Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'buying advice'.
Found 3 results
-
Hey team, I’m in a bit of a bind and could use some opinions from anyone familiar with BMW diesels or who’s made the jump from a fun petrol car like a BRZ. So, I currently daily a Subaru BRZ. It’s been my first real car — properly fun, great driver’s car, looks good, and got me into the car scene. But as much as I enjoy it, I’ve hit that “I need more power” wall. It’s still a solid car and pulls enough to be enjoyable around town (0–70km stuff), but on the open road or longer drives it just lacks grunt. Now I’m eyeing a diesel sedan for something a bit more grown-up but still fun. I've narrowed it down to the BMW F30 — either a 320d M-Sport or a 330d. Here’s where the dilemma kicks in: 320d M-Sport Much easier to find in NZ, especially with M-Sport trim. Looks the part, still has decent torque. Cheaper to buy and insure. But… it’s still just a 2.0L four-cylinder diesel. Not slow, but might feel a bit “meh” after the BRZ once the newness wears off. 330d Proper power and torque. Feels like a real upgrade — you actually feel that inline-six grunt. Makes a great sound under load for a diesel. Some even sound jet-like with the right mods (yes, I’ve heard one under pull — addicting). Harder to find in clean condition, especially with M-Sport trim. Feels like most are RWD Lux lines or don’t have all the goodies Costs more, usually higher km.s, and insurance/potential maintenance will likely follow that. I’ve test driven both (not back-to-back, unfortunately), and the 330d obviously felt like the more “complete” car performance-wise. The 320d M-Sport is no slouch, but it doesn’t feel like a true step up from the BRZ in terms of straight-line speed. I want something that: Pulls harder than the BRZ (ideally 5–6 sec 0–100 territory) Is fun around town (dailying through the city with occasional open road bursts) Still looks the part and doesn’t bore me in a few months Feels like a proper upgrade — not just a sideways move TL;DR: Coming from a BRZ, I want more power and torque but still want something that turns heads a little. 320d M-Sport is common and tidy but might not be enough. 330d is rare and fast but harder to find in the right spec/condition. What would you go for? Would appreciate anyone’s thoughts — especially if you’ve owned or driven both, or made a similar transition from a fun petrol coupe to a quick diesel sedan. -
Hi all, new here and just looking for some buying advice. Looking at buying a e90 platform daily and came across a 330i 2006 with a AC Schnitzer kit. I've looked online and couldn't find anything to say if this variant came with a tune or just a body kit. Also when I go to view the car is there anyway to prove the kit is genuine? Tossing up between this car or a e92 2011 325i, what would be the better option for a student on a budget dead set on a BMW? Thanks in advance.
-
I introduce myself as a new member as I have not been visiting the forum since 2018 when I bought this car. Now I do as I need some help selecting another one. This is my E61, a 530i. 6 cylinder in line engine delivering 272 HP. It is not an M-sport but the previous owner (Japanese) pimped it as if it is. M sport steering wheel, M sport front-spoiler, wheels, etc. it was the fastest one I could find at the time that I test drove a few around Auckland. In 2018 as I needed a car to get my newborn daughter out of hospital to take her camping on the Great Barrier Island, which we did and was a great experience, she loved it It had driven only 55000 km then, now 95000. It was imported from Japan. I am a motorcyclist, never had been driving cars. Always drove fast bikes. Thought a Beamer might be the solution to my prejudice that cars are slow and boring. And a lot of things that Motorcycles are not (space consuming, always standing in traffic jams, cannot bend and tilt into curves, feel like dancing Nevertheless I was mighty proud with this Touring. I have always has a soft spot for BMW, and this one had a small sticker on it "BMW Freude am Fahren" And I thought that this apparently somewhat controversial design was stunning. Well it has been a mixed experience, though the outcome is that I fell in love with it. The practicality to take your family everywhere in a cool looking cool feeling vehicle that accelerated and drove like a dream. The negatives were about things I learned along the way, that all the sensors and computer steered electronics can be disturbing your peace of mind. In particular a problem that lit up the screen : "Engine fault reduced power" 3 new butterfly valves and a lot of diagnostics and money went into it, and it still is not solved. Every now and then the same notification still lights up. However now it does not disturb me anymore, the car drives fine. Now I am looking for a replacement. This one is 18 years old now and I feel that it might get a bit more unreliable and that the investments to save it would not be economical. (lots of new rubber and other stuff that you might expect with a car that is stored outside in NZ's car unfriendly climate deteriorating and sooner or later needs replacement). Would you guys want to help me to choose? My criteria: 1) I think of buying another Touring But I'm open to any sensible suggestion. This one I bought at your recommendation, while I thought I wanted to get myself an X5. I think it is practical, we still camp and it is spacious. And it is a great surfboard carrier too. And it drives so well, which you Beamer-lovers do know, that binds us together. A pleasure whenever you get of the boring highway. And on the highway she is relaxed and comfortable as well. 2) The power of the engine is a joy, I would not mind finding another similar powered one, although I do not know how a 2 or 2.5 litre turbo engine is to drive. On Trade-me I cannot find another 530i. There are 523i's, 528i's and every now and then a 535i and the times they have changed, there is no longer a direct connection between the volume of the engine cylinders and the type number. So I do not seem to be able to figure out what engine delivers what power and torque. On the specification sites I can find the 523i is not specified for the 2000 or 2490 cc engines with which they come. Apparently there are also 523i's with a 6 in line 3 liter engine, but I have not seen any advertised. Could any of you refer me to a website where these specifications are to be found? 3) And then: what is wise, which type/engine configuration is kind of reliable. I did all the maintenance on my motorcycles myself. But motorcycles do not have km's of sensor wires laying around somewhere. So I think I'll ask some help to service this one, and that should not be too crazy expensive preferably. I would like one that does not flicker up with electronic problems that always seem to be there and cannot always be solved. You-tube has told me the F11 / F10 is more reliable than the previous generation, from April 2012 (before that problems with the distribution chain they say). I had all the regular E61 stuff, changed waterpump, dynamo, starter engine, and a few batteries. And am constantly aware that the sunroof drainage needs to be checked as to not flood the boot. Is that a realistic otion? 4) Value for money: My budget is anything between 10.000 and 25.000 (and more if it is really worth it, however I do like value for money and within those limits there seems to be enough choice. I think it is top that they come from Japan with very few KM on the clock. However I do not know whether the 535i (2013) which is on trade-me with 130.000km is any more likely to get trouble of wear and tear than a similar age car with 70.000 km. 5 ) I think the M sport's look really cool. But the regular versions do not look bad either in my eyes. Thanks for your help Willem
