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NFT: Anyone have a BMW 330i or thoughts on them?

Dr. D : 10/6/2022 6:18 pm
As some might know, I was involved in a hit and run accident a few days ago. My '17 Mustang is totaled, which made me very sad, but I have to move on.

Looking at slightly used sports sedans. Have to admit I like a certain minimum of horsepower for passing, merging, fun (the quickness of my Mustang may have saved me a trip to the hospital or morgue, but that's another story on a previous thread).

I've always liked BMW; had a 325i back in the day. I'm looking at 330i which I think, like predecessors, is a nice combination of sports and family. And it gets better gas mileage and easier to park in tighter spots than the 5 series.

Appreciate any thoughts.
well, I have the 230 series and love  
jvm52106 : 10/6/2022 6:30 pm : link
it and actually am thinking of trading it for the 3series. I love my care, the attention to detail, the great service that comes with it.
RE: well, I have the 230 series and love  
Seth : 10/6/2022 6:32 pm : link
In comment 15848823 jvm52106 said:
Quote:
it and actually am thinking of trading it for the 3series. I love my care, the attention to detail, the great service that comes with it.


I was just going to add that I have the 235 (2016) and it's a blast to drive and good gas mileage too.
BMW 3 series  
give66 : 10/6/2022 6:42 pm : link
Are great cars. Just a great price/performance combo, maybe the best out there. Yolo go for it. If your in crappy road/pot hole area don't get the low profile tires or get the tire insurance
I had 2 Audi S4s which are similar to the 330s but I needed all wheel drive. Back then they didn't make the M3 with awd.
Doc, any news on  
section125 : 10/6/2022 6:48 pm : link
the perpetrator of the hit and run? Did they get the person, yet.
I have owned a Mustang Cobra  
Amtoft : 10/6/2022 6:54 pm : link
a BMW 530 and now a Mercedes... My favorite driving car by far has been the BMW. I rented a BMW 328 on a trip and it was just a smaller 5 series when it came to driving. I would totally go with any BMW. Probably my next car in a few years.
i leased a 2016 340i...  
only1eli : 10/6/2022 7:17 pm : link
with a manual transmission back when it came out. by far my favorite car ever.
RE: Doc, any news on  
Dr. D : 10/6/2022 7:53 pm : link
In comment 15848844 section125 said:
Quote:
the perpetrator of the hit and run? Did they get the person, yet.

No, but thanks for asking section125. I was very tempted to go hang out in the parking lot the other morning, but the police officer clearly implied in email that they didn't want that. In retrospect, I wish I ignored his comment.

Not that I was going to go outlaw Josey Wales on him or anything like that, but I would like a legit investigation and to get that mofo off the road maybe, at least for a little while.
..  
Named Later : 10/6/2022 7:58 pm : link
I own a 528....it's the e-39 vintage, Motor Trend has called this model the best sports car ever made.

The 28 (and 30) are the aluminum 6-cylinder and the weight distribution is 50-50, it's very light over the front wheels. There's Rack & Pinion steering which makes the handling superior to the V-8 models. Around town, with the AC on, mine gets 22 mpg on mid-grade gas, and gets well over 32 mpg on the Interstate.

The 6-cylinder is engineered to go the first 100K miles with zero issues. But beware if you're looking at any unit with over 100K miles -- there are several major service items that will need attention. Ask the previous owner for all his service records. If he can't produce any, walk away.

This 528 best car I've ever owned....and I had a Lexus and an Acura before this one.
I have an M340i  
UAGiant : 10/6/2022 8:00 pm : link
Pros:
- Overall quality build and feels like the right mix of luxury and sport
- Good tech without going the "Slap an iPad in the middle of the dash!" approach of design that everyone is moving to sadly
- Ideal size with adequate space without being a land barge
- Unsure of 330 experience, but Sports mode does liven the car up and make it fun to throw into corners
- Not 330 relevant, but a turbo inline 6 is good to throw you back in your seat while still feeling like a "real" car

Cons:
- Steering is slightly disconnected, but that is every car now. Its not the enthusiast car it was in the 90s, but still good though when compares against the market-at-large.
- If you want the 3 series you remember, its now a 2 series and they took away two doors
- Audi looks cooler externally (opinion), MB finishes their interiors better (fact) - but BMW drives much better than both.
- Run Flats will be the bane of your existence - especially low profile run flats (that will set you back a new tire if you look at a pothole in weather under 20 degrees). No spare and I believe anything below the true M is wearing Run Flats.
- Some features are just flat out unavailable (or where recently). For instance, you cannot get a HUD - parts were sourced via Ukraine and just not out there now. I got lucky and got in before the great car scarcity, but its hit/miss in some things.
RE: BMW 3 series  
Stan in LA : 10/6/2022 8:01 pm : link
I have a 328i. Amazing car, never a problem, power, handling, etc. Have run flat tires so a flat is never an issue (although have never had one).

Wouldn't buy any other brand.

In comment 15848841 give66 said:
Quote:
Are great cars. Just a great price/performance combo, maybe the best out there. Yolo go for it. If your in crappy road/pot hole area don't get the low profile tires or get the tire insurance
I had 2 Audi S4s which are similar to the 330s but I needed all wheel drive. Back then they didn't make the M3 with awd.
RE: i leased a 2016 340i...  
Dr. D : 10/6/2022 8:03 pm : link
In comment 15848862 only1eli said:
Quote:
with a manual transmission back when it came out. by far my favorite car ever.

I would love to drive a stick again, but that's no can do for the wife. Funny thing is I tried to teach her, while dating many moons ago, how to drive my 325i which was a 5 speed stick. It was a very bad trip down US1 in Ft. Lauderdale.
haha...  
only1eli : 10/6/2022 8:11 pm : link
i tried to teach my wife once too on an accord, which was pretty easy to drive. for her it was pretty easy to almost drive into a garage. i never tried again.
RE: haha...  
Dr. D : 10/6/2022 8:39 pm : link
In comment 15848919 only1eli said:
Quote:
i tried to teach my wife once too on an accord, which was pretty easy to drive. for her it was pretty easy to almost drive into a garage. i never tried again.

Funny how that works! Same with us. Wife (future wife at the time) never wanted to try again and I never tried to change her mind!
BMW now makes over engineered cars  
JoeMorrison40 : 10/6/2022 8:43 pm : link
Plastic engine parts do last long with heat. Famous for oil leaks, now
I agree get rid of them before warranty expires.  
Giant John : 10/6/2022 8:53 pm : link
Man those cars are expensive to repair and maintain. Engines are very good nut everything around the engines is junk. Like many other brands.
RE: I have an M340i  
Dr. D : 10/6/2022 8:56 pm : link
In comment 15848907 UAGiant said:
Quote:
Pros:
- Overall quality build and feels like the right mix of luxury and sport
- Good tech without going the "Slap an iPad in the middle of the dash!" approach of design that everyone is moving to sadly
- Ideal size with adequate space without being a land barge
- Unsure of 330 experience, but Sports mode does liven the car up and make it fun to throw into corners
- Not 330 relevant, but a turbo inline 6 is good to throw you back in your seat while still feeling like a "real" car

Cons:
- Steering is slightly disconnected, but that is every car now. Its not the enthusiast car it was in the 90s, but still good though when compares against the market-at-large.
- If you want the 3 series you remember, its now a 2 series and they took away two doors
- Audi looks cooler externally (opinion), MB finishes their interiors better (fact) - but BMW drives much better than both.

Thanks for the info UAGiant. Was also considering Audi and MB. I've always personally liked the look of BMW. Like that you think BMW drives better.
Oh crap, was feeling good about decision til JoeMorrison & GiantJohn  
Dr. D : 10/6/2022 9:03 pm : link
chimed in. You guys have a better suggestion for a nice looking 4 dr sports sedan with decent HP?
JoeMorrison & Giant John  
Dr. D : 10/6/2022 9:30 pm : link
do you know of a particular year when the BMW parts you speak of turned to crap?

I'm not saying I doubt you. I was looking at slightly used anyone and know newer isn't always necessarily better.
I really wish  
santacruzom : 10/6/2022 9:34 pm : link
BMW still sold a 3 series wagon in the US.
I drive a 2018 M550i  
bigschott : 10/6/2022 10:33 pm : link
So much fun. I pass everything but the gas station.
RE: RE: haha...  
section125 : 10/6/2022 11:40 pm : link
In comment 15848943 Dr. D said:
Quote:
In comment 15848919 only1eli said:


Quote:


i tried to teach my wife once too on an accord, which was pretty easy to drive. for her it was pretty easy to almost drive into a garage. i never tried again.


Funny how that works! Same with us. Wife (future wife at the time) never wanted to try again and I never tried to change her mind!


I taught my daughter and her BF how to drive a stick in my Vette. Enough torque that it was hard to stall. Of course the clutch was so heavy it was hard to depress. But they both picked it up in 5 minutes.

My wife came already manual trans capable.
I did a "ring" taxi in '06  
Kev in Cali : 10/7/2022 12:13 am : link
2005 M5 with a pro driver at the wheel. It's money well spent on any BMW, just find the roads : )

Or track
My 3 series..  
moze1021 : 10/7/2022 6:38 am : link
was my favorite car...

Until I got my Tesla Model 3... which will give you more "passing, merging, fun".. haha

If you have a garage to charge at home and drive less than 200 miles a day, it might be worth considering
Just hope you never have to fix it  
DefenseWins : 10/7/2022 7:04 am : link
Outside of the warranty
good car  
Giants86 : 10/7/2022 7:36 am : link
I own a 5, and have owned a 7, 3 etc.

Love beemers.

and the repairs these days are the same for most cars.
RE: My 3 series..  
UAGiant : 10/7/2022 8:14 am : link
In comment 15849293 moze1021 said:
Quote:
was my favorite car...

Until I got my Tesla Model 3... which will give you more "passing, merging, fun".. haha

If you have a garage to charge at home and drive less than 200 miles a day, it might be worth considering


Teslas are great cars, so not going down the ICE vs. Electric path, but....

Their build quality is not up to par with BMW/Audi/MB/Acura/etc - my wife's Model 3 has body gaps that would make the plastic Saturns of 1993 laugh. The paint is awful - inconsistent on panels and almost to the point of not being there on some. The interior is...fine? Its just there with my hated iPad that controls everything.

It is a drag racer, but it is a dog in corners. Its too heavy to throw around and while it can go unnatural fast in a straight line, its a chore in any enthusiasts setting. Its a fast sedan, not a sports car.

I know they are priced the same, but with both cars sitting in my garage - they are not the same segment.
RE: RE: My 3 series..  
moze1021 : 10/7/2022 8:20 am : link
In comment 15849338 UAGiant said:
Quote:
In comment 15849293 moze1021 said:


Quote:


was my favorite car...

Until I got my Tesla Model 3... which will give you more "passing, merging, fun".. haha

If you have a garage to charge at home and drive less than 200 miles a day, it might be worth considering



Teslas are great cars, so not going down the ICE vs. Electric path, but....

Their build quality is not up to par with BMW/Audi/MB/Acura/etc - my wife's Model 3 has body gaps that would make the plastic Saturns of 1993 laugh. The paint is awful - inconsistent on panels and almost to the point of not being there on some. The interior is...fine? Its just there with my hated iPad that controls everything.

It is a drag racer, but it is a dog in corners. Its too heavy to throw around and while it can go unnatural fast in a straight line, its a chore in any enthusiasts setting. Its a fast sedan, not a sports car.

I know they are priced the same, but with both cars sitting in my garage - they are not the same segment.


I hear you... I agree on the build quality. Good point. BMW kinda has to be superior since their model is CPO driven

I don't quite feel like its a dog in corners.. but not a point to argue..

And the interior is definitely a personal preference issue.. BMW is definitely catching up and finally cleaning up the clutter a bit, modernizing the interior (mine was a 2016 and it was so so outdated inside)... but I prefer the minimalist style of the Model 3

Sorry by "not a point to argue"  
moze1021 : 10/7/2022 8:22 am : link
I meant to expand and say because I don't consider myself the enthusiast... so I have to defer to your opinion
RE: BMW now makes over engineered cars  
Dr. D : 10/7/2022 10:16 am : link
In comment 15848952 JoeMorrison40 said:
Quote:
Plastic engine parts do last long with heat. Famous for oil leaks, now

I assume you meant to say "plastic engine parts do NOT last long with heat"?

I watched a couple youtube vids by some guy who mentioned this problem, but in 1 of the vids he said the engine in the 40 series (540, 340, etc.) is different and doesn't have this issue, at least with the engine.

Any thoughts on that or suggestions for a nice looking sports sedan with around 250+ HP?
I have one whole Id get A good deal on it  
Atari2600 : 10/7/2022 12:12 pm : link
and it was low mileage , I would not get one again probably because I would never find a deal like that. A used BMW is not really a value given the expensive repairs and depreciation hit. IF you can't afford a new one , you can't afford a used one either. Having said that and money issue aside; it's a great car ; driving ; handling ; looking ; even the interior is really nice.
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