Kevin_Mc

I know this should really be on a specific owners forum but i'm waiting to be approved on e90post and while i wait i thought i'd ask on here as there are plenty of current and former BMW owners and others in the trade that may be able to help.

I'm looking for a new (to me) car, something bigger as we have our 2nd baby on the way and thought that an e90 335 would tick all the boxes. Rear doors for the occasional time that we'll use my car instead of the wife's Sportage, plenty of room in the back for two car seats, a decent enough boot for the pram and other shit children lug about but still good looking enough for me to want to be seen in, good to drive and quick too.

I'm only interested in the e90 as i want a saloon and it must be pre-facelift as i don't like the look of the later cars but i'm not sure if i should go for a diesel or a petrol. I only do about 12k miles a year, maybe up it to 15k if we start using it more at weekends, i travel about 25 miles a day to work and back on mostly motorways so logic is telling me that a petrol would be the best option. The thing is i have a modded Fabia vRS just now and although it's in a totally different league from the 335s i never thought i'd go back to a petrol daily again as i kick it's head in and still get over 500 miles to a tank. I plan on having a weekend toy so out and out performance isn't that important and both will feel fast compared to my 175bhp Skoda.

The diesel only comes as an auto, which i wouldn't mind as the weekend toy would be a manual, but if i'm honest i would prefer having a clutch, which only leaves the petrol version. Even at that manuals are thin on the ground.

Can anyone offer any advice?

Joris_FRST

I'd get a 320d, drive it like you stole it, and spend more money on the weekend car

R4N SS

iTrader: (6)

if its an everyday cruiser then an auto diesel would be my choice - you have the weekend toy to scratch the manual and power itch

andy888

335d auto all the way.

Kevin_Mc

I think that's the way i'm swaying although from what i've read the diesel turbos can have issues. Saying that, the petrols have their share of issues too.

rallycross

I have been running 335i's since I got bored of running Evo's/Impreza sti/spec C etc.
they are a good alrounder and were amazing value 2nd hand - much cheaper than 330d/335d although I think prices are now more even.

We recently had at the same time a 320d and 330d and my 335i.
the mpg on a manual 335i averages about 27, the auto is more like 23.
the 330d averages about 37-40 which is similar to the 320d which is a horrible noisy vibrating tractor compared to the 6 cylinder models.

335d is rare and expensive and auto only and a 330d with a remap is has similar power and mpg and much easier to find and quite a few in manual as well.

note - make sure you find one with the the sports seats and sports steering wheel as a the standard se seats are rubbish.

It's Czech Mate

Given I own an E90/91 my advice is get something else if you have kids, the boot is crap IMO

grant_xr

E91 430d owner here - love it as a family car. Great all rounder performance looks etc but got to agree on the boot space. It's shit, so much so I've bought a roof box! 😂

grant_xr

* 330d

The Crocodile Hunter

I've got an e90 330d as my daily, its a great all rounder for my commute, however as said above its no family car unless you get the estate.

I discounted a 335d as they are all auto and as well suited to the engine as they are i just didn't want one

Kevin_Mc

thanks for all the replies.

i thought the boot would be decent. I got a lift in an F30 the other day and the buggy and car seat fitted easily in the boot, i thought the e90 would have been similar. As long as it fits a buggy that folds flat and there's room for a rucksack next to it it'll be plenty room. We have the wife's Sportage for more. It has to be better than my Fabia.

grant_xr

Fits a buggy with some shopping ok, it's more a holiday trip away or taking a child and all its belongings for a sleepover somewhere then there isn't much free space

XRT_si

iTrader: (2)

The early N54 engines like to eat coils, plugs, injectors, high-pressure fuel pumps, water pumps and turbos. They make mega power and torque though. My old one made 420bhp and 500lb ft of torque at 3000rpm.

Ther later N55 engine (from 2010) is a lot more bullet proof, but less powerful.

steve-26

I've owned my 2007 335d for 18mths now and I still enjoy driving it. it's done 130,000 miles and still feels like a fresh engine with no knocks bangs ect. The only issues I've had so far have been faulty boost solinoid on the small turbo and a blocked dpf so I've had this removed and remap done at the same time. It's been on a dyno and is perducing a healthy 330bhp and 500ft torque. My daily commute that involves a lot of stop start traffic I get on average 37mpg a week .

Caddyshack

This 540 looks a good alternative IMO

Very trustworthy seller too.

http://walkersautotech.co.uk/used-bm...x-for-sale.htm

steve-26

But for about £1000 more then that 540 you could pick up a M5. I know which one I would prefere lol

Caddyshack

True, Andy says the M5 isn't as good as it should be and is very expensive to own in comparison though.

Kevin_Mc

sounds good - i've decided i'm going for the diesel, i just need to sell my Fabia and find the right car. I'd go for a remap too and ideally remove the dpf at the same time as opposed to when it's fucked and i don't have the cash to have it removed / replaced and have the warning light mapped out.

That 540i looks good but i don't need anything as big as that plus the tax on them (and 335i's) must be crippling!