[5erman]

I was curious from the 330i crowd or even the 328 crowd regarding how much you want to keep your car long-term simply because of the uniqueness it will be in years to come by having the highest output NA motor (non-M) that bmw has made for an I6. (330 folks)

I am at the point where I paid my car off and the trade in value is pretty shitty-probably 15k at at the dealer for a loaded 07 530-so probably around the same for a 330i.

I am going to order an M3 in the nex 6 months but I am wondering if it is worth it to hang onto my car and that way be able to use the M3 less or if I need a bigger saloon I would have the 5. For 15k that would hardly make a difference for payment and you could never buy a nice well kept bmw again for that little-

My question is-do you think once you had an m3 or something signifigantly faster--that you would ever want to drive you 330? I dont mind keeping it but not if I would absolutely not stand to drive it being so slow in comparison.

On the other hand I would also like to have a project n52 engine to play with in the garage with FI and such..

Ate the end of the day I want to keep the M3 for all my life as a collectors item and would be nice to have the last and best NA i6 motor that bmw had ever produced as another piece to the collection. I plan to collect cars over the years as a hobby so these would be a good start..

any thoughts? Money is definetly an object for me so cutting the payment down is important just not sure in the scheme worth it

[benzo23]

If your 5 is paid off no question I would hold onto it as a nice DD or travel car. If you have the room and the money to do so. And if you want a fun project car why not get an e36 M3. Gut it run FI and make a really fun track car. Theres little you can do to these N/A n52's to get any significant gains. Unlike a FI car. Just my input and what I would do.

[e90pilot]

Well the whole power thing wares off pretty quick. I had a 350z before my 325 an I didn't mind at all when I switched. Now my 325 is almost as fast. (350z 14.0" @ 100mph and 325 14.2" @ 99mph). If you look at the e46 m3 is not that much faster in comparison. It feels waaaaay faster because the 530 is quieter, smother and has a flatter torque curve. If you're gonna have both a 530 and an m3 you won't miss the power too much because you still have it and having a slower car will make you enjoy the M3 more.

[5erman]

that is the best point ever-keeping the slow car will make you appreciate the fast one every day. That is worth it alone as you would save thousands in mods just trying to chase the Power high.

I guess I may just be silly but IMO I really think you will never see a NA I6 engine again from any company so to me it will be a collectors engine. The n52 had a lot of unique things. Not the most powerful thing but a lot of firsts
-first magnesium block
-first bmw with valetronic
-first bmw with 3 stage intake manifold
-first non-m engine to rev to 7k redline
-first bmw engine to use electric water pump from factory
-first bmw to use hollow camshafts

I dunno-seems worth hangin onto!

Thanks for the advice-I think I am going to just go ahead and keep it and keep it for cruiser or hauling people/stuff.

The e60 was my favorite ever bmw until the new m3 came out-it would be nice to have the bangle car too as that was a historic time in bmw and the most revolutionary design ever.

bmw's rock! I actually which I could get an e46 in the stall too but there are no low mileage ones out there. I guess you could rebuild an engine for a project but prob wont happen.

The thing with the n54 engine-nothing about it is special and bmw has already greatly improved the turbo technology-it may have been the first but will be quickly forgotten as bmw continues to refine that technology.

I think we all have the greatest non-m engine ever built-something to be proud of!

[fdriller9]

I kinda skimmed through your post but I intend on keeping my car past 150k....maybe longer. I'm at 61k now.

[e90pilot]

I got 147k mi on mine. No engine problems at all. Oh and the n52 is not the first Valvetronic BMW engine. It was the 745i and the the 545i shortly after. And I wouldn't quite call the N54 "nothing special" either. It's cool except for the fact it's an epic pile when it come to reliability.

[5erman]

Originally Posted by e90pilot

I got 147k mi on mine. No engine problems at all. Oh and the n52 is not the first Valvetronic BMW engine. It was the 745i and the the 545i shortly after. And I wouldn't quite call the N54 "nothing special" either. It's cool except for the fact it's an epic pile when it come to reliability.

I said the n52 is the first I6 engine to employ valvetronic--not the first engine in general

Forgot to add it is also the lightest production 6 cylinder engine as well ever

[guerilla twang]

I will be hanging onto my 330i for as long as possible.

[e90pilot]

Originally Posted by 5erman

I said the n52 is the first I6 engine to employ valvetronic--not the first engine in general

Forgot to add it is also the lightest production 6 cylinder engine as well ever

Ah yes. My bad.

[Denny347]

I just bought mine 4 months ago with 70k on the clock...plan on keeping it until it to 200k for all I care. As long as it is not falling apart with rust I'm gonna drive it. I will put about 6-8k a year on it so I think I'll still drive it when I retire at that rate.

[ny325]

I hope they bring back the 330 in the next bmw refresh coming in 2012. I prefer non turbo NA engines.

[urnuts]

My 2006 330i has never seen snow or salt and probably rain 5 times. Always garaged, etc- no fade... nothing. Trunk never opened, nobody ever in the back seat, passenger seat used probably 5 times.
I just turned 12,000 miles, and paid it off end of the summer.
Original owner, etc.
When I looked at trading/selling...... yikes! I mean, how to I let that car go for $20,000...... retail! I don't even want to know what a dealer would offer me $17,000?
I'd love a new M3 but you know, as much as I like BMWs- I've had 2 M3s- I think their pricing has just gotten out of hand; Just like Porsche... great cars, but too much money. And, of course, we all (most, anyway) have unlimited wants but limited resources and I just don't want to spend $70,000 on a M3. I want a nice car, but I want other stuff, too.
I just picked up a new Miata to play with- sick deals on those.
Anyway- special ordered the 330i- just makes sense to keep it!

[Fraggy]

Originally Posted by Denny347

I will put about 6-8k a year on it so I think I'll still drive it when I retire at that rate.

Originally Posted by urnuts

My 2006 330i has never seen snow or salt and probably rain 5 times. Always garaged, etc- no fade... nothing. Trunk never opened, nobody ever in the back seat, passenger seat used probably 5 times.
I just turned 12,000 miles, and paid it off end of the summer.

How do y'all drive so little???? Is that even fun???

[just4kickz]

i think im going to keep it until at least 100k. cars aren't worth changing every 2-4 years unless you are bank... which i am not. im at 50K nearing the end of my fourth year

[Cygnusx1]

I drove my brand new '02 WRX to 150K miles. When it began to bitch at me I sold it. I bought the CPO 330xi with 42k miles on it to replace the WRX. I plan on keeping the 330xi for as long as I possibly can. I would love to be able to "preserve" it, because it is an interesting BMW misfit, in a very good way. However, it is my DD all year long.

Does anyone know why they only made this motor for one model year? Did they need more marketing headroom for the M cars?

[Denny347]

Originally Posted by Fraggy

How do y'all drive so little???? Is that even fun???

I have a patrol car I take home and drive off-duty if I choose. I normally only drive my personal car on my days off. I would like to drive it more but I just don't drive all that much on my off time.

[urnuts]

I have a Pathfinder I use as my DD, and just picked up a new Miata.
I also live about 10 miles from work and it's not the kind of place you want to park a nicer car- not theft, just lots of dings, dents, etc.
So, short commute and not worth the risk of damage.
Just a strange set of circumstances, I guess.

[just4kickz]

Originally Posted by urnuts

My 2006 330i has never seen snow or salt and probably rain 5 times. Always garaged, etc- no fade... nothing. Trunk never opened, nobody ever in the back seat, passenger seat used probably 5 times.
I just turned 12,000 miles, and paid it off end of the summer.
Original owner, etc.
When I looked at trading/selling...... yikes! I mean, how to I let that car go for $20,000...... retail! I don't even want to know what a dealer would offer me $17,000?
I'd love a new M3 but you know, as much as I like BMWs- I've had 2 M3s- I think their pricing has just gotten out of hand; Just like Porsche... great cars, but too much money. And, of course, we all (most, anyway) have unlimited wants but limited resources and I just don't want to spend $70,000 on a M3. I want a nice car, but I want other stuff, too.
I just picked up a new Miata to play with- sick deals on those.
Anyway- special ordered the 330i- just makes sense to keep it!

lol...mint car...i would expect that with something at least 3 or 4 times the cost of an e90. your e90 has been spoiled.

[LaLakers91tc]

Originally Posted by e90pilot

Well the whole power thing wares off pretty quick. I had a 350z before my 325 an I didn't mind at all when I switched. Now my 325 is almost as fast. (350z 14.0" @ 100mph and 325 14.2" @ 99mph). If you look at the e46 m3 is not that much faster in comparison. It feels waaaaay faster because the 530 is quieter, smother and has a flatter torque curve. If you're gonna have both a 530 and an m3 you won't miss the power too much because you still have it and having a slower car will make you enjoy the M3 more.

have you tracked your 325?
14.2 @ 99 sounds oddly fast for a 325 lol

but on topic, I would like to jump ship to an e92 m3 sooner or later, but my e90 is paid off, and a great fun daily driver, so I plan on keeping it for a long time, and probably pick up a cpo m3 for real cheap when in a couple years, but even then, I'd probably keep this car as a dd

Op I def say keep the 530 as a daily
its worth more to you than the 15k the dealer will give you

[dsharma814]

Originally Posted by LaLakers91tc

its worth more to you than the 15k the dealer will give you

totally agree. not worth it unless you need the $, although your insurance payment will be heftier

[e90pilot]

Originally Posted by LaLakers91tc

have you tracked your 325?
14.2 @ 99 sounds oddly fast for a 325 lol

It's pretty much a 330 now. They get good times because they finish the 1/4 mi in 3rd gear. 3rd tops out at 100 mph. A 350z tops out 3rd at 85. Practically speaking the Z is faster even though it posts only a slightly quicker time. Weights are almost the same (both cars close to 3500 lbs) and similar HP (stock 330: 255hp, stock '03 350Z: 287hp). I might be making slightly more HP than stock 330 numbers with the newest tune but I haven't confirmed yet.

Also, I'm using the dynolicious app to measure the 1/4 mi. There's a place I go to where there's one physically marked. I calibrated it right before I did the runs and I had someone time them to see if it was way off. It's really close (within a tenth) as long as the phone doesn't move AT ALL and the road is level. The HP calculations don't seem to work well though.

[MaximusJ]

I dont have a 330, but I'll chime in as well ;p

I will definitely keep my 325 for a couple years even if I have the money to buy a brand new M3. Insurance is cheap on the E90 and costs a arm and a leg on a M3. The quotes on the E92; and even E46 M3 really turned me off.

So i've decided to mod my E90 until I get bored of it and then i'll look for another bimmer. Depends on what's my wife next car, I might get a 135; but if I have to carry the kids, kiss the 1 serie goodbye and send me another 3er sedan...

But I really dont see that day coming for a couple years. And If I can, i'll definitely keep the 325.