330i/430i any experience out there?
Discussion
The 430i only appeared in 2016, replacing the 428i. Power was similar, but they have different engines. The older 428i engine was the N20 lump, whereas the 430i has the newer B48 engine. The N20 could suffer from timing chain failures - I'm not saying they all did, but it wasn't uncommon.
At the same time in 2016, the 435i was replaced by the 440i. Depending on what year you're looking for, a slightly older 435i could be more cost-effective than the newer 430i. I'd suggest you drive both. The power delivery from the 6 cylinder car knocks the 2.0 turbo out of the water.
On living with the cars, the 4 series has less room in the rear than the 3 series - but rear headroom on either isn't great. The 4GC has good boot space, and is more useable than a 3 series saloon (my experience only).
At the same time in 2016, the 435i was replaced by the 440i. Depending on what year you're looking for, a slightly older 435i could be more cost-effective than the newer 430i. I'd suggest you drive both. The power delivery from the 6 cylinder car knocks the 2.0 turbo out of the water.
On living with the cars, the 4 series has less room in the rear than the 3 series - but rear headroom on either isn't great. The 4GC has good boot space, and is more useable than a 3 series saloon (my experience only).
I was hunting for a 30i when I was car hunting last year. I drove one and it was fine, but they were so rare I couldn't find one with the sort of spec I wanted. I decided to get a 40i powered car instead on the basis that the insurance was barely any different and the 30i only appeared to get ~3mpg more than a 40i, add in the much nicer drive and increase in power that the 40i delivers and it was a slam dunk.
I did 1300 miles around California and Nevada in a 430i Convertible 3 years ago, including getting married in it - didn't pay too much attention to MPG as we were on holiday with US Gas Prices, but to drive it was a very impressive engine. Very smooth, picked up well and made some appealing noises in Sport Mode, was fairly quiet otherwise.
Wasn't anywhere near as nice to use as the 6 Cylinder I got into when we landed back at Heathrow, but was otherwise pretty good. If I had to go 4 Cylinder, it would probably be a 430i GC. As it is, I'm likely to be getting a 440i GC later in the year, as there is little difference in price between a 440i and a 430i, and very little in economy either.
Wasn't anywhere near as nice to use as the 6 Cylinder I got into when we landed back at Heathrow, but was otherwise pretty good. If I had to go 4 Cylinder, it would probably be a 430i GC. As it is, I'm likely to be getting a 440i GC later in the year, as there is little difference in price between a 440i and a 430i, and very little in economy either.
I have the B48 engine in a Mini Cooper S with a manual gearbox and I've also driven a 530i with the B48 engine mated to the ZF8 auto. It is a smooth engine for a 4 cylinder I reckon but it runs out of legs at high revs in the Mini, but I thought that it was lovely and smooth with the auto in the 530i.
I'm getting 40mpg overall in the Mini so I'm guessing that you'd get mid 30's in a 330i/430i.
I'm getting 40mpg overall in the Mini so I'm guessing that you'd get mid 30's in a 330i/430i.
bodhi said:
there is little difference in price between a 440i and a 430i, and very little in economy either.
This is surprisingly true regarding the economy.Had a 30i engined car whilst my 440 was in for a service. Along my commute in average conditions I only managed to get 1-2mpg more in the 30i, and I was making an effort to see what I could get out of it.
stuart_83 said:
AB said:
Oh yes you do
Yep, the difference is like night and day ... I thought the 30i was a decent engine, but was surprised with the difference when I got back into mine. Really missed the noise 
It is impossible to make a 4 cylinder 2 litre engine feel really nice though not matter how hard anyone tries for me. I did drive a 3 cylinder 900cc engine in a Renault Captur recently though and that was a real eye opener! I wanted to try a 3 cylinder because most say how smooth they are...it was terrible and it rattled and it made a similar noise to a diesel. So compared to that the B48 isn't too bad.
By way of update....
I tried a 330i and really didn’t like the engine. It felt lacking in torque, a bit busy and not that frugal.
So, I then tried a 430d, and that’s what I’ve bought. The engine is much nicer, and yes a 6 pot. The 4 Series is on runout now but the tech is still pretty decent - the latest ones have the digital instruments now, but in the classic round dial rather than the new 3’s bar graphs...
Yes, it’s a diesel, but the deals to be had are pretty good at the moment. I picked up a full spec preregistration at 48% discount to list, so at £25k I’d take the risk (£49k list!!).
Picking it up on Friday.
I tried a 330i and really didn’t like the engine. It felt lacking in torque, a bit busy and not that frugal.
So, I then tried a 430d, and that’s what I’ve bought. The engine is much nicer, and yes a 6 pot. The 4 Series is on runout now but the tech is still pretty decent - the latest ones have the digital instruments now, but in the classic round dial rather than the new 3’s bar graphs...
Yes, it’s a diesel, but the deals to be had are pretty good at the moment. I picked up a full spec preregistration at 48% discount to list, so at £25k I’d take the risk (£49k list!!).
Picking it up on Friday.
GTEYE said:
By way of update....
I tried a 330i and really didn’t like the engine. It felt lacking in torque, a bit busy and not that frugal.
So, I then tried a 430d, and that’s what I’ve bought. The engine is much nicer, and yes a 6 pot.
Nice one. I tried a 330i and really didn’t like the engine. It felt lacking in torque, a bit busy and not that frugal.
So, I then tried a 430d, and that’s what I’ve bought. The engine is much nicer, and yes a 6 pot.
I had a E90 330d and it was a fantastic all round car I thought(always fancied a 430d too), lovely torque and effortless performance. The 430d will be a much bigger step up in performance over what I had in the 330d for sure.
Enjoy picking it up.
GTEYE said:
By way of update....
I tried a 330i and really didn’t like the engine. It felt lacking in torque, a bit busy and not that frugal.
So, I then tried a 430d, and that’s what I’ve bought. The engine is much nicer, and yes a 6 pot. The 4 Series is on runout now but the tech is still pretty decent - the latest ones have the digital instruments now, but in the classic round dial rather than the new 3’s bar graphs...
Yes, it’s a diesel, but the deals to be had are pretty good at the moment. I picked up a full spec preregistration at 48% discount to list, so at £25k I’d take the risk (£49k list!!).
Picking it up on Friday.
Impressed with the discount, even at runout!I tried a 330i and really didn’t like the engine. It felt lacking in torque, a bit busy and not that frugal.
So, I then tried a 430d, and that’s what I’ve bought. The engine is much nicer, and yes a 6 pot. The 4 Series is on runout now but the tech is still pretty decent - the latest ones have the digital instruments now, but in the classic round dial rather than the new 3’s bar graphs...
Yes, it’s a diesel, but the deals to be had are pretty good at the moment. I picked up a full spec preregistration at 48% discount to list, so at £25k I’d take the risk (£49k list!!).
Picking it up on Friday.
Our 2015 F30 330d went back before xmas with the only fault being a bust horn over 120k - can't ask for better imho
Now replaced with a G30 330e which has it's pro's and con's over the older car.
Taita said:
Good god that is some discount!
Are the 4 series deep discounts / cheap leases coming already because the new one is out in June? eg when should I start sniffing about
The cheapest pre-reg cars seem to be coming directly from BMW GB - dealers can't get anywhere near those sorts of prices on new cars - so at the moment at least there don't seem to be any great deals on dealer stock.Are the 4 series deep discounts / cheap leases coming already because the new one is out in June? eg when should I start sniffing about
I'm absolutely sure it's fuelled by the new 4 Series coming out this year, and the new model won't be at those sort of discounts.
cerb4.5lee said:
GTEYE said:
By way of update....
I tried a 330i and really didn’t like the engine. It felt lacking in torque, a bit busy and not that frugal.
So, I then tried a 430d, and that’s what I’ve bought. The engine is much nicer, and yes a 6 pot.
Nice one. I tried a 330i and really didn’t like the engine. It felt lacking in torque, a bit busy and not that frugal.
So, I then tried a 430d, and that’s what I’ve bought. The engine is much nicer, and yes a 6 pot.
I had a E90 330d and it was a fantastic all round car I thought(always fancied a 430d too), lovely torque and effortless performance. The 430d will be a much bigger step up in performance over what I had in the 330d for sure.
Enjoy picking it up.
GTEYE said:
The cheapest pre-reg cars seem to be coming directly from BMW GB - dealers can't get anywhere near those sorts of prices on new cars - so at the moment at least there don't seem to be any great deals on dealer stock.
Where do BMW GB sell the cars then - I had assumed through BMW dealers?!I'm casually keeping my eye on either a 330i or 430i from 2015 onwards, but with an absolute max budget of 16k, there's just not that many out there. I cant even get a quote for the 30d's from brokers and most online quotes are £1200 which I refuse to pay, and anyway my annual mileage is low. Insurance quotes on compare sites are around £700 for 30i's so may possibly be cheaper with a broker. I'd love an older 435i but yes, insurance gets in the way again!
The 3 series often have poor spec I find, but I think the 4 series come standard with Xenons and heated seats,and most have Pro Nav which is a bonus.
Just waiting now to see what comes onto the market in March with the old trade-ins hitting the market.
The 3 series often have poor spec I find, but I think the 4 series come standard with Xenons and heated seats,and most have Pro Nav which is a bonus.
Just waiting now to see what comes onto the market in March with the old trade-ins hitting the market.
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