E90 325d/330d

Sexual Chocolate

Just looking for a bit of guidance here as my head is a bit wrecked and the idea of importing is quite daunting to me the more I think about it.:rolleyes:

Hoping to make a move a 6 pot e90 diesel in the UK before the end of the month and have narrowed down a couple. Budget is €8500 including travel and inspection etc.

Inspection crowd I'm considering is Clickmechanic as they seem cheaper than the AA and RAC. Any opinion is welcomed about them.

First one is a 2009 LCi 330d. This would take me up to my budget assuming I got it for £5.6k. VRT is €1878. This is in Liverpool so is handy for getting to but from a bit of looking around the seller has very mixed reviews. Only off putting thing but no dealer is 100% I suppose. Car looks fantastic but photos can be very deceiving.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201909162286629

Second one is a 2008 pre LCi 330d. Would be hoping to have it for £5.3k. VRT is about €1150 so around €7500 inc travel and inspection. Tax is €750 as it's the older but more reliable M57. Dealer is in the Norfolk region so a bit more awkward to get to but seems quite alright from online reviews.


https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201902044592682

I was gonna post a 325d as well but as far as I can see there actually more expensive on VRT for some strange reason so I'll leave it aside for the moment.

bazz26

The 2009 grey one looks a lot cleaner than the silver one.

Would you consider an E60 525d or 530d or are they too big:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201909272684242?model=5%20SERIES&year-from=2008&body-type=Saloon&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&postcode=ln12na&make=BMW&sort=price-asc&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&advertising-location=at_cars&seller-type=trade&aggregatedTrim=525d&year-to=2009&radius=1500&page=1

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201910083086661?model=5%20SERIES&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&make=BMW&year-from=2008&sort=price-asc&body-type=Saloon&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&year-to=2009&postcode=ln12na&radius=1500&aggregatedTrim=530d&page=2

Sexual Chocolate

Thanks for the reply bazz. Not keen on the e60s anymore tbh. Size is the main reason, the e90 is perfect for my needs. The aul lad has one and I enjoy how it drives especially the auto box.

Not sure if I should view the car myself first before getting an inspection or putting down a deposit. Flights to Liverpool are a bit on the expensive side towards the weekend so a bit unsure.

selectamatic

A 2009 lci 325d will still have the older more reliable m57d30 (194bhp) engine

That said the n57 diesels are pretty reliable too as long as they're looked after.

DuckSlice

The N57 3.0L diesels still suffer from the same chain issue as the 2.0L diesels, just there isn't as many 3.0L around so you don't hear about it as much.

I imagine the VRT is dearer on the 325d as revenue copped on they are the same car as the 330d and a lot of people used to choose the 325d over the 330d and get it mapped. That's just my opinion though.

I have a 2011 325d, drives lovely, and the 6cyl diesel is so much more refined compared to the 4cyl. I imported mine from UK on a private sale. If I was to do it again I would probably go with the M57 engine as it doesn't have the chain issue that the N57 has. I didn't realise the 3.0l had the chain issue when I bought the car. Also if going pre LCI then I would defo get the 330d.

Sexual Chocolate

Cheers for the reply. Is the chain on the n57 at the bulkhead like the N47 ?

Sexual Chocolate

This is the 325d I was looking at. But I'm quite sure that he has it for sale a good few months. Tbh there no figure for the Msport on vrt website so I'm just going off the SE which is €1500.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201803305077669

Just waiting on bank approval fingers crossed.

bazz26

OP have you seen this one:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/red-bmw-330d-msport/21228685

Seems like there is not much savings between here and in the UK for that particular vintage of 325d/330d. Obviously the choice is bigger in the UK alright.

Sexual Chocolate

bazz26 wrote: »

OP have you seen this one:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/red-bmw-330d-msport/21228685

Seems like there is not much savings between here and in the UK for that particular vintage of 325d/330d. Obviously the choice is bigger in the UK alright.

I have yeah was considering it as well. It's out in Clondalkin as far as I know so close by. It's up on Adverts as well, he's being trying to shift it for at least 4 months going by the comments.

http://www.adverts.ie/17816508

millington

For that budget you would have to make sure it's an LCI. The pre-LCi is very dated looking at this stage and they are a hard sell at the minute. A lot of those cars you linked are very low spec aswell, no xenons or i-Drive.

bazz26

Could be a good time to go see it and make him with a cheeky offer so.

bazz26

millington wrote: »

For that budget you would have to make sure it's an LCI. The pre-LCi is very dated looking at this stage and they are a hard sell at the minute. A lot of those cars you linked are very low spec aswell, no xenons or i-Drive.

Most of them do have xenon headlights, you can see the headlight washers in the bumpers and i-Drive was an expensive option on the E90 back then. Your also probably better off without i-drive on a BMW of that age as its one less thing to go wrong. The i-Drive back then feels very dated now and it wasn't very reliable, it was quite common for them to have a black screen of death which meant a new control unit.

Sexual Chocolate

Yeah few actually have i-drive on AutoTrader I noticed. Once it's AUX connection is working I couldn't care less.

DuckSlice

Sexual Chocolate wrote: »

Cheers for the reply. Is the chain on the n57 at the bulkhead like the N47 ?

Yip it sure is, as far as I know a lot of the components in the chain set up are shared too.

millington

bazz26 wrote: »

Most of them do have xenon headlights, you can see the headlight washers in the bumpers and i-Drive was an expensive option on the E90 back then. Your also probably better off without i-drive on a BMW of that age as its one less thing to go wrong. The i-Drive back then feels very dated now and it wasn't very reliable, it was quite common for them to have a black screen of death which meant a new control unit.

They don't have xenon headlights. The xenon headlight is completely different to the halogen one in both pre-LCI & LCI. You could have headlight washers with both halogen & xenon headlights.

In the above links, the silver pre-LCI & red pre-LCI are the only cars to have factory xenon headlights.

bazz26

millington wrote: »

They don't have xenon headlights. The xenon headlight is completely different to the halogen one in both pre-LCI & LCI. You could have headlight washers with both halogen & xenon headlights.

In the above links, the silver pre-LCI & red pre-LCI are the only cars to have factory xenon headlights.

Apologies, yes you are correct on both counts.

Blazer

There definitely is a difference between the 325D and the 330D.(pre-lci)
They use the same engine but they have smaller injectors etc for the 325D for the pre-lci model.
The LCI model differences are all in the ecu apparently as the entire engine is the same.
So it would be cheaper to get the 325D and remap it. Only problem is insurance . If it was only a grand or so between both I'd go for the 330D.

Sexual Chocolate

Bank has put the brakes on things for the moment due to not being in new job long enough even though I have very little outgoings :rolleyes:.

All I can hope is the Brits get another extension past the 31st, which is looking 50/50 at the moment or failing that some decent Irish ones go up for sale

Regarding that red 330d, my mechanic advised me against it due to its price in regards to it being a pre LCi. Reckons that's why it's up for sale so long as the seller probably isnt budging much however he did speak in favour of the M57.

DuckSlice

You can just buy mine if Brexit goes tits up :P,

Have you tried the credit union? they can sometimes approve when the bank declines.

millington

Sexual Chocolate wrote: »

Regarding that red 330d, my mechanic advised me against it due to its price in regards to it being a pre LCi. Reckons that's why it's up for sale so long as the seller probably isnt budging much however he did speak in favour of the M57.

Absolutely agree with him. At that price, I would want an LCI. I think 5-6k would be enough for a pre-LCI 330d.

DuckSlice

millington wrote: »

Absolutely agree with him. At that price, I would want an LCI. I think 5-6k would be enough for a pre-LCI 330d.

Just need to make sure the chain is good if getting an LCI.

aFlabbyPanda

sorry to hijack the thread but I'm in a similar position but also considering the e60 525/530d. My budget is a little lower at 5K€ including vrt if I import or else 5500 if I buy in the republic.

so am I reading it right that the 2.5L engine is really the one to go for in either car?

Sexual Chocolate

millington wrote: »

Absolutely agree with him. At that price, I would want an LCI. I think 5-6k would be enough for a pre-LCI 330d.

That's what he said, about 5k and 6k to be really generous.

Have to speak to the credit union still. Fingers crossed

Sexual Chocolate

aFlabbyPanda wrote: »

sorry to hijack the thread but I'm in a similar position but also considering the e60 525/530d. My budget is a little lower at 5K€ including vrt if I import or else 5500 if I buy in the republic.

so am I reading it right that the 2.5L engine is really the one to go for in either car?

There's a clean looking e60 525d for sale on Donedeal for about 4.4k in Dublin.

aFlabbyPanda

I'd seen that but its up twice under 2 different accounts. Put me off it.

selectamatic

aFlabbyPanda wrote: »

sorry to hijack the thread but I'm in a similar position but also considering the e60 525/530d. My budget is a little lower at 5K€ including vrt if I import or else 5500 if I buy in the republic.

so am I reading it right that the 2.5L engine is really the one to go for in either car?

5k could just about get you a Lci 2008 cheaper tax e60. Quite a few bargains to be had if you aren't hung up on getting an Msport.

The lci 525d and 530d both have a 3.0L m57 engine which should be just as reliable as the 2.5 m57 engine.

millington

aFlabbyPanda wrote: »

sorry to hijack the thread but I'm in a similar position but also considering the e60 525/530d. My budget is a little lower at 5K€ including vrt if I import or else 5500 if I buy in the republic.

so am I reading it right that the 2.5L engine is really the one to go for in either car?

The pre-LCI E60 525d is a 2.5 which I wouldn't bother with. It's little faster than a 520d and more expensive to run with fuel & tax.

All LCI 525d & 530d have the same 3.0 engine which is very reliable and a massive jump up from a 520d in either case.

€5500 should buy you a nice 2008 525d M Sport over here without the hassle of going to the UK. 530d tend to be a little more.

Blazer

I had the e60 525D LCI and the 3litre engine is brilliant in it.
Note that even though both the 525D and 530/535D all share the same engine there are big differences between each one especially the 525D which has different Inlet manifold, injectors, gearbox's and turbo's.
The gearbox has a lower max torque rating than the 530D so you can't remap it too much. You see some remaps promising 60hp and upto 600nm but that torque rating is past the max rating for the auto box.

I still loved the 525D though over the 520D. Big difference in power delivery and I had the Msport version.
I have the F10 version now and to be honest I still miss my e60.
Far more stable due to it being an msport and the e60 was a far better car to drive. Give me that msport back with the f10 interior and the ZF 8 speed gearbox.

Sexual Chocolate

Just resurrecting this thread as I've now got the funds after waiting it out till I was in my new job +3 months and recently was approved with bank. Thank God ! Though the budget is only €6000 maybe €6500.

Anyways the idea of bringing something in from across the water is out the window. This new NOx thing ****ed that up and I wouldnt be able to import this side of the new year so....but could possible bring something down from the north in the next couple of weeks.

Still interested in a 3.0l but very few have went up online the past couple of months except the odd manual or two or coupe which doesn't interest me so ive starting looking at 320d's. I've being toying with the idea of an e60 even though I'm not that keen on its size, but I think I need to drive one first.

Two cars have caught my attention recently, 08 pre lci 320d and 09 lci 520d both M sport autos.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/08-bmw-3-series-msport-auto-xenon-new-nct-t-chain/23349755

&

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/09-bmw-520d-e60-m-sport-automatic-model/23478340

Feel as though the 320d is over priced a bit especially for pre lci but the seller claims that the chain was done. This one has actually being up a little while originally priced at 6250. The aul lad paid 3800 for his one this year so I'm not sure if he got his cheap or that one is too expensive.

Likewise with the 520d, hate the wheels but I love the black interior however this takes me past my budget leaving nothing in the pot for any work that might need doing.

Should I hold out till after the new year as more might appear on the market or buy now ?

Any guidance from folk on here is much appreciated.

Idbatterim

How much would the chain repair cost In a main dealer ?! Still probably overall cheaper to go for a 2006 or 2007 car with more reliable engine and pay e440 year more tax.

Leonard Hofstadter

I'd stick with the six cylinder, a BMW is all about driving pleasure, and a big engine is part of that.

From a reliability point of view the six cylinder is a no-brainer, any E90 or E60 with the N47 engine will use the oldest possible version - which is the most prone to the timing chain problem. They never solved the problem of course, but the later cars are less prone to it, and automatics are a better bet for some reason (although diesels and manuals aren't much fun anyway).

The N57 could suffer from the problem, but much less likely because it's a much smoother running straight six, I'd chance one if it had a full service history and I would not leave the oil go beyond 20,000 km before being changed (despite what the overly optimistic service interval will tell you).

Both the M57 and N57 engines are excellent, although the N57 is more petrol like (and I mean that in a good way - it is more willing to be revved and it's quieter), the M57 will be more reliable (definitely no timing chain problems in those engines unless they've been abused) but probably higher NOx because it's an older engine design.

All E9X 335ds have the M57 engine, they never changed to the newer engine, so you'll never have to worry about the timing chain on one of those.

For the saloon and touring, the 330d switched to the N57 when the LCI versions were introduced (late 2008).

For the Coupé and Cabrio cars built September 2008 (although a little after that for the Cabrio) use the N57 - but you can verify on realoem.com which engine you've got once you get the last 7 digits of the VIN (which you will find on the passenger's side of the windscreen).

All 325ds built after February 2010 use the N57 engine - this is when the LCI was introduced for the Coupé and Cabrio.

That said, you don't even need to use realoem.com to find out - digits 4 to 7 on the VIN will tell you which engine the car has got because BMW changes the type codes whenever they do an engine upgrade (similarly they change them for an LCI). Digits 4 to 7 on the VIN are the ones immediately after where it states 'WBA' on the VIN number.

These are as follows:
325d E90 LCI: M57 - PN52, N57 - PN92 (all LCI E90 330d use the N57)
325d E91 LCI: M57 - UX52, N57 - UX92 (all LCI E91 330d use the N57)
330d E92 (pre-LCI): M57 - WD52, N57 - WA92 (all LCI E92 325d use the N57)
330d E93 (pre-LCI): M57 - WM52, N57 - WM92 (all LCI E93 325d use the N57)

One interesting option worth checking is whether the 'CO2 package' has been fitted. This might sound like a good thing, because it will mean lower VRT, but cars fitted with this package use electric rather than hydraulic power steering, and that's definitely not a good thing.

People often talk about the engines in a BMW, but what is often forgotten is how brilliant the steering in the older cars is. The hydraulic steering fitted to the E39, E46 and E92 is really excellent; reassuringly weighty compared to any other modern car I've driven (a pet hate of mine is overly light steering), but more importantly, it tells the driver everything down to the grade and type of tarmacadam used to surface the road and as such it makes the car much more rewarding to drive just about everywhere, but of course on your favourite country road the superior feedback really comes into its own.

I would definitely try and get one with hydraulic steering if I could (it may not be possible as my guess is they ditched the hydraulic steering when they decided to make the 'Efficient Dynamics' stuff a standard feature on the entire E9X range). You probably have a better chance of getting one with decent steering if you go for an earlier car with the M57 engine.