2006/2007 335i or 330i saloon?

[denarii]

Hi

I am weighing up one of the above cars in M Sport styling. Could anyone give some advice.

I understand the 335i had an engine revamp in Sept 2006 and the 330i in Sept 2007? I only do about 5000 miles a year, how important is the revamp to fuel economy, and also ride handling?

I have always driven a manual but many of these cars on the market are autos, how different are they?

Thanks for any advice.


Rob

[S800VXR]

Been in both but not driven them any distance. 335 is far faster and when honin it will drink a bit but on a smooth run they won't be that far apart in mpg. Auto boxes are very good btw, prob even better than my 550sport and that's great!

[denarii]

thanks very much.

does anyone have a view on what the fair price for this might be? i have received some close up photos and it looks almost new.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2636725.htm

it seems advertised more or less inline with similar cars but do people bid lower? the only negative i have noticed is no rear seats folding forwards which this one does have:

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/bmwauc/details/0,,1156_...
http://www.bmw.co.uk/AUC/POS/pdf_pos1.asp?i=.&...

That 2006 car has 300bhp and was a sept 2006, so is that the pre or post revamp engine? thanks

[rich85uk]

I know somebody who knows the guys at the garage in your first link and it would be worth a look.

from what i gather they only sell the best examples so to speak, this was backed up by someone else i know who went there to look an S3. meant to be nice guys aswell

i assume your local to aylesbury and luton area looking at the ads you posted up. might be worth keeping an eye on these guys http://www.imc-bmw.com/

its where i got my 330ci from, and they always have some very nice bmws for sale

[Fox-]

denarii said:

That 2006 car has 300bhp and was a sept 2006, so is that the pre or post revamp engine? thanks

There was no revamp to the N54 engine in the 335i - it was only introduced in 2006 as a new engine. It was replaced last year with the N55 with a single turbo, but all twin turbo N54's are 306bhp.

And comically unreliable, so get a good warranty.

[denarii]

thanks. so how bad are the twin turbos? does the 330i have them as well?

[Fox-]

It's not the twin turbos that are the problem its the fuel and injection system including the high pressure fuel pump. There is a recall for it in the States - but alas not here.

330i has as many issues - but the older N52 330i doesn't and is quite reliable.

[denarii]

but presumably the HPFP would have been replaced already if it was a problem? the bhp car has 40k on the clock

there is also this one:

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/bmwauc/details/0,,1156_...

[Gaygle]

denarii said:

but presumably the HPFP would have been replaced already if it was a problem? the bhp car has 40k on the clock

Some owners have been through 3 HPFP in 15k miles. However, to be fair, these were the early fuel pumps and were American. I think BMW is on it's fifth iteration of the HPFP with fairly positive results - however, time will tell.

[Tea Pot One]

I looked at a 335i and a 335d before settling on a 330d. I considered a 330i but was told it would feel slower than all of them .... even the 272ps one .... even if it wasn't. I like a car to feel quick, no matter what it is doing. I have had a 330i so knew roughly what to expect.

If going petrol I think the 335i is superb. Acceleration over 60 will leave a 330i for dead !

[Fox-]

denarii said:

but presumably the HPFP would have been replaced already if it was a problem?

They've not actually fixed it though, so it just goes again. And again. etc.

[Tea Pot One]

Fox- said:

They've not actually fixed it though, so it just goes again. And again. etc.

Glad I went diesel !

[ASR1]

Went through the above decision process last year and ended up buying an N52 (pre direct injection - approx Q3 2007) 330i.

[NoelWatson]

Tea Pot One said:

If going petrol I think the 335i is superb. Acceleration over 60 will leave a 330i for dead !

Are the 335s that much more powerful?

[Fox-]

NoelWatson said:

Are the 335s that much more powerful?

No, they are 34bhp more powerful.

I've test driven both back to back and the 335i was the quicker car but not by a huge margin. The main benefit was more flexibility in the power delivery rather than outright speed - the 330i is lighter as well so the deficit doesnt even feel like 34bhp.

They were close enough that I'm not particularly fussed whether it's a 335i or a 330i I end up buying - condition and spec will dictate which, not the engine.

[Jobbo]

Fox- said:

denarii said:

That 2006 car has 300bhp and was a sept 2006, so is that the pre or post revamp engine? thanks

There was no revamp to the N54 engine in the 335i - it was only introduced in 2006 as a new engine. It was replaced last year with the N55 with a single turbo, but all twin turbo N54's are 306bhp.

While there was no revamp to the engine, there must have been a model year change because the CO2 figure from around 57 plate cars is below 225g/km - meaning road tax is £260 as opposed to £445 per year.

[Fox-]

Jobbo said:

hile there was no revamp to the engine, there must have been a model year change because the CO2 figure from around 57 plate cars is below 225g/km - meaning road tax is £260 as opposed to £445 per year.

Correct, the car benefitted from Efficient Dynamics from September 2007 production month. ED cars are just under the threshold and therefore taxed at £260.

Same power, though.

[Vladimir]

Fox- said:

No, they are 34bhp more powerful.

I've test driven both back to back and the 335i was the quicker car but not by a huge margin. The main benefit was more flexibility in the power delivery rather than outright speed - the 330i is lighter as well so the deficit doesnt even feel like 34bhp.

They were close enough that I'm not particularly fussed whether it's a 335i or a 330i I end up buying - condition and spec will dictate which, not the engine.

Not for the year he's is looking at. They only went to 270ish bhp after Sept 2007 - it was 254bhp before that. With all the issues people are having with the latest 30i engine, I'd probably be more tempted by the less powerful 30i unit which seems more reliable.

335i is great but HPFP issues are quite common. Almost all seem to get them at some stage. Lovely engine when it's working though.

Edited by Vladimir on Monday 9th May 12:27

[Jobbo]

Fox- said:

Jobbo said:

hile there was no revamp to the engine, there must have been a model year change because the CO2 figure from around 57 plate cars is below 225g/km - meaning road tax is £260 as opposed to £445 per year.

Correct, the car benefitted from Efficient Dynamics from September 2007 production month. ED cars are just under the threshold and therefore taxed at £260.

Same power, though.

Ah, I hadn't realised it was the ED upgrade - thought that came with the facelift. Finally a sensible explanation, cheers

[Fox-]

Vladimir said:

Not for the year he's is looking at. They only went to 270ish bhp after Sept 2007 - it was 254bhp before that.

I assumed he already knew that as he'd identified the Sep 07 revision date.

It's also worth noting that all 330i Coupe's have 272bhp, even the earlier N52 ones. It's just the Saloon and Touring which had the lower power engine.