2008 BMW 320i

obi604

What are people's opinion on the BMW 320i SE 2008. Manual, saloon. With about 40,000 miles on the clock.

- Are they reliable ?

- Any known issues?

- Will servicing/maintenance be more
expensive............as its a " BMW " ?

colm_mcm

Would that have "efficient dynamics" on it?

obi604

colm_mcm wrote: »

Would that have "efficient dynamics" on it?

f3ck, I don't know Colm. How would one tell ? start/stop button maybe ?

Is efficient dynamics good or bad ?

bazz26

Have you a link to the ad?

If it has start/stop then it has ED. The petrol ED models can have plently of problems with coil packs and injectors.

readytosnap

if its from a main dealer you get a 2 year warranty & NCT gaurantee, so thats peace of mind,I like BMWs they are quality cars, genuine parts are expensive
like all premium brands.

readytosnap

bazz26 wrote: »

If it has start/stop then it has ED. The petrol ED models can have plently of problems with coil packs and injectors.

can you elaborate please

Bpmull

If 2008 it probably has ed. I wounder does it really make the cars that much more efficient or is it more harm than good my grandmothers 2008 316i had ed as far as I know do your 320i probably has it I think it was a standard enough feature in 2008

miller50841

The engine turns off when idle until you depress clutch (save fuel)

obi604

bazz26 wrote: »

Have you a link to the ad?

If it has start/stop then it has ED. The petrol ED models can have plently of problems with coil packs and injectors.

Here we go.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3243534

bazz26

readytosnap wrote: »

can you elaborate please

Coil packs and injectors give alot of problems on the petrol models with Efficent Dynamics. One of the regular posters here had a few on his fleet and he said they spent more time in the garage than on the road.

166man

obi604 wrote: »

Here we go.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3243534

The gearknob... :eek:

Other than that looks standard enough but god the E90 is an ugly car. There's just nothing to it in standard spec. Good cars though if a bit small on the inside.

Bpmull

From the add the car has efficient dynamics as the add says car has " stop start technology".

colm_mcm

No mention of service history, that gearknob has me suspicious

obi604

166man wrote: »

obi604 wrote: »

Here we go.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3243534

The gearknob... :eek:

Other than that looks standard enough but god the E90 is an ugly car. There's just nothing to it in standard spec. Good cars though if a bit small on the inside.

I know yeah, seems he has added some contraption to the gear knob, dunno why, cause it looks gammy

This car is an SE spec though, in fairness, doesn't look too bad. Leather upholstery looks ok, has cruise, ac etc.

obi604

Bpmull wrote: »

From the add the car has efficient dynamics as the add says car has " stop start technology".

But I think you can turn that off ?

bazz26

obi604 wrote: »

Here we go.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3243534

That definately is the ED model, it has the start/stop on/off button below the climate control switch on the dashboard and has the oval shaped tail pipe exhaust.

On top of the standard SE spec it also has extras such as xenon headlights, leather seats, auto wipers and headlights and walnut dash inserts. Looks tidy enough and seems priced reasonable.

obi604

colm_mcm wrote: »

No mention of service history, that gearknob has me suspicious

Yeah, no service history being mentioned is not great

Gear knob makes me think boy racer.

And the mileage being so low makes me suspicious, or maybe I'm just weird for thinking that !

colm_mcm

No! youre right to be wary of the mileage. without a verified service history it's just numbers on an LCD screen.

bazz26

BMW mileage is recorded in 3 places, they key, the ECU and the LCD odometer but yes verified service history is important. If the car was at any BMW dealership then it would have been recorded on their database, any main dealer will have access to this information.

But this why I don't like buying low mileage cars, alot of their owners tend to think that they don't need a service that often.

cgal093

Whats wrong with the gear knob?

bazz26

It looks low rent.

Leonard Hofstadter

As others mentioned, the gearknob is mank. It looks like something a boy racer would put on it. And you'd have to wonder what kind of person does this to a four year old BMW?

As others have also mentioned, those engines are well known for coil pack and injector problems.

I was going to say buy the diesel, until I remembered that if anything, the diesels are even worse, what with their poorly made crankshafts that will eventually result in the timing chain failing, and because BMW's idiotic engineers decided to put the timing chain at the back rather than the front of the engine, if/when this problem arises, it means the engine has to come out of the car!

Actually post 2007, the 335i, 325d, 330d and 335d are fine until the car was facelifted at the end of 2008, when the 325d and 330d got the disasterous N57. They say they sorted it out in 2010, when the four cylinder models were revised (again), but we'll wait and see.

To be honest OP if you want a 3 series, get a 07 or older pre Efficient Dynamics model - those cars don't give any problems, regardless of whether or not they're petrol or diesel. There is a tendancy for the ABS module to fail, but that is relatively inexpensive to fix now. The pre Efficient Dynamics are a great car that won't let you down, however proper and prompt servicing is vital to ensure reliability!

readytosnap

captainspeed wrote: »

To be honest OP if you want a 3 series, get a 07 or older pre Efficient Dynamics model - those cars don't give any problems, regardless of whether or not they're petrol or diesel.

i drive a 2006 318i does that have the coil pack problem you were talking about? :eek:
it doesnt have ED

bazz26

It's only on the ED models from September 2007 onwards.

R.O.R

That looks to be a well minded and decent spec 320i, but I would still run a mile from it.

Sold a lovely 08 320i Business Edition to my Father in Law after it came back early with stupidly low mileage (19,000km in 2 years). About 3 weeks after he bought it the engine light came on. €150 for Keane's to do the diagnostics - even I diagnosed what was wrong with it, but it still has to be done.

Coil and nox sensor (I think) replaced and it was good for another 3 weeks or so before it started chugging and giving the same issues as before. As he does soo little mileage (around 3,000km a year now) he's just living with it. Engine light is on and it's "missing" a bit every now and then but he just drives around it.

It's the same case with every single petrol ED manual BMW model we have/had on the fleet. I'm pretty sure there isn't a single one that hasn't thrown up the engine light and has had at least one coil replaced - many of them have had multiple issues and been in and out of the garage. Even after coming back from the main dealer they still feel hesitant to drive - you just know it's going to go wrong again.

Shame really as the 320i is fairly nice to drive - if it's working properly. The brand spanking new ones I drove were lovely.

obi604

thanks for all the replies so far

so it sounds like these BMW's with effecient dnyamics cause problems

and effecient dnyamics meaning that it just turns off in traffic or whatever

Cant this function simply be turned off ?

If turned off completely, would the car have has many issues, i.e. is it this starting and stopping thing that is causing the problems ?

Leonard Hofstadter

obi604 wrote: »

thanks for all the replies so far

so it sounds like these BMW's with effecient dnyamics cause problems

and effecient dnyamics meaning that it just turns off in traffic or whatever

Cant this function simply be turned off ?

If turned off completely, would the car have has many issues, i.e. is it this starting and stopping thing that is causing the problems ?

Efficient Dynamics is a lot more than just auto start and stop. The best thing to do is find a 07 or older model, the engines are different in the cars without Efficient Dynamics and are generally very good for reliability provided they're serviced on time all the time.

Yes you'll be paying more in tax, but the purchase price will be a lot lower and you'll have something that is far less likely to go wrong!

obi604

So after all the replies, is the general consensus to steer away from a 2008 BMW 320i ? Due to reliability issues ?

Shame, as the car in the ad seems like a nice car : (

readytosnap

seems so, go with your head like you were advised, maybe a 2006 with low verifiable mileage pref from a good main dealer, or go with your heart and get the one you seen but be prepared to pay for any of the above problems mentioned should they arise.

bazz26

OP, this one might be worth looking at:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=10313395133396370

Doesn't look like it is an ED model (no start/stop on/off switch below the climate control buttons) and has decent spec also.

obi604

bazz26 wrote: »

OP, this one might be worth looking at:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=10313395133396370

Doesn't look like it is an ED model (no start/stop on/off switch below the climate control buttons) and has decent spec also.

Thanks for that bazz, not bad looking car. I think its only 140 BHP so id miss the extra bit of power in the 320i.


out of interest I rang the original lad with the grey 320i, he sounded Romanian and he was the most useless lad at trying to sell a car that ive ever heard in me life. He has no record of a service history at all. then he says, its low mileage so dosent need a service, couple of times I has to ask him was he still there............................enough said.

unkel

320i used to be 6 cylinder, but has been a 4 cylinder engine for many years now. Nothing wrong with it, 98% of cars sold in Ireland have 4 cylinders

But would you not rather get a high spec 6 cylinder petrol BMW? Say an '07 325i for similar money? Or even a 525i?

A bit more to tax / fuel, but you get so much extra for it, spec, luxury, refinement

obi604

unkel wrote: »

320i used to be 6 cylinder, but has been a 4 cylinder engine for many years now. Nothing wrong with it, 98% of cars sold in Ireland have 4 cylinders

But would you not rather get a high spec 6 cylinder petrol BMW? Say an '07 325i for similar money? Or even a 525i?

A bit more to tax / fuel, but you get so much extra for it, spec, luxury, refinement

Thing is, there are hardly any 325is or 525is for sale in Ireland.

On top of tax, fuel, also insurance will be more.

obi604

This one isn't bad :

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/320-I-SE/12813396016351710/advert?channel=CARS

Jimbob 83

Ewwww E90's

Gimme a 840i

daRobot

For that type of budget, there's 2008 320d's floating about on donedeal.

Usually, if it was a 6 cyl, i'd always take the petrol over the diesel, but a 320d is a much nicer drive than the 4cyl petrol.

Great economy, better resale, and it'll remap to 200bhp so plenty quick aswell.

obi604

I don't need a diesel !!

I do 6000 miles a year

daRobot

obi604 wrote: »

I don't need a diesel !!

I do 6000 miles a year

With mileage so low, you should definitely pick up the 6 cylinder petrol.

obi604

daRobot wrote: »

obi604 wrote: »

I don't need a diesel !!

I do 6000 miles a year

With mileage so low, you should definitely pick up the 6 cylinder petrol.

Ah done a quick look there. Only 325 s are coupes and they are dear enough also

bazz26

OP, would you consider an E60:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201230209342337

218bhp so nice bit of poke and low mileage also for the year.

obi604

bazz26 wrote: »

OP, would you consider an E60:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201230209342337

218bhp so nice bit of poke and low mileage also for the year.

Tis a slick machine alright. I always liked them E60s. But to be honest,I think it's too big for my needs.

GavMan

bazz26 wrote: »

OP, would you consider an E60:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201230209342337

218bhp so nice bit of poke and low mileage also for the year.

Jesus....12K, probably got for a bit under 11 if you played your cards right. Some machine for the money

Stallingrad

While the E60 exterior still looks fresh that interior looks woefully dated now.

Anan1

I got kind of excited about that 525, until I noticed that it was manual. Between that and the colour (which I personally like) it looks like a bit of an orphan to me.

bazz26

Anan1 wrote: »

I got kind of excited about that 525, until I noticed that it was manual. Between that and the colour (which I personally like) it looks like a bit of an orphan to me.

Unfortunately the combo of auto/more favourable colour will command a bit of a premium. Debate on which box is better aside, some people in this country anyway still prefer a manual box.

OP, I would not rule out an E60 yet, maybe go test drive one. When I was buying my E90 I was looking at E60s also, didn't find them to be an overly large or combersome car especially compared to the E90. Actually compared to a similar Audi A6/Merc E Class I found the E60 to be a bit smaller both inside and out.

Blazer

i'd definitely pick a 5 series over a 3 series...more room and I found them far more comfortable...at least from the ****e service cars I was given when I'd drop my one in for repair/service. I'm probably spoiled since my first bmw was a 520d
Regardless the E60 is only around the same size as the ford mondeo's so it's not that much bigger than you think..
try one and see for yourself

Leonard Hofstadter

That E60 looks mint, yes it's a manual, but I wouldn't necessarily consider that to be a bad thing. To be honest I would probably go for it precisely because it's a manual. Also it is not an Efficient Dynamics model being a pre facelift, so will be very reliable. If you're only doing 6,000 miles a year, you only live once and if you're going for a BMW, you might as well get a proper one with a six cylinder engine. If it actually has a FSH then it would be a savage car:)!

Also the E60 is not that big, an Opel Insignia is bigger than it and a Mondeo is almost the same size!

pajo1981

I also cross shopped E90s with E60s and found the E60, in 520d guise anyway, to be a bit pointless: they're not particularly comfortable, handling is stodgy, interior ugly and sooo dated, exterior vulgar/ugla, and the engine (which is ok in the 3 series) feels a little over-geared.

:pac:

Leonard Hofstadter

pajo1981 wrote: »

I also cross shopped E90s with E60s and found the E60, in 520d guise anyway, to be a bit pointless: they're not particularly comfortable, handling is stodgy, interior ugly and sooo dated, exterior vulgar/ugla, and the engine (which is ok in the 3 series) feels a little over-geared.

:pac:

If I was buying an E60 I wouldn't be buying the poverty spec 520d anyway - six cylinders all the way:pac::D!

obi604

jaysus lads, yee have me changing me mind the whole time here : ) one minute looking at a 2008 320i 3 series, then a 2007 525i

That 525i looks nice alright, ive always liked them . But then extra insurance, tax, petrol (due to bigger engine).
And then probbaly costs a small fortune to fix if anything goes wrong

readytosnap

just get a dacia duster and be done with it :rolleyes::rolleyes: