[postal]

It's time to offload my e46 and upgrade! I don't really know what the issues to look for on a e90 are (other than the ones I learned about on the e46), and frankly, I'm not too sure what to look at buying.

Price is ~$30k. I want: Auto, Pro Nav, active CC, M-sport in that order. Not interested in modding or any use beyond DD and odd weekend cruise.

I'm looking at 330i's at the moment but there is only one that fits the bill on carpoint, and it has grey/grey interior and is as ugly as sin (it looks like a taxi). There is a non-msport version that is prettier, but 2005 model (does that matter being first year?), but, no m-sport seats and suspension.

There are one or two 335i's that don't have any of the options I want, and I'm a little concerned about turbo maintenance. Bad idea here?

What I haven't looked at are post LCI 325i's, I've been focused on 330's. Should I bother? How would a post LCI 325 compare with a pre-LCI 330?

What are the e90 problems that aren't common with e46 I4's? How do I look for them in an inspection? I'll get a PPI done, but it would be good to know obvious Red-Flags to save time.

(Anyone thinking of selling their car?)

I'm looking forward to joining the e90 club full time in the next few weeks

[ZanaX]

n54 twin turbo the only way to go!!!

[fo55il]

^
why don't you take both for a test drive; the 330 and 335

335 FTMFW

[youraveragepunter]

Hey Postal,

Most ppl round here drive a turbo so tipping you'll get a lot of ppl reccomending them. However if your coming from a non-mod perspective and want a slushbox transmission then balls out performance prob isnt high on your list......which is good because for 30k you're gonna find 325 or 320 are your only options for low km cars.

What e46 did u drive? assuming it wasnt an M3 and u were happy with it then you'll prob be happy with a 325.... early low kms cars can be had for sub-30k and even the plain ones look good with just a simple set of decent sized alloys.

[BMJ]

i have driven a 330 i think ot's a top car with a lot of go.. so wouldn't just rule it out.. comes down to the power you're after.

[tony20009]

OP, if you don't have a specific need/use for the added power, go with and E90 having an inline, non-turbo six cylinder motor. The engine is far more reliable and has none of the issues associated with an N54/N55. Yes, the power in the N54 will not be something that fails to leap out at you, and it is intoxicating; however, in my experience, there's not one single thing that happens on a public road for which it is necessary. The way I see it, buying one amounts to paying a few grand more for additional speed, power and risk of things breaking and needing to be repaired, and be both know BMW repairs aren't cheap.

That said, the N54 cars are still fine cars. I wouldn't not get one if the one if a good deal is to be had. But if I had a choice between one with the N20 and one with the N54/N55 motor, I'd pick the former if all other things were equal or of no consequence. Put another way, if N54/N55 car came before me and it had everything I wanted and I could get it for an excellent price, I'd buy it. If an N20 became available to me and it had most -- but not all -- of the things I wanted and the price were still a good price, I'd choose it over the N54/N55 that had everything.

Best of luck.

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

My pref

1. stretch to a 335i (a few 335i E90s close to your budget?)
2. 330i
3. 325i

[youraveragepunter]

Agree more power is desirable but in Australia you are going to find restrictions with your budget. Right now on carsales.com The lowest km 335i for under $35k has done 90,000kms, the lowest km 330i has done 70,000kms. While the lowest km 325i has done 14,900kms and theres about a dozen with under 50,000kms. So really you have 3 options:

1) accept a high km car which will need the usual big ticket items in a year or two (brakes, timing belt, suspension bushes/struts etc). You'll also have worn seats/steering wheel/controls etc.
2) increase your budget to $40-45k to buy a higher spec low km model
3) tool around in a comfortable and stylish yet not very fast almost new 325

Given the OP's preference is for a reliable daily driver with NO mods I reckon the OP will better off taking one of the last two options. just my 2c

[postal]

Thanks for the feedback.

As much as I would have occasional fun in a 335, where I live it's rare to get above 50kph regardless of what the speed limit actually is. If I found a 335 with the options/km I want I would probably take it over a 330 with the same options and accept the extra maintenance. But with the type of use it would get, I think buying a car with the luxury options I want is a better choice for me than the turbo, so that's why I was looking at 330. That and the comments I've read over the past few weeks on 335 maintenance.

My current car is a e46 318i, so I think a 330 would be plenty of power improvement, and if I never test drive a 335 I will never miss it. Just gotta not drive one... It does make me cautious of a 320 because I'm kinda sick of having no power. I want more, just not M3 territory.

325's I really haven't done any research into at all, and just had a brain-wave last night to ask into it. I looked at the numbers on paper that say it's less power for about the same fuel burn, but we all know how much BS there is in fuel consumption figures and it depends on how it's driven.

I'm guessing that maintenance is the same between 325-330 if km is the same. I'm ruling out anything that didn't sell in NA since I had so much more trouble sourcing parts online for my e46 than everyone else on e46fanatics, so I want to stay away from 320i's

So, with that all said, I don't think I'll see a 335 with what I want in my price range. If I get the choice between a 07-08 325 and a 05-06 330, similar options, similar km, which should I go for and why?

[JJH]

Originally Posted by postal

If I get the choice between a 07-08 325 and a 05-06 330, similar options, similar km, which should I go for and why?

I would go for the one with the best service history and in the best condition; hopefully that is also the newer car as your resale value is likely to hold up better.

[youraveragepunter]

At the same kms, condition, options and price you would be mad not to take the bigger motor with older build date. The biggest factor to look for is condition (a factor of previous care and usage) not age.

[postal]

That makes sense, just wasn't sure if the LCI added anything significant.

Also there is a 330i on carpoint with an LSD mod. I wouldn't do that myself, and it probably doesn't add much to the driving experience, but I do like the idea of an LSD. But is that something that has to be done well? Or can it be done by a spanner with a hammer? Will any issues get picked up in a PPI?

Is there a general Run Away when buying anything with modded drivetrain? I'll check with my insurance company if it is an issue with them, but I'm concerned about reliability

edit: that modded 330i is literally the ONLY car with the options I want