APRIL 2019 19BUYING GUIDE
W
e can’t all afford our dream
M car, especially nowadays
in these uncertain
times. However, one of
the beauties of BMW’s
extensive back catalogue of models is that
there’s plenty else to choose from for those
working with more modest budgets.
But, as we’ve emphasised so often in
these articles, buying the car you want is
one thing, but being able to afford to run it
properly can be quite another. This is where
a lot of owners fall sadly short. The further
up the model range you climb, the more
demanding the car is in terms of servicing
and maintenance, and that requirement
doesn’t go away just because a model may
be six, nine or 12 years old.
So, if you haven’t got limitless funds to
feed your enthusiasm, then it makes sense
to pick something from the mid-range, in
performance terms, which will be more
affordable to buy than a full-blooded M car
and – crucially – less of a financial millstone
to keep on the road thereafter.
BROTHERS IN ARMS
With that in mind, I’m focusing on a couple
of contrasting models from the same
E90 3 Series range in this feature. This
fifth generation of BMW’s real money-
spinner model had a tough act to follow
when launched in 2004. It succeeded the
universally-admired and much-loved E
and, although the E90 was nowhere near
as pretty a car as its predecessor, sales were
strong from the off.
Assembled and sold all over the world,
the E90 was made available with a plethora
of engine options and in saloon, Touring,
coupé and convertible variants; there truly
was something to suit all tastes. Sitting at the
top of the model tree, of course, was the
normally-aspirated, 4.0-litre V8-engined M3,
but that’s not what we’re looking at this time.
Instead, we’ve chosen a couple of
models sporting ‘iconic’ three-litre, straight-
six engines which, best of all, are now
available to buy for well under £5,000.
The E90 330i and 330d look very similar
outwardly, but actually, have very different
characters. Of course, in the case of these
two models, it’s all about the engines,
which is what we’re going to concentrate
on in this article.
Andy Walker, who runs Wisborough
Green-based independent BMW and MINI
specialist, Walkers Autotech (tel: 01403
751646, walkersautotech.co.uk), is no
stranger to either model. He’s also a fan of
the E90 range as a whole, believing that the
models represented a significant step up in
engineering terms over the previous E46,
and that that’s now showing in superior
overall reliability and durability.
However, he’s also aware that both the
E90 330i and 330d have depreciated to a
low level now, so much so that very high-
mileage, early cars can be bought for less
than £2,500 nowadays.BARGAIN BUYS?
This is a double-edged sword for buyers
who, on the one hand, can be tempted in
by the low prices but, on the other, could
be unwittingly buying badly neglected
examples. Cars at this end of the value
scale generally aren’t maintained properly
as owners perceive them as low-value –
almost throw-away – items. But both these
models are relatively complex machines
that still require top-notch servicing,
although failure in this respect can be
disguised from the unwary buyer by a
smart-looking exterior.
The E90’s bodyshell and paint finish
have, so far, proved very resilient. In
fact, Andy told me that he’s yet to see a
properly rusty example. Obviously, there are
plenty of scruffy cars out there, which are
peppered with stone chips, scratches and
car park dents, and some of this damage
can lead to surface rusting. But the inherent
structure of the E90 remains sound, which
is a good thing.
The 330d is powered by a straight-
six, single-turbo diesel engine with direct
injection. It’s derived from the M57 unit that
we first saw way back in the late 1990s,
when it appeared under the bonnet of
the E39 5 Series. As such, its mechanical
foibles are well known and, by and large, it
has a pretty good reputation for reliability
and durability.MILE-MUNCHERS
Andy has a number of customers running
E90 330ds that have covered well over
200,000 miles without major issues, and
he ran a 530d of his own (with the same,
M57 engine), to nearly 300,000. So the
first point is that 330d buyers shouldn’t be
put off by high mileage, on its own. “While
mileage is a factor,” Andy explained, “I’d say
that with the 330d, it’s more important to
buy on service history and overall condition.
Cars that have been well and regularly
maintained will just run and run.”
But the M57 isn’t a perfect engine and,
while overall reliability levels are generally
good, there are aspects that prospective
buyers need to be aware of. “Everybody, of
course, automatically thinks of turbo failure
but, in my experience, this is actually quite
rare on this application,” Andy said. “I’d say
that timing chain problems can be more
of a problem; they can stretch (especially
on higher-mileage cars), but even this isn’t
a massive problem in this case. It’s more
associated with this engine when it’s used
in larger models, like the 5, 7 and X5.
“Ancillary components can be more of a
concern, but this tends to be restricted to
badly maintained examples. The injectors
tend to fail on a pretty random basis; they
can last for 200,000 miles, or pack up