BMW 330e ordered...

[w4nnabe]

markirl said:

Any reports on the reliability of the 330e to date? Considering one of these as a used private purchase in the near future!

I haven't heard anything disastrous yet although everything so far will be under warranty. For peace of mind, I'd suggest getting one which is well within the 3 year overall warranty and the 6 year/60000 mile BMW warranty on the battery and hybrid system.

I will consider a 3rd party warranty after that but haven't found one which covers the battery etc: it may not exist at reasonable price.

[DragonflyTrumpeter]

Bought my car new and had a major problem with the high voltage battery at 4 months. Car @ BMW for 6 weeks, new hv batteries fitted but BMW were an absolute nightmare to deal with. It would take a long time to give the detail of how st they were and why they never even told me where my car was. But to be fair, the car has been perfect ever since, not a fault with anything. Now done 32k miles in 32 months.

The crap px prices suggest you may get a bargain though. I think my hv problem was unique but it is always in my mind. But after 30 years of BMW I am much more concerned with the utterly appalling after sales / customer service they provided when needed. Due to change soon and really not sure what to do.

But like I said, my isolated problem aside, the car has been great and brilliant to drive. My advice would be similar to w4nnabe, try and keep well within the 3 year warranty. Or if buying an early 330e, eg 16 plate @ near 3 years old, be sure to go approved used because you get 12 months warranty and roadside cover with it. Iirc, the batteries have an 8 year warranty.

[w4nnabe]

>>Iirc, the batteries have an 8 year warranty.

There is a bit of confusion about this. I *believe* the PHEVs have the iPerformance Warranty (6 years/60000 miles) and their battery EVs have the iWarranty (8 years/100000 miles).

They replace the battery if its capacity drops to 70%. [And I presume the caveats about 'normal wear and tear' don't apply.]
https://www.bmw.co.uk/bmw-ownership/servicing-and-...

Maybe the strategy should be to fry the battery in 5.9 years and get a replacement under warranty...

Edited by w4nnabe on Friday 4th January 23:29

[slugelise]

My lease 330e is now for sale, £38K list and now £18.5K after 2 years and 27000 miles. I have no idea how lease companies make any money, given I was paying £360 a month for it on full maintenance.

Anyway - if anyone wants a problem free one careful owner car have a look

https://www.motors.co.uk/car-51478824/?i=0&m=s...

[leem5]

I've been looking at these second hand and they do seem to be decent value now?
My better have would be using it to commute mainly, 32 miles round trip. Would she I'm the real world be able to do one direction on electric/ battery only. Of the 16 miles 50-60% is on 60mph roads.
Thanks.

[caseys]

leem5 said:

I've been looking at these second hand and they do seem to be decent value now?
My better have would be using it to commute mainly, 32 miles round trip. Would she I'm the real world be able to do one direction on electric/ battery only. Of the 16 miles 50-60% is on 60mph roads.
Thanks.

You'll get about 12-14 miles cruising at 30-40mph in present conditions. In the summer (20C ambient) you'll probably get 18-20 tops.

[Somebody]

What caseys said. Best I've had was 18 miles in the summer.

Edited by Somebody on Monday 7th January 14:02

[slugelise]

leem5 said:

I've been looking at these second hand and they do seem to be decent value now?
My better have would be using it to commute mainly, 32 miles round trip. Would she I'm the real world be able to do one direction on electric/ battery only. Of the 16 miles 50-60% is on 60mph roads.
Thanks.

My commute was 17 miles each way - driving miss daisy I could get to about a mile from work before the engine kicked. Mixture of town/motorway/A road/town/A road.

usually i'd let the engine kick in on the motorway and still get 170mpg. A charger at work would have been perfect - installed a week after the car went back.

[leem5]

Thanks for the replies, sounds good enough for what we'll need.

[Orion917]

Well that jinxed it! I popped a look on here yesterday because I hadn't been for a while and read the posts about reliability. Mine has done 35k in 23 months with no faults apart from a blown brick charger.

However this morning, my wall charger had tripped out. Strange. Then I got the red ring of death on the charging socket The dash says "charging not possible". Anyway i drove to work in it and everything seemed normal. When I arrived I tried the brick charger and got the same fault. I rang my local dealer to book it in but to mine and the BMW assist people, my dealer said not to drive it anymore and get it recovered!

I am now at work awaiting a low loader and an Enterprise hire car!

[jcdub]

Well I'm in a similar situation. I joined pistonheads a couple of days ago to contribute to the forum. Yesterday while driving home I had an error pop up saying drivetrain failure. Safe to continue on your journey but contact a service partner. When I got home I cycled the ignition and the error went away. Then this morning I hopped in the car and there was an engine light when I turned in the ignition. I drove the car on the batteries and then switched to the engine and a drivetrain failure error also popped up staying away. Contacted BMW Assist who arranged for a tow truck to collect the car and also arranged a hire car. The BMW garage should have it early tomorrow. Hopefully I'll have an update on the fault in the afternoon. I had booked the car in for a software update on the 7th of Feb, hopefully they'll do that while they have it..
Anyone have similar drivetrain engine light errors before?

[caseys]

jcdub said:

Well I'm in a similar situation. I joined pistonheads a couple of days ago to contribute to the forum. Yesterday while driving home I had an error pop up saying drivetrain failure. Safe to continue on your journey but contact a service partner. When I got home I cycled the ignition and the error went away. Then this morning I hopped in the car and there was an engine light when I turned in the ignition. I drove the car on the batteries and then switched to the engine and a drivetrain failure error also popped up staying away. Contacted BMW Assist who arranged for a tow truck to collect the car and also arranged a hire car. The BMW garage should have it early tomorrow. Hopefully I'll have an update on the fault in the afternoon. I had booked the car in for a software update on the 7th of Feb, hopefully they'll do that while they have it..
Anyone have similar drivetrain engine light errors before?

Yes had exactly this. It’s the starter motor recall that’s open and a software update.

[jcdub]

Yes had exactly this. It’s the starter motor recall that’s open and a software update.

[/quote]

I was told there was no starter to be replaced on my car.. it's was first registered in April 2017.

[Timbergiant]

I’ve just been to BMW to get my 330e booked in for its service, they said it’s the big one which is filters, oil and spark plugs and quoted a price of £750, are they taking the piss?

[w4nnabe]

Timbergiant said:

I’ve just been to BMW to get my 330e booked in for its service, they said it’s the big one which is filters, oil and spark plugs and quoted a price of £750, are they taking the piss?

Sounds like it to me. How many miles?

[BMW330enut]

slugelise said:

My lease 330e is now for sale, £38K list and now £18.5K after 2 years and 27000 miles. I have no idea how lease companies make any money, given I was paying £360 a month for it on full maintenance.

Anyway - if anyone wants a problem free one careful owner car have a look

https://www.motors.co.uk/car-51478824/?i=0&m=s...

Lease companies don’t pay anything like list price. I received the invoice to my lease co for my car in error.

List £39,400. Paid £27,230. That includes the govt grant.

[BMW330enut]

Timbergiant said:

I’ve just been to BMW to get my 330e booked in for its service, they said it’s the big one which is filters, oil and spark plugs and quoted a price of £750, are they taking the piss?

I’d say so. Phone around a few main dealers you’ll be surprised at how the quotes vary.

[BMW330enut]

jcdub said:

Yes had exactly this. It’s the starter motor recall that’s open and a software update.

I was told there was no starter to be replaced on my car.. it's was first registered in April 2017.

Mines an April 17 car and has had the starter motor replaced.

[jonwm]

This can't just be my driving as my wife mentioned it too last night but does anyone else's wheelspin a fair bit in this damp cold weather?? I'm not talking fast and furious style but when pulling out of junctions etc.

Must be the electric torque?

[Timbergiant]

w4nnabe said:

Sounds like it to me. How many miles?

30000 miles, my M4 doesn't cost that much, BMW has seen the last of me, cars and servicing.

BMW330enut said:

I’d say so. Phone around a few main dealers you’ll be surprised at how the quotes vary.

I have a local BMW specialist that is a 2 minute walk from BMW so I'll give hm a try tomorrow.