E90 M sport advice
Discussion
Looking for some advice. After years of running Nissan lease cars I’ve decided to try a BMW. I’m looking to spend upto £10k. I’ve seen quite a few 320d coupe (and petrol versions) between 2009 and 2013 in this price range. Ideally I want something with no more than 60k miles on. Most of my driving is around town,I do maybe 8-9k miles per year. Would I be better off going for the petrol or diesel and what’s the common faults on these?. Do they both have timing chains?.
Thanks
Thanks
Simoted said:
Looking for some advice. After years of running Nissan lease cars I’ve decided to try a BMW. I’m looking to spend upto £10k. I’ve seen quite a few 320d coupe (and petrol versions) between 2009 and 2013 in this price range. Ideally I want something with no more than 60k miles on. Most of my driving is around town,I do maybe 8-9k miles per year. Would I be better off going for the petrol or diesel and what’s the common faults on these?. Do they both have timing chains?.
Thanks
For 10,000£ and doing low miles, why not a straight six petrol. I only had a very kwik look and example is illustrative only, but even approved used have an option at that price. Thanks
https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201901083736487...
These are better engines inmho
IMO at that budget and mileage, as already said, stick to petrol and a straight 6
Yup; timing chains but very few issues, unlike the 4 pot petrols and diesels
Where are you located, how willing are you to travel for the right car, any particular colour and spec you want, auto or manual, saloon, coupe or touring (estate)? Are you ideally after BMW dealer car or happy with private sales also?
Yup; timing chains but very few issues, unlike the 4 pot petrols and diesels
Where are you located, how willing are you to travel for the right car, any particular colour and spec you want, auto or manual, saloon, coupe or touring (estate)? Are you ideally after BMW dealer car or happy with private sales also?
Six pot petrol means N53 engine and arguably it's worst years 2007/8-2009. Buying from a dealer should assure all latest bits fitted if not when you pick it up but when you have to take it back. Push for 2yr warranty.
Agree six pot petrol too btw I love the n53 in my car but no blind to its weaknesses.
Agree six pot petrol too btw I love the n53 in my car but no blind to its weaknesses.
d_a_n1979 said:
IMO at that budget and mileage, as already said, stick to petrol and a straight 6
Yup; timing chains but very few issues, unlike the 4 pot petrols and diesels
Where are you located, how willing are you to travel for the right car, any particular colour and spec you want, auto or manual, saloon, coupe or touring (estate)? Are you ideally after BMW dealer car or happy with private sales also?
I’m near Sunderland. Ideally would like one within 50 miles or so but could travel further. A manual coupe. They look nice with the 19inch wheels but obviously that’s not a deal breaker. I’d probably prefer to buy from a garage, I am willing to look at private cars if the right one turns up.Yup; timing chains but very few issues, unlike the 4 pot petrols and diesels
Where are you located, how willing are you to travel for the right car, any particular colour and spec you want, auto or manual, saloon, coupe or touring (estate)? Are you ideally after BMW dealer car or happy with private sales also?
bmwmike said:
Six pot petrol means N53 engine and arguably it's worst years 2007/8-2009. Buying from a dealer should assure all latest bits fitted if not when you pick it up but when you have to take it back. Push for 2yr warranty.
Agree six pot petrol too btw I love the n53 in my car but no blind to its weaknesses.
Is the 2L petrol a straight six in these?. Also are the engines better from 2010-13?Agree six pot petrol too btw I love the n53 in my car but no blind to its weaknesses.
Simoted said:
My aim is to get a nice looking car with not too high running costs. I don’t like the sound of an unreliable engine. I do like the sound of a straight six though!. I could live with a 2L diesel (I’ve had Qashqai 1.5 diesels for the last 6 years!).
While you may well be able to "live with a 2l diesel" at that mileage /year it is absolutely NOT the car to buy, it WILL cost you more to run & you will also lose more on it.E-bmw said:
Simoted said:
My aim is to get a nice looking car with not too high running costs. I don’t like the sound of an unreliable engine. I do like the sound of a straight six though!. I could live with a 2L diesel (I’ve had Qashqai 1.5 diesels for the last 6 years!).
While you may well be able to "live with a 2l diesel" at that mileage /year it is absolutely NOT the car to buy, it WILL cost you more to run & you will also lose more on it.E-bmw said:
Simoted said:
My aim is to get a nice looking car with not too high running costs. I don’t like the sound of an unreliable engine. I do like the sound of a straight six though!. I could live with a 2L diesel (I’ve had Qashqai 1.5 diesels for the last 6 years!).
While you may well be able to "live with a 2l diesel" at that mileage /year it is absolutely NOT the car to buy, it WILL cost you more to run & you will also lose more on it.I remember when E9X generation was “current” a petrol v diesel rule of thumb was :-
Diesels cost more to buy , more to service , fuel costs more ;thus to make economic sense you have to do a whole lot of miles to claw back that “investment” in much better mpg.
I’m not sure whether that rule of thumb is as pertinent with the cars at a lower price point , but it might be if you can get a like for like petrol for cheaper and maintain it cheaper, because at 8k p.a. you’ll have less chance of benefiting from lower mpg. savings.
Depreciation won’t likely be a saving grace , as older diesels are declining in popularity.
The “fly in the ointment “ is that the most like for like the 320i was never much thought of. Hence I suggested going 6 cylinder. A quick look on Autotrader , however, struggled to find many manuals!
Personally , for low mileage, if necessary I’d go auto , petrol , 6 cylinder to have a much nicer better driving experience.
Or I’d see if another brand offered me a decent petrol alternative in budget.
Diesels cost more to buy , more to service , fuel costs more ;thus to make economic sense you have to do a whole lot of miles to claw back that “investment” in much better mpg.
I’m not sure whether that rule of thumb is as pertinent with the cars at a lower price point , but it might be if you can get a like for like petrol for cheaper and maintain it cheaper, because at 8k p.a. you’ll have less chance of benefiting from lower mpg. savings.
Depreciation won’t likely be a saving grace , as older diesels are declining in popularity.
The “fly in the ointment “ is that the most like for like the 320i was never much thought of. Hence I suggested going 6 cylinder. A quick look on Autotrader , however, struggled to find many manuals!
Personally , for low mileage, if necessary I’d go auto , petrol , 6 cylinder to have a much nicer better driving experience.
Or I’d see if another brand offered me a decent petrol alternative in budget.
Thanks for the replies.
Which bMWs have the 6 cylinder petrol engines?. Is there a 3 series coupe with a 2.5 petrol around the 2010-2013?.
I have also looked at some 1 series couples that have been nice but similar prices to the 3 series, they were also diesel though. I mainly was looking towards the diesel due to thinking they would be more reliable when older, 8-9 year old car. I take it the petrol is as reliable?.
I’m not keen on having a 3L due to high road tax and probably poor fuel economy. I quickly got fed up of a Focus ST as it was never out of the petrol station!.
Which bMWs have the 6 cylinder petrol engines?. Is there a 3 series coupe with a 2.5 petrol around the 2010-2013?.
I have also looked at some 1 series couples that have been nice but similar prices to the 3 series, they were also diesel though. I mainly was looking towards the diesel due to thinking they would be more reliable when older, 8-9 year old car. I take it the petrol is as reliable?.
I’m not keen on having a 3L due to high road tax and probably poor fuel economy. I quickly got fed up of a Focus ST as it was never out of the petrol station!.
Simoted said:
Thanks for the replies.
Which bMWs have the 6 cylinder petrol engines?. Is there a 3 series coupe with a 2.5 petrol around the 2010-2013?.
I have also looked at some 1 series couples that have been nice but similar prices to the 3 series, they were also diesel though. I mainly was looking towards the diesel due to thinking they would be more reliable when older, 8-9 year old car. I take it the petrol is as reliable?.
I’m not keen on having a 3L due to high road tax and probably poor fuel economy. I quickly got fed up of a Focus ST as it was never out of the petrol station!.
There were a 325i, 330i straight six n/a petrol cars in that period. April 2010 was the facelift , aka LCI. E92 went out of production (sale) around 2013. Which bMWs have the 6 cylinder petrol engines?. Is there a 3 series coupe with a 2.5 petrol around the 2010-2013?.
I have also looked at some 1 series couples that have been nice but similar prices to the 3 series, they were also diesel though. I mainly was looking towards the diesel due to thinking they would be more reliable when older, 8-9 year old car. I take it the petrol is as reliable?.
I’m not keen on having a 3L due to high road tax and probably poor fuel economy. I quickly got fed up of a Focus ST as it was never out of the petrol station!.
But reading your last post, quoted here, if you're really not keen on 3.0l then if you're sticking with a E92 (it's better looking than a 1 series, surely
diesel may well be your best bet. I don't have the knowledge to list the know faults, but I'd say get one with perfect service history that hasn't a record of problems and you're as safe as you can be with a 9 year old approx. car.From everything I’ve read and in the opinion of my BMW specialist a n/a straight six is the sweet spot of reliability. Mike , above, stated the N53 specifically was more problematic in its earlier years , so maybe another vote for 2010 -2013.
I’ve owned a previous generation(E46) has 325 and for my kind of hard driving , often short distances I can remember only being a few pence per mile higher on costs than my 20d. It’s not a brilliant comparison as 20d is in a SUV so a lot heavier and AWD. But genuinely made me question value of 20d diesels if , in my case, you’re going to drive them hard to squeeze out the performance. Over my mileage , I can still save but it is around 20k miles p.a.
Fuelly is a website which gets mentioned here a lot , maybe that can give you a broader spread of mpg?
Maybe also get a few prices for servicing both type of cars.
I’ve owned a previous generation(E46) has 325 and for my kind of hard driving , often short distances I can remember only being a few pence per mile higher on costs than my 20d. It’s not a brilliant comparison as 20d is in a SUV so a lot heavier and AWD. But genuinely made me question value of 20d diesels if , in my case, you’re going to drive them hard to squeeze out the performance. Over my mileage , I can still save but it is around 20k miles p.a.
Fuelly is a website which gets mentioned here a lot , maybe that can give you a broader spread of mpg?
Maybe also get a few prices for servicing both type of cars.
For 8/9K miles a year I would go petrol straight 6. My BMW Indy (who is ex-Sytner) recommended at least 6 cylinders, and preferably petrol!
So I bought an E91 325i in February 2018 that has been great - despite having 132K miles on it when I bought it, although it did have full BMW Service History.
I wanted an early one with the N52 engine to avoid the injector, HPFP and coking up issues that come with the N53 engine.
Just find a good one!
So I bought an E91 325i in February 2018 that has been great - despite having 132K miles on it when I bought it, although it did have full BMW Service History.
I wanted an early one with the N52 engine to avoid the injector, HPFP and coking up issues that come with the N53 engine.
Just find a good one!
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