discussion e90 - old but gold?

[Rocky_cpt]

Howdy folks, I thought I'd start a discussion about the e90 vs the f30 and if its time to upgrade.

I am itching for a f30 but I am still enjoying my e90 320d. I am not driving the distance I use to (changed jobs during Jan) and I work closer to home now so stretching my cars legs have become a thing of the past. Every now and then I see an f30 next to me in traffic and I think "is it time to upgrade?". I am sucker for the e90 look and absolutely love the feel of the car but there is something about the f30's look that have caught my eye.

Thoughts?

 

[husaindindar]

E90 > E90 LCI > G20 > F30....

Thats the order, lol.

 

[Rocky_cpt]

E90 > E90 LCI > G20 > F30....

Thats the order, lol.

Possibly save some cash and jump straight to the f30?🤔

 

[DRCraig]

Howdy folks, I thought I'd start a discussion about the e90 vs the f30 and if its time to upgrade.

I am itching for a f30 but I am still enjoying my e90 320d. I am not driving the distance I use to (changed jobs during Jan) and I work closer to home now so stretching my cars legs have become a thing of the past. Every now and then I see an f30 next to me in traffic and I think "is it time to upgrade?". I am sucker for the e90 look and absolutely love the feel of the car but there is something about the f30's look that have caught my eye.

Thoughts?

I can comment on the E90 LCI MSport and F30 Non-MSport (both 20d's)

For spirited driving, the E90 definitely takes it here. I enjoy the E90 more for such activities. If you want a more relaxed, toned-down driving experience, the F30 is the clear winner as being more composed. The infotainment in the F30 is also a plus, unless you have a E90 with iDrive. Fuel consumption I find more or less the same.

Personally, the prime reason for wanting a F30, is the ZF8. The gearbox is just a peach.

 

[cRed001]

If you upgrading to a 330D, 335, or 340i it may be worth it for the enjoyment factor. Other than that I would just stick with the car whose history is known.

 

[Solo Man]

Reminds me of the time i would occasionally drive my friend's 2012 E90 320d auto with N47 motor. It felt as fast as my E39 530d auto. And with great economy to boot. Great all rounder! Although, having had two F30 320d's it is a difficult choice. The F30 is especially nice with the 8speed gearbox but has more wind/road noise than the E90, iirc.

 

[Rocky_cpt]

I have the m47 motor which from a research perspective made sense for longevity but from a maintenance perspective moving forward would you be able to source parts over long period of time say like for the next 10 years?

 

[1 Eyed Monkey]

I think the next next would be 330d F30.

 

[Rocky_cpt]

I think the next next would be 330d F30.

My 320d is my daily at the moment and I barely get to play with it on the roads in WC. I think the anxiety of owning a 30d and not being able to drive faster than 70km on the roads here in Table View would give me great anxiety 🥲.

 

[Nastaliq]

My 320d is my daily at the moment and I barely get to play with it on the roads in WC. I think the anxiety of owning a 30d and not being able to drive faster than 70km on the roads here in Table View would give me great anxiety 🥲.

Ive owned both the pre lci E90 and e90 LCI, my wife now owns an F30 320i which I pretty much am the only real driver. She goes to the shops etc but I drive it 99% of the time.

The E90 is more of a drivers car in both the petrol and diesel variants. The engine is solid and I did have Cat issues on the E90, other than that, it was fine.

The wife's F30 is a much more refined drive, definitely not a car, for car people. If that makes any sense to you. There will be people who have an F30 330i saying I am talking shit, but if they're honest, it doesn't feel at all like a drivers car.

She did have to have the turbo replaced under MP at about 35k kms. Turbo started whistling and boost was erratic. Took it in, turbo fail, turbo replaced. All good. I caught it early. My wife said "I thought thats how it sounds".

I prefer the E90 when i want to tear tar up. I like the F30 for long relaxed drive and the transmission on the F30 is very very refined as some have already said.

I dont think you will regret getting out of the E90 into the F30 provided you choose an engine that can support those smiles. The 320i is underpowered if you ask me. The 318i or 316i dont waste your time. You're going to regret it.

Whatever you do, dont get a G20, the build quality is shocking.
Most of it is Temu plastic and everything creaks and moans when the body flexes. It doesnt feel at all as solid as the E90/ F30.

 

[Rocky_cpt]

Ive owned both the pre lci E90 and e90 LCI, my wife now owns an F30 320i which I pretty much am the only real driver. She goes to the shops etc but I drive it 99% of the time.

The E90 is more of a drivers car in both the petrol and diesel variants. The engine is solid and I did have Cat issues on the E90, other than that, it was fine.

The wife's F30 is a much more refined drive, definitely not a car, for car people. If that makes any sense to you. There will be people who have an F30 330i saying I am talking shit, but if they're honest, it doesn't feel at all like a drivers car.

She did have to have the turbo replaced under MP at about 35k kms. Turbo started whistling and boost was erratic. Took it in, turbo fail, turbo replaced. All good. I caught it early. My wife said "I thought thats how it sounds".

I prefer the E90 when i want to tear tar up. I like the F30 for long relaxed drive and the transmission on the F30 is very very refined as some have already said.

I dont think you will regret getting out of the E90 into the F30 provided you choose an engine that can support those smiles. The 320i is underpowered if you ask me. The 318i or 316i dont waste your time. You're going to regret it.

Whatever you do, dont get a G20, the build quality is shocking.
Most of it is Temu plastic and everything creaks and moans when the body flexes. It doesnt feel at all as solid as the E90/ F30.

Appreciate this response

 

[Kingfisher Two]

I became a Grandpa 3 years ago and seeing my daughter lives 500km from me I decided I needed a cruiser. An express, I can easily cover the distance, so I went hunting in Jo'burg.

I drove just about every BMW online, all were around R190,000.00. High milage, later models, G20's and F30's, but good nick. I was looking for the opposite, earlier models with low milage, good nick.

On the last day I'd given myself, after four days in total, at a place called Wheelie, in Centurion, outta sight in the far back left corner, next to 4 x G20's, with huge milages, i saw her. An Alpine White, registered 2012 E90 330i, manual, Exclusive, with all sorts of M Sport goodies. (No iDrive thank goodness.) After the other drives in the 4 cylinder turbo'ed cars, I must say the engine being an N52B30 (Very last of the run.) and the 6 speed Borg Warner gearbox, it was a revalation. Smooth as silk and linear, not on off turbo, just relentless. To me anyhow. 62 in the shade, with many km's under my backside, .... in a bakkie. a 14 year old car with 114,000 km's on the clock, owned by an attorney, my age in Pretoria. After the post delivery service, it missed the 15,000km service and thereafter every service was done, with lots of synthetic 5 W 40 oil changes. I drove it off the lot the next day to East London. Only the driver seat was ever sat in and the usual tracker cabin door handles, it is a hugely entertaining drivers car, all the useful modcons, but not to many, M-Sport everyway adjustment electric seats, steering and stubby short gear throw are just the berry's, the ride maybe a little hard, but some one said going to non-runflats, like Michelin or Perelli's make a huge difference, but try keep the 45 sade wall hieght...and a puncture kit is the way to go. over rougher marbles and stoney tar the steering feels a bit "rattley" at times that says maybe the bushes need attention. At 120 km/h on the freeway between Knysna and East London it is so serene, just the + 230km/h, 200kW express, from time to time that is, I was looking for, exactly.