BMW 330i alternatives, 3.5k budget

[KnackeredSwede]

Hi all,

Once again the time has come for me to sort a new motor.

I had my heart set on a BMW 330i auto E90 shape in M Sport trim, but these are very thin on the ground within a fairly big radius. I looked at 325's as well but these are the same...

What I like about these are:

Fairly reliable auto box
Nice engine and reasonable economy
Good size but not huge
Nice interior with decent leather seats
Still look pretty good and not like a poverty budget motor

I have also considered the Lexus Is250 but the performance seems underwhelming for the fuel consumption and they're not as good looking to my eyes as the BMW

I'm also not completely sold on rwd as I have only ever owned one rwd car and wasn't overly keen especially on long icy commutes in January.

I can't think of too many FWD alternatives that really appeal. Don't like the mondeos etc as they just don't do anything for me - more of a dad mobile!

I do like the Focus ST-3 225 in a subtle colour, but not sure on the reliability and general everyday livability... This could tempt me to go for manual though instead of auto.

Any suggestions for a reliable motor with a decent turn of pace for roughly this budget?

Cheers

[ZX10R NIN]

RWD is fine in the winter & in most cases we don't really see any particularly bad winter as long as you have decent rubber on your (no matter what drive it is) car then you'll be fine.

if you want a nice 6 cylinder then there are a few options with sensible miles on the clock there are some options:

3.2 A3 S Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

CLK

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Alfa Brera 3.2

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Skyline GT350

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-Nissan-Skyline-350...MQAAOSw1kxd9ig5

The ST-3 Focus is a good reliable car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[stargazer30]

The 2.5l focus are pretty reliable unless they have been tuned up. Depending what’s been done to it they can eat clutches and drive shafts. The mpg is shocking too for 220bhp. I’ve had 3 over the years and none saw 23mpg. I’d average 19 to 20mpg for urban cycle.

[Jag_NE]

Lots of 330d’s about. Wildcard choice, Jag XF 3.0d.

[KnackeredSwede]

ZX10R NIN said:

RWD is fine in the winter & in most cases we don't really see any particularly bad winter as long as you have decent rubber on your (no matter what drive it is) car then you'll be fine.

if you want a nice 6 cylinder then there are a few options with sensible miles on the clock there are some options:

3.2 A3 S Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

CLK

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Alfa Brera 3.2

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Skyline GT350

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-Nissan-Skyline-350...MQAAOSw1kxd9ig5

The ST-3 Focus is a good reliable car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Some nice options there I hadn't thought of, not overly keen on the VAG stuff but loving those skylines!

[KnackeredSwede]

stargazer30 said:

The 2.5l focus are pretty reliable unless they have been tuned up. Depending what’s been done to it they can eat clutches and drive shafts. The mpg is shocking too for 220bhp. I’ve had 3 over the years and none saw 23mpg. I’d average 19 to 20mpg for urban cycle.

Crikey, I didn't realise they were so bad on fuel, I suppose I was thinking that it might get similar mpg to the mondeo 2.5t my dad has which is achieving low 30s!

[KnackeredSwede]

Jag_NE said:

Lots of 330d’s about. Wildcard choice, Jag XF 3.0d.

I wouldn't rule out the 330d for a nice example but I'm not really in the know about reliability etc although the mpg would be nice for the power on offer!

Love the Jags, my good friend has one and a colleague at work has just bought a lovely one but they seem more like 5-6k for a half decent one so perhaps a little over budget...

[CX53]

A bit dull maybe but I'd probably go for the best MK5 Golf GTI I could find. It's an excellent all rounder with decent economy to match.

[Jag_NE]

KnackeredSwede said:

Jag_NE said:

Lots of 330d’s about. Wildcard choice, Jag XF 3.0d.

I wouldn't rule out the 330d for a nice example but I'm not really in the know about reliability etc although the mpg would be nice for the power on offer!

Love the Jags, my good friend has one and a colleague at work has just bought a lovely one but they seem more like 5-6k for a half decent one so perhaps a little over budget...

Theres probably some good value with older diesels at the moment due to the ulez. If you are getting it nice and hot once a tank full I wouldn’t worry.

[KnackeredSwede]

CX53 said:

A bit dull maybe but I'd probably go for the best MK5 Golf GTI I could find. It's an excellent all rounder with decent economy to match.

I like the look of them and it's probably very suitable for me but I'm not sure it will do it for me, I want something to keep for a couple of years so it's got to be fairly interesting

[KnackeredSwede]

Jag_NE said:

Theres probably some good value with older diesels at the moment due to the ulez. If you are getting it nice and hot once a tank full I wouldn’t worry.

It should be getting nice and hot, commute is 33 miles each way.. Might be every other day soon due to potential lift share. Would definitely have a diesel as long as its 6cyl. Do you have any experience of the 3.0 diesel in the BMWs at all?

[LordHaveMurci]

CX53 said:

A bit dull maybe but I'd probably go for the best MK5 Golf GTI I could find. It's an excellent all rounder with decent economy to match.

I had an E46 330D remapped by DMS for 4yrs, my OH currently has had an E90 330i auto for 12mths.

I owned a Mk5 GTi for 9mths, not a suitable alternative at all.

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want a good reliable diesel then I'd be looking at a CLK they just work my 270 & 320cdi's were bulletproof in terms of the 150k I put on them:

320cdi Avantgarde/Elegance (the wood trim isn't for everyone but if it's a deal breaker get it wrapped)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

270

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

The 330d is a very good unit but like all cars it has a few issues:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

325d M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Swirl flaps can ingest themselves so having them deleted may be wise.
Injectors seem to leak.
MAF & EGR issues but these aren't major but if you get a newer version MAF than was originally produced for your car then you'll have to get the ECU software updated otherwise your fuel economy goes up the wall.

[CX53]

LordHaveMurci said:

CX53 said:

A bit dull maybe but I'd probably go for the best MK5 Golf GTI I could find. It's an excellent all rounder with decent economy to match.

I had an E46 330D remapped by DMS for 4yrs, my OH currently has had an E90 330i auto for 12mths.

I owned a Mk5 GTi for 9mths, not a suitable alternative at all.

For someone who seemingly isn't sure about rwd and also not keen on rubbish economy, would consider a diesel so clearly not bothered about engine note... I'd say it would fit the bill. If its not exciting enough then how about a megane 225

[DailyHack]

Little different than the run of the mill, but...Saab 9-3 ttid 180, recently acquired one of these, and are deceptivly quick being a twin-turbo, £3.5k will get you a late 2010/11 plate, with £30 tax...works for me.

My E91 318d has stepped down to wife duties now, while the Saab steps up for the rat run, loving it.

Edited by DailyHack on Wednesday 1st January 21:16

[Stuart Fordyce]

I'm currently looking at Bug-eye or Blobeye Impreza WRX - there are a few in your budget but this thread has given me food for thought

[Mr Tidy]

Wow, those Skylines look great!

Still I'm not disappointed with the manual E90 330i I bought last year as I needed 4 doors on my daily, and to be honest I'm glad it is an SE - the ride on 17" run-flats is as firm as I would want.

[cerb4.5lee]

KnackeredSwede said:

Hi all,

Once again the time has come for me to sort a new motor.

I had my heart set on a BMW 330i auto E90 shape in M Sport trim, but these are very thin on the ground within a fairly big radius. I looked at 325's as well but these are the same...

What I like about these are:

Fairly reliable auto box
Nice engine and reasonable economy

Depending on how you use it my E90 330i auto that I had for 4 years only used to do around 26 mpg. It is a lovely engine but not massively fuel efficient with the auto.

As a comparison the E90 330d auto(I had it for 6 years) offered just over 40mpg, so that could be something to consider. Although there is far more to go wrong with the diesel engine now that they are getting on a bit in fairness.

[Mr Tidy]

I've only had my E90 330i manual since April, but in 4,000 miles the average on the OBC has gone from 29.1 mpg to 30.0 mpg.

Unless you are doing mega-miles (which I don't) I'd go for the petrol option.

[ericmcn]

KnackeredSwede said:

Hi all,

Once again the time has come for me to sort a new motor.

I had my heart set on a BMW 330i auto E90 shape in M Sport trim, but these are very thin on the ground within a fairly big radius. I looked at 325's as well but these are the same...

What I like about these are:

Fairly reliable auto box
Nice engine and reasonable economy
Good size but not huge
Nice interior with decent leather seats
Still look pretty good and not like a poverty budget motor

I have also considered the Lexus Is250 but the performance seems underwhelming for the fuel consumption and they're not as good looking to my eyes as the BMW

I'm also not completely sold on rwd as I have only ever owned one rwd car and wasn't overly keen especially on long icy commutes in January.

I can't think of too many FWD alternatives that really appeal. Don't like the mondeos etc as they just don't do anything for me - more of a dad mobile!

I do like the Focus ST-3 225 in a subtle colour, but not sure on the reliability and general everyday livability... This could tempt me to go for manual though instead of auto.

Any suggestions for a reliable motor with a decent turn of pace for roughly this budget?

Cheers

Cough, Legacy R Spec B.

Cough...

Had a is250, far too boring the Legacy is a proper drivers car, a WRX for grown ups. Manual is more fun than the auto which itself is not to be scoffed at, specification is good with all the bells and whistles you could expect for the year