BMW 3 Series V Audi A4 recommendation

satnavadays

Hi all,

Having my yearly debate with myself to update or not to update the car.

I do approx. 40KM for work daily, petrol/hybrid, budget of €25K - €30K and want a fairly well spec'ed model approx. 2017/2018.

I'm currently looking at a BMW 3 series and an Audi A4. I'm thinking that the 3 series hybrid may be ideal however, is a daily range of 40KM realistic on the 330e?

How does the 3 series compare to the A4? From my research to date the A4 has a more updated interior however the 3 series is a nicer car to drive.

Here's the A4 I've been looking at: https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a4-sline-1-4-tfsi-ultra-leather/31749312?campaign=23

Here's the 330E https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/182-bmw-330e-m-sport-hybrid-stunning-car/30337444?campaign=23

and the 320i https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-3-series-2016-f30-i-m-sport-4dr-low-mileage/31686215?campaign=23

Thoughts/feedback much appreciated.

Buddy Bubs

Pros and cons there and also a 10 grand difference in your most expensive and least expensive option

Audi is a new model and is the one still on sale today, I think. Its probably been revised mid cycle but its a current model and the interior will reflect that, more modern.

The bmws came out in 2012 and discontinued in 2018 in favour of a newer model.

Audi will be the most fuel efficient when using petrol engine but if you can plug in the 330e for a lot of your driving it will be the best of the bunch. Don't plug it in and it will be the worst.

150bhp in the audi, 190bhp in the 320i and 250bhp in the 330e. All will be fine but the 330e will be way ahead in power if that's important.

Audi is an SE, the 2 bmws you selected are msports. Look at S Line Audis. And look at automatic gearboxes too would be my suggestion. 330e is the only automatic there.

I have had Audis and BMWs and I always hear about the driving dynamics of BMW being much better. In reality, unless you're a driving enthusiast you won't notice the difference. I prioritise interior and exterior styling and comfort and refinement over driving dynamics to be honest.

What I'd probably go for out of those is the 330e and I'd upgrade the idrive screen to something more modern and bigger.

kanuseeme

The best you will get on battery from the 330e 7.6 kWh is 40 km by driving miss daisy , normal driving 20 - 30 km, I don't know if its 40 km return or one way, but say you get 25 km on battery then the other 15km is at 7l/100km or 40 mpg, so for the 40 km its 1 litre of petrol and 6 units of electricity,

The newer one has a bigger battery of 12 kWh that should do 40 km easy enough,

If work is 20 km away and if you can charge in work, then it should be easy to drive 20 km back and no fuel used.

It has pre-heat and pre-cool if you are plugged in, nice for winter and summer. To take advantage of it, you need to plug it in.

I will have a 2017 330e in 2 weeks or so.

bazz26

The boot is pretty small in the 330e because of the battery and folding rear seats were a rare enough optional extra on that model. Just make sure you can live with that.

Water2626262

The 330e will do 25km on electric. That’s without air con. I average 7l/100km and that’s with barely charging (I share a driveway, otherwise I’d charge it was more) and mostly city driving. Power is good.

there are some bare f30s out there but a well specced one is more common that a decent spec a4. Decent spec a4 might have heated seats but feck all else. Very few with upgraded stereos etc compared to bmw or prev generation A4. Idrive is also better than the Audi system and if it had connected drive you can track your car on your phone, see if windows are open, unlock it, turn on the lights and turn on a/c.

engine options in the A4 seem poor. 150bhp diesel seems the most common. Adblue can be a pain and cause issues. 150bhp was ok a few years back but now even Tucson’s are putting out over 200 brake. I’ve done 35k km on my 330e and not a single issue. At 120km now. Long service intervals too.

audi interior quality will be better tho (bar the seats). Plastics in the f30 can feel a bit cheap and they do have rattles. My door frames rattle and it does my nut in but you can tape them or rub wd40 on the seals every now and then.

satnavadays

Thanks all for the feedback.

I'm leaning towards the BMW as they do seem better equipped. My commute is 20KM each way so total of 40KM, so although it may not make all of the journey on electric it would probably do one way. Wouldn't mind a petrol only 3 series but they do seem impossible to find.

I've noted the A4 even in S line spec. doesn't even have a full leather interior which I would prefer.

@kanuseeme, best of luck with the new purchase 😊

bazz26

Those 2 330s are pretty basic enough.

This one is much higher spec:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-3-series-330e-m-sport-252bhp-hybrid-2017/31916044

Has the M Sport Plus pack with includes the wide screen professional idrive with the Harmon/Kardon loud speaker system, 19" alloy wheels, upgraded Brembo brakes and rear privacy glass. It also has heated front seats, high beam assist and a reversing camera.

murphthesmurf

I'd take the 330e over the other 2 for sure.

Might be worth looking at a couple of places in the north for a nice one. I looked at Charles Hurst, they take care of import paperwork etc for you. There's a few other places that do it too.

If you need finance though you'll have to buy south as they can't offer finance in the north.

Was looking at getting one myself, but have decided to wait a while and get a silly hot hatch instead.

Audi will be the most reliable though, I have a 2014 S-Line Black edition with 147,000 miles and it's as solid as the day it left the factory.

satnavadays

Hi all,

I went to have a look at a 330e today with the sports plus pack and was really happy with the car.

Only thing of concern was the alloys, all 4 had the laquer peeling and they are the diamond cut. Is this a common issue with BMW wheels? Not too sure about getting them repaired from past experience of alloy repairs.

kirving

Make 110% sure to get the hybrid system checked by an independent mechanic no matter where you buy the car. No exceptions. Do not buy a manual 320i, you will really struggle to sell it.

I'm just back from a BMW dealer with my own 330e. It's 2016, and from when I bought it with 130k km on the clock, the most it has ever got is 18km.

I'm looking at a minimum of a €4k repair bill due to a faulty battery module, could be €7k they say. If at all possible, buy BMW's aftermarket extended warranty.

Other than that... I can't really fault it too much. Fast, smooth, economic, comfortable, very good all rounder.

bazz26

It's called white worm and very common on diamond cut alloy wheels. What happens is that if there is a chip or scratch damage to the rim, water or moisture gets in under the broken lacquer and it spreads like a crack causing the lacquer to flake off. You can get them refurbished and have them powder coated. Powder coating tends to be more durable than diamond cut. Either negotiate with the dealer to have them refurbished or knock money off the asking price and get them reburished yourself. You will be paying about €400 for a full reburbish of all 4 wheels.

satnavadays

Thanks for the replies really helpful. Dealer was prepared to knock €500 off the alloys which seems fair.

Is that battery module a common fault to come up?

kanuseeme

Good question, I have tried to find, is it a problem? people who can fix it, and how much it will cost. Not many details on any of them, I think most would have been dealt with under warranty.

I personally do not think it's common, you would hear a lot more complaints, they have sold tens of thousands of them, in 2,3,X and 5 series, they cannot all be that different internally.

6-year warranty it seems, read it here https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/112439494/#Comment_112439494.

I see a lot of 150 000 mile cars on done deal, which to me smells me of reliability,

Anyway, it's too late for me, money spent, I do have some concerns but it will be my 3rd plug-in hybrid and so far no problems with the Toyota or Mitsubishi.

satnavadays

Thanks Kamuseeme. I emailed the garage I was in yesterday and the car was sold this morning. So far now the search continues and I'll keep an eye out for another 330e. Was happy with drive and think it would suit me best.

wandererz

Perhaps speak to https://www.usedirectireland.ie/

They are owned by Charles Hurst and source some of their vehicles from the North.

If there's something you prefer from CH in the North they can bring it down for you.

kirving

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119497238#Comment_119497238

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119497695#Comment_119497695

I don't think it's an issue that will effect every car, but it's certainly common enough that the BMW main dealer was open enough that they do "plenty" of them, and they had one in last week for the same job.

You've left out a key part, it's a 6 yr, 100,000km warranty. I would suggest that plenty of them have been done under warranty, but BMW will give me absolutely zero indication of whether goodwill might be offered to cover some of the repair cost until after the work is done, due to my mileage being 180k. Which is pretty poor, because I work in automotive electronics and 15years / 300k km is generally the design intent for such things.

Seeing 150k mile cars doesn't mean much either to be honest, it's a big bill, but obviously not worth scrapping the car over, so it will be begrudgingly repaired and the car kept on the road in most cases. In my experience, people who have paid big money for a "premium" car are far less likely to admit that they've been landed with a big repair bill. Statistically, Renault, Peugeot and Citroen are more reliable than BMW, but few BMW owners would concede that one.

In any case, I'm not saying not to buy one, I otherwise like it as a car, but just to have the check done. You can pay BMW themselves to do it too, if the 2nd hand dealer agrees to it.

Stallingrad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119495448#Comment_119495448

4-7K repair bill on a 2016 for a battery module...before you get to the expected failures on BMW's this age.

Potential turbo, cooling and suspension issues on top of that. OP you would want to go in with you eyes (and maybe wallet) very wide open.

CiDeRmAn

This is also a nice car in the same price range, Jag XE R Sport, auto, 2.0d

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2017-jaguar-xe-r-sport-auto/31585912