Buying advice....330d M sport
Discussion
Good Morning,
I am new to the forums and as the title suggests, looking for opinions and/or advice in terms of buying a 330d M sport with an auto box.
I will be looking to buy one early next year having never owned a BMW before. I will be able to spend upto 9k for one. Having done a bit of browsing on all the usual selling sites, eBay, auto trader etc, from what I can see, I will be looking at E90’s upto around 2011 plate at best or for considerably less money (around 5k), I could get a pretty good 2007/2008 model. I am aware by next year the car will be getting on for 10-12 years old however Iv read these engines are “bulletproof”.....and in my opinion the cars still look pretty good.
Having never owned a bmw I am just looking for general advice such as what to look for, common faults in these, what sort of mileage do things go wrong and big work may be required? In regards to the mileage, is it preferable to buy a lower mileage model, or a higher one that has had the necessary major work done?
Any sort of general info and advice will be appreciated, thanks
I am new to the forums and as the title suggests, looking for opinions and/or advice in terms of buying a 330d M sport with an auto box.
I will be looking to buy one early next year having never owned a BMW before. I will be able to spend upto 9k for one. Having done a bit of browsing on all the usual selling sites, eBay, auto trader etc, from what I can see, I will be looking at E90’s upto around 2011 plate at best or for considerably less money (around 5k), I could get a pretty good 2007/2008 model. I am aware by next year the car will be getting on for 10-12 years old however Iv read these engines are “bulletproof”.....and in my opinion the cars still look pretty good.
Having never owned a bmw I am just looking for general advice such as what to look for, common faults in these, what sort of mileage do things go wrong and big work may be required? In regards to the mileage, is it preferable to buy a lower mileage model, or a higher one that has had the necessary major work done?
Any sort of general info and advice will be appreciated, thanks
E-bmw said:
First question, how many miles/year will you be doing?
If it is under 20,000/year don't buy a diesel it WILL cost you more to run.
Combination of motorway/city driving. Maybe not quite 20k. More to run in terms of!?....If it is under 20,000/year don't buy a diesel it WILL cost you more to run.
I would only be looking to keep the car for a year or two
I don't know the diesels that well, but when buying a 335i, my logic was to go for a car with a trouble free history on the basis that "past performance predicts future performance." I knew several cars where the known faults did recur, so having big jobs done once was no surety.
I got immaculate service history, as low a miles as possible, low owners and apart from a set of injectors it was trouble free from 59-85k miles.
Applying that logic to your search, get as much info on car as possible, check what you can with BMW to see if it's paid lots of unscheduled visits to dealers.
Get a copy of the service book, familiarize yourself with what should be done so you avoid car if there are gaps. You can post here for advice, or there is E90 post with a UK section.
Diesels should handle miles, so even if you go as new as 7 years old you could easily be around 100k so condition should be more key.
If buying older than 09 plate you could end up with pre facelift, not as good looking inmho.
CIC the newer iDrive is better, was in production from 30-9-2008 but you do see 09 plates with older system.
There was less standard spec on saloons, assuming you literally meant E90. So consider Xenons, split / folding rear seats, electric adjustable seats as options whereas they are std. on coupe.
I got immaculate service history, as low a miles as possible, low owners and apart from a set of injectors it was trouble free from 59-85k miles.
Applying that logic to your search, get as much info on car as possible, check what you can with BMW to see if it's paid lots of unscheduled visits to dealers.
Get a copy of the service book, familiarize yourself with what should be done so you avoid car if there are gaps. You can post here for advice, or there is E90 post with a UK section.
Diesels should handle miles, so even if you go as new as 7 years old you could easily be around 100k so condition should be more key.
If buying older than 09 plate you could end up with pre facelift, not as good looking inmho.
CIC the newer iDrive is better, was in production from 30-9-2008 but you do see 09 plates with older system.
There was less standard spec on saloons, assuming you literally meant E90. So consider Xenons, split / folding rear seats, electric adjustable seats as options whereas they are std. on coupe.
Gilbert1991 said:
More to run in terms of!?....
You won't save what you think you do by buying diesel.Diesel - advertised 55mpg will be more like 45.
Petrol - advertised 45mpg will be more like 38.
Add into this the different cost of the fuel and the differential drops further.
Then add the more frequent service intervals & costs associated with them.
There is your level playing field, then add the possibility of DPF issues that many talk of and the additional chances of glow plug/injector seizures that also seem prevalent, higher wear on DMF & clutch, oh, and don't forget the smell of the stuff on your hand for the rest of the day when you fill up after some tw@ in his smokey Transit spilled the stuff everywhere.
OK, some of this is anecdotal but is there really any benefit to diesel these days?
Hi Gilbert, I'm in a similar buying situation to you, although I've just come from an F30 330D M Sport which I leased for the last 2 years and 40,000 miles. Epic car, and hence I'm on the search for something similar that I can buy outright. I also want a Touring, so am looking at E91 (3 series) and E61 (5 series) in the 2007-2010 range. There is lots of information around on the different engine choices (M57 and N57 for Diesels; N52 and N53 for petrol) and inherent strengths and weaknesses of both, which I am currently wading through - suggest that you take advice from those that have owned the cars and speak from first hand experience...
Someone else has already mentioned the LCI facelift as well as well as the different infotainment options (CCC or CiC), all of which will be factors in your selection. Personally, if I can find a 2009 E91 325D Auto M Sport in my budget, I'll be a happy man. Good luck with your search!
Someone else has already mentioned the LCI facelift as well as well as the different infotainment options (CCC or CiC), all of which will be factors in your selection. Personally, if I can find a 2009 E91 325D Auto M Sport in my budget, I'll be a happy man. Good luck with your search!
Woodrow123 said:
Hi Gilbert, I'm in a similar buying situation to you, although I've just come from an F30 330D M Sport which I leased for the last 2 years and 40,000 miles. Epic car, and hence I'm on the search for something similar that I can buy outright. I also want a Touring, so am looking at E91 (3 series) and E61 (5 series) in the 2007-2010 range. There is lots of information around on the different engine choices (M57 and N57 for Diesels; N52 and N53 for petrol) and inherent strengths and weaknesses of both, which I am currently wading through - suggest that you take advice from those that have owned the cars and speak from first hand experience...
Someone else has already mentioned the LCI facelift as well as well as the different infotainment options (CCC or CiC), all of which will be factors in your selection. Personally, if I can find a 2009 E91 325D Auto M Sport in my budget, I'll be a happy man. Good luck with your search!
Thanks for our input! I don’t know many BMW owners personally hence why I have asked on here...Someone else has already mentioned the LCI facelift as well as well as the different infotainment options (CCC or CiC), all of which will be factors in your selection. Personally, if I can find a 2009 E91 325D Auto M Sport in my budget, I'll be a happy man. Good luck with your search!
Essentially all I want is an auto, comfortable yet fairly nippy car which I why I was thinking along the lines of a 330d or as has now been mentioned a petrol equivalent 330i.
2009 E91 325d auto owner. Boujght in 2014 with 42kmiles now in 68k miles. Used as a daily until October last year so only doing abought 6k miles p.a.
If posted on PH would have been advised not to buy a diesel but not had any DPF problems and OCB reader shows its still free flowing and have noted it regenerate on one occasion(could be more). Took out BMW warranty at time of purchase about £33/month with £250 excess and no breakdown cover. Warranty was insurance from possible timing chain failure which seemed prominent at time(although less on 6 cyl engines)
Only non service item has been replacement of both thermostats.with genuine BMW ones think cost about £120(£80 parts plus £40 labour)
Bought an SE as the ride to hard for me with an M-sport( lot harder than my 2003 e46 330ci m sport) and changed tyres to Goodyear F1's.and bought a space saving spare
Ride now better than 330ci and and very comfortable.
Rear brakes pads (discs ok)replaced at 55K £114 frionts at 66k again pads only for £114. so very cheap in terms of cost/mile.
If you buy an auto the gearbox oils needs to be changed at 100km( about £400 with full new filter kit costs. BMW says sealed for life but ZF recommend it is changed.
Lot of comments on internet about the box, may not be as good as ZF 8 speed but if you learn how to use it its excellent.
Overall a great car, intend to keep mine for a long time and from my experience buying a diesel for low annual mileage hasn't been the disaster that internet would have you believe.
6 cyl engine torque with auto box makes a easy car in which to cover ground quickly and comfortably.
(Although an SE had lots of options including 18" wheels- only thing missing was M-sport seats have since fitted these retrospectively- an ebay purchase)
Look for the right spec car that suits you and you wont regret it and if in your budget get a 6 cyl auto
.
If posted on PH would have been advised not to buy a diesel but not had any DPF problems and OCB reader shows its still free flowing and have noted it regenerate on one occasion(could be more). Took out BMW warranty at time of purchase about £33/month with £250 excess and no breakdown cover. Warranty was insurance from possible timing chain failure which seemed prominent at time(although less on 6 cyl engines)
Only non service item has been replacement of both thermostats.with genuine BMW ones think cost about £120(£80 parts plus £40 labour)
Bought an SE as the ride to hard for me with an M-sport( lot harder than my 2003 e46 330ci m sport) and changed tyres to Goodyear F1's.and bought a space saving spare
Ride now better than 330ci and and very comfortable.
Rear brakes pads (discs ok)replaced at 55K £114 frionts at 66k again pads only for £114. so very cheap in terms of cost/mile.
If you buy an auto the gearbox oils needs to be changed at 100km( about £400 with full new filter kit costs. BMW says sealed for life but ZF recommend it is changed.
Lot of comments on internet about the box, may not be as good as ZF 8 speed but if you learn how to use it its excellent.
Overall a great car, intend to keep mine for a long time and from my experience buying a diesel for low annual mileage hasn't been the disaster that internet would have you believe.
6 cyl engine torque with auto box makes a easy car in which to cover ground quickly and comfortably.
(Although an SE had lots of options including 18" wheels- only thing missing was M-sport seats have since fitted these retrospectively- an ebay purchase)
Look for the right spec car that suits you and you wont regret it and if in your budget get a 6 cyl auto
.
Edited by twokcc on Tuesday 16th October 15:27
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