Help me decide what to get.

Dopi

New member
late 2008 320d manual/automatic with the N47 (130kw/350NM) engine. My brother bought a 2008 320d facelift earlier this year with 100000km, full house for 165k. They rarely come that cheap but if you are patient you will get one. Enough power and can get alot more from a remap. Returns 6.5l/km and he is very heavy on the throttle.
 

LPM320

///Member
I have had this e90/e60 vs. the older debate with family and friends quite often. I really dont believe that the e90 is a bad quality vehicle at all, just when placed next to the older (iron generation) BMW's, there is no contest. I still believe that a well serviced and maintained e32/e34/e36/e38/e39/e46 will outlast any later BMW, or any other late model car for that matter at higher mileages. The only thing is you will never be driving a new vehicle. Its a give and take situation.

The e90 has followed the route of many other vehicle manufacturers i.e trying to get the most out of a vehicle for the least expense possible, and it is starting to show. E90 6 cylinder oil usage, e90 323i camshaft wear, earlier e90 335i HPFP problems, 2007 e90 steering lock issues, e60 M5 oil level issues, etc, etc...

Later model BMW's are still definetely worth owning, just that after motorplan are on your own in relatively uncharted territory. I think that trying to compare reliabilty on a car that is 7 years old and has covered only 100 000+ km against cars that have proven their metal at well over 300 000 km and 15+ years of age (there are dozens of e36's, e32's, e34's, e39's and even a few e46's to back this up) is abit fruitless. Lets just wait for the e90's to prove thier high mileage and old age mettle before we can start defending their reliability. I think we can all agree that over engineering (something that BMW did oh so well) is almost dead.

Lets face it, all new car makers (and not just BMW) have followed this "disposable" trend. Damn sad, but its true.

@novio: I dont think that the e90 is as bad as stories make it out to be, its just that they seem to have quite a few more niggles than the previous generation, whether this is a case of theres just more to go wrong, or poor engineering is anybodies guess. If you dont have a motorplan then this could prove to be a costly excercise. I think that if you are going to own an e90, motorplan will be the ultimate piece of mind. If you feel that you really need a change of vehicle, and cant hold on to your legendary e36, then a 320i/325i/330i e46 F/L can only be the other choice. If your heart still wants an e90, then just try to get one that is as new as possible (later models generally have teething problems ironed out) and make sure it still has MP (to protect your bank balance)

I still regret selling my e36 328i to this day. I wish I never did. based on that, decide carefully....
 

telegamer

Member
go out look at different models....find one or two that catch your eye...check service history, comments etc....and buy...then enjoy:rollsmile:
 

Doomsdaya

///Member
novio said:
I will probably have around 160k to spend on a newer BMW.

I want to keep the next car for as LONG as possible, with the LEAST amount of problems, and with the BEST possible fuel consumption (since etolls will come eventually).....but I also want to smile with pride every time I look at that car in the garage...i.e. nothing under a 2L engine:)

Novio did you get my pm ? still waiting for your invite buddy :)

From all the comments LPM320 has summed it best, couldn't agree any less with all the points he mentioned :thumbsup:

I started a new job & was thinking of ditching the 328i & VW Jetta for an E90. Then I looked at things from a financial (Indian/Jew/Scrooge) point of view & decided I was better off with what I currently have...
 

Andy1GP

///Member
If you have to own something newer rather get an E46 and keep the E36 as well. Spending well under your budget and having loads of change to maintain/service them and the fuel bill.

You can pick up prime example E46's like SP33DyV's 330i that sold recently. The parts are easily and cheaply available, as well as lots of knowledge and DIY around, not to mention resident mechies like Gizmo that can sort you out, not that you need to as you'll find a decent one.

The debate regarding diesels being more expensive than petrols is TRUE! Only if you intend on keeping it for say 3-5years and doing up to 150k-200k km on it. Service for service there's nothing in it, but boy when the diesel needs attention it's a whole lot more than the petrol equivalent.

E46 33d is great but E46 330i would get my vote over and over again. You mention issue free motoring and resale and IMO the 330i should have more of both in either E46 or E90 guise.

Search online for BMW's in your price range and see if anything pops up besides what's been discussed that appeals to you. But by the sounds of it, it's going to be another 330i vs 330d duel!

Ps don't think I'm biased against diesels. I still own one :thumbs:
 

novio

Member
my brain is about to pop. more confused now than ever:rollsmile:

Here's the biggest problem with keeping the e36.....

Ultimately, wife considers it 'less safe' than a newer car....because kids in the next 5 yrs are a high possibility....and she refuses flat to put kids in it, not because I'm a useless driver, but because of accident technology development most newer cars have. So even if I do restore it, she sill still consider it an inferior car.

I know I know....I'm whooped.....but I'm also in a joined relationship where each action affects us both, and I'm not the type of person to say shut the f*** up to my wife.

Again, if it were up to me entirely, I would gladly take my budget and restore the e36 to mint condition....not that it would cost that much, but I love the car and feel its worth every penny.

Having said all that, I have no clue what to get now. I think I will just have to wait till the time comes, see what I can afford, and consider all options very carefully. If anything, this debate has shown that all cars considered here are indeed good cars, otherwise the debate would not have been so heated and opinionated.....so thank you all, you guys rock, all of you!

I'm surprised no one backs the 1 series up though. There are a few good looking 130i's on the web. I know I'm off my 'fuel efficient' mark, but they are growing on me slowly. Its not like I need a lot of leg room for toddlers, so the wife will be happy, and I will be happy with the power, even moreso if its remapped at Xede.....which also would probably improve fuel efficiency. And being a petrol, the high mileage will cost less to maintain than the diesel.....

I just dont know anymore...rofl
 

Doomsdaya

///Member
novio said:
Here's the biggest problem with keeping the e36.....

Ultimately, wife considers it 'less safe' than a newer car....because kids in the next 5 yrs are a high possibility....and she refuses flat to put kids in it, not because I'm a useless driver, but because of accident technology development most newer cars have. So even if I do restore it, she sill still consider it an inferior car.

In that case, your wife got a valid point. According to the Euro NCAP tests, the e36 scored poorly while the e46 & e90 were excellent.

IMHO theres nothing wrong with an e90 out of MP, few members here got pristine examples of petrol & diesels going strong after 150k mark. The only thing that scares me about e90's is price of parts, its very expensive compared to the e36 & e46.

novio said:
I'm surprised no one backs the 1 series up though. There are a few good looking 130i's on the web. I know I'm off my 'fuel efficient' mark, but they are growing on me slowly. Its not like I need a lot of leg room for toddlers, so the wife will be happy, and I will be happy with the power, even moreso if its remapped at Xede.....which also would probably improve fuel efficiency. And being a petrol, the high mileage will cost less to maintain than the diesel.....

How sure are you the wife will be happy with a 1 series :rofl:

Power - yes
Safety - yes
Boot space - A BIG NO :rofl:

Get a 5 series & she'll be happy :)
 

moranor@axis

///Member
Official Advertiser
find some of those pics of G5s ripped in half (5 star car) show here some vids of race car crashes where the car gets ripped up but the cage saves the driver

fit a roll cage that clears the back seat and put lots of padding :)
 
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