2012 Golf to 2009 3 series?

needhelpguy

I'm mulling over changing my petrol 2012 VW Golf to a 2009 320D Msport which is just in or around a price I can pay. It's not for fuel economy but purely for driving pleasure. While I like certain things about the Golf I didn't realise just how much the understeer and lack of general steering feel would annoy me (had an older 3 series previously). I also don't think the seats are great. It's a good car in many ways but not great. I could keep it another few years or change up now while I can.

Opinions?

166man

I see no reason not to change if it's a car you don't particularly like. I would question though if you need a diesel? Those 177bhp engines can be troublesome AFAIK, maybe a 325i or something with a larger petrol engine?


A nice E90 325i/330i M-Sport would be gorgeous and the tax would be better on a post '08 model.


Food for thought!

readytosnap

go for it, I did the same last year with a 09 golf to an 06 3 series, higher tax on the beemer, but I will live with that, at the end of the day I am driving what I like. The golf was lovely but having had 3 previous BMWs I just like them more than any other car, I have no regrets, do it, you know you want too.

needhelpguy

There were practically no petrol BMWs sold here in the last few years let alone petrol M-Sports. They're rare enough up North too. I've no choice but to go diesel, even though I do very low mileage.

My heart says yes but my head says no!

166man

needhelpguy wrote: »

There were practically no petrol BMWs sold here in the last few years let alone petrol M-Sports. They're rare enough up North too. I've no choice but to go diesel, even though I do very low mileage.

My heart says yes but my head says no!

They are available in the UK though and even if it costs you €500 with ferries and all that jazz it's still going to be worth it to have

1) A straight six BMW

2) An engine that won't let the timing chain freak the sh1t out after a year or two. Seems to be more and more common.

readytosnap

The fact that you are contemplating it and then putting it on here tells me you want it but you are just looking for that extra push to go for it, well us lot on here cannot make up your mind, you want it, go for it, i know exactly what you are going through, only the missus said i should go for it, the kids wanted me to keep the golf cos it was more of a looker, lovely colour, tinted windows, 600watt stereo,bass bin, lovely alloys, but their intentions didn't involve my needs just their own as they used to borrow it on a regular basis, they don't borrow the beemer lol.

Leonard Hofstadter

The six cylinder petrols (except conveniently, the 335i) have problems with injectors and ignition coils after September 2007. If I was buying a petrol 3 series after 2007, I'd be buying a 335i, because it is by far the most reliable engine, and it has the right number of cylinders, and of course, 306 bhp .

mickdw

I thought the 335i had some issues too with poor running and expensive short lived repairs.

ian87

Ive a 2008 320d that I'm itching to sell and buy an e39 530d. I've always wanted an e39 m sport. Not that I'm stuck for the cash or anything, just have an itch I want to scratch. Go for it op, 2 years ago I sold a 2008 passat and got a 00 323ci. If you like a car, funk the year, just do it!

MetzgerMeister

mickdw wrote: »

I thought the 335i had some issues too with poor running and expensive short lived repairs.

If it's an E92 335i, as long as it doesn't have wastegate rattle (it will by this stage) then it's very reliable. I've had absolutely nothing go wrong with mine apart from that which was there since the previous (1st) owner and I am sorting it next week with a new turbo

In the US, the high pressure fuel pumps shat themselves and the wastegate issue happened but the HPFP thing didn't happen in many EU 335i's.

Ignition coils can also be a problem but it's nothing new when it comes to BMWs.

Leonard Hofstadter

mickdw wrote: »

I thought the 335i had some issues too with poor running and expensive short lived repairs.

There is a problem with the high pressure fuel pump on models with the N54 engine, but it's mainly in the US due to the fact that they use much lower quality fuel than what's used in Europe. Some cars in Europe have suffered from the problem as well, though. It's still a lot better than the other 3 series petrol engines with Efficient Dynamics reliability wise.

gowley

for what its worth id go for it too. there are a few petrol m sports around although not sure if they a competitively priced. this is a nice looking one but its a coupe with a bit of spec http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/320i-M-S/34813656565127610/advert?channel=CARS

lomb

Bmw engines seem to be of poor quality. Ive heard numerous stories of Bm engines packing up. The vast majority of VAG lumps have no history of unreliabilty and keep on ticking even at 10 or 15 years of age.
The golf is as you say a good car but not great but it was never meant to be great. It does most things well(some very like value retention on base models)however.
Why not get an older Audi A4 quattro or perhaps an E class Merc post 06?

Leonard Hofstadter

lomb wrote: »

The vast majority of VAG lumps have no history of unreliability and keep on ticking even at 10 or 15 years of age.

I hope you don't seriously believe that, because there's no shortage of VW Group engines which are/were very popular in Ireland and give a lot of trouble, such as all 1.4 NA petrols from 98 onwards, all 2.0 TDI PDs (so any 2.0 TDI before well into 2008, and several after that).

I could go on, but I hope you get the picture;).

Yes BMW have their problems, but it is very possible to buy a reliable one, and the VW group have plenty of problems. At least BMW don't try to sell a jumped up Skoda and pass it off as a 'premium' car like Audi do, and all their cars have the correct (and more expensive) engine layout not to mention drive the correct wheels (for now), which is also more expensive but premium cars are supposed to be expensively made.

gowley

lol. was just about to post a similar reply speed. all manufacturers have their issues and when you are selling the fourth highest volume of cars in the uk in 2012 as bmw are you will have issues. only ford vauxhall and vw sold more cars which is quite a feat for a premium brand.
i have too disagree about skoda though. i think they are great and havent had a minutes trouble with mine and think the quality of the interior is top class.

Leonard Hofstadter

gowley wrote: »

i have too disagree about skoda though. i think they are great and havent had a minutes trouble with mine and think the quality of the interior is top class.

I have nothing against Skoda (although the new Octavia is very overpriced), a lot wrong with selling Skodas at 50% more and calling them 'Audi' though:).

gowley

captainspeed wrote: »

I have nothing against Skoda (although the new Octavia is very overpriced), a lot wrong with selling Skodas at 50% more and calling them 'Audi' though:).

maybe so but their customers would disagree with you. sales of over 932,000 cars last year. thats nearly a 7% increase on 2011.

MuppetCheck

gowley wrote: »

maybe so but their customers would disagree with you. sales of over 932,000 cars last year. thats nearly a 7% increase on 2011.

Matt Simis

needhelpguy wrote: »

There were practically no petrol BMWs sold here in the last few years let alone petrol M-Sports. They're rare enough up North too. I've no choice but to go diesel, even though I do very low mileage.

Of course you have a choice:
http://www.carzone.ie/search/results?nParam=4294911133%2B200590&searchsource=browse&cacheBuster=1368183389229947#nParam=4294911133%2B200590%2B102455%2B200292%2B200782%2B200400%2B200439&sortby=p_VehicleEngineCC|1&channel=CARS&currency=EUROS&searchResultsView=THUMBNAIL&maxrows=10



Find some way then, cos moving to a 320d with no desire for fuel economy for "driving experience" is just flat out doing it wrong.

I wouldnt be put off by reports of Injectors and Ignition coils TBH, find a nice 330i and be happy. Or 335i and be happier.

GavMan

Matt Simis wrote: »

Of course you have a choice:
http://www.carzone.ie/search/results?nParam=4294911133%2B200590&searchsource=browse&cacheBuster=1368183389229947#nParam=4294911133%2B200590%2B102455%2B200292%2B200782%2B200400%2B200439&sortby=p_VehicleEngineCC|1&channel=CARS&currency=EUROS&searchResultsView=THUMBNAIL&maxrows=10



Find some way then, cos moving to a 320d with no desire for fuel economy for "driving experience" is just flat out doing it wrong.

I wouldnt be put off by reports of Injectors and Ignition coils TBH, find a nice 330i and be happy. Or 335i and be happier.

Some of them prices could be contenders for dreamers of the year. 34 grand for a 5 year old motor? Granted its a 335 convertible, but I would have thought that was 6 or 7k over priced IMO

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/335i-M-S/33913661749212700/advert?channel=CARS

Idbatterim

there is a guy on bmwdrivernet looking to sell his 320d m sport coupe, just putting up a link here in case you are interested op...

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=45764

While I like certain things about the Golf I didn't realise just how much the understeer and lack of general steering feel would annoy me

lads I agree that the petrol is nicer, but the op concerns with the golf was the understeer and lack of steering feel, thats not going to matter at all, whether its a petrol or diesel E92. the below is a cracker op...

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/E90-CI-M/201316214422211/advert?channel=CARS

ian87

captainspeed wrote: »

I have nothing against Skoda (although the new Octavia is very overpriced), a lot wrong with selling Skodas at 50% more and calling them 'Audi' though:).

I take it you haven't driven an audi and skoda back to back. The materials used in both are very different. I used to have an 2007 a3 until last october. Drove a friends brand new superb last summer and couldn't get over how brittle and cheap the plastics felt. The leather feels anything but, the sound deadening is nowhere near as good, even the clunk of the doors in comparison doesn't match up. I don't deny the superb is a great car but when you compare like for like it doesn't quite add up.