BMW E91 touring 'or' AUDI B8 avant
Discussion
Hi all.
I'm trying to decide which one to buy and need some help
The 2 I've narrowed it down to are:
BMW e91 touring m-sport 2.0 petrol (170ps)
Or
Audi b8 avant s-line 2.0 TFSI (211ps) Quattro if possible but are hard to come by in petrols.
Now I know the Audi has better looks and toys but the BMW has better mechanicals and drivability so a better car in that department. (is that right?)
I've heard the Audi tfsi burn oil a lot? (not sure if this is a fault and engines replaced under warrant) and also dull to drive unless on motorway?
Which one would you choose and why, and how reliable are they both as I'll be keeping this car at least five years so would like the better one.
Thanks in advance
I'm trying to decide which one to buy and need some help

The 2 I've narrowed it down to are:
BMW e91 touring m-sport 2.0 petrol (170ps)
Or
Audi b8 avant s-line 2.0 TFSI (211ps) Quattro if possible but are hard to come by in petrols.
Now I know the Audi has better looks and toys but the BMW has better mechanicals and drivability so a better car in that department. (is that right?)
I've heard the Audi tfsi burn oil a lot? (not sure if this is a fault and engines replaced under warrant) and also dull to drive unless on motorway?
Which one would you choose and why, and how reliable are they both as I'll be keeping this car at least five years so would like the better one.
Thanks in advance
Depends whether you prefer turbo or N/A engines, really.
My wife has a B8 2.0T Avant (not quattro) as a daily driver, having had an E90 320d prior to that.
Am aware of the oil consumption issues. Think this was addressed on post 2012 facelift models. Ours is only on 10k miles, but hasn't needed any oil yet.
The Audi is a good car, more rear legroom than the E90, and better seats. 2.0T is an excellent engine and pulls well at all speeds. Economy is not brilliant (27mpg average, low 30s on a steady motorway run). You need to take both on a test drive, to see which engine you prefer.
My wife has a B8 2.0T Avant (not quattro) as a daily driver, having had an E90 320d prior to that.
Am aware of the oil consumption issues. Think this was addressed on post 2012 facelift models. Ours is only on 10k miles, but hasn't needed any oil yet.
The Audi is a good car, more rear legroom than the E90, and better seats. 2.0T is an excellent engine and pulls well at all speeds. Economy is not brilliant (27mpg average, low 30s on a steady motorway run). You need to take both on a test drive, to see which engine you prefer.
Edited by AudiWurst on Friday 14th March 16:24
AudiWurst said:
Depends whether you prefer turbo or N/A engines, really.
My wife has a B8 2.0T Avant (not quattro) as a daily driver, having had an E90 320d prior to that.
Am aware of the oil consumption issues. Think this was addressed on post 2012 facelift models. Ours is only on 10k miles, but hasn't needed any oil yet.
The Audi is a good car, more rear legroom than the E90, and better seats. 2.0T is an excellent engine and pulls well at all speeds. Economy is not brilliant (27mpg average, low 30s on a steady motorway run). You need to take both on a test drive, to see which engine you prefer.
Apparently if the car has FDSH then the dealers fix it as a good will gesture as they are aware of the problems with oil consumption as they didn't do a recall over it, they would rarther fix quietly so I've heard. Don't know how much is true though.My wife has a B8 2.0T Avant (not quattro) as a daily driver, having had an E90 320d prior to that.
Am aware of the oil consumption issues. Think this was addressed on post 2012 facelift models. Ours is only on 10k miles, but hasn't needed any oil yet.
The Audi is a good car, more rear legroom than the E90, and better seats. 2.0T is an excellent engine and pulls well at all speeds. Economy is not brilliant (27mpg average, low 30s on a steady motorway run). You need to take both on a test drive, to see which engine you prefer.
Edited by AudiWurst on Friday 14th March 16:24
It's more the long term reliability I'm concerned of. I'm looking at around 2008-2010 models with around 50k miles
Hub said:
Purely on those engine options it has to be the Audi. The BMW 2.0 doesn't have a great reputation at all, while the Audi has a very flexible torquey engine that is also fairly reliable. Vs a straight 6 it might be different, but they are much rarer.
Agree, I would go with the Audi as well out of those two I think, I have a E90 330i & that is a lovely engine but the 4 pot petrol doesn't seem to have a great reputation.The Audi is far better looking to my eyes too.
The big engines are not needed really as the wife will drive it mostly so would want reasonable economy
I have my toys that burn fuel already lol.
But worth thinking about if it's more reliable in long run.
Also nobody has mentioned any specific problems or faults with either cars which is what I'm intrested in
I have my toys that burn fuel already lol.
But worth thinking about if it's more reliable in long run.
Also nobody has mentioned any specific problems or faults with either cars which is what I'm intrested in
Well I've recently bought an E92 335i and I'm averaging 29 mpg.
Definitely go for a 6 cylinder, I'm loving mine so far, the engine is so flexible! And when you do open it up, it sounds brilliant!
Obviously the 325 and 330 will be lacking by comparison but should be more economical, and perhaps even sound better being N/A.
Definitely go for a 6 cylinder, I'm loving mine so far, the engine is so flexible! And when you do open it up, it sounds brilliant!
Obviously the 325 and 330 will be lacking by comparison but should be more economical, and perhaps even sound better being N/A.
intrepid44 said:
Well I've recently bought an E92 335i and I'm averaging 29 mpg.
Definitely go for a 6 cylinder, I'm loving mine so far, the engine is so flexible! And when you do open it up, it sounds brilliant!
Obviously the 325 and 330 will be lacking by comparison but should be more economical, and perhaps even sound better being N/A.
That is impressive MPG I am getting between 25/26 out of my 330i & I deliberately didn't go for the 335i as my V8 M3 was very thirsty & I thought the 335i would be similar if I used it hard...I think I should have gone with the 335i now. Definitely go for a 6 cylinder, I'm loving mine so far, the engine is so flexible! And when you do open it up, it sounds brilliant!
Obviously the 325 and 330 will be lacking by comparison but should be more economical, and perhaps even sound better being N/A.

Bustamoves said:
Also nobody has mentioned any specific problems or faults with either cars which is what I'm intrested in
You don't have to research very far to find a LOT of talk of frequent coil pack and injector failures/problems on the 320i, and I don't think it is just pre 2008. I notice BMW do a 325i (3.0) model with good figures and mpg so could be a balance there, in the facelift model only http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/facts-and-fi...
What the difference in this engine compared to the normal 3.0 as its better running wise
What the difference in this engine compared to the normal 3.0 as its better running wise
Definitely get a 6cylinder model they are superb.
The 335i petrols are surprisingly cheap v's other models and well worth a look.
My 335i coupe is getting on for 200,000 miles and its all original and there are plenty around with 100k that are running fine (you have to watch out for turbo waste gate rattles).
Here is a lovely example for £10k touring manual 335i low mileage (not mine).
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=957...
The petrol 2.0 is a bit gutless I had a 2.0 SE when they first came out and it was rather dull, the 335i on the other hand is great fun with a big wave of power from 2,000 revs all the way to 7,000 (try doing that in an oil burner!)
The 335i petrols are surprisingly cheap v's other models and well worth a look.
My 335i coupe is getting on for 200,000 miles and its all original and there are plenty around with 100k that are running fine (you have to watch out for turbo waste gate rattles).
Here is a lovely example for £10k touring manual 335i low mileage (not mine).
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=957...
The petrol 2.0 is a bit gutless I had a 2.0 SE when they first came out and it was rather dull, the 335i on the other hand is great fun with a big wave of power from 2,000 revs all the way to 7,000 (try doing that in an oil burner!)
I had a 2008 2.0 tsfi FWD, it had a brilliant engine would return 40 mpg on a run, but used a litre of oil every 1500 miles which annoyed me so much it had to go. Bought privately so no comeback on it and Audi just gave me the handbook line "can use up to a litre /1000 miles"
Also it really needed quattro as it had a great lack of traction and would spin the wheels too easily when pulling out of junctions etc.
Really liked the b8 inside and out, so much I traded it for an S4
Also it really needed quattro as it had a great lack of traction and would spin the wheels too easily when pulling out of junctions etc.
Really liked the b8 inside and out, so much I traded it for an S4

Edited by Easternlight on Saturday 15th March 08:55
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