Thanks for all the advise gents:thumbs: Some valid points for me to think about:ty: F30 will be out of my price range. I'd probably be looking at something in the region of around 200-250k. If I keep the 330 it just means saving up a little longer for a 2nd car. Mileage on my 330 is skyrocketing but I know the car and I know it's good for much more without hassle:thumbs: Long distance open road seems to be keeping the motor in tip top shape. If I were doing the same mileage in stop/start traffic I think it would have put a lot more strain on the motor. I also think it's worth more to me than what people would be willing to pay for it so that's another reason for me to hold onto it.
-
Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
Moving from an E46 330i to....
- Thread starter Bavs108
- Start date
AdiS
Well-known member
I think given the mileage that you do, the 330i is one of the best cars for the job. L I fully agree with, 'rather the devil you know that the devil you don't'; and with the way you maintain your 330i it should be good for 300k km. I think rather get something special like an M car and keep it for weekends.
ASH
New member
I don't want to sound biased due to what I currently drive but if you really enjoy the feel/sound of your 330i i.e. straight six power,why not test drive a 125i E82, & one with a decent chunk of M/Plan. When I moved from E46 to E9x, I was left very disappointed as even though the E9x was a much more modern vehicle, it lacked that seat of the pants driving appeal of the E46 (I had only owned a 323ci & the 2.2l 320i).
I am relating my personal experience when I was car-shopping. Look, I know the 125i isn't in the same performance league as a 135i, but purchasing a used 135i is a bit of a headache as most have been modified, or are close to end of M/plan, when being put on the market for sale. Insurance on the 135i is also steep. An E46 M3 would come with no M/Plan, very difficult to find a clean one, owners will hang on to minters, or ask a hefty premium, as the car is worth it, insurance again another cost.
I feel the general opinion regarding fuel consumption is over exaggerated with the 125i, I know from personal experience, you can get good fuel consumption from a 125i, if driven reasonably. I think with your budget you can pick up a decent 125i with a decent chunk of M/Plan, out of M/plan, I would imagine these cars being relatively straight forward to maintain as any other straight six BMW. It really is a fun car to drive, which is similar to the E46, in driving dynamics terms, one which will always leave you with a smile.
My 2cents.......:thumbs:
I am relating my personal experience when I was car-shopping. Look, I know the 125i isn't in the same performance league as a 135i, but purchasing a used 135i is a bit of a headache as most have been modified, or are close to end of M/plan, when being put on the market for sale. Insurance on the 135i is also steep. An E46 M3 would come with no M/Plan, very difficult to find a clean one, owners will hang on to minters, or ask a hefty premium, as the car is worth it, insurance again another cost.
I feel the general opinion regarding fuel consumption is over exaggerated with the 125i, I know from personal experience, you can get good fuel consumption from a 125i, if driven reasonably. I think with your budget you can pick up a decent 125i with a decent chunk of M/Plan, out of M/plan, I would imagine these cars being relatively straight forward to maintain as any other straight six BMW. It really is a fun car to drive, which is similar to the E46, in driving dynamics terms, one which will always leave you with a smile.
My 2cents.......:thumbs:
go big or go home...
ether get a *35i or an e46 M3 anything less will be paying more for more or less the same as you have now...
ether get a *35i or an e46 M3 anything less will be paying more for more or less the same as you have now...
Doomsdaya said:Bavs108 said:
Do you have a heavy foot that your consumption is between 8 & 9l/100km
If not, I thought the 6 speed 330i's are light on fuel with highway driving, should be better than my 328i. +/- how many kilometers you average with half and a full tank ?
Nope 8.5-9l/100km is my combined consumption including weekends. I do 600km in a 5 day week and still have enough fuel to get me through the weekends quite easily which is a little more spirited and mostly in town:rollsmile: in the week my average consumption sits at around 7.5-8, come the weekend it goes up to 9-10. Pure long distance like when I drive to jhb I get anywhere between 6.5-7.5l/100km with a light foot:thumbs: I average around 700km on a tank. I don't push it hard during the week because there's seldom need to rush so I set cruise control to 110 in the slow lane and watch everyone in a frantic rush to get to and from work:rollsmile:
Doomsdaya
///Member
Bavs108 said:Doomsdaya said:Bavs108 said:
Do you have a heavy foot that your consumption is between 8 & 9l/100km
If not, I thought the 6 speed 330i's are light on fuel with highway driving, should be better than my 328i. +/- how many kilometers you average with half and a full tank ?
Nope 8.5-9l/100km is my combined consumption including weekends. I do 600km in a 5 day week and still have enough fuel to get me through the weekends quite easily which is a little more spirited and mostly in town:rollsmile: in the week my average consumption sits at around 7.5-8, come the weekend it goes up to 9-10. Pure long distance like when I drive to jhb I get anywhere between 6.5-7.5l/100km with a light foot:thumbs: I average around 700km on a tank. I don't push it hard during the week because there's seldom need to rush so I set cruise control to 110 in the slow lane and watch everyone in a frantic rush to get to and from work:rollsmile:
Cool thanks man :thumbsup: your consumption is about the same as my car...
This past few months been thinking about selling my car and getting a 6 speed e46 330i but they are hard to come by in white.
BillyBob
Active member
I've just pulled the trigger on an E90 330d Sportspack automatic to replace my own 2004 E46 330i M-sport...
Make no mistake, I love my 330i - it's been reliable, it's great to drive spiritedly, and it's probably BMW's best sounding motor aside from //M engines and the 2.7 from the E30 325iS.
That being said, the E90 is a better all-rounder as a commuter - it's a more modern car, it's more comfortable, with iDrive, etc, has more space (important as we have a little one on the way) - and in the same breath, a stock 330d is quicker than a 330i in Gauteng, and can quite easily trade blows with E46 M3's at altitude for around R10k's worth of mods - and it has a better suspension for tackling the twisties in real life conditions.
An E46 is highly revered as a driver's car - that, I can't deny... but the same was said of the E36 when compared to the E46 - we tend to look at the older models through rose-tinted glasses, but automotive technology does unfortunately move on.
My vote goes to an E90 330d for economy and effortless commuting, or a 335i if you want something with serious balls to it.
Oh, and as an aside - the E46 M3 isn't a great commuter - 5 years ago, I'd have put up with it quite happily as a daily - but as of late, I found my 330i to be a much more pleasant place to be in the daily commuting grind... Something that was highlighted when my 330i went in for a clutch replacement and I used the M3 to work and back for two weeks.
The M3 was sold earlier this week - I'll miss its hooligan appeal as a weekend warrior - but as an only car / daily driver, they do present you with some pretty major compromises.
Hope that helps.
Make no mistake, I love my 330i - it's been reliable, it's great to drive spiritedly, and it's probably BMW's best sounding motor aside from //M engines and the 2.7 from the E30 325iS.
That being said, the E90 is a better all-rounder as a commuter - it's a more modern car, it's more comfortable, with iDrive, etc, has more space (important as we have a little one on the way) - and in the same breath, a stock 330d is quicker than a 330i in Gauteng, and can quite easily trade blows with E46 M3's at altitude for around R10k's worth of mods - and it has a better suspension for tackling the twisties in real life conditions.
An E46 is highly revered as a driver's car - that, I can't deny... but the same was said of the E36 when compared to the E46 - we tend to look at the older models through rose-tinted glasses, but automotive technology does unfortunately move on.
My vote goes to an E90 330d for economy and effortless commuting, or a 335i if you want something with serious balls to it.
Oh, and as an aside - the E46 M3 isn't a great commuter - 5 years ago, I'd have put up with it quite happily as a daily - but as of late, I found my 330i to be a much more pleasant place to be in the daily commuting grind... Something that was highlighted when my 330i went in for a clutch replacement and I used the M3 to work and back for two weeks.
The M3 was sold earlier this week - I'll miss its hooligan appeal as a weekend warrior - but as an only car / daily driver, they do present you with some pretty major compromises.
Hope that helps.
Thanks for all the advise gents:ty: Definitely need to sit down and weigh up my options:idea: Although at this stage it's just playing with hypothetical scenarios so I have the time and patience to look around like I did with my 330 which I spent a good 6 months looking for:fencelook: It certainly paid off in the end though:rollsmile:
go drive an e90 and an M3 then do the sums 
Similar threads
