BMW E90 M Sport

bazz26

Guys, I'm going to look at a 2008 3 Series diesel M Sport at the weekend. It is pretty high spec and ticks most boxes on what I am looking for. I am obviously going to test drive it but a 10/15 min test drive is not going to tell me everything. The car has 18" alloy wheels which is a concern from both a comfortable ride factor and with the general poor condition of Irish roads.

Has anyone any personal experience of driving the M Sport on 18" rims on a daily basis? 18" rims combined with the firm M Sport suspension, am I asking for trouble here?

On condition the car is straight and I can negotiate a price that I am happy with, I am considering the option of swapping the 18" wheels for standard M Sport 17" ones as the trader does tend to specialise in selling BMWs so he may be able to source 17" wheels.

All thoughts and opinions welcome.

hairyman

If they were on the car since new then chances are they could also be running run flat tyres as this has become a trait with most newer sporty BMW's.
The general online consensus is that run flat tyres(as handy as they are) will ruin the ride of most cars running large diameter wheels and lo pro's.

On the other hand,the E90 has a small glass area and high flank,so there is no doubt that the larger wheel is going to suit the car better.

My advice would be to explain to the dealer that you have concerns about ride quality and what not,,,,he is going to want the sale so may agree to a longer more subjective test drive.

daRobot

Just swap the run flats for standard tyres and that will improve the ride significantly.

The 18's are the right size for the car. I personally think you'd be taking away from the look of the car and hurting your resale value by taking them off.

bazz26

Thanks guys, the 18" look to be OEMs that were ordered with the car as the car is quite high spec. I have seen plently of M Sports with the standard 17" rims and really don't think they look any worse than the 18". Also I'm also concerned about durable 18" rims are compared to 17". My last car had 17" wheels and had to get one alloy repaired due to hitting a pothole. Luckily the tyre didn't suffer any damage.

Monty Burnz

daRobot wrote: »

Just swap the run flats for standard tyres and that will improve the ride significantly.

The 18's are the right size for the car. I personally think you'd be taking away from the look of the car and hurting your resale value by taking them off.

The problem there is that there isn't space for a proper spare under the boot on the E90.

hairyman

bazz26 wrote: »

Thanks guys, the 18" look to be OEMs that were ordered with the car as the car is quite high spec. I have seen plently of M Sports with the standard 17" rims and really don't think they look any worse than the 18". Also I'm also concerned about durable 18" rims are compared to 17". My last car had 17" wheels and had to get one alloy repaired due to hitting a pothole. Luckily the tyre didn't suffer any damage.

Providing they are a genuine BMW M-sport wheel and not a replica then I think they should be fine.
Unfortunately its just a risk you have to take with Irish road conditions and big wheels.

sparktest

Change the runflats for regular tyres and buy yourself a spacesaver for the boot, mate of mine did that with his M3.

I've 18" standard tyres on a E46 M sport without issues, 17" would take away from look of car IMO.

bazz26

This is the type rim:

hairyman

Lovely wheel,

bazz26

BTW does anyone have an idea on the how much a 2008 318d M Sport manual is fetching these days? This one has full leather interior, integrated Sat Nav + I Drive, bluetooth, 18" alloy wheels and 60k km. Non franchised dealer sale. I am a cash customer too.

ofcork

The depreciation is pretty savage id say around 25k i know someone with a 2007 320d msport full leather the works cost 60k new and was offered 23k by a dealer on a trade in earlier this year.

bazz26

ofcork wrote: »

The depreciation is pretty savage id say around 25k i know someone with a 2007 320d msport full leather the works cost 60k new and was offered 23k by a dealer on a trade in earlier this year.

The one I'm looking at is going for less than €25k and it's been for sale since at least September. I was thinking of offering €22k and take it from there. I'm not willing to pay much more than that for it to be honest.

ofcork

There does seem to be cheaper out there carzone have plenty esp. private sales.

hairyman

bazz26 wrote: »

The one I'm looking at is going for less than €25k and it's been for sale since at least September. I was thinking of offering €22k and take it from there. I'm not willing to pay much more than that for it to be honest.

Its a buyers market,
Is a he registered BMW dealer or does he just specialise in the marque.

PaulKK

Hey bazz, i'm running 18s on my e46 with m sport suspension. Maybe i'm used to it but i find the ride perfectly fine.

I would suggest you change from runflats and get a spacesaver and you'll be grand.

IMO the E90 needs 18s, the arches are too big for anything smaller, the wheels look tiny otherwise.

Gumbo

the E90 MSport ride on the 18" is fine imo.

i had an SE on 18's with non runflats and i can honestly say my MSport on 18's with RFT is a better drive, better handling car, maybe the MSport suspension helps in this regard.

the 18's youve posted were an optional upgrade on them and theres not many of those replicas (if any) around, so i would imagine they are genuine.

your not really gona know what the ride is like until you drive but i think you'll love it.

the 318d is 143bhp with decent torque, and after a remap the engine is awakened

the iDrive and sat nav is cracking looking and the integrated bluetooth is a big bonus, although i'd gladly give up the iDrive/Sat Nav for the Xenon/AE set up.

Leather is a personal choice, i love it, the GF doesnt so she went out of her way to get an MSport with the alcantarra interior.

any links to the car?

Shane732

:D Might sell you mine for €22k!! Has both the integrated bluetooth and xenons!!!

Whatever you do buy an M-Sport!



Nice car kceire - do you mind me asking how much it set you back??

Gumbo

Shane732 wrote: »

:D Might sell you mine for €22k!! Has both the integrated bluetooth and xenons!!!

Whatever you do buy an M-Sport!



Nice car kceire - do you mind me asking how much it set you back??

cheers Shane, we paid 23k for it last year.
we ended up knowing the owner, he bought it new from Joe Duffy BMW and it has only passed the 44,000 km this week, so it was a one owner, low mileage example. Its only now coming up to its second service due.

he was only selling as he couldnt fit 3 baby seats in the back, every time we see him now, he's like, i still miss that car

PS - put up pics of yours!

tbh its base MSport with bluetooth and 18" MV3 wheels, their the only options on it.

bazz26

Thanks for all the info guys.

To answer some of the questions, the seller is a small independant trader but does tend to specialise in used BMWs. I'd rather not post the link here as I have not made contact with the seller yet so don't want to play my hand yet and you never know who would be browsing this forum. I will happily PM the link to anyone who wants to view it. Personally I think the asking price is on the high side as I have been keeping one eye on it for sometime now. I'm going to give them a ring tomorrow and see what the story is.

PS. Lovely car kceire, silver would be my perfered colour but buying second hand means you sometimes don't get everything you want. Also if I do buy a remap to 178bhp would definately be on the cards in a year or two.

EPM

Just an observation but would a 320d not be a better buy? Given similar running costs but more power would people not prefer that. I'm thinking in terms of resale. Car does sound very nice though.

bazz26

EPM wrote: »

Just an observation but would a 320d not be a better buy? Given similar running costs but more power would people not prefer that. I'm thinking in terms of resale. Car does sound very nice though.

320d would be nice but trying to find one with this spec is difficult and I've been searching for a while. To be honest 143bhp has respectable performance for me (I'm coming from a 110bhp 1.6 diesel) and the 318d can easily be remapped to 178bhp once the BMW warranty expires.

Gumbo

EPM wrote: »

Just an observation but would a 320d not be a better buy? Given similar running costs but more power would people not prefer that. I'm thinking in terms of resale. Car does sound very nice though.

If the 2 cars were side by side and identical spec I'd pick the 320d all day ling for the increased performance. But as said a remap brings the 318d into 320d figures, although it can be argued that the 320d maps to 210 bhp min

But on be other hand, is the motor tax 104 compared to 156 so that's a bonus.

Bass- pm me the link if you don't mind.

Theboinkmaster

kceire wrote: »

If the 2 cars were side by side and identical spec I'd pick the 320d all day ling for the increased performance. But as said a remap brings the 318d into 320d figures, although it can be argued that the 320d maps to 210 bhp min

But on be other hand, is the motor tax 104 compared to 156 so that's a bonus.

Bass- pm me the link if you don't mind.

kceire you're car is savage looking - that's something what I'd like:

silver 320D m sport
w/ leather, sat nav & bluetooth

but problem is most cars on carzone are poverty spec - 316/318s etc. How did your search go, how did you find it? Was thinking I'd end up in the UK, even if prices are similar, just to get the spec.

R.O.R

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

kceire you're car is savage looking - that's something what I'd like:

silver 320D m sport
w/ leather, sat nav & bluetooth

but problem is most cars on carzone are poverty spec - 316/318s etc. How did your search go, how did you find it? Was thinking I'd end up in the UK, even if prices are similar, just to get the spec.

Right car, wrong colour and still big money.
http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/BMW-320D/201045200151078/advert?channel=CARS

The run out models before the facelift in 08 were called Edition Models and had Leather, Bluetooth and Sat Nav as part of the pack so there should be a few of those around. M-Sport's are probably fairly rare this side of the water, but even the SE model looks fairly good with upgraded wheels.

Only came in Titanium Silver (darker Silver), Sparkling Graphite and Carbon Black.

Gumbo

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

kceire you're car is savage looking - that's something what I'd like:

silver 320D m sport
w/ leather, sat nav & bluetooth

but problem is most cars on carzone are poverty spec - 316/318s etc. How did your search go, how did you find it? Was thinking I'd end up in the UK, even if prices are similar, just to get the spec.

our search was quite short tbh.
we went looking and as soon i heard this guy was selling his, i jumped straight in and told him i was interested.

he was waiting a month or so as his wife was due their 3rd baby but it was good as we agreed a price then and we were both happy with it.

i knew i was a getting a good, straight and well kept car so i was happy to wait.

*the E90 is my GF's car btw as i commute and that , i have the better car..... an E46 320d but it Auto



if i could spec a 320d from new it would have to have :
Auto Box
Leather
iDrive/Sat Nav
Bluetooth
Xenon
Rear Tint
18" MV3's or the 19" 225M wheels

maybe my numbers will come up this weekend, but if they do then i'll be straight out for an E60 M5

bazz26

kceire wrote: »

If the 2 cars were side by side and identical spec I'd pick the 320d all day ling for the increased performance. But as said a remap brings the 318d into 320d figures, although it can be argued that the 320d maps to 210 bhp min

But on be other hand, is the motor tax 104 compared to 156 so that's a bonus.

Bass- pm me the link if you don't mind.

PM sent with link.

bazz26

Just to update you guys that I bought the car today. I test drove the car and loved the way it drove. Car is immaculate inside and out, the spec is impressive. Ride was nowhere near as hard as I expected and I tested it on both the motorway and a not so great secondary road. Think I will keep the stock 18" wheels on it though as they really make the car.

Anyway collect it on Thursday so thanks to everyone for all the advice.

Gumbo

bazz26 wrote: »

Just to update you guys that I bought the car today. I test drove the car and loved the way it drove. Car is immaculate inside and out, the spec is impressive. Ride was nowhere near as hard as I expected and I tested it on both the motorway and a not so great secondary road. Think I will keep the stock 18" wheels on it though as they really make the car.

Anyway collect it on Thursday so thanks to everyone for all the advice.

as per our PM's, best of luck with it Barry.

EPM

Well wear

R.O.R

Perfect weather to buy a Torquey RWD car

Enjoy, and good choice.

PaulKK

Well wear bazz, nice choice

bazz26

Thanks guys. Should be interesting in the snow and ice.

Gumbo

bazz26 wrote: »

Thanks guys. Should be interesting in the snow and ice.

just drove mine through an empty space, private land of course great fun, even for a diesel

unkel

Well wear

R.O.R wrote: »

Perfect weather to buy a Torquey RWD car

Was out in the E39 this morning and the traction in the snow / ice was complete cr@p