BMW 3.0 or Audi A5 TSFI

[mahoone]

I’m looking for a replacement for a Fiesta ST.
Brilliant little car but after over 3 years of owning it I want to try something different.

It is going to be my daily car but I’m not concerned about MPG since I do about 6k p/a.

Price limit is £12000.

3 door is fine as long there’s enough space on the back for 2 people.

Petrol engine only.

No hot hatchbacks.

Any advice would be appreciated!

I’m considering those two at the moment:

2010 BMW 325i:

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2011 Audi A5 2.0 TFSI

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[MrBarry123]

I've driven neither however I think the BMW is a much better looking car. The Audi already looks horribly dated.

The E92 shape was a great result for BMW.

[Toed64]

BMW 330i would be my choice. The N52 engine is lovely, tough and economical too. It has bigger brakes than the 325i and is a better beast to drive without any modifications.

The Audi is a nice place to be and drive, but if my friend's experience is anything to go by, les reliable!

Alternatively, a 125i coupe. A bit smaller, but the same thing as an E9x under the skin. Remap the detuned motor to 330i spec for 50bhp more and the 130i brakes bolt straight on too.

[mahoone]

Thanks for the comments.

I had a test drive in ‘59 325i and overall experience was very good. Power delivery was smooth and felt completely different compared to a 1.6 turbo in Fiesta.

Obviously build quality and overall feel of interior is far better than my current car so I was happy with that.

I’ll have a look at 330i as suggested. 270bhp does sound good.

[TurboHatchback]

With £12k to spend I'd be looking at the 330i or 335i and the S5 (4.2l, 354bhp). There is also the rather rare 3.2l A5 Quattro with 265bhp that I imagine would be nice.

[cerb4.5lee]

Another vote for a 330i, a lovely and smooth engine and a great cruiser, mine was an Auto but I would have preferred a manual...because I feel it suits the engine much better.

As mentioned above I'd be very tempted by a 335i and S5 as well.

[Toed64]

If you consider a 135i or 335i, make sure it's the N55 (single turbo) version, not the earlier N54 (twin turbo). The later motor was introduced in the Spring of 2010 for most models.

The earlier twin turbo cars are lovely, but they are likely to cost a lot more in repairs. With the introduction of the N55, BMW resolved many of the N54's weaknesses - High Pressure Fuel Pumps, injectors (over £200 each on the early car - £60 each on the N55), turbo wastegate controls (requiring new turbos) - all of which are horribly expensive to repair. I've never herad of these major items failing on the later motors. The N55s also uses less fuel - my N55 135i manual would return 36mpg on a motorway run and 24mpg around town.

[steve-5snwi]

I'd be on the hunt for one of these, ideally the V6 and with the pan roof, smaller wheels make it ride better too.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Dolf Stoppard]

Can't comment on the BMW engines but the A5 wins on looks as far as I'm concerned. One of the best looking coupes of recent times and certainly doesn't look dated to me.

[Shiv_P]

A5 to my eyes certainly looks better
Unfortunately you won't be able to get a facelift 3.0TDI with that budget I don't think with the trick DRLs but the engine is still very nice - my brother has a 2012 3.0TDI A5 and my dad has a similar engine in his 2015 A8 and they are lovely

[ZX10R NIN]

If you can find one then this would be my pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or if you want the smaller car with the same engine:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

If it had to be an A5 it would be the 3.2:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

BMW wise I'd be going for a 335i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[steve-5snwi]

350 is the one to go for if you can find it, they are a much better mile muncher than the bm/audi

[Latters]

I had an A5 like that for about 5 months. I got rid because I hated it. Nice looking, but steered like a cruise liner and felt impossible to accurately place on the road.

The Beemer wins every day of the week for me; better engine, better handling, nicer car.

[Gompo]

Do you want something similar to your ST in power delivery, or different?

I believe the 325i uses a detuned N52 unit; I used to have a 130i (so an N52 with around 260 BHP, a 325i can be uprated to this spec quite easily) and my partner has an A5 TSFI, with around 190 bhp, so I've driven both a reasonable amount.

I was surprised at the pace of the A5, for what is quite a big car. I've not driven an ST so can't compare directy, but I'd say the TSFI isn't too different to a diesel in delivery. A good surge low down, but does fall off up the rev range. The N52 has a decent shove from low revs, and keeps on pulling, however I don't know how much the standard *25i compares with the *30i.

[DukeDickson]

Isn't that the era of TFSI that drinks like Ollie Reid on a mission?

If it is, only one choice, albeit something racier than a 25? However, if looking at the 272 bhp 30i, that's about as reliable IIRC.

Edited by DukeDickson on Sunday 21st January 01:45

[Benjijames28]

I've owned a beamer and an Audi and I would be going for a beamer.

[mahoone]

Thanks for all the links and suggestions!

Merc E350 CGI is a good shout and I’ll definitely ask for a test drive in one.

Looks like a BMW is the one to go for based on the comments. Hopefully I can get the LCI 330i or something like this:

It’s a 2010 335i DCT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Gompo said:

Do you want something similar to your ST in power delivery, or different?

I believe the 325i uses a detuned N52 unit; I used to have a 130i (so an N52 with around 260 BHP, a 325i can be uprated to this spec quite easily) and my partner has an A5 TSFI, with around 190 bhp, so I've driven both a reasonable amount.

I was surprised at the pace of the A5, for what is quite a big car. I've not driven an ST so can't compare directy, but I'd say the TSFI isn't too different to a diesel in delivery. A good surge low down, but does fall off up the rev range. The N52 has a decent shove from low revs, and keeps on pulling, however I don't know how much the standard *25i compares with the *30i.

I think if I go for a BMW N/A engine like 325 or 330 I might miss the characteristics of turbo engine, however it won’t be the case with 335i or TSFI.

[Gompo]

mahoone said:

I think if I go for a BMW N/A engine like 325 or 330 I might miss the characteristics of turbo engine, however it won’t be the case with 335i or TSFI.

I'd probably agree with that. I do think the *35i delivery is quite linear compared to some other turbos, although I don't have much experience with it.

As touched upon, both the turbo charged powerplants you're looking at do have some reliability issues.

[steve-5snwi]

Most of the TFSi oil drinking issues are fixed by Audi under warranty and there is a section on there website.

The TFSi is very linear in power delivery, the 325 feels slow in comparison, personally the Mercs make better cars.

[dry664]

A5 is a much nicer place to sit, 325 more fun driving like your pants are on fire. I had this conundrum 3 years ago and got a 2010 A5 nearly identical to the one in your first post. Still got it and in 30k miles it’s needed services and 2 tyres and that’s it. Been great.
Definitely a motorway cruiser and fast point to point but I can assure you the BMW isn’t a sports car either.