Swapping Subaru sti for a bmw 330d, advice
Discussion
My vehicular circumstances are changing in the next 2 months, with a work location change and no oppurtunity to hoon it to work across my usualy moorland route anymore. I'll be heading into the city instead. I'm also tiring of constantly filling the scooby up with v-power, spending on average £150 per month on fuel (currently £737 pounds this year)
So, through a mate, I've an oppurtunity to swap my scooby:
For a BMW 330D m-sport auto:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1008925.htm
my car is 68k recent new brakes worth around 8.5k on a good day. His is just over 80k no idea of service history or spec as yet, except leather, m-sport pack, csl alloys, recent service.
I've found through the search an independant service place in Salford, so have a rough idea of service costs.
What sort of things do I need to look out for on the BMW? Any nasty surprises round the corner, bearing in mind I know exactly what my scooby is up to atm.
Did a comprehensive search on here but didn't get much info back
So, through a mate, I've an oppurtunity to swap my scooby:
For a BMW 330D m-sport auto:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1008925.htm
my car is 68k recent new brakes worth around 8.5k on a good day. His is just over 80k no idea of service history or spec as yet, except leather, m-sport pack, csl alloys, recent service.
I've found through the search an independant service place in Salford, so have a rough idea of service costs.
What sort of things do I need to look out for on the BMW? Any nasty surprises round the corner, bearing in mind I know exactly what my scooby is up to atm.
Did a comprehensive search on here but didn't get much info back
£150 a month on fuel? Thats nothing! You must drive really slowly 
If youre going into the city everyday dont expect economy to be much better.
Do a search for 'swirl flaps'. They can fail on disels around the 100k mark but I have read you can remove them prior to them destroying your engine.
If youre going into the city everyday dont expect economy to be much better.
Do a search for 'swirl flaps'. They can fail on disels around the 100k mark but I have read you can remove them prior to them destroying your engine.
)Neil.D said:
£150 a month on fuel? Thats nothing! You must drive really slowly
If youre going into the city everyday dont expect economy to be much better.
Do a search for 'swirl flaps'. They can fail on disels around the 100k mark but I have read you can remove them prior to them destroying your engine.
On a 330d?If youre going into the city everyday dont expect economy to be much better.
Do a search for 'swirl flaps'. They can fail on disels around the 100k mark but I have read you can remove them prior to them destroying your engine.
I thought that was only a problem on a 320d?
pgilc1 said:
Neil.D said:
£150 a month on fuel? Thats nothing! You must drive really slowly
If youre going into the city everyday dont expect economy to be much better.
Do a search for 'swirl flaps'. They can fail on disels around the 100k mark but I have read you can remove them prior to them destroying your engine.
On a 330d?If youre going into the city everyday dont expect economy to be much better.
Do a search for 'swirl flaps'. They can fail on disels around the 100k mark but I have read you can remove them prior to them destroying your engine.
I thought that was only a problem on a 320d?
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=55558&am...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
The answer seems to be have the 'flaps' removed.
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=70452
I did the exact same thing last September... had a WRX Prodrive but a job change meant going from 100 miles a week to 400 and at an average of 20mpg that's a hell of a jump in fuel costs.
I went for an '04 330d SE Auto Tourer with 80k. I really like it, the auto makes it a very relaxed drive and it has more than enough power where it matters to make it enjoyable. I return anywhere between 33-38 MPG and, touch wood, have had no issues what so ever. Within a few weeks of having it my wife declared her 320d was vastly underpowered and swapped it for a 330d Sport saloon ('02). In hindsight I wish I'd got the Sport version of the Tourer as, coming from the WRX, the suspension on the sport is so much more taught than the SE which, when hooting down B roads, I find somewhat wishy washy.
I still miss the rush of the Scooby, the stupid acceleration and sublime handling but at the end of the day I couldn't afford to keep filling the thing up. That said... I'm currently on the look out for an M5 as a toy so I'll be doing my bit for the economy again soon
I went for an '04 330d SE Auto Tourer with 80k. I really like it, the auto makes it a very relaxed drive and it has more than enough power where it matters to make it enjoyable. I return anywhere between 33-38 MPG and, touch wood, have had no issues what so ever. Within a few weeks of having it my wife declared her 320d was vastly underpowered and swapped it for a 330d Sport saloon ('02). In hindsight I wish I'd got the Sport version of the Tourer as, coming from the WRX, the suspension on the sport is so much more taught than the SE which, when hooting down B roads, I find somewhat wishy washy.
I still miss the rush of the Scooby, the stupid acceleration and sublime handling but at the end of the day I couldn't afford to keep filling the thing up. That said... I'm currently on the look out for an M5 as a toy so I'll be doing my bit for the economy again soon
mikey-r said:
I did the exact same thing last September... had a WRX Prodrive but a job change meant going from 100 miles a week to 400 and at an average of 20mpg that's a hell of a jump in fuel costs.
I went for an '04 330d SE Auto Tourer with 80k. I really like it, the auto makes it a very relaxed drive and it has more than enough power where it matters to make it enjoyable. I return anywhere between 33-38 MPG and, touch wood, have had no issues what so ever. Within a few weeks of having it my wife declared her 320d was vastly underpowered and swapped it for a 330d Sport saloon ('02). In hindsight I wish I'd got the Sport version of the Tourer as, coming from the WRX, the suspension on the sport is so much more taught than the SE which, when hooting down B roads, I find somewhat wishy washy.
I still miss the rush of the Scooby, the stupid acceleration and sublime handling but at the end of the day I couldn't afford to keep filling the thing up. That said... I'm currently on the look out for an M5 as a toy so I'll be doing my bit for the economy again soon
Great post, thanks for the insight. Just what I was looking for. Off for a proper viewing in a while. Will get an idea of history and condition. I went for an '04 330d SE Auto Tourer with 80k. I really like it, the auto makes it a very relaxed drive and it has more than enough power where it matters to make it enjoyable. I return anywhere between 33-38 MPG and, touch wood, have had no issues what so ever. Within a few weeks of having it my wife declared her 320d was vastly underpowered and swapped it for a 330d Sport saloon ('02). In hindsight I wish I'd got the Sport version of the Tourer as, coming from the WRX, the suspension on the sport is so much more taught than the SE which, when hooting down B roads, I find somewhat wishy washy.
I still miss the rush of the Scooby, the stupid acceleration and sublime handling but at the end of the day I couldn't afford to keep filling the thing up. That said... I'm currently on the look out for an M5 as a toy so I'll be doing my bit for the economy again soon
mikey-r said:
I did the exact same thing last September... had a WRX Prodrive but a job change meant going from 100 miles a week to 400 and at an average of 20mpg that's a hell of a jump in fuel costs.
I went for an '04 330d SE Auto Tourer with 80k. I really like it, the auto makes it a very relaxed drive and it has more than enough power where it matters to make it enjoyable. I return anywhere between 33-38 MPG and, touch wood, have had no issues what so ever. Within a few weeks of having it my wife declared her 320d was vastly underpowered and swapped it for a 330d Sport saloon ('02). In hindsight I wish I'd got the Sport version of the Tourer as, coming from the WRX, the suspension on the sport is so much more taught than the SE which, when hooting down B roads, I find somewhat wishy washy.
I still miss the rush of the Scooby, the stupid acceleration and sublime handling but at the end of the day I couldn't afford to keep filling the thing up. That said... I'm currently on the look out for an M5 as a toy so I'll be doing my bit for the economy again soon
Can't add much more to that!I went for an '04 330d SE Auto Tourer with 80k. I really like it, the auto makes it a very relaxed drive and it has more than enough power where it matters to make it enjoyable. I return anywhere between 33-38 MPG and, touch wood, have had no issues what so ever. Within a few weeks of having it my wife declared her 320d was vastly underpowered and swapped it for a 330d Sport saloon ('02). In hindsight I wish I'd got the Sport version of the Tourer as, coming from the WRX, the suspension on the sport is so much more taught than the SE which, when hooting down B roads, I find somewhat wishy washy.
I still miss the rush of the Scooby, the stupid acceleration and sublime handling but at the end of the day I couldn't afford to keep filling the thing up. That said... I'm currently on the look out for an M5 as a toy so I'll be doing my bit for the economy again soon
I went from a WRX STi to an M3, so in terms of fuel consumtion I was niether gaining nor losing anything!
Can't beat the feeling of going back to RWD car though... It's like rediscovering proper power all over again!
Edited by ih8thisname on Saturday 9th May 14:11
I went from a 2000 turbo with PPP to a 330d.
The BMW is so much more refined and grown up than the scooby, although I miss the Scoob I'm glad I changed, mainly for the 35mpg (that's mainly town driving).
Some of the things that you'll need to check on the BMW are:
Fuel pump, goes pop around 60k
Propshaft doughnut, mine has lasted just under two years.
Rear springs have a tendency to snap.
Suspension bushes tend to go around 60-80k.
The cars are prone to tramlining and are very tyre dependant, I have Goodyear Eagles which are ok but Continentals are best.
Silver cars are rumoured to be more prone to rust.
I've owned mine from around 30k, it's now just short of 90k and mechanically the car has been fine, just the fuel pump and suspension issues to deal with.
If I didn't have a warranty to maintain I'd definately stick to independant servicing.
Depending on what kind of mileage you do, have you considered a 330i?
The BMW is so much more refined and grown up than the scooby, although I miss the Scoob I'm glad I changed, mainly for the 35mpg (that's mainly town driving).
Some of the things that you'll need to check on the BMW are:
Fuel pump, goes pop around 60k
Propshaft doughnut, mine has lasted just under two years.
Rear springs have a tendency to snap.
Suspension bushes tend to go around 60-80k.
The cars are prone to tramlining and are very tyre dependant, I have Goodyear Eagles which are ok but Continentals are best.
Silver cars are rumoured to be more prone to rust.
I've owned mine from around 30k, it's now just short of 90k and mechanically the car has been fine, just the fuel pump and suspension issues to deal with.
If I didn't have a warranty to maintain I'd definately stick to independant servicing.
Depending on what kind of mileage you do, have you considered a 330i?
NickXX said:
With regards to the flaps:
330d M57 (184bhp) manual = no flaps
330d M57 (184bhp) auto = flaps
330d M57N (204bhp) manual = flaps
330d M57N (204bhp) auto = flaps.
If its of any interest? I have my 330d M-Sport Touring for sale on Pistonheads at the moment: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/973271.htm330d M57 (184bhp) manual = no flaps
330d M57 (184bhp) auto = flaps
330d M57N (204bhp) manual = flaps
330d M57N (204bhp) auto = flaps.
Mine has no flaps if your worried about this as its a 184BHP manual transmission so this isnt a problem.
Im open to offers though if your not looking to spend this much?
Regards,
Dave Roberts.
Edited by slavic on Sunday 10th May 13:46
Thanks for all the replies chaps. I went to view the car properly on saturday afternoon, and took it out for another spin with the missus in tow this time. She liked it, but was uncertain whether we were doing the right thing. We love the scooby, and the very rare times she drives it, she loves it. I know I'd miss it. With what you've all been saying ref fuel economy, I don't really see a viable reason to swap to a diesel if I'm not going to save stacks of dosh. The BMW needed a few things sorting in the near future too, most notably tyres, which were cheap budget 19's, tax and probably brakes. As I've just done all that on mine, I know where I am with the scooby.
So, I'm sticking with mine for now, thanks again for your advice, much appreciated.
So, I'm sticking with mine for now, thanks again for your advice, much appreciated.
slavic said:
NickXX said:
With regards to the flaps:
330d M57 (184bhp) manual = no flaps
330d M57 (184bhp) auto = flaps
330d M57N (204bhp) manual = flaps
330d M57N (204bhp) auto = flaps.
If its of any interest? I have my 330d M-Sport Touring for sale on Pistonheads at the moment: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/973271.htm330d M57 (184bhp) manual = no flaps
330d M57 (184bhp) auto = flaps
330d M57N (204bhp) manual = flaps
330d M57N (204bhp) auto = flaps.
Mine has no flaps if your worried about this as its a 184BHP manual transmission so this isnt a problem.
Im open to offers though if your not looking to spend this much?
Regards,
Dave Roberts.
Edited by slavic on Sunday 10th May 13:46
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