Help buying a BMW

[Salt]

Hi all,

I need some advice as I am sure many others have also asked for. The time has finally arrived for me to buy something I really want - previously my decisions have always been driven by circumstances - not bad ones just ones where I need to be a little more financially conservative. Previous purchases were pretty much 100% head driven...now I am be a little more heart driven but still have some sense in there as well.

Anyway, as such I am looking at a few cars and one of them is the F30 328i, specifically a performance edition one. I was initially after a hot hatch before I got my wife a 2 door. Now I need a 4 door but its cool since I've always been a BMW fan anyway. I did look at the 320i but think I will soon regret not getting something with a little more power. I did look at the Hyundai Elantra Sport but interior looks like hard plastics and think I will be disappointed.

I am looking at roughly an F30 2015 328i PE.

Is there anything I need to look out for? Any year models to avoid? Anything specific on the car to have checked before I buy? Anything with insurance I should know maybe? I def want something that is still under motor plan cause I will pay to have it either extended with BMW or I will extend the warranty and or service plan through my insurer which I've always done and have never had a problem when they needed to pay. Any advice will be super. Thanks all

 

[Schalk94]

Get a 330d F30 if you can get one within your budget and mileage parameters. The 330d is comparable to the 328i performance wise ,but has a motor with an extremely good track record in terms of reliability and it is also a lot more tuner friendly than the 328i.

The 328i is really an amazing car,but the 330d is virtually impossible to beat in terms of performance,consumption and reliability as a package.

 

[Salt]

The 330D is a little out of my budget but that is OK cause I am not a big fan of diesel cars but that is of course just me. Thanks for the feedback though. I wonder what the cost is with BMW to extend the motorplan. I will probably be looking at a 2015 model and I see the motorplan can be extended max for another 2 years/200 000km. That would mean the standard motorplan would run out at 2020 for a 2015 model so best I would be able to do is extend it to 2022 through BMW. I know the 3rd party extenders are generally the same i.e. 2 years/200 000km.

 

[Tinuva]

The 330d is excellent advice. Its a 6 cylinder engine vs the 328-330i which is only 4. It will be smoother (even though its truck) and give you far more enjoyment out of the car, not to mention, rock solid engine.

Motorplan can be expensive to extend. Which is why prices go down quite a bit once out of plan. I would choose reliability over motorplan, but that is my personal opinion, for most people motorplan will be better.

All the best with your search!

 

[SylisM]

Hi there,

I have a 328i and what I can say is that its great. One thing I do not like is the noisy engine (I feel the 328i is louder than the 320i).
Honestly if there was a 330d at the time, specced the way my 328i is (and within my budget) I would have taken it in a heartbeat.

Before purchase I did do the necessary checks and most importantly the timing chain. I have heard horror stories about that with the prelci so I wanted to make sure that had been attended to whilst under motorplan.
But other than that I haven’t had any issues with the car, recently just had my brakes and discs done and will now be doing an oil change.

 

[Salt]

Wow...plenty of you recommending the 330D hey...gosh might be worth looking in to then. Any specific year models to avoid on the 330D? Also best to for the LCI?

 

[///M Individual]

I would also suggest a 330d.:withStu:

Prefacelift is fine too if the LCI is out of budget.

Your opinion on diesel cars is bound to change :smilebounce:

Good luck :thumbs:

 

[Schalk94]

The 330d was as reliable as they come throughout the F30 range,so LCI vs Pre-LCI would come down to choice and budget,the motor and drivetrain remained the same.

I understand that you don't like diesels,but not going for a test drive in a 330d would be a massive mistake. The 330d is a whole different animal to the "normal diesels".

See if you could arrange a test drive in one and let us know what your thoughts are,you might just change you opinion regarding diesels:cartel:

 

[Salt]

Hehehehe...I am trying me best not to get excited. Its been a long wait for me to buy a car that i really wanted. I've been looking at the 330D prices since you all made the suggestion and its just too far out of my budget to consider stretching it. I want to stay close to R300k, I want a 2015 model and I won't go over 100 000km...in fact I generally try and stay as close to 40 000km as I can...all though in this case I might need to go up to 75 000km. I've aways stuck to these principles and its always worked for me. Also I want to have the option to extend the motor plan or take out an unlimited warranty. I've only had a good experience with a 3rd party. Previously owned a Qashqai 1.5dCI and when the turbo went the paid in full no issues. It was through The Engine Room/Motorite.

As I see it my options are a 320i, 328i or 320D. From what I know (and feel free to correct me - that is why I am asking here), the 320i might be a little light on power - I just don't want to regret not getting something with more power 6 months down the line) - same for the 320D?

Can I ask what fuel consumption do you guys get with the 33D? I honestly thought the 328i would give better consumption than 10+L/100km? And from the research I've done it should be around 8l/100km?

 

[Schalk94]

The 320i/d is definitely going to be down on performance compared to the 328i and 330d. The 330d F30s run between 6-7L/100 mostly with mixed driving. My father has a 328i and he gets 8-9L/100 with 70/30 city/highway driving,but your right foot affects the 328i fuel consumption a lot more than the 330d.

 

[Keshen Singh]

Hi you can always get a aftermarket plan with companies like MotorHappy, etc...
On my 2011 BMW I had just extended the service plan for another 3years that costs me R460 pm and the services are done by BMW minor and major covered

 

[billionairebum]

Before you buy the 330d, just consider a few of the CONS.

1: Reliability: These engines are known to needing a complete rebuild around 1 million kilometers which will be very costly.

2: Power: With a tune and dp these cars barely make over 700nm and JUST over 230kw. If you have a few uphills on your drive to work, I would really think twice about buying it.

3: Economy: Buying a massive 3L engine which GUZZLES 6-7 l/100km may not be the best idea. Consider a bicycle or a brisk walk rather.

 

[Tinuva]

Hi you can always get a aftermarket plan with companies like MotorHappy, etc...
On my 2011 BMW I had just extended the service plan for another 3years that costs me R460 pm and the services are done by BMW minor and major covered

Not sure how I feel about this. They usually rip people on these if you miss even a single TnC.

Before you buy the 330d, just consider a few of the CONS.

1: Reliability: These engines are known to needing a complete rebuild around 1 million kilometers which will be very costly.

2: Power: With a tune and dp these cars barely make over 700nm and JUST over 230kw. If you have a few uphills on your drive to work, I would really think twice about buying it.

3: Economy: Buying a massive 3L engine which GUZZLES 6-7 l/100km may not be the best idea. Consider a bicycle or a brisk walk rather.

:roflol:

Brilliant.

 

[Keshen Singh]

lol..... :bravo::withStu:

 

[KPM3_30]

Drive as many different iterations of the F30 platform as you can.. If the 330d is out of budget, get yourself a 320d and then after motorplan, do some mods.. Will still net you close to 328i stock power, with the benefits of fuel consumption and reliability.

That's what I would do in any case.. :tiptoe:

 

[///Avi]

The guys have given good advice on the diesels here.

Do not go for the N20 engines. 320i or 328i.

The risk on the diesels are much lower out of plan. You can buy a higher mileage diesel car.

Personally, I don't have love for the diesels but you are making a mistake if you think a 320i or 328i would be a better car/buy than a 320d or 330d (even if the F30 30d is higher mileage and older). Pre-facelift or facelift diesels would be better, hands down.

Good luck with the search!

 

[Schalk94]

@KPM330 I agree with your sentiments,but I really doubt that the f30 320d would make anywhere near stock 328i power unless you gou crazy with mods. My father's 328i made 184wkw(dyno sheet available) at Colab with just a DP,before software,where 320d 320ds with DP,SW and Cooler usually only make in the region of 140wkw. The jump between the cars is massive.

---

@KPM330 I agree with your sentiments,but I really doubt that the f30 320d would make anywhere near stock 328i power unless you gou crazy with mods. My father's 328i made 184wkw(dyno sheet available) at Colab with just a DP,before software,where 320d 320ds with DP,SW and Cooler usually only make in the region of 140wkw. The jump between the cars is massive.

 

[KPM3_30]

@KPM330 I agree with your sentiments,but I really doubt that the f30 320d would make anywhere near stock 328i power unless you gou crazy with mods. My father's 328i made 184wkw(dyno sheet available) at Colab with just a DP,before software,where 320d 320ds with DP,SW and Cooler usually only make in the region of 140wkw. The jump between the cars is massive.

@schalk320d, completely understand your point.. My thoughts, bear in mind I said stock 328i power levels (also looking at sea level - Dbn):

Stock 328i: 180kw and 350nm
Stock 320d: 140kw and 400nm

The 320d is down 40kw and 50nm up on the 328i, stock for stock. Stage 2 (DP + SW),should bring the 320d to roughly 155wkw/181fwk and 500wnm/585fwn. Given that torque figure alone (>200nm), the deficit of approx 25wkw, is hardly anything in the greater scheme of things.. My point was simply around buying a 320d, spending approx. R10k on mods and bringing you close enough to stock 328i power, with the reliability that the diesel engines are known for.

For me, any N20 engine is a no go, regardless of it being post 2014 or not, hence my rationale.. I love both petrol and diesel engines for different reasons, but I would not spend my money on any N20 powered BMW.

 

[Iceman007]

I want you to go do something. Go find a 330d at a dealer and just go and test drive it. Then come back and give us feedback. Had a 320d from 10000km to 109000km before the 330d and its also an amazing car. Would still have that 320d if the 330d did not fall into my hands.

I have seen a few horrors with those 320i and 328i engines. They noisy and not smooth so you can just aswell go for reliability and get a 320d and have it tuned. My stock 320d pulled ahead of the stock 320i and stayed there. Once again go test drive a 330d and then give us feedback.

 

[Salt]

Wow...overwhelming in favour of the diesels hey. If I would need to mod the 320d I'd rather then get a 330d as I am not really sure I'd mod it especially if I proceed with motorplan extension or warranty extension.

Can I just ask one question...why so against the petrol engines? Is it due to the timing chain failures I've read about? I see that those were supposed to have been fixed after 2014 - is the LCI from 2015 onward?

I will go and test drive the lot...its good advice.

---

And hahaha...I like the humor.