[Tazzy]

Hi Guys,

Im toying with the idea of buying a 2007/2008 BMW 320i/320d M Sport...

at the moment im driving a Saab 9-3 aero but everytime I see a BMW e90 coupe i just fall in love

Ive got a budget of around £12,000 but looking on putting half of that down and then getting the rest on finance

Ive seen a couple on but I am after either on black or grey M Sport...

It has to have leathers

Just wanted to ask am I being realistic? Could you guys advise ant further?

[xenon]

The coupe is the e92 - the e90 is the saloon (and e91 estate, e93 convertible)

Anyway, the 320i is unloved on here (see the thread with the faults) but I owned one from new for three years and it was faultless and the engine was much sweeter than the 320d.

Overall though, I'd have to agree that the 320d is probably the better bet.

[EssexIan]

My better half bought a 320i last year, it has been faultless and is returning an average 35mpg. Keep in mind that you will buy far more 320i for the same money than you will a diesel, her car was £20k, an identical car at the same dealer but diesel was £27k. You need to do a lot of miles to get that kind of money back from having a diesel.

I'm sure many will be along to tell you to buy a diesel and the 320i is c**p but I'd have to disagree, by the way I own a diesel E91 myself!

Ian

[xenon]

I agree - get a good one and it's a great car but there are undeniably ones out there with issues.

[Chris100]

I have both and while I loved the 320i when it was working the issues that I had with it made replace it after only 9 months of ownership. Mine was brand new so getting it repaired was not the issue but the continual problems that I had just took the joy out of driving it, I now have a 320d coupe and 14 months on it has been faultless and I love it. But TBH I can't see you picking up either for 12k unless it has more miles on it than the space shuttle.

[CarAbuser]

For 12k it would have to be a 320i.
Infact the 335i doesn't cost much more, there's a nice example on autotrader in your budget.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...1206449238865/

[creepy coupe]

I know you said you wanted a 320. But if the budget could stretch just a little bit further. Take a look at the 325i.The 6cyl engine is a peach in both sound and power delivery.

It’s worth remembering you get a bit more standard kit with the E92 Coupe over the same E90

[carbonSI]

320i anyday!! Although i did enjoy the E90 320d i drove the other day, really smooth and din't sound too tractorish

If your a petrol head make sure you get the 170bhp model that i think came out early 2008??

[duke knooby]

well i ran a 320i coupe for over 4 years, and when it was running well which was most of the time, it was great, but i recently changed to diesel, and the driving experience is very different, and i still havent mastered it. The issues im having with the diesel are the power delivery is like an off switch... not linear like the petrol, the throttle response is at best poor, refinement... you'd know you have a diesel. The plus sides are its torque which makes its quite rapid for short blasts, and quite boring, though its economy is better. On a favourite back road, given the choice to pick one for a blast, i'd still have the 320i... its simply a better car with just one big reliabilty problem, (which if you get it, can ruin the ownership experience). However the diesels also suffer from a big reliability problem which is considerably more expensive to fix. Bottom line really is take some test drives, and pick whichever feels right, safe in the knowledge that no matter what you choose could have problems


should add, ive no experience of the 320d apart from short test drives

[mikeouk]

I paid around £12000 back in October for my 2007 325i e92 msport. It's a one owner car with leather and nav and 44000 miles. Your budget will get you a nice spec car if your willing to shop around.

[chris325]

I bought my 325 msport for 12k a couple of weeks ago, 49k, fully loaded apart from sat nav. Its a beautiful engine - needs to be worked a bit if your racing - but very smooth. Easily gets 38mpg on a quiet drive, or 22 if you hammer it.

[chris325]

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/bmwauc/de...2-distance_ASC

[Jay2301]

I have a stunning 325i msport e90 N53 in Spark graph, black dakota, 46k
Feb 2008 57plate, no nav, Bluetooth, pdc. New pads/discs tires all-round (f1assy2's). Let me know if you're interested bud

[Tazzy]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all of the feedback...I just read about the 320i on here now..you guys really hate them dont you! LOL

I have decided to put the plan of buying a car on hold for a few months because I've fallen in love with an autovogue 325i...

I used to have an autovogue Audi A4 and always wanted to have the Beemer...I just thought instead of rushing and getting a M Sport why not save abit more and get what I really want...

Can anyone give me round town MPG Figures on a 325i?

[CarAbuser]

Autovogue cars just look tacky and will most likely be poor cars. They just buy in old and abused cars for cheap, stick a cheap bodykit on and add a large markup.

[Tazzy]

CarAbuser - Im afraid I have to disagree with you there I took the plunge a few years ago to get an Audi A4 which was immaculate..I agree they do charge more than standard but if you have a look on the net they dont depreciate as much and they are alot more exclusive than a standard M Sport...

But I do understand that every1 has their own opinion and I do respect your words...

This was my A4...

[The_Bear_Yid]

Why do you want a 320 just out of interest?

Some AUC 325 and 335i's are coming in to your budget.

Originally Posted by Tazzy

Can anyone give me round town MPG Figures on a 325i?

Mine went down to 18mpg driving up to the Penny Black for the xmas do.

Averaging about 26mpg in the time I've owned it.

About 40mpg on the motorway with CC on at legal speeds in 6th.

[Tazzy]

The reason im after a 320 is because I want something that wont kill me MPG wise...Ive had cars where my MPG is below 15's and i just fancy something that looks nice and looks like it's going 300MPH when really im sitting at traffic lights! LOL

I am tempted by the 335i believe me I am...LOL

The 325i from what I've read isn't much slower than a 330i...is that correct? I am considering a 325i and if i wait I think i'll be able to find a bit more change down the sofa and get myself a nice 325i autovogue....

[Carjack]

Before I had my current 59reg 320D I had a 55reg 320i.
I liked the 320i very much and it can certainly go if you wind it up thro' the gears. For this reason I would recommend you go for a manual. It revs higher than the 320d diesel with the power appearing in the higher rev range. ie. above a ton on the autobahn you are still accelerating!
Leave the auto box for the diesel, it dos'nt rev so high and the power is in the lower part of the rev range.
The auto 320D is at it's best accelerating in the lower rev range which I find useful in my urban world (mainly) with lots of traffic lights!
A manual 320i one would have to 'work' the gearbox for equal performance. I had an auto and I always thought that a manual would be lots of fun!
The 320i fuel consumption from memory about town was 25/28mpg but on the motorway I could get approaching 40mpg.
I had no probs with my 320i accept for the hydraulic steering. So make sure your 'buy' has no oil leaks in the engine bay.
Best of luck!

[Tazzy]

Hmmm...I think what im going to have to do is test drive a 320d and see how that goes I drove the 320i m sport and thought it was a nice drive tbut the m sport is a must for mas the seats come round and hug you! better than my old bucket seats! LOL

CarJackwhat sort of MPG do you get from the 320d around town??

[Carjack]

I agree, the sport seats in the m sport are excellent, particularly if they are heated and with lumbar support if you have a twitchy lower back.
Currently my 320D always shows 40.9mpg, based on about town and a few longest runs during the week.
A trip last year from S Wales to the M25 the computer showed 50.8 mpg and I was'nt hanging about!
I am pretty certain that if one could keep to about 60 mph(), a possible 60mpg could be achieved from the 320D.
There is no doubt the 320D is an excellent motor indeed but it has got a DPF so a few long fast trips are necessary from time to time or use the Steptronic and drive around at about 3000rpm, when poss.

[Tazzy]

Yeah definately the Sport Seats are the best seats ive sat in for a VERY long time...but the whole cabin for me is a nice place to be...

40.9 MPG - WOW! LOL im only getting 25.5mpg in the Saab and that's not me booting it everywhere although I do like to put my foot down if I can! LOL
CarJack I think you may have just made my mind up for me...although the diesel is slighty more expensive it will save me money in the long run....

When you say DPF what do you mean by that?