[Giggss]

So I have a 320d ed 2011 at the moment due to how many miles I do, but soon my miles will significantly decrease meaning I can get a more enjoyable car, looking for a 330i vs 335i. What would you guys suggest in terms of which one is better and which options are a necessity?

I think I want heated seats, cruise control, atleast hifi with tweeters and amp, electric folding mirrors and preferably without idrive.

Any help will be appreciated.

[rasa bmw]

you will need all the fuel saving cash for a 335i,,2 model engines available ..so do some research,,and if buying one,,try and get one with all the big ticket items done,,there are quite a few

[Giggss]

the n54 and n55 right yeah ive heard of some problems with them, the n52 and n53 are more reliable so might just get 330i

[E60525d]

Which body style are you looking at?

My money would be on a N55 335i. Ok you can't get big power out of it as easily as the N54 but in every other way it's much better. Also it's a much newer engine, BMW only stopped making it last year.

Problem with the 330i is that they are quite rare and therefore not much cheaper than the 335i.

[Giggss]

Yeah i've noticed 335i's are quite cheap, im not too bothered about the body style lci or not, mainly concerned with the engine and the options. But there is a constant fear of HPFP and turbos going on the 335i and huge repair bills from what i read.

[Giggss]

Also im looking at 60k-80k models would it be okay to look a little higher mileage cars?

[Arch Stanton]

mine has done 140 and its fab, really belies its miles. If it had a few little bits of tic to the odd stone chip it would be hard to fault. Still tight and rattle free.

[Dann]

With all BMWs and certainly more so with the 335i, you need to buy on condition and history.
Find one that's had the big bits sorted and you'll be fine.

All of the bits on mine lasted well over 55k miles before needing to be done, so once they are you have plenty of miles before you need to even start thinking about worrying.

Also I'd go 335 every day. Running costs will be similar so why not have the extra power and never struggle to overtake or join a motorway again

[MattOz]

Having owned both, it would have to be 335i. The 330i is still a nice car, but I certainly prefer driving the 335i.

[E60525d]

Originally Posted by MattOz

Having owned both, it would have to be 335i. The 330i is still a nice car, but I certainly prefer driving the 335i.

How would you compare the N54 Vs N55 as I believe you have had both?

[MattOz]

Originally Posted by E60525d

How would you compare the N54 Vs N55 as I believe you have had both?

Both very similar really. However, I'd say that the N54 is a bit livelier below 3k rpm. Once you're on it, then there's no discernible difference. I found the N55 to be about 3-4mpg more efficient than the N54.

Out if the two, I'd probably take the N55 if keeping the car standard. If tuning is your thing, then N54 is arguably better.

[Giggss]

I think im leaning towards a 335i now, I think getting a warranty will be my best bet tbh

[MattOz]

Originally Posted by Giggss

I think im leaning towards a 335i now, I think getting a warranty will be my best bet tbh

Daily running costs wise, they're very similar. I reckon my N52 330i and N54 335i were very similar on fuel. Having lived with both, I'd not consider a 330i again.

[rasa bmw]

Originally Posted by Giggss

I think im leaning towards a 335i now, I think getting a warranty will be my best bet tbh

as long as its a bmw warranty,,which can only be on cars with less than 100k miles,,other warranties are not really worth buying if you read small print

[nomiS330d]

I was in this predicament. I wanted the power of the 335i but the hassle free reliability of the 330i, I.e no turbo wastegate problems.

I ended up with a 330d lol.

[Giggss]

Yeah I wont be doing many miles soon so not really considering the diesel plus the exhaust note on the i is to die for, I'll either get a 330i with all the options i want or a 335i with lower mileage.

Also 325i is not worth looking at right?

[Dann]

There's a really good 335i in the classified section 😉
Had everything big done so you wouldn't even need warranty...

[richk84]

I would definitely recommend driving both. Turbo (335i) vs NA (330i) offer different driving experiences. Also the later 330i have the more powerful and economical N53 engines. Regardless of which one you go for I'd personally not run a 3.0l BMW without a warranty.

[Chappers 71]

Originally Posted by nomiS330d

I was in this predicament.

I ended up with a 330d lol.

Oh dear

[-Keith-]

I may buck the trend here.

Having owned an N54 335i, and my wife having owned a 130i hatch and 125i coupe (both N52), I would personally say go for the simpler 330i, unless you can get the N55 335i.

Reason being, is I just didn't like my N54 at all. Was fast-ish, but hardly thrilling. The engine never grabbed me, and as such I never loved the car. It was 'good', but dull.

With known terrible reliability (hpfp, turbos, wastegates, injectors etc all big money) I was also concerned about big bills, so it was the first BMW I added a warranty to, and also sold it before the 60k mark when issues start to appear. I've had 3 friends with N54s who experienced bad failures and huge bills between 70-90k. The (engine) bills can easily exceed an M3's (having owned 4 x E9X M3s, another reason I probably found the 335i rather dull).

The 30i engine is a far simpler joy. Makes a fabulous noise, runs creamy smooth, nice linear power delivery and simpler engine. It's a great all rounder for a daily driver, and naturally aspirated inline-6's are BMWs best engines.

Neither a (stock) 335i or 330i are ever going to set the world alight in the performance stakes, so the extra 335i performance seems a bit moot when you can still have a great sounding, fast enough car, with far fewer of the headache reliability issues in the shape of a 330i.

However, as I said all my criticisms are based on the N54 and it's terrible reliability - if you can find a lovely N55 335i within budget (DCT if you can stretch) then go for that - far less issues, they are rock-solid in comparison the the N54 but do command more money, so it all comes down to budget.

Good luck with your hunt mate.

[MattOz]

Originally Posted by nomiS330d

I ended up with a 330d lol.

Nothing wrong with that.

I had one of the first E46 330d's back in 2000, and have had 7 others since. Great cars. Currently in an E91 335d and it reminds me why I like them. Sure, there are short sighted people on the forums who slag the big diesels off because they don't sound as good as the petrols. Breaking news, the world is round and the government is a shambles. Tell us something we don't know!

There's definitely something (a number of things actually) about the 3 litre lump that's very appealing.

Edited to add that in a choice between a 330i and a 330d, I'd take the diesel.

[Sir_Dave]

I'd probably echo the above, having had an M135i (N55), e90 M3, N57 330d and now an N52 330i. For the money the e90 330i's command (ie not much lol) and the general reliability (ive also had 5 x M54 330i's, so stress free NA is my preference) id say its your safest bet. You can always add an ESS supercharger if you want a bit more poke ...

An N54 at £6-7k or so is ok if you budget another £3k on things breaking, which means you've spent £10k, so you might as well look at an an N55, which means about £12k, which is getting into M135i and/or miley M3 territory if you're good at finding a deal/brave.