[chukwe]

Hi All,

I currently have an 06 318i 210k miles. I've had it for 11 years and it has served me well with it's own set of problems.

I want something similar or higher. My budget is between £16k and 19k.

I've been looking at 320i SE & M Sport with anything from 2017 and above but not less.

Can anyone help recommend a good model with minimum problems.

Thanks

[rasa bmw]

no ha ha..and can you not go to a larger engine car ?..ie 330i or even a 335i...

[Sir_Dave]

Personally, id be looking at a 330d, or a 335i.

4 cylinder BMW's are

[nick46]

Yep definitely has to be a 6 pot. 330d for me.

[Tambohamilton]

Really happy with my 330d, but no idea on the newer models. Why not buy a really nice e9x (and/or spend the money to get it in really good condition), and save the remaining £10k+ for blackjack and hookers??

[rasa bmw]

also you could get a 335d x drive etc,,plenty poke and with a simple remap your looking at easy 380-400 bhp

[chukwe]

Originally Posted by rasa bmw

no ha ha..and can you not go to a larger engine car ?..ie 330i or even a 335i...

Thanks for the reply. Why 330i or 335i? Is it because they're 6 cylinder? Are they more reliable in terms of breaking down and repairs?

[rasa bmw]

Originally Posted by chukwe

Thanks for the reply. Why 330i or 335i? Is it because they're 6 cylinder? Are they more reliable in terms of breaking down and repairs?

i said 330i yes ,,but the newer f series it has a 4 pot engine,,ive actually driven one as a courtesy car,,,and yeh effortless power for all the 6 pot cars compared to the 2.0l engines

[chukwe]

Originally Posted by rasa bmw

i said 330i yes ,,but the newer f series it has a 4 pot engine,,ive actually driven one as a courtesy car,,,and yeh effortless power for all the 6 pot cars compared to the 2.0l engines

If not for the power with I'm not crazy about, is there any other advantage(s) the 330i has over 320i? Is it more reliable etc? The price of the 330i is insane compared to the 320i.

Also, I currently work from home so don't do much driving these days just more school runs and gym. I live in South East London if it helps

[chukwe]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Really happy with my 330d, but no idea on the newer models. Why not buy a really nice e9x (and/or spend the money to get it in really good condition), and save the remaining £10k+ for blackjack and hookers??

Is diesel better than petrol? I don't really do much motorway driving these days. I'm more like looking for something that wouldn't give me much headache in terms of reliability. Less mechanic visits

[Silver Streek]

If you are in South East London, maybe think of the future when they extend the ulez would a 2017 car be euro 6 compliant? Meaning you would not get charged to drive in the ulez.

[Tambohamilton]

I haven't driven any of the petrols, so I don't really know what they're like. I suspect the best cars to drive are the petrols, but it's not like the 330d is a tractor. Also my 330d gets easily 40mpg on short trips (20mi/day commute, half town half b road), and gets about the place with ease if you put your foot down.

Generally, as far as I can tell, the low-mid tune (325-328-330) 6-pot engines seem to be most reliable; petrol or diesel. Also they're smoother and nicer to drive. The 4-pot diesels are pretty rattly by comparison, at least. The 335 engines are amazing, but there's a lot to go wrong!

[chukwe]

Originally Posted by Silver Streek

If you are in South East London, maybe think of the future when they extend the ulez would a 2017 car be euro 6 compliant? Meaning you would not get charged to drive in the ulez.

My E90 06 petrol is compliant. I guess all 17 cars both on petrol and diesel should be compliant.

[Silver Streek]

Originally Posted by chukwe

My E90 06 petrol is compliant. I guess all 17 cars both on petrol and diesel should be compliant.

Yes I just looked it up, Euro 4 for petrol car and Euro 6 for diesel cars. That's good to know, I'll have to use the wife's car to drive into London from now on.

[Silver Streek]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Generally, as far as I can tell, the low-mid tune (325-328-330) 6-pot engines seem to be most reliable; petrol or diesel. Also they're smoother and nicer to drive. The 4-pot diesels are pretty rattly by comparison

Agreed, I went from an E46 320d to an E91 325d the 6 pots are far nicer to drive, very smooth in comparison.

[chukwe]

Thanks everyone for your contribution to this thread.

The next question is which one should I buy? 330d or 330i?

On autotrader, I can't find a 2017 330i only 330d going from £17.5k. The 330i are from 2018 starting from £24K upwards which I can't really afford.

[mjn77]

For short journeys, 330i all day long.

[Chappers 71]

Originally Posted by chukwe

Thanks everyone for your contribution to this thread.

The next question is which one should I buy? 330d or 330i?

On autotrader, I can't find a 2017 330i only 330d going from £17.5k. The 330i are from 2018 starting from £24K upwards which I can't really afford.

There's plenty of F series 330i's on auto trader within your 17k budget if you go two or three years older but unfortunately they are all four pots nowadays, the good old days of NA petrol straight sixes have gone

[chukwe]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

There's plenty of F series 330i's on auto trader within your 17k budget if you go two or three years older but unfortunately they are all four pots nowadays, the good old days of NA petrol straight sixes have gone

I get it, all 330is are 4 cylinders while 330ds are 6 cylinders

[The0pportunist]

For that budget i would consider a 3 series active hybrid.

It has the 335i set up - straight 6 twin turbo petrol, with a battery pack which gives you a few miles on electric alone so you should get all the benefits of a smaller engine car, like cheap road tax, insurance - possibly even exempt from congestion charge i think.

Extended warranty is a must though!

[mjn77]

Originally Posted by The0pportunist

For that budget i would consider a 3 series active hybrid.

It has the 335i set up - straight 6 twin turbo petrol, with a battery pack which gives you a few miles on electric alone so you should get all the benefits of a smaller engine car, like cheap road tax, insurance - possibly even exempt from congestion charge i think.

Extended warranty is a must though!

I’m thinking of one of these to replace my 335d. There are a few on ebay, but repair costs are a bit unknown.

[rasa bmw]

Originally Posted by mjn77

I’m thinking of one of these to replace my 335d. There are a few on ebay, but repair costs are a bit unknown.

yeh,,i bet its expensive to replace the batteries...but as said warranty would be a must.