely colour and high spec so had everything I wanted.
I had it 14 months and 15k miles. It didn't 'gel' like the E90 and I found myself constantly irritated by the way it drove. Couldn't get the chassis and powertrain setting in a nice compromise, it was almost too efficient to the point of taking any character out of it. I never really relished getting in it to drive like I did the old one. I changed from 19 to 18 inch rims, ran it on winters for a while but finally concluded it was the electric steering that had taken much of the 'fluidity' from the way the thing drove.
I chopped it in for an 80k mile / 65 plate LR Discovery and have done 6k in that since June. It's vastly nicer to drive than the F30 was, albeit much slower and is averaging about 13mpg less. I really look forward to a long trip in it the way I used to with the E90!
My advice, if you really like the 330d and there's nothing wrong with it, be careful about changing for something newer, especially BMW, as much magic has been lost since the era you have. Definitely a high watermark.
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