2008 BMW e93 330i

[TS_]

Hey Fanatics!

Finally, after 3 years of my last BMW ownership I'm finally back in the Bavarian family!

I've been on the market for a good 3 or 4 months in search, specifically for an N52 BMW. My first BMW was the infamous N20, 320i. Then came the same engine in the form of a 120i, which I only owned for a few months, intentionally so.

So thus, an N52, as far as I understand, is supposed to be one of the last great naturally aspirated BMW engines. I've heard about the reliability of the thing and am hoping to testify to that in the next few years.

I initially started looking at e82 and e88s. The 125 seemed to be the car I'd end up with. I came across a few great examples along the way and even ended up putting a holding deposit on a clean silver M Sport I found in Boksburg. Well, that deposit clearly didn't mean anything to the seller as it ended up getting sold and my money refunded before I could even get it inspected. Then came a nice e46 325ci which seemed to be everything I lusted after but after driving it, I came away disappointed. It felt to need some suspension work and the dealer was just not budging on the high price. I eventually found this e93 330i at a little dealership out in the vaal. Since I was due to go there for other engagements, I decided it was worth looking at. At first, I had decided against getting an e9x series. I felt that it just wasn't special enough, not quite what I was looking for, but I had to swallow my words.

I arrived at the dealership and the car was idling. Daytime lights staring down the driveway. The clearcoat glistening from a distance. And then that beautiful hum from the N52 I6 caught my attention. Call me impatient, but suddenly, it seemed to fit into the criteria of what I was looking for. The car is almost immaculate. 1 owner Since new. FSH. A few odds and ends attended to over the 150,000km its done. Interior is fair in its simple black leather and woodgrain trim. There I was thinking it may actually do the job.

One week later and its sitting in my garage and I'm looking forward to this journey. I've decided that I won't be trying to get any additional power or noise out of this car, but keep it as the cruiser that it is. I will more than likely be doing some aesthetic upgrades over time, but we'll see as we go. Maybe it becomes my daily to save mileage on my newer, financed car. I don't know, I just had to have a little toy for whatever reason. I will be doing a major service and will start with some preventative maintenance soon. Apart from the usual gaskets, water pump, vans. What should I be looking at doing?

Here are a few pics

 

[///M Individual]

Beautiful bud congrats!

 

[Demontec]

WOW, that is clean. Congratulations on the new toy.

 

[NabbyM32]

Congratulations on the new wheels - Car looks very clean

 

[TS_]

Thanks gents.

2 days, 250km later, and I'm loving this thing so far. I've been using the car for my trips to site. It's quite a joy. It's very comfortable on the roads and I'm surprised that the ride height isn't compromised. My driveway is inclined and after nursing it on day one I realised that it won't touch even when I enter straight. Speed bumps also seem to go right under the body, no stress. The ease makes me question wether I'll actually add mods like aftermarket coils and a lip spoiler. We'll see.

I popped in to my mechanics shop yesterday for him to have another once over of the car and he's out of town for 2 months. I would like to do a major service, check the gaskets and maybe 1 or 2 more things in the interim. Any recommendations in the Jhb South area? A little bit out of the south won't hurt either.

 

[maleven-GP]

Try Paolo @Supertek 0110368967
Alberton Albarante building

 

[TS_]

Thanks @maleven-GP I'll give him a call on Monday.

 

[TS_]

So it's been a week since I've collected my '08 and I couldn't help but use it for all my commuting in this week. I've covered a total of 850km give or take and I must say, getting to and from work has become an occasion in this car.

The car is comfortable enough on the roads i traverse, it responds to my big toe's thrust with gay abandon and loves the echo of its pipes along the suburb roads it frequents. I enjoy cruising quite a bit. Its nice that it doesnt need me to floor it to enjoy the symphony. But well, there are a few winding roads not too far away from home that won't allow me to pass up this temptation. The South of JHB is set on hilly terrain, with roads that curve and wind, that have dips and ridges. How can I possibly pass up that opportunity? 🙈 I now have a routine. One based on the long route home. A few minutes of mid-rev range driving to calm and destress, before I switch into daddy mode at home.

That 6 cylinder mill makes for some good spirited driving and that's before I even get to the way the car handles the twisties. It's not the fastest car I've driven but it exudes a great sense of confidence in the way you're fully aware of what the chassis is doing.

I picked up the car with consumption sitting quite high - around the 19l/100km mark and its steadily coming down. I'm glad to say that this thrill giver doesn't slap too hard at the pumps. I'm averaging around 12l/100km, based on my first tank of fuel. I'm sure it will still come down the more I get used to the car... or not😁

Now that I've spent a week with the car and about 20hrs behind the wheel there are a few things which have started to show:

There's a little rattle from the back of the car, probably underneath somewhere, maybe the exhaust? Seems to happen from around 30/40kph upwards and let's off a louder rattle as I let off the gas. It's steadily got worse over the last 2/3 days but I'll have it looked at next week.

I've noticed a slight vagueness in the steering at 12 o clock. Feels like the first few degrees of the turn aren't very direct. I'm assuming this has to do with suspension.

Lack of connectivity is a small challenge that I'll probably look into at a later stage. The vehicle has Bluetooth for calls only and an aux input.

I've got some short term plans with the car which involve some very minor aesthetic parts, but first preventative maintenance. I'll be seeing someone with the car early next week which should give me a good indication of where to start after which I can let you all in on what next.

Oh, and I've just realised that I call this one, "The Car". For the first time it feels wrong. I think I should give her a name...

 

[FISAACS]

Hey Fanatics!

Finally, after 3 years of my last BMW ownership I'm finally back in the Bavarian family!

I've been on the market for a good 3 or 4 months in search, specifically for an N52 BMW. My first BMW was the infamous N20, 320i. Then came the same engine in the form of a 120i, which I only owned for a few months, intentionally so.

So thus, an N52, as far as I understand, is supposed to be one of the last great naturally aspirated BMW engines. I've heard about the reliability of the thing and am hoping to testify to that in the next few years.

I initially started looking at e82 and e88s. The 125 seemed to be the car I'd end up with. I came across a few great examples along the way and even ended up putting a holding deposit on a clean silver M Sport I found in Boksburg. Well, that deposit clearly didn't mean anything to the seller as it ended up getting sold and my money refunded before I could even get it inspected. Then came a nice e46 325ci which seemed to be everything I lusted after but after driving it, I came away disappointed. It felt to need some suspension work and the dealer was just not budging on the high price. I eventually found this e93 330i at a little dealership out in the vaal. Since I was due to go there for other engagements, I decided it was worth looking at. At first, I had decided against getting an e9x series. I felt that it just wasn't special enough, not quite what I was looking for, but I had to swallow my words.

I arrived at the dealership and the car was idling. Daytime lights staring down the driveway. The clearcoat glistening from a distance. And then that beautiful hum from the N52 I6 caught my attention. Call me impatient, but suddenly, it seemed to fit into the criteria of what I was looking for. The car is almost immaculate. 1 owner Since new. FSH. A few odds and ends attended to over the 150,000km its done. Interior is fair in its simple black leather and woodgrain trim. There I was thinking it may actually do the job.

One week later and its sitting in my garage and I'm looking forward to this journey. I've decided that I won't be trying to get any additional power or noise out of this car, but keep it as the cruiser that it is. I will more than likely be doing some aesthetic upgrades over time, but we'll see as we go. Maybe it becomes my daily to save mileage on my newer, financed car. I don't know, I just had to have a little toy for whatever reason. I will be doing a major service and will start with some preventative maintenance soon. Apart from the usual gaskets, water pump, vans. What should I be looking at doing?

Here are a few pics

Beautiful car, many happy miles with it.

The e46 325ci, is that the one in Ferndale? If so, I also test drove it and the suspension does need work. To your point the dealer doesn't want to negotiate on price. Was looking at buying it at about R15k lower but ended up settling for an e92 325i which I'll be taking ownership of at the end of October.

Wouldn't mind sharing my preventative maintenance journey with you.

 

[TS_]

Beautiful car, many happy miles with it.

The e46 325ci, is that the one in Ferndale? If so, I also test drove it and the suspension does need work. To your point the dealer doesn't want to negotiate on price. Was looking at buying it at about R15k lower but ended up settling for an e92 325i which I'll be taking ownership of at the end of October.

Wouldn't mind sharing my preventative maintenance journey with you.

Hey @FISAACS

Thanks bud.

One and the same. One of those, "We know what we have" moments. It looks like its sold though.

That sounds like a plan. Congrats on your find. I look forward to seeing more about your car.