E90Post
 


Coby Wheel
 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > General E90 Sedan / E91 Wagon / E92 Coupe / E93 Cabrio > First BMW: 328i or 330i?



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      03-04-2014, 05:35 AM   #45
Efthreeoh
General
United_States
16948
Rep
18,580
Posts

Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Virginia

iTrader: (0)

So here is my 2 cents. You've gone into this concerned about cost of ownership. You said you are young and not a millionaire. Not that you have to be a millionaire to own a 3-Series, but any BMW can be expensive to maintain. Compared to Japanese cars and a lot of late model US cars, BMWs tend to break more often and can be expensive to repair. If you are used to having a trouble-free car experience, then BMW ownership is going to be difficult for you.

That said, if you are decent at DIY and have good mechanical skills and a good set of tools, then the ownership experience is much better. Owners who DIY tend to have an affection for their cars, which makes the ownership experience all that much better. But if you are an owner that just wants a trouble free Roundel-on-the-hood ownership experience, and have a limited budget, and are concerned about paying for repairs, then I suggest you wait awhile until your financial situation allows for a less-impactful ownership experience for you.
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2014, 07:31 AM   #46
GMe90
Captain
GMe90's Avatar
355
Rep
928
Posts

Drives: 2007 328i Coupe, ZSP, Premium
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Knoxville

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2003 BMW Z4 3.0i  [6.00]
2007 BMW 328i  [10.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesbmw1
Quote:
Originally Posted by GMe90 View Post
Both cars are great. I would definitely pick one with a manual transmission. The NA inline 6 loves to be revved and it works perfectly with the MT.
I've been looking for a MANUAL 328i for nearly 2 months now. And I rarely see am Manual one. I might have seen 2 so far in my 2months of searching.

Can I get any recommendations on where to search for PreOwned BMWs for sale?
I usually am on Autotrader and Cars . com and sometimes craigslist what else is a good link to find a manual BMW ?
You may want to check out websites of big BMW dealers when searching for a manual. For example, United BMW has a search option which allows you to browse their BMW inventory based on transmission.
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2014, 09:18 AM   #47
Meeni
Gateropode
Meeni's Avatar
329
Rep
2,848
Posts

Drives: BMW 330i 06
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: TN

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Delta0311 View Post
There is no difference between the two, the specs are exactly the same. Again this is NOT the same ZF tranny that you find in a 335.
You are mistaken. The ZF unit in the 335 is different that those of the 325/330, but they are close. The GM unit in 328 is significantly different (and it feels different when driving in M mode).
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2014, 11:41 AM   #48
axztx
Second Lieutenant
axztx's Avatar
United_States
12
Rep
219
Posts

Drives: 08 e92 328xi
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: NJ

iTrader: (4)

I've owned both. 330i was totaled 2 years ago
Currently own a 328xi coupe. I would definitely say the 330i is a better car due to ZF transmission alone and there is a noticeable power difference.

They only thing I don't miss is RWD. My old 330i was horrific in the snow and broke traction quite frequently on wet roads (new Conti DWS tires). I didn't particularly want an x-drive car but couldn't find a RWD coupe at the time I was looking. I am glad I now have the x-drive - this winter has been one of worst and the x-drive with all-season tires is absolutely great in all weather conditions (I'm not buying snow tires - so don't preach!).
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2014, 01:12 PM   #49
3s4u2
Beamer Mantic
3s4u2's Avatar
United_States
82
Rep
1,191
Posts

Drives: 2006 325i Prem
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Texas

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Meeni View Post
You are mistaken. The ZF unit in the 335 is different that those of the 325/330, but they are close. The GM unit in 328 is significantly different (and it feels different when driving in M mode).
Correct!
__________________
2006 325i
2006 M5
2008 X5 4.8i
2014 X5 50i M-Pkg
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2014, 05:54 PM   #50
norsairius
Foodie and Gearhead
norsairius's Avatar
United_States
101
Rep
733
Posts

Drives: 2011 335i xDrive Sedan
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: MN

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesbmw1 View Post
So all the 2009 328i's have the USB? Also, may I ask how much you paid for your 328i and did it have warranty and did you purchase from a BMW dealer? Also how many miles did you have?
As far as I know, they do. My car has the premium and cold weather packages though, so the premium package might have included the USB interface.

I paid around mid-$20k for my car. It had 19k miles on it and it was a CPO. My CPO warranty ends September 2015. Got the car March 2013.
__________________
2011 335i xDrive Sedan, Deep Sea Blue w/Oyster Interior
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2014, 10:05 PM   #51
DC_Oldboy
Q(*.*)-D Q-(^.~Q)
DC_Oldboy's Avatar
United_States
213
Rep
5,379
Posts

Drives: like an old person.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Bothell, WA

iTrader: (39)

Garage List
2006 BMW 330i  [8.48]
Quote:
Originally Posted by ping65810 View Post
Regardless of what others think, a 328 is hardly sluggish...230hp is plenty for a 3 series, and these cars are quite fast from the factory. Most people on here want a 335 only, and to them everything else is super slow, but remember, a 328 manual will still do a 5.9 sec 0-60 time, and is never short on power.

Manuals are a lot harder to find, but they are out there. Check out different dealer sites, esp the higher end dealers like Mercedes, Audi, etc. I bought mine from a Porsche dealer locally, where it had been traded in for a 911.

Also, if you go on the BMW USA website, you can do an inventory search nationwide to see what BMW dealers have in stock. My advice is to drive a few, compare options and what YOU want, and buy that. There are people on here who will swear by individual models, and admonish everything else. Buy what car YOU like and want, thats what matters most. For me, I've owned 6 BMW 3 series over the years, along with other vehicles, and love my 328 and couldn't be happier. It also brakes incredibly well too, even if the brakes aren't 330 sized- they are still larger than most cars on the road.
Fast from factory? Lol somebody lied to you.. Not to degrade the 328 owners since I do drive a N52 myself. But the fact is that in normal driving, it's sluggish unless you put it in DS mode. Only then it feels like you're driving a 'normal' car. In other words, the 'DS' mode is another way of saying the 'car is driving normally.' Lol. Having a manual 328 is different though so I'll give you that. But regardless 230 HP is underpowered IMO for a 3 series in today's standard where most cars puts out at least 250+ HP excluding compact cars.. Anyway I will say it again. Compared to a 330, the 328 is slower and feels sluggish. And this is not to steer OP away from getting a 328. I'm simply saying this because half the people makes assumptions when comparing the 328 to a 330 and I bet most of them haven't drove a 330.

If OP decides to get a 09+ E90, then obviously there's no contest. I'd rather drive a bone stock E90 LCI over a PRE-LCI.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2014, 10:23 PM   #52
Mardio
Brigadier General
197
Rep
3,211
Posts

Drives: 2017 X5
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Nashville

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Efthreeoh View Post
So here is my 2 cents. You've gone into this concerned about cost of ownership. You said you are young and not a millionaire. Not that you have to be a millionaire to own a 3-Series, but any BMW can be expensive to maintain. Compared to Japanese cars and a lot of late model US cars, BMWs tend to break more often and can be expensive to repair. If you are used to having a trouble-free car experience, then BMW ownership is going to be difficult for you.

That said, if you are decent at DIY and have good mechanical skills and a good set of tools, then the ownership experience is much better. Owners who DIY tend to have an affection for their cars, which makes the ownership experience all that much better. But if you are an owner that just wants a trouble free Roundel-on-the-hood ownership experience, and have a limited budget, and are concerned about paying for repairs, then I suggest you wait awhile until your financial situation allows for a less-impactful ownership experience for you.
+1 and well said... These are not good vehicles if you are young and on a tight budget.
Appreciate 0
      03-05-2014, 10:47 AM   #53
GMe90
Captain
GMe90's Avatar
355
Rep
928
Posts

Drives: 2007 328i Coupe, ZSP, Premium
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Knoxville

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2003 BMW Z4 3.0i  [6.00]
2007 BMW 328i  [10.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by DC_Oldboy
Quote:
Originally Posted by ping65810 View Post
Regardless of what others think, a 328 is hardly sluggish...230hp is plenty for a 3 series, and these cars are quite fast from the factory. Most people on here want a 335 only, and to them everything else is super slow, but remember, a 328 manual will still do a 5.9 sec 0-60 time, and is never short on power.

Manuals are a lot harder to find, but they are out there. Check out different dealer sites, esp the higher end dealers like Mercedes, Audi, etc. I bought mine from a Porsche dealer locally, where it had been traded in for a 911.

Also, if you go on the BMW USA website, you can do an inventory search nationwide to see what BMW dealers have in stock. My advice is to drive a few, compare options and what YOU want, and buy that. There are people on here who will swear by individual models, and admonish everything else. Buy what car YOU like and want, thats what matters most. For me, I've owned 6 BMW 3 series over the years, along with other vehicles, and love my 328 and couldn't be happier. It also brakes incredibly well too, even if the brakes aren't 330 sized- they are still larger than most cars on the road.
Fast from factory? Lol somebody lied to you.. Not to degrade the 328 owners since I do drive a N52 myself. But the fact is that in normal driving, it's sluggish unless you put it in DS mode. Only then it feels like you're driving a 'normal' car. In other words, the 'DS' mode is another way of saying the 'car is driving normally.' Lol. Having a manual 328 is different though so I'll give you that. But regardless 230 HP is underpowered IMO for a 3 series in today's standard where most cars puts out at least 250+ HP excluding compact cars.. Anyway I will say it again. Compared to a 330, the 328 is slower and feels sluggish. And this is not to steer OP away from getting a 328. I'm simply saying this because half the people makes assumptions when comparing the 328 to a 330 and I bet most of them haven't drove a 330.

If OP decides to get a 09+ E90, then obviously there's no contest. I'd rather drive a bone stock E90 LCI over a PRE-LCI.
Prior to owning my 335i, I owned a 328i MT. Although the 335i is faster, the 328i is not a slow car by any means. The reality of the situation is that on regular roads, the 328i has more than enough power. Unless you are driving on the highway, the fastest you will drive on a regular road would typically be between 50-60 mph. Seeing as how a 328i can comfortably cruise at 100mph plus on the highway, I would say that 230 hp is plenty. I agree with you that the 328i is not a track monster.
Appreciate 0
      03-06-2014, 01:28 AM   #54
ping65810
Private First Class
United_States
1
Rep
150
Posts

Drives: 2007 328xi
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Dracut, MA

iTrader: (0)

Couldn't agree more! I don't understand when 230HP suddenly became slow in a 3 series..considering an E36 M3 had nearly the same. Also, from an American perspective things are different- in Ireland I've seen plenty of 318i and 320i models, and tons of diesels. These cars are plenty fast, esp with a manual, and have more than enough power for normal driving.

Track driving, I agree, a 335i has more power, but how often do you have the time to track one? I like in Massachusetts, and am lucky to get the chance to really stretch the legs of my 328xi maybe 5 mins out of my day due to traffic, roads, etc. My last car was a 2002 Volvo S60... with 160HP. That was sluggish LOL, but was also 4,000lbs and also handled like crap too. Up until a few years ago, a Mustang V8 GT had only 240HP, and a typical 3 series had well under 200HP, and those were plenty fast as well. I guess its all in perspective and opinion- but if one wants out and out straight line speed, why buy a BMW to begin with? There are lots of other cars much faster, cheaper, and more reliable. I drive one for the handling, feel, smooth powerful motor, and a mix of all around GREAT car with great usability as well. If I wanted to drag race, I'd be a guido and buy a Camaro.
Appreciate 0
      03-07-2014, 09:42 AM   #55
AzureHaze
Lieutenant Colonel
AzureHaze's Avatar
United_States
69
Rep
1,766
Posts

Drives: 2011 335d Sport
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ken1137 View Post
Look for a 330 zhp. They are rare with low mileage but available. Perfect example is:

http://enthusiastauto.com/qsearch/?i...1#.UxSGvV7K5r0
+1. I'd choose that over a 328i anytime!
__________________
JBD @ 100% | KW ST Coilovers | M3 rep. front bumper | 888Concepts AE Upgrade | GP Thunder 7500k fogs | Cyba 4" carbon tips | BSW Stage 1 | APEX ARC-8 W/ Michelin PSS | Ziza LED interior | Weisslicht LED side lenses | Sprint Booster | Euro side mirrors | M-Sport semi-conversion | Coded | LOTS of carbon fiber
Appreciate 0
      03-07-2014, 10:41 AM   #56
XM_Rocks
Captain
63
Rep
688
Posts

Drives: 2016 GTI, sold my E90 N54
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

E90 330i has the excellent Logic 7!
Appreciate 0
      03-07-2014, 01:48 PM   #57
Thundermilwaukeee
Enlisted Member
0
Rep
38
Posts

Drives: Titanium Silver 2007 328XI
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Wisconsin

iTrader: (0)

I drive in manual mode alot and with DTC and I can say the 328xi is not sluggish, you just have to get the feel down when to shift. And as for the braking being slower. lol. My Girlfriend actually won't drive the car much because she says it stops too fast.
Appreciate 0
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:45 PM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST