[littlejohno]

Hi I'm looking at changing to an E90 335i shortly I have seen two that I like
Car 1 was registered December 2006
Car 2 was registered December 2009

They are both similar miles just short of 100,000 and spec is again nearly identical.

Clearly one is LCI and cheaper Tax but is it worth the extra £ 3,500 all opinions welcome I'm happy with the miles on both as its never worried me and I carry all work out myself.

Thanks

Johno

[timp7748]

Only you can decide if its worth the extra. To analyse it... the 2006 car has averaged 12,500miles a year and will cost you £485 a year tax. The 2009 car has averaged 20,000miles a year and will cost you £285 a year tax. I would imagine the newer model would achieve a fractionally better fuel consumption but not a huge difference. So it all comes down to whether you want a newer model or not really.

[djgandy]

Depends on a few things
- price i.e. what percentage extra is £3.5k.
- Spec
- Whether you care about what engine you get (N54/N55)

If we're talking £10k vs £13.5k (35% more), I'd probably go for the newer car (depends on spec too)
If we're talking £6k vs £9.5k (60% more), it's not quite so clear cut and if you think you can deal with all the potential turbo issues etc. the old car is a good deal.

Technically both should be in fairly good condition mechanically if they are just motorway cruisers. Service history may be a deal breaker.

[Russbmw]

I'm confused, as on other threads on here the N54/N55 engine question has come up before, and people have said the N55 engine only came around in about 2011 - despite "LCI" and cheaper tax cars being available in 2009

Is it the case that all LCI cars (cheaper tax) where N55? Even if the car was registered in 2009?

[littlejohno]

It has the N54 motor not N55 the tax is due to the LCI stop start I assume or battery re gen I am leaning to the 59 also wifey will be less annoyed with the road tax as its similar to the price I pay for the 130.

[djgandy]

Originally Posted by Russbmw

I'm confused, as on other threads on here the N54/N55 engine question has come up before, and people have said the N55 engine only came around in about 2011 - despite "LCI" and cheaper tax cars being available in 2009

Is it the case that all LCI cars (cheaper tax) where N55? Even if the car was registered in 2009?

N55 was 2010 for E9x, the exact science of it is difficult because manufacture date is the more important part, not reg date. To my knowledge 59 plates are generally N54, but you never know if an N55 might crop up in a February 28th registered car unless you know the exact date N55 was deployed from.

Originally Posted by littlejohno

It has the N54 motor not N55 the tax is due to the LCI stop start I assume or battery re gen I am leaning to the 59 also wifey will be less annoyed with the road tax as its similar to the price I pay for the 130.

Tax got lower from late 07 onwards. BMW realised they had to get the cars down from 238 or so to under the 225 bracket.

I'd lean towards the later model too. Newer turbos, newer wastegates, newer fuel pump.

[littlejohno]

Here is the one I like time to talk to the wife re man maths

[littlejohno]

And here is the current car