Help me decide what to get.

[Gizmo]

I also agree that the e90 isn't built to last, they are disposable cars meaning you throw it away when motorplan expires.

IMO Sir you are way of track with those statements. I know lots of E90s with high mileage and no issues (off motorplan).

That being said, I know tonnes of people who have had endless shit with their e90's still under motorplan which not even BMW can fix...Not the case with the reliable/fixable e46...

 

[Sibs Individual]

My suggestion is obvious.

e46 F/L 330i sport pack. Truly truly awesome car.

 

[novio]

My suggestion is obvious.

e46 F/L 330i sport pack. Truly truly awesome car.

:rollsmile:

 

[Nick]

Im with Gizmo on this one. low km 330i stick shift!!

 

[moranor@axis]

the e46 and e39 were the end of an era... times have changed and cars are moving with it...

fixing things now days is in most cases not worth it because manufacture is so cheap... cars are most definitely reflecting this... parts that were serviceable are now disposable... how far down that rabbit hole the e90 goes im not sure, but the way the interior wears compared to the e46 worries me alot...

long term i have no doubt the e46 will age better than the e90 they were built for different times and what was important to buyers when the e46 was designed is very different to what they wanted when the e90 was designed...

 

[Gizmo]

My suggestion is obvious.

e46 F/L 330i sport pack. Truly truly awesome car.

:rollsmile:

There you have it, E46 330i it is!!!

 

[prado]

I'm really worried about what I have read here! I have an E39 that's really in need of replacement.

I so much want an E90 330i Manual, but I'm scared stiff now! I do not want an E46 - I cannot see myself let go of an E39 for an E46 but how long can one drive an E39?

I don't like the E60 shape at all - only the more expensive Sportspack in manual, otherwise no way. I can't afford the F10 off course!

But I need to move on! And, I thought the E90 was the way to go!

 

[Dippies]

E90 320d MSport

:thumbs:

What kind of Xede powa can you give the 320d? if you have done lower range vehicles? I assume a remap would improve fuel economy too.

Dont want to make this a Xcede thread , will PM you. We do all cars and anything in the BM range.

:thumbs:

---

530d. The 5 series is super comfy for a chilled drive to work, has great space for holidays, and the 3.0L turbo diesel will hurl you to the horizon on a little amount of fuel... not as little as a 320d, but then you will have the extra power without the need to mod.

LZ has a 530d and he loves it.

Agree with NIC as well , meant to say the 530d as well. Its one awesome car and very good value for money.

:idea:

---

I also agree that the e90 isn't built to last, they are disposable cars meaning you throw it away when motorplan expires.

IMO Sir you are way of track with those statements. I know lots of E90s with high mileage and no issues (off motorplan). Guess we all entitled to our different opinions. Ownership vs Opinion vs personal preference is what needs to be considered when searching any forum for any answer.

Its like a E30 325is, its not ownership or opinions or personal preference that makes one wants such a car , its a cult and following that gives a person the desire to go out and buy the car.

Anycase just my two cents worth

---

---

despite everything that was said here on the forum. I must just say this. I bought a e 90 and the car has now got 120k on it. no problems and no issues. Out of motor plan and its being serviced by reliable service centre Ross Duncan in midrand. The service also does not cost me a arm and and a leg.

Second how you drive and look after the vehicle will ultimately ensure how long it will last. The e46 had endless problems with turbo failures c thread Reliability poll thread i think it's in the diesel section on the forum and you will now what i'm referring to. Maybe that's also o good place to start. before you are given the wrong impression about the e90 or any other models.

Thirdly the diesels is not so much to maintain as a service costs is not that high.

I believe in the E90 i own the 2007 model and believe that most of the issues was sorted out with this version. Never had a problem and the car is Reliable. Had no issues to date.

Go visit the reliability poll and let the numbers do the talking.
I do not agree or disagree with any member post in this thread and is purely my opinion in this regard.

Good luck with the buy i hope you make the right choice. :thumbs:

---

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=35776

 

[SP33DYV]

I would say it depends on your needs. If you want a 330i petrol with a manual 'box and you're not stressed about fuel consumption, than get one. An e46 or an e90 330i. It doesn't really matter, but in this case, you might as well keep the e36 328i.
If you're concerned about consumption and you're gonna be stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on a daily basis, get an e90 320d auto. If you want the best of both worlds get an e90 330d Auto.
It is true that the e90 interior does wear quicker than the e46's. This I've seen personally, especially the steering wheel and certain other plastic bits. But if you look after your car, like mentioned above, it will still last for a long time to come.:thumbs:
I have probably just confused you even more.

 

[novio]

Thanks Dippies

Of course, you are right and it makes sense. How the car was handled by the initial owner/s makes a huge difference.

At the moment, I see my options funneled to 2 cars:

e46 330i manual facelift
e90 300d Auto or manual, sportspack
...depending on the budget

If its an e46, I would rather buy from a fanatic here, but using e90 budget for an e46 should guarantee one that is in good condition.

The e90 on the other hand is newer, and for that reason, still an option in my opinion. I dont see how BMW could drop quality control so far down in the space of one generation of vehicles. Maybe we are seeing a lot of problems on the e90s because there are a lot more of them out there......and a lot more idiot drivers who cant maintain them.

Either way, I really do appreciate all your opinions. I still have some time to think about stuff and make a decision later. the good news is, I'm still sticking to BMW......I could always go for an audi....or a polo....rofl:rollsmile:

 

[Dippies]

:thumbs::thumbs:

+1 amen brother

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

With all due respect, all I have to say to some comments here :nonono:

Have you ever owned a E90, forget about the stories you heard? I am on my second BMW build E90 now, and not a single problem.

I sold my previous E90 with 105 000km on the clock, interior still looked band new. I have seen various well kept and messed up models from any range. Does not necessarily mean car was not build to last.

Why should BMW keep building newer and improved models then? I must admit I think atm the E90 is better than the F30, but mostly because I still love my car to much and not financially ready yet to upgrade.

 

[Nic_s]

The main reason why I mentioned a 5 series is because you can get quite a bit more for your money as they are in much less demand than the 3 series. This alone makes it worth a good look before making a final decision. Seriously, just take a look at what you can get... you might be surprised at what you find and maybe even more surprised when you drive one if you haven't already.

+1 on avoiding the E46 diesels. Some of them have been going strong, but there's a lot of them that hasn't. I think in this case I would rather go for the E90 diesel, but I would aim for an '08 or later model. An E46 I think is a better choice that an E90 if you go petrol. Philip could tell you more about owning a E90 330i.

Personally, I would probably keep the E36. It's cheaper to maintain and MUCH easier to work on than the newer cars. I would not be to worried about adding to it's mileage either as a car that does mostly longer trips and can actually get up to temperature would not wear that much. Just make sure you service it properly and keep everything in check... you'll be fine.

 

[alleng]

My choice - E90 325i M Sport,manual. It has to be the M Sport for the racy cockpit. Seeing you do long distance you should get decent fuel consumption.
7l/100 on long distance. Short runs between 9.5l to 11l per 100 dependant on how much thrill u seek.

You should be able to pick up a 06/07 for around 160K.

Good Luck!

 

[Karthik]

Here's your solution

I don't believe that the E90's are of lower quality but either way 330d is the way to go in my opinion . One with motorplan left just to fix all small problems and have it like brand new again .

http://www.autotrader.co.za/used-ca...nnesburg-fpa-8ab2af183a40e64e013a64df01a74bf2

 

[novio]

What minor problems?

 

[Karthik]

What minor problems?

Small things like get a service , etc . My dad's E90 had a small problem where the passenger seat seatbelt didn't wanna engage . Stuff like that .

 

[Nic_s]

What minor problems?

Small things like get a service , etc . My dad's E90 had a small problem where the passenger seat seatbelt didn't wanna engage . Stuff like that .

Yea, sometimes cars have weird issues, but with motorplan you can always take it to BMW and...

Then they should just replace. So here I pretty much agree with a E90 330d with motorplan.

 

[NavZ]

Can't beat a 530d at its price. Have you had a look at the M-pack? Looks much much better than the standard bumper :thumbs:

 

[novio]

5 series to me feels like a 'big daddy' car. My brother has the e39 540i.....and its awesome.....but I'm sure you all have a specific range that 'suits' you. I think I'm too attached to the 3 series.