BMW 330i e90 ride comfort (my first bmw)
Discussion
Hi guys,
I need your help here, I’m looking to buy a bmw 330i e90 from 2006/2007 or 2008. My first BMW. At the moment I’m driving a Toyota celica 2004 but now I need a family car :- ) my budget is around 6k max. I have seen some cars on that budget already on autotrader they had around 70k to 100k miles on the clock.
I need your feedback/thoughts on the ride comfort. I really like the looks of the M Sport but I’m concerned the ride may be too harsh from what I have read on the internet? My girlfriend keeps complaining about the celica ride and the fact it’s so low to the ground. Would the 330i M Sport ride be worst or just as bad as the Celica? Or I would be better off with a 330i SE or even a 530i instead?
And also would the 330i e90 make a good family car? I need to be able to fit a pram and a couple of bags on the boot.
Thanks in advance.
I need your help here, I’m looking to buy a bmw 330i e90 from 2006/2007 or 2008. My first BMW. At the moment I’m driving a Toyota celica 2004 but now I need a family car :- ) my budget is around 6k max. I have seen some cars on that budget already on autotrader they had around 70k to 100k miles on the clock.
I need your feedback/thoughts on the ride comfort. I really like the looks of the M Sport but I’m concerned the ride may be too harsh from what I have read on the internet? My girlfriend keeps complaining about the celica ride and the fact it’s so low to the ground. Would the 330i M Sport ride be worst or just as bad as the Celica? Or I would be better off with a 330i SE or even a 530i instead?
And also would the 330i e90 make a good family car? I need to be able to fit a pram and a couple of bags on the boot.
Thanks in advance.
haven't ridden in/driven a celica but imagine it's firm. I had an e92 07' 330i M Sport (100k) with run flats on the front and thought the ride comfort was fine, it felt poised enough and would have been perfect for a euro trip etc. The car feels its weight and size imo, It's brisk but it's such a barge that you never really get a sense of occasion driving it. I had cam phase issues from the N53 which put me off the car almost immediately given the cost of repair outside of the slim warranty I got from the dealer.
I'd suggest taking along a fault code reader. I'm pretty sure the dealer/previous owner knew about the issue and cleared the codes, they started coming up within a few days of owning it "engine malfunction - reduced power" is not what you want to see from the CCC.
Lovely place to be on the rare occasion that it wasn't bonging at me for every tiny little thing (+ the top end rebuild issue that needed fixing)
I'd suggest taking along a fault code reader. I'm pretty sure the dealer/previous owner knew about the issue and cleared the codes, they started coming up within a few days of owning it "engine malfunction - reduced power" is not what you want to see from the CCC.
Lovely place to be on the rare occasion that it wasn't bonging at me for every tiny little thing (+ the top end rebuild issue that needed fixing)
squareflops said:
haven't ridden in/driven a celica but imagine it's firm. I had an e92 07' 330i M Sport (100k) with run flats on the front and thought the ride comfort was fine, it felt poised enough and would have been perfect for a euro trip etc. The car feels its weight and size imo, It's brisk but it's such a barge that you never really get a sense of occasion driving it. I had cam phase issues from the N53 which put me off the car almost immediately given the cost of repair outside of the slim warranty I got from the dealer.
I'd suggest taking along a fault code reader. I'm pretty sure the dealer/previous owner knew about the issue and cleared the codes, they started coming up within a few days of owning it "engine malfunction - reduced power" is not what you want to see from the CCC.
Lovely place to be on the rare occasion that it wasn't bonging at me for every tiny little thing (+ the top end rebuild issue that needed fixing)
What was the top end rebuild for ? I'd suggest taking along a fault code reader. I'm pretty sure the dealer/previous owner knew about the issue and cleared the codes, they started coming up within a few days of owning it "engine malfunction - reduced power" is not what you want to see from the CCC.
Lovely place to be on the rare occasion that it wasn't bonging at me for every tiny little thing (+ the top end rebuild issue that needed fixing)
bmwmike said:
What was the top end rebuild for ?
I never actually 100% found out. As far as I know it was a cam phase issue as mentioned above; there's a cheap fix and an expensive fix depending. Cheap fix is move the cam phase sensors over from one cam to the other and if the error code jumps from the inlet to exhaust cam for example you replace the sensors and all is good as that confirms the sensor was at fault. When the code doesn't jump it means the cam has effectively jumped a tooth on the chain. I was informed by a master tech @ BMW that this was a BMW only fix as only they have the tooling and it would cost in the region of 4.5k. The car got fixed by an indy under warranty. The car came back without issue and didn't throw the code again but I was sour to the ownership experience by then so moved on. No celica experience, but regardless of whether you buy an m-sport or an se, a 12yr old/100k mile car will most likely be past its best in terms of damping control anyway. It shouldn’t be floaty, anything that is will be tired, and consequently ride poorly too.
I had a 335d in the past on 19” wheels, and currently have a 330d to ship out to Cyprus, on 17”. The ride is a lot better on 17” (even as run flat), and could be improved again by going to go-flats. (Cotswold BMW will sell you a spacesaver spare for 120 or so). While I loved the look of the car on the 19”, to drive on the UK’s pothole extravaganza, 17” is much, much better.
There’s lots of 3-series out there, test a few & get a feel for them, no need to buy the first you see.
IIRC, the Birds suspension kit for the e9x actually uses softer spring rates than standard - by all accounts it transforms the car, but it’s not a cheap option. I’m not suggesting you budget for the kit, finding one that has it would be very fortunate. The 3series is never going to win limousine awards, it’s marketed as a sports saloon after all, but small wheels & go-flats are the way to get closer to comfort.
I had a 335d in the past on 19” wheels, and currently have a 330d to ship out to Cyprus, on 17”. The ride is a lot better on 17” (even as run flat), and could be improved again by going to go-flats. (Cotswold BMW will sell you a spacesaver spare for 120 or so). While I loved the look of the car on the 19”, to drive on the UK’s pothole extravaganza, 17” is much, much better.
There’s lots of 3-series out there, test a few & get a feel for them, no need to buy the first you see.
IIRC, the Birds suspension kit for the e9x actually uses softer spring rates than standard - by all accounts it transforms the car, but it’s not a cheap option. I’m not suggesting you budget for the kit, finding one that has it would be very fortunate. The 3series is never going to win limousine awards, it’s marketed as a sports saloon after all, but small wheels & go-flats are the way to get closer to comfort.
M-Sport dampers on e9x series are far better than the cheaper Boge/Sachs dampers on the SE cars for soaking up UK roads.
However, at 12 years old most of the bushes will be shot if original still.
Personally I would save a grand to do all the control arms, top mounts, drop links, roll bar bushes etc.
Oh, and try and find a car which has not been on run flats, they kill bushes far too quickly.
However, at 12 years old most of the bushes will be shot if original still.
Personally I would save a grand to do all the control arms, top mounts, drop links, roll bar bushes etc.
Oh, and try and find a car which has not been on run flats, they kill bushes far too quickly.
I much preferred the ride in the SE but I wasn't as keen on it in the corners(lots of bodyroll). The M sport is fine on smooth roads but its very harsh when you hit a pot hole with the run flats.
The rear seats don't fold as standard so its not great at carrying big items, so it could be worth searching one out that has the folding rear seat option.
I had a E90 330d for 6 years and a E90 330i for 4 years, and I thought they were very good all round cars(both were completely reliable), they're great cruisers for sure.
The rear seats don't fold as standard so its not great at carrying big items, so it could be worth searching one out that has the folding rear seat option.
I had a E90 330d for 6 years and a E90 330i for 4 years, and I thought they were very good all round cars(both were completely reliable), they're great cruisers for sure.
A bit late to this, but I've been away for a while.
I bought an E91 325i SE earlier this year that came on 16" wheels with Bridgestone Blizzak run-flat winter tyres. I've now got it on 17" rims with Pirelli P7 run-flats and the ride is fine, plus it doesn't seem to roll noticeably more than the E46 325ti Sport on 17" non run-flats that it replaced! I just miss the Sport seats!
If you need practicality OP would an E91 be a better option? Most E90s don't have the split/fold rear seat option that was standard on E91/E92/E93 models.
I bought an E91 325i SE earlier this year that came on 16" wheels with Bridgestone Blizzak run-flat winter tyres. I've now got it on 17" rims with Pirelli P7 run-flats and the ride is fine, plus it doesn't seem to roll noticeably more than the E46 325ti Sport on 17" non run-flats that it replaced! I just miss the Sport seats!
If you need practicality OP would an E91 be a better option? Most E90s don't have the split/fold rear seat option that was standard on E91/E92/E93 models.
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