[Lyons]

Hi folks, first post on here and I'm looking for some 330i advice. Apart from a brief spell in a 525i E39 I've been a VAG man for the last 12 odd years! My TT Roadster is currently up for sale and I'm hoping to replace it with an E90 330i of some sort but am completely out of touch with the BM engines etc.

I know up until 06/07 the 3.0 had 254hp (N52?) and after this it was increased to 268hp (N53?). Were there any other revisions? A few used cars on the BMW site mention 265hp, is this a mistake or was there an additional upgrade or tweek?

When exactly did the 265hp model come out, and did it come out on the E90 coupe and saloon at the same time? Did it coincide with the release of Efficient Dynamics?

How reliable are both versions? Any specific thing to look out for?

I put this in the UK section as I'm not sure if the European models differ to the US ones.

Any help or pointers would be appreciated. Apologies in advance if this is covered to death already, I did search before hand.

[Lyons]

Ok, so found this thread earlier and it seems to answer most of my questions.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ght=268&page=3

What about Efficient Dynamics, can anyone tell me when it was introduced in both saloon and coupe? Did the updated N52 have it, or just the N53?

From what I read the N53 is fairly unreliable. Is it a case of it would be better avoided, or is it ok when the certain failures have been replaced? Is there a recall for the coils, injectors etc?

[Terryk]

as far as i know, Efficient Dynamics introduced to the lci models with the direct injection engines, meaning somewhere in 2008 for saloon and 09 for coupe. if you have the vin you can always have a look online to see the exact specs, edition and extra packages from factory (you ll be informed if the x model has or doesn't have eff dynamics too) .

[Lyons]

Cheers. Where online can you find that out?

I was pretty sure ED came out in the coupe in late 07 though? Could be wrong but!

[andy500]

My 1st post too.
I've just put a deposit down on an '06 330i touring with the older N52 engine, hopefully picking it up in a week or so.
Stonking engine according to the internet - based on 15 mins test drive I think the internet is right for once.

Later N53 is more efficient, but higher tech, with known problems as you'll find with a search on here.

Useful place I've found for a quick engine check is the 'quote' section of the BMW warranty website - punch the reg number of a suitable purchase in and it'll give you chassis number and engine type.
If BMW are like Merc, there may be a VIN decoder somewhere that'll then give you full specs and options for a specific chassis number.

[ukbeemerboy]

Originally Posted by Lyons

Ok, so found this thread earlier and it seems to answer most of my questions.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ght=268&page=3

What about Efficient Dynamics, can anyone tell me when it was introduced in both saloon and coupe? Did the updated N52 have it, or just the N53?

From what I read the N53 is fairly unreliable. Is it a case of it would be better avoided, or is it ok when the certain failures have been replaced? Is there a recall for the coils, injectors etc?

N52 was pre Efficient Dynamics, and was fitted to E90/91/92 and 93 with 258bhp. It was a very reliable engine with little to no issues.

N53 was introduced in the E90/91/92 and 93 from 07/07 and produced 272bhp and included Efficient Dynamics. It does have some reliability issues regarding injectors. It has more torque than the old engine which made it feel more alive plus better fuel economy, lower emissions and probably lower road tax.

[Lyons]

What about the updated N52 variant with 265hp?

Are the items that give bother on the N53 that you have mentioned fall under any sort of recall, or would they be covered by warranty even?

[Lyons]

Originally Posted by andy500

My 1st post too.
I've just put a deposit down on an '06 330i touring with the older N52 engine, hopefully picking it up in a week or so.
Stonking engine according to the internet - based on 15 mins test drive I think the internet is right for once.

Later N53 is more efficient, but higher tech, with known problems as you'll find with a search on here.

Useful place I've found for a quick engine check is the 'quote' section of the BMW warranty website - punch the reg number of a suitable purchase in and it'll give you chassis number and engine type.
If BMW are like Merc, there may be a VIN decoder somewhere that'll then give you full specs and options for a specific chassis number.

That's very useful, thanks. If I could determine the HP from the vin it would be a bonus!

I used a reg of an approved used June 07 330i coupe which stayed Efficient Dynamics in the ad, but the details generated show it to be an N52.

[andy500]

There's a wiki on the N52 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_N52 - if my linkage works. No clue how accurate the info is though.
Trouble is some of the info relates to US spec motors - from my limited research I'm not sure a 265hp N52 was fitted to the UK E90?

The N53 'features' should be covered under BMW warranty I'd have thought. From experience Warranty Direct etc can be very hard work - the BMW warranty does seem to get good reviews.

'My' car has the N52 but also has a panoramic roof, pro nav etc, so even though the engine should be ok everything else worries me, so I've gone for a car that's always been BMW maintained and under AUC/BMW warranties from new, which I'll continue the monthly payments on.

Whole different kettle of computer aided electronic fish compared to E46/E39...

[KM79]

That higher powered n52 was only fitted to early e 92/ e 93 for a brief period before the N53 came out in late 07.I owned one of these in an Auto and was a good engine and had no issues.

[Lyons]

Thanks Kris. So all early 330i E92 coupes were the 265 engine? The 258 never came in the coupe at all?

A late 06/early 07 one certainly sounds like the best choice, unless I go for an 08 one with warranty.

[Lyons]

Originally Posted by andy500

There's a wiki on the N52 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_N52 - if my linkage works. No clue how accurate the info is though.
Trouble is some of the info relates to US spec motors - from my limited research I'm not sure a 265hp N52 was fitted to the UK E90?

The N53 'features' should be covered under BMW warranty I'd have thought. From experience Warranty Direct etc can be very hard work - the BMW warranty does seem to get good reviews.

'My' car has the N52 but also has a panoramic roof, pro nav etc, so even though the engine should be ok everything else worries me, so I've gone for a car that's always been BMW maintained and under AUC/BMW warranties from new, which I'll continue the monthly payments on.

Whole different kettle of computer aided electronic fish compared to E46/E39...

Yeh I'd seen that link before and it confused me a bit as there was no mention of the revised N52 in the E92, just the earlier 258 version.

[Lyons]

This is the car in question I mentioned earlier;

http://www.approved.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/...AzMEpWNzczODQ=

Ad details show the higher emissions but 265hp. It also states that it has efficient dynamics. Just a pity it doesn't give the consumption figures.

Inputting the reg on the warranty site confirms it is an N52.

Could you take the details in an Approved Used as as gospel or not though?!

[ALF_E90]

As I had mentioned on the thread you found, a lot of sites like Parkers are wrong on the outputs/emissions/economy of 330i's especially from 2007/2008. Mine was being sold as an N52 but a look at the CO2 on the V5 (179 in my case) then under the bonnet showed it was an N53.

I am also one of the ones moaning on that thread as well about N53 reliability. Well, in the last 2 years and 50k miles I have had no issues at all and have averages nigh-on 34mpg (car used for long trips). It has just passed 90k miles and feels better than ever. It does seem the issue was mainly coils, a common issue but the N53 felt it more than most. Also there was talk of the early injectors being set too lean (the service manager of a dealership said something along those lines to me). Mine had new injectors/coils/plugs 2.5 years ago and has been fine since.

Overall I think the N52 sounds a bit better at idle/low speeds but I am very happy to have the economy and lower tax of the N53. Things can go wrong with either so get the official warranty - it is very good!

I am heading for 100k miles now and need to speak to the warranty people to see what happens then...

[MattOz]

Originally Posted by Lyons

What about the updated N52 variant with 265hp?

Are the items that give bother on the N53 that you have mentioned fall under any sort of recall, or would they be covered by warranty even?

You may find that the N52 had 265ps, which is 258bhp. Could be where that figure came from?

[ALF_E90]

You usually see figures of 258, 268, and 272 for the various E9X 330i models.

The first two are N52, with the higher output N52 only coming in the coupe as far as I'm aware of the E9X range (which I think may have got this from the start, but got the N53 late, prompting some people to think it got the N53 from the start - I don't think it did).

130i's got the higher output (268) N52 as well - usually reported as 265bhp.

330i saloons and tourings built from the autumn of 2007 onwards seem to have the N53 272 bhp engine, with a big drop in emissions, partly due to electric steering and other "efficient dynamics" gubbins. t again

But if you look around online and at cars advertised you see 254, 258, 261, 265, 268, and 272 bhp 330i's mentioned! And 130's are listed as 261 and 265 and 268 bhp for the same age. The quoted figures seem all over the place!

[Lyons]

It does seem a complete nightmare!

It's really the coupe that I'm after though, so at least if the first 330i's were the updated N52 until the N53 was introduced I can't really go wrong.

I'll maybe go and have a look at an early one just to confirm they have Efficient Dynamics.

[Phil325i]

Originally Posted by Lyons

This is the car in question I mentioned earlier;

http://www.approved.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/...AzMEpWNzczODQ=

Personal view - I'd wait a little longer for a car in MSport spec...

[andy500]

I'd agree with the above. M Sport all day long, but maybe not on runflats - mine has them, I need to live with it a bit and see what my physio bill is like...

I just had a potter on autotrader and there are loads and loads of SE coops, whereas the few M Sport coupes for sale don't look great.
I think there may be a reason for that - the SE is a lot less popular - which means when you come to sell, you may struggle.

I have bought a touring, so a different market I s'pose, but like the coupes, the SE are cheaper and there are more for sale. M Sport for the win.

N52 is never efficient dynamics - as far as I can tell - 'cos it ain't that efficient!
I couldn't afford a decent mileage N53 or any diesel that hadn't been to the moon and back so I didn't really get a choice of engines. Bah humbug.
The non-ED N52 were cheaper, as they're older and use a bit more fuel, but then again they don't eat fuel pumps for breakfast

[Lyons]

Originally Posted by Phil325i

Personal view - I'd wait a little longer for a car in MSport spec...

That link was just of an N53 car I'd found, I wasn't considering it as an option.

That said personally an SE wouldn't offend me as long as it had the 5 spoke 18" wheels and pro nav.

[Lyons]

Originally Posted by andy500

I'd agree with the above. M Sport all day long, but maybe not on runflats - mine has them, I need to live with it a bit and see what my physio bill is like...

I just had a potter on autotrader and there are loads and loads of SE coops, whereas the few M Sport coupes for sale don't look great.
I think there may be a reason for that - the SE is a lot less popular - which means when you come to sell, you may struggle.

I have bought a touring, so a different market I s'pose, but like the coupes, the SE are cheaper and there are more for sale. M Sport for the win.

N52 is never efficient dynamics - as far as I can tell - 'cos it ain't that efficient!
I couldn't afford a decent mileage N53 or any diesel that hadn't been to the moon and back so I didn't really get a choice of engines. Bah humbug.
The non-ED N52 were cheaper, as they're older and use a bit more fuel, but then again they don't eat fuel pumps for breakfast

I'll only be doing about 5k a year in it so the consumption doesn't bother me too much.

I agree that a saloon/touring needs to be an M Sport. I just think the lines of the coupe can suit SE spec alright as long as the wheels are right.

Very few 330i saloon/tourings at all though!

And I want a manual.

[andy500]

'Eck. You're even pickier than me
I hope I've not upset SE drivers with my last comment - they'll have the last laugh at me mixing M sport concrete shock absorbers and runflats with my spine...

Coupe M sport manual 330i - that will be a tough one to find, but worth the wait.