What next from a 330D for up to £16k?
Discussion
I have a 2016 F30 330D and WBAC are offering £16-16.5k for it. I paid £19k as an AUC in January 2020 and have put 10k miles on it in that time largely due to the fact that the commute it was bought for has not been done due to covid.
I think all things considered it's not a bad hit on the value in that time, the car has cost me nothing during my ownership really apart from some tyres.
As I am not doing the commute nor does it look like I will need to do one for the foreseeable future I am considering getting something different which is less sensible and a bit more suitable for my position i.e not needing a compact exec saloon with good performance and good mpg.
The problem I have is that I cannot find anything that I would prefer to have for up to £16k. Sure the interior on the BMW isn't the nicest and is somewhat dated but it is well built and an ok place to sit. It is also pretty quick for how economical it can be when you want it to be. It is also diesel but the 3.0 straight 6 is about as nice a diesel as you can get in my opinion, very different to the 4 pots.
My car unfortunately doesn't have the folding rear seats so getting my road bike in the back isn't an option, something that does bother me but I would be willing to not meet this requirement on the next car too if it was something adequately sporty.
Like I say I haven't really found anything that has made me think I really want to sell my car and get that instead so could do with some suggestions from the car buying section gods.
I think all things considered it's not a bad hit on the value in that time, the car has cost me nothing during my ownership really apart from some tyres.
As I am not doing the commute nor does it look like I will need to do one for the foreseeable future I am considering getting something different which is less sensible and a bit more suitable for my position i.e not needing a compact exec saloon with good performance and good mpg.
The problem I have is that I cannot find anything that I would prefer to have for up to £16k. Sure the interior on the BMW isn't the nicest and is somewhat dated but it is well built and an ok place to sit. It is also pretty quick for how economical it can be when you want it to be. It is also diesel but the 3.0 straight 6 is about as nice a diesel as you can get in my opinion, very different to the 4 pots.
My car unfortunately doesn't have the folding rear seats so getting my road bike in the back isn't an option, something that does bother me but I would be willing to not meet this requirement on the next car too if it was something adequately sporty.
Like I say I haven't really found anything that has made me think I really want to sell my car and get that instead so could do with some suggestions from the car buying section gods.
We have a 330D xdrive F30 and I genuinely don't know what we would replace it with if we ever decided to move on. My wife only does 7-8k a year in it but a 2 day a week commute combined with a couple of 100 mile trips a month takes care of the DPF worries anyway.
Its quick, good in the wet, economical, interior is dated but functional and its a nice car to drive.
Would the road bike fit in a hatchback with one wheel off? Something like an M135i is in budget. Still the straight six engine and plenty of power.
If not a hatchback then perhaps a Seat Leon estate version with the 290 engine? (think its 290 anyway).
The Golf R seems to be out of budget at 16k unless you want a higher mileage and the worry of theft would put me off anyway.
Failing that, just keep the 330D and make sure you do a couple of long journeys each month. Plenty run modern diesels without doing 10k+ a year and they can't all be having DPF issues.
Used car prices seem at an all time high at the moment so despite your WBAC being a decent price, anything you buy is likely inflated in price so you won't 'win'.
Its quick, good in the wet, economical, interior is dated but functional and its a nice car to drive.
Would the road bike fit in a hatchback with one wheel off? Something like an M135i is in budget. Still the straight six engine and plenty of power.
If not a hatchback then perhaps a Seat Leon estate version with the 290 engine? (think its 290 anyway).
The Golf R seems to be out of budget at 16k unless you want a higher mileage and the worry of theft would put me off anyway.
Failing that, just keep the 330D and make sure you do a couple of long journeys each month. Plenty run modern diesels without doing 10k+ a year and they can't all be having DPF issues.
Used car prices seem at an all time high at the moment so despite your WBAC being a decent price, anything you buy is likely inflated in price so you won't 'win'.
Mine isn't an X-drive, but have never had an issue in the wet or cold weather and have actually been impressed by how stable the car is in those conditions compared to other rear driven things I have owned.
DPF worries aren't really a worry for me, I do take it out for a good run regularly and can also get the wife to take it to work once a week so if I did decide to move it on it wouldn't be because of that.
I fully agree with struggling to find something else though, they are pretty good daily drivers.
I don't really fancy a golf R, not sure why really. With an M135i/M140i I think the cabin is too similar to my current car to justify changing really, I think I would easily get the road bike in the back of one with a wheel off though which I can't do now. I do use the wife's car when I need to take the road bike with me so like I say it isn't a deal breaker.
Based on that I'm not ready to surrender to an estate just yet, I also find the seats a bit depressing inside which is saying something when I have the interior I do now!
DPF worries aren't really a worry for me, I do take it out for a good run regularly and can also get the wife to take it to work once a week so if I did decide to move it on it wouldn't be because of that.
I fully agree with struggling to find something else though, they are pretty good daily drivers.
I don't really fancy a golf R, not sure why really. With an M135i/M140i I think the cabin is too similar to my current car to justify changing really, I think I would easily get the road bike in the back of one with a wheel off though which I can't do now. I do use the wife's car when I need to take the road bike with me so like I say it isn't a deal breaker.
Based on that I'm not ready to surrender to an estate just yet, I also find the seats a bit depressing inside which is saying something when I have the interior I do now!
Edited by Al U on Tuesday 1st June 10:43
Remember that whilst you are getting a good price for the 330d, what you are buying will be more expensive too in the current climate. Factor in dealer margin and I would tempted to hold
Only benefit with selling now is if you are downgrading, buying new or won’t replace until a future date. A sideways move or upgrading is a false economy right now
Only benefit with selling now is if you are downgrading, buying new or won’t replace until a future date. A sideways move or upgrading is a false economy right now
matt21 said:
Remember that whilst you are getting a good price for the 330d, what you are buying will be more expensive too in the current climate. Factor in dealer margin and I would tempted to hold
Only benefit with selling now is if you are downgrading, buying new or won’t replace until a future date. A sideways move or upgrading is a false economy right now
To be honest whether it was £16k or £14k the fact that I have a car on the drive that isn't appropriate for my needs is the issue that I want to solve.Only benefit with selling now is if you are downgrading, buying new or won’t replace until a future date. A sideways move or upgrading is a false economy right now
I appreciate what you are saying and realistically it probably would be a downgrade in some respects but if that means getting in something petrol that is a bit more fun, then that would be justified.
I think what I really want is a car that gets me back to wanting to go out for a drive just for the sake of it. The last time I had that feeling was when I had an S2000. The 330D while is a nice car isn't really the sort of car that I think about taking out just for a drive.
Summit_Detailing said:
Cayman S and a Seasucker for putting the bike on the roof as/when.
A quick look and £16k doesn't get you a whole lot of Cayman S, would be around 15 years old. I can see the appeal but I don't think I'd want one that much. It is definitely a car that I would take for a drive for the sake of it though so fair enough it does tick that box.Al U said:
To be honest whether it was £16k or £14k the fact that I have a car on the drive that isn't appropriate for my needs is the issue that I want to solve.
I appreciate what you are saying and realistically it probably would be a downgrade in some respects but if that means getting in something petrol that is a bit more fun, then that would be justified.
I think what I really want is a car that gets me back to wanting to go out for a drive just for the sake of it. The last time I had that feeling was when I had an S2000. The 330D while is a nice car isn't really the sort of car that I think about taking out just for a drive.
Must say, my S2000 was probably the most fun car I have ever owned and also the least forgiving. Unfortunately with a family and a dog, it’s a no go for me until perhaps mid life crisis peak in 15 years or so. I appreciate what you are saying and realistically it probably would be a downgrade in some respects but if that means getting in something petrol that is a bit more fun, then that would be justified.
I think what I really want is a car that gets me back to wanting to go out for a drive just for the sake of it. The last time I had that feeling was when I had an S2000. The 330D while is a nice car isn't really the sort of car that I think about taking out just for a drive.
Al U said:
A quick look and £16k doesn't get you a whole lot of Cayman S, would be around 15 years old. I can see the appeal but I don't think I'd want one that much. It is definitely a car that I would take for a drive for the sake of it though so fair enough it does tick that box.
It does get you a lot of 370Z though which in itself is a good enjoyable steer.GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105313...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104231...
GT Ultimate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105293...
If you don't mind a hot hatch then there are three that come to mind.
Megane RS with the Cup Chassis:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105253...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104151...
Trophy
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105232...
GTC VXR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104241...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105273...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104281...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105092...
308 GTI 270
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102128...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103240...
ZX10R NIN said:
It does get you a lot of 370Z though which in itself is a good enjoyable steer.
Megane RS with the Cup Chassis:
Trophy
GTC VXR
308 GTI 270
370Z - I am not a fan of these to be honest, quite an ancient design even when they were being sold new let alone now. That and I don't think they look good inside or out.Megane RS with the Cup Chassis:
Trophy
GTC VXR
308 GTI 270
Megane RS Cup/Trophy - Out of your suggestions this is the one I could imagine myself in although I do feel like they are expensive for what they are. If this sort of thing was around the £10-£12k mark I could maybe get onboard with it.
GTC VXR - Wife has a newer shape Astra, so due to not wanting two Astra's on the drive that rules this out. I also think the cabin in the newer shape Astra is a big step up from this generation. Those seats though, they look rather good!
308 GTI - This may sound weird but I feel like these should have had a 2.0T engine rather than a 1.6T for the size of car. I also really would struggle with that interior I think.
Really appreciate the suggestions, I notice you make good suggestions on a lot of threads. This thread is making me realise that I should probably just keep the 330D until I have a better idea of what I want next, perhaps with some more money added on top for something a bit more special.
CG2020UK said:
I’d keep the 330D without a doubt.
They are brilliant cars and you’ll lose more money to a dealer trading it in than you would correcting any issues from low mileage.
Forgot to add I do have BMW warranty on it so I think if anything did go pop it would be covered. They are pretty good I guess, just looking for something that I look forward to driving at the weekend I think.They are brilliant cars and you’ll lose more money to a dealer trading it in than you would correcting any issues from low mileage.
Welshbeef said:
640d
F10 M5
W204 C63
W212 E63
640d - Would definitely prefer my 330D over one of those to be honest. Like the practicality of 4 doors and think that would be a bit of an unnecessary side step really.F10 M5
W204 C63
W212 E63
F10 M5 - I don't think there are many of those around at £16k.
W204 C63 - As above.
W212 E63 - As above.
Al U said:
640d - Would definitely prefer my 330D over one of those to be honest. Like the practicality of 4 doors and think that would be a bit of an unnecessary side step really.
F10 M5 - I don't think there are many of those around at £16k.
W204 C63 - As above.
W212 E63 - As above.
640D grand coupe is 4 door. F10 M5 - I don't think there are many of those around at £16k.
W204 C63 - As above.
W212 E63 - As above.
Al U said:
Welshbeef said:
640D grand coupe is 4 door.
Yes they are but still, don't really think I'd have that different a car on the drive if I went for one over the 330D.The interior in the 640d was a big step up over the 330d as well for me. The 640d felt special...whereas the 330d felt ordinary imo. I currently have a 2018 F82 M4 and the interior in that is easily my least favourite thing about it too, it feels massively dated inside for me(I love the way it looks and drives though).
I think the 640d could be worth a test drive for you...so that you can appreciate the differences between the 6 series and the 3 series.
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