Discussion
I'm a complete n00b when it comes to BMWs, so I'll apologise at the outset for the vagueness of the enquiry and the low starting knowledge level!
Imminent arrival of our first baby means that, reluctantly, sensible head prevails over heart and my old 911 has to go to be replaced with something a bit more family friendly.
Initially, I had been looking at the smaller end of the family car market, as my wife hates driving and wouldn't even contemplate driving a big car. Since the replacement is to be an only car, it had to be modestly-sized, so the natural kind of replacements combining a bit more practicality with at least a modicum of driving fun were the Focus ST or a Mk V Golf GTi.
But idly browsing the 'Trader at lunchtime, I noticed that E90 330s appear to have dropped below £20K now, so that started me thinking.... I realise it's not an out-and-out sportscar, but I figured that 270 bhp, a 3 litre straight six engine and RWD must be at least reasonably fun to drive?
Here's one that caught my eye local to me:
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW+...
So, my question is really along the lines of what do I need to know about E90 330s? How do they drive? Do they drink like George Best? Are BMW dealers an expensive nightmare to deal with?
Any and all Beemer-related knowledge gratefully received!
Imminent arrival of our first baby means that, reluctantly, sensible head prevails over heart and my old 911 has to go to be replaced with something a bit more family friendly.
Initially, I had been looking at the smaller end of the family car market, as my wife hates driving and wouldn't even contemplate driving a big car. Since the replacement is to be an only car, it had to be modestly-sized, so the natural kind of replacements combining a bit more practicality with at least a modicum of driving fun were the Focus ST or a Mk V Golf GTi.
But idly browsing the 'Trader at lunchtime, I noticed that E90 330s appear to have dropped below £20K now, so that started me thinking.... I realise it's not an out-and-out sportscar, but I figured that 270 bhp, a 3 litre straight six engine and RWD must be at least reasonably fun to drive?
Here's one that caught my eye local to me:
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW+...
So, my question is really along the lines of what do I need to know about E90 330s? How do they drive? Do they drink like George Best? Are BMW dealers an expensive nightmare to deal with?
Any and all Beemer-related knowledge gratefully received!
Edited by Lurking Lawyer on Tuesday 18th March 16:21
I can't give you a great deal of information on the E90 specifically, but I have driven and owned BMWs for over 8 years - I've found the BMW dealer network good to deal with and the cars reliable and well built. The car in the advert has an excellent specification and in my opinion is great value for money given the age and mileage. I think that the 330i which was top of the range has been rather overshadowed by the 335i with twin turbo, but one of those will cost upwards of £30k. If I had £15k-£20k to spend on a family car, I honestly can't think of anything better; 272bhp with 6 speed manual should give all the performance anyone can reasonably need; professional navigation is a useful and rare option. Worth a test drive as the car may be running on run flat tyres which can compromise ride comfort.
Best of luck with your search.
Gary
Best of luck with your search.
Gary
Lurking Lawyer said:
Imminent arrival of our first baby means that, reluctantly, sensible head prevails over heart and my old 911 has to go to be replaced with something a bit more family friendly.
I was wondering about that. Congrats!I've recently picked up a 130i (same engine) and the engine alone is worth £20k in my opinion. Powerful, torquey, sonorous, and remarkably economical. Get out there and drive an E90 330i, then come back here and tell us if you enjoyed it...
While the E90 appeals to me, I'd constantly want a 335i MSport Touring. So I'll suggest this instead; bit older but not many more miles:
Click for an Alpina B3S Touring
Click for an Alpina B3S Touring
SJobson said:
While the E90 appeals to me, I'd constantly want a 335i MSport Touring. So I'll suggest this instead; bit older but not many more miles:
Click for an Alpina B3S Touring
I'm blind!!!!Click for an Alpina B3S Touring
If you can, try both the Golf GTi and the 330i, then let us know.
My only concern would be the fun factor of the 330i. Brilliant car, but I have to say that I don't get a smile a min out of my E46 330i. Don't get me wrong, it's incredibly competent, smooth and seriously quick on a backroad with tons of grip. However, it's possibly a little too grippy and the GTi "might" be more fun with it's lower weight. Haven't tried one, so I couldn't say either way.
My only concern would be the fun factor of the 330i. Brilliant car, but I have to say that I don't get a smile a min out of my E46 330i. Don't get me wrong, it's incredibly competent, smooth and seriously quick on a backroad with tons of grip. However, it's possibly a little too grippy and the GTi "might" be more fun with it's lower weight. Haven't tried one, so I couldn't say either way.
SJobson said:
I'd constantly want a 335i
Me too, Simon - but, alas, the budget is probably light by £10K or so, since even used 335s seem to be up at high £20Ks/low £30Ks, and that's a lot more than we want to spend at the moment. Maybe in a couple of years....Even an E90 was only something I thought about very recently, so something like the Alpina you linked to hadn't even crossed my mind. I suppose a Touring version would be handy for all the kit which will inevitably have to accompany junior, but I can see a REAL issue persuading SWMBO that it's not too big. She hates driving and hasn't driven anything bigger than a Clio before, it's going to be enough of an ask to convince her that a 3 series isn't too big, without adding the further psychological hurdle of it being an estate!
VerySideways said:
SJobson said:
While the E90 appeals to me, I'd constantly want a 335i MSport Touring. So I'll suggest this instead; bit older but not many more miles:
Click for an Alpina B3S Touring
I'm blind!!!!Click for an Alpina B3S Touring
Thats a very rare car... one of 9 UK cars!
VerySideways said:
In which case you may want go go and test drive a 5 door 130i Msport 
I know the engine is great but I just can't get on with the looks, Pete 
I've also heard that the MSport suspension is probably a bit too hard for a family car? A friend warned me off the MSport version of the 330i on the basis that the suspension is a bit unforgiving and it may be a bit too bumpy for baby-ferrying duties......
Mustard said:
VerySideways said:
SJobson said:
While the E90 appeals to me, I'd constantly want a 335i MSport Touring. So I'll suggest this instead; bit older but not many more miles:
Click for an Alpina B3S Touring
I'm blind!!!!Click for an Alpina B3S Touring
Thats a very rare car... one of 9 UK cars!
God knows they're hard enough to sell, let alone with the funky interior that thing's got.
I'd suggest avoiding that one.
The other fly in the ointment with Alpinas is the insurance can be spectactularly high - normally as much as the equivalent M3.
That said, the B3 and B3s will do 35mpg if driven gently, yet bludgeon their way to the bad side of 160mph and keep E46 M3s honest in straight line fights.
Added bonus is you'll never see anyone else driving one
I'm just awaiting a response from my mate with a new E90 318d SE Touring about Isofix, but I do recall his previous Audi A4 Avant (05 reg) required you to pay extra for Isofix. So don't assume because the BMW is a premium car that it came as standard!
Having looked at the VED bands, I have decided I wouldn't want a 335i after all, too.
Having looked at the VED bands, I have decided I wouldn't want a 335i after all, too.
SJobson said:
Having looked at the VED bands, I have decided I wouldn't want a 335i after all, too.
Any idea which band the 330 falls into? I can imagine the 335 being dragged into the top bands and therefore whacked under the new regime with a hefty VED rate.It did occur to me that a 3 litre 272 bhp engine was probably going to be rather more than I've been used to paying. The 993 had the added benefit of being a pre-2001 car, so only cost me £200 despite having a 3.6 litre lump putting out lots (I would assume) of C02
I have a 330ise with a similar spec to the one in the advert but 6sp auto(9k in extras in my case when new, although i bought it 2nd hand). It is worth seeking out one with a high spec on these. As has been said the 3.0 engine is superb, probably one of the greatest allround current production engines with regard to performance, smoothness, sound, economy (23mpg all urban short trips but 34mpg on a run), reliability (no high pressure diesel worries, no turbos etc). Ours has a split rear seat option is handy for practicality, not many have it. All have isofix. Only problems i see are the rubbish runflats making the ride poor wether SE or msport although you can obviously change this and brakes which although strong are overservoed and make it almost impossible to stop without a little jerk which is annoying in traffic. All in all a 8.5/10 car. Designed with normal tyres would probably be 9.5/10 but with a 4cyl engine i think it would be a bit boring and only warrant a 6/10 if that makes sense.
According to the DVLA vehicle checker (here) that car produces 210g/km of CO2. That puts it in current band F (£210 per year), and Band K from 2009 (£300 per year). Not too bad - I bet larger-engined pre-2001 cars (like my Sept 2000 540i Touring) stop getting the perk of cheap tax before too long, whereas the 330i will remain around £300 p.a.
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