As some of you may know from previous threads, I have a Mk2 PFL ST3.

It's sensibly modified with a RS clutch, Bluefin stage 2 map, turbo back exhaust with 200 cell cat, rally flaps and rear window tints.
I've owned it for over 5 years now and I absolutely love it. However! Since buying the mrs a 1 Series, it had brought it back to me that BMW's are proper drivers cars and I really like it. It's only a 120d Msport but it's a great car. It handles great, it's got a proper low down driving position and inside it's just a really nice place to be. Just drove it to Chester and back and loved it. The only thing it lacks is a fair few ponies!
Now this has got me thinking, what about a E90 330d Msport. Plenty of power with loads of grunt (more if mapped), RWD, great handling, great driving position, a pretty nice place to be inside, cheaper road tax than the ST (£190 for the later ones), and better mpg.
I've always said I'd never get rid of the ST cos i do love it.The only things i dont like are the high up driving position, the horrendous road tax and the average 25ish mpg, but since I've been back behind the wheel of a beemer it really has got me thinking.
Now I know this is Passion Ford so obviously opinions are probably going to be a bit biased! But what does everyone think? Anyone owned one?
Also if I do decide to go for one, does anyone want a 5dr ST
This could be a really difficult decision cos like I've said I bloody love the ST and that 5 pot noise!

 

Can someone remove one of these threads cos some how I've managed to post it twice

 

Also, I've read that the auto's with the paddle shift are the ones to go for, but not sure about this. I've never driven a car with flappy paddles and always been a proper manual man! But then again, in the past 5 years the thought of getting rid of the ST has never entered my head, so who knows where I'll end up! What's people's thoughts on the flappy paddle gear box?

 

I had a 2013 330d with BMW power pack, was very quick and the 8 speed box made it brilliant, very good car and you would not be disappointed, that car now (mine was a touring / estate with power boot and power tow bar) is about £20k, they have wonderful Satan and heated seats etc. Mine had motorsport big brakes too.

 

I kind of like the idea of the touring / estate as well due to the extra space with having a family and all that.
No way I could go for one as new as that, if I was to take the plunge it would be around a 2008-9.

 

I've got a 525d touring, not quite the power but still a six pot, goes well for a big car but would be better with a remap, just past it's mot today but I would think so only doing 1750 miles in 12 months, not really what they are designed for but it does school run for the wife and occasionally tows my trailer

 

Passion Ford?? This place has been passion BMW for ages

I had an e39 530d the open diff spoiled the car for me, I tuned mine to around 260bhp and it went well and the engine was good, the later m57n iirc was fitted with bigger turbo and maybe injectors.

performance wise the 335d would be the car to go for but apparently have a few common issues, give some seriously impressive figures after a map though

 

Blue Oval through and through.... Its the brand I'm an enthusiast of... My ST500 stays put regardless of cost.

 

I'm a Blue Oval through and through... My ST500 stays put regardless of cost. I'm an enthusiast of the brand...

 

Tough choice, loved my ST (well the engine) for the short while I owned it, didn't really rate the rest of the car all that much. Go for the BM, you can always switch back if youn don't gel with the 330d.

 

I've always enjoyed driving my Fathers F30 320d than any MK2/MK3 Focus ST. Like you say, they're just a much better drivers car.

 

My mate had a saloon 33d and he had nothing but bother. The turbo shit itself then the auto box wouldnt change up tje gears all the time.

 

A recovery guy told me BMWs are the most unreliable cars at the moment and when they do break down there are all sorts of problems.

 

I've had bmw's for the last 7-8 years and have never needed anything other than service items, pads, battery etc, much nicer drive than the company cars I've had

 

I have only had a problem with a faulty injector and BMW changed 4 for free out of warranty and I paid for the other 2 on a 135i. I have owned 10 BMWs from e30 M3 to new 3 series and never had a costly fix. More than I can say for my Range Rovers or Merc.

 

My mate used to work for a back street garage that i used to go in and see him. There used to always be bms mercs audis in for bad faults.

He used to say "there fookin shite"

 

I took a 330d out for a test drive today as there is one at a local dealership. Not a great spec but thought I've got this itch, let's go and scratch it! Was very surprised at how well it went compared to the ST. Absolutely loads of grunt! It didn't sound bad either. It also had the flappy paddle gearbox, which I'm not totally convinced about. However, if I do get properly serious about this, I don't think the flappy paddles would necessarily be a deal breaker if the car was the spec I wanted. Think I need to drive a manual one as well.
A friend of a friend has a remapped 330d so gonna see if I can have a go in that sometime, although that's a bloody auto as well.

 

My mates 530d was a bloody quick car. Im sure it was remapped cause it felt bloody quicker than my cossie.

 

I had a race with a Audi a5 3.0tdi when I had my 300bhp focus st. They were both very evenly matched which surprised me! No idea if the Audi was standard or not though.

I would probably be quite bored of a 330d after a while and wish I had my st back though!

 

It wouldn't me, it would have had less power, but more torque.

On a longer run I should think you would pull away, but in the real world you never reach those speeds, so it doesn't really matter.

Martin

 

test drive one first. I didn't consider the e90 chassis to handle well in the slightest.


my friends 335i handled like a barge in comparison to my 135i

 

BMW all day long - they drive so much nicer and if you get the 330d mapped it will probably be quicker than your ST anyway whilst still returning 40mpg

 

This is kind of my thinking! Will need to save up a few grand though cos if I sell the ST I don't think I'll have enough to get a good one. So might just start saving, then when I've got enough I can sell the ST and get what I want, if I still want to. If during that time I decide I can't part with the ST then I'll just keep it and use the money for something else.

 

Sold my E90 330D M Sport last year.
MPG was always good, handling was pretty good too.
Everytime I pulled away people asked what I had done to it as it sounded like a V8 as it "roared"
Only reason I changed was I moved to a newer F30 tourer 320D M Sport, this does drive and feel a lot different, but it is a lot newer

 

Ive recently bought an e90 330d msport for my new daily. Its generally great car, there are a few annoying things about it though, as an example the general interior build quality isn't as good as i expected it to be.

I wanted a manual but the autos do suit the engine quite well.

It came with a stage 2 remap which is apparently good for about 60hp so close to 300hp. Not too sure about that but it goes well and is a nice linear power delivery. Averages 41 - 42 mpg too.

I was also only looking at the earlier m57 engined cars as there should be less trouble with these and they don't suffer from the stupid n series timing chain issue

 

In a bit of a dilemma now! I came across this one yesterday, it's less than 10 miles from me and ticks virtually all my boxes! Don't know what to do now. I would need to get rid of my ST first and then borrow a bit. Might just give the guy a ring and have a chat about it. If it sounds as good as it looks (not keen on the wheels, but the standard ones come with it), then I might advertise mine and just see what happens.

 

Spoke to the guy and it does sound very good indeed! Have just put mine on Gumtree so I'll guess we'll see what happens.
What am I doing :

 

Looks nice that mate. Im thinking of a f10 535d next year. Sick of driving a cmax now lol.

 

Have you looked at mk4 mondeo titanium x sports?? I tjink there stunning.

 

A mate has got one in black and it's a very nice car. However, it's only 4 cylinders, 2.2ltr and front wheel drive. None of which I'm interested in.

 

Mondeo comes no where near ..the feel and feed back you get from the BM and more comfort ..is league's apart .

 

I thought i would just mention the mondy cause you said you liked your Focus ST.

 

When the mk4 Mondeo was released it was said that it was better than its German rivals at the time. Better built, comfier and more refined. However if I was choosing either, i'd have the bmw!

 

All suggestions are appreciated but you're wrong saying I like my ST - I bloody love the thing! But like I said at the start of this thread, getting back behind the wheel of a BMW has really reminded me of just how good a drivers car they are - perfectly balanced, real sharp steering, great handling, proper low down driving position, rwd and just a very nice place to be. My last beemer was an 'M' reg 320i and those six cylinder engines are just so smooth.
The focus is a completely different beast. Love the agressive looks and the leather Recaros (even though you're just sat way too high), and that 5 pot is a bit of a special engine (well in my eyes anyway ), after 5 1/2 years i still never tire of that growl and the burbles, pops and bangs on the over run. To me it's one of those special cars that Ford has made. Not in the same league as the Cosworth as it doesn't have the racing heritage, but none the less still a special car. If I do get rid of it, it will certainly be the hardest car I've parted with and it will be quite a sad moment. I would just hope it's next potential owner treats it with the love and respect that I have over the years.
Sometimes though it's just time to move on. I do worry I'll regret it though in years to come, like many people on here who sold there Cosworths, RS Turbos etc and now regret it.
You never know though, I may still change my mind at the 11th hour!

 

Most people who regret selling Cossies and Mk1 RS turbos regret it as can't justify the cost of one now, if you regret selling a focus I am sure you will buy one dirt cheap innyrs to come, great cars but thousands sold so you could buy another for not a lot later.

The BMW is a better all round product and you won't regret it.

 

Thats part of the appeal and is probably what will sway my decision in the end. Much better all round product, silky smooth, reasonable running costs and still goes like stink when you feel the need.

Still got to sell the ST first before I can get serious about the one I've found. Had well over 200 views of my ad on Gumtree since yesterday, but no calls or messages yet.

 

I wont be selling my cossie. Or less some shit happens and i need to for the cash.

 

Well the ST went on ebay today. Going to look at the beemer I found just up the road tonight!

 

Been over and seen it and it's superb! A very very nice car. It's got the odd stone chip but hey its a seven year old car. Apart from that it's faultless. Service history is all in order with bills to back up the stamps in the book. I even like the wheels now I've seen them in the flesh. Took it for a drive and again, faultless. Just so smooth and effortless.
Just got to shift the ST now - hopefully before he sells it!

 

Well things seem to be coming together and it looks like I'll be parting company with the ST. Had a fair bit of interest since putting it on ebay and as such I have taken a deposit on it. And as a result of that I have now put a deposit on the beemer.
The only problem now is time! I put the old plates back on the st yesterday, so now I've got to wait for the new V5 to come back which could take 3-5 days.This wouldn't normally be a problem but we're going away for the week on Saturday! So I really need to get this done before then so that we don't have to wait another week. Fingers crossed it'll get here in time and then the buyer can come down and hopefully complete the deal, and then I can go and complete the deal on the beemer. Then I'll have a nice new toy to go on holiday with.