APRIL 2019 23BUYING GUIDE
ignition-related issues, and the dashboard
warning light will be lit at the merest whiff
of trouble.CONTROLLED PUMPING!
The electric water pump on this engine
replaced the conventional, belt-driven
unit, and was introduced to reduce the
engine loading and boost efficiency. It
also added a useful degree of control;
the pump could be switched on and off
as required, to minimise warm-up times,
for example. The pump can also be
modulated, to raise or lower the rate at
which the coolant is being circulated, as
circumstances dictate.
On the flipside, this unit is a good
deal more expensive to replace than a
convention pump and, regrettably, in this
case, it fails quite commonly. More often
than not, it’ll be the electric motor which
simply burns out, at which point the
engine management system shuts down
the control side of things and all coolant
circulation stops.
Unfortunately, there’s no warning light
linked to this failure, so the first thing
the driver will notice (hopefully!) is a
rapidly rising engine temperature. An
overheating warning will then be triggered
if things start getting very hot but, if the
car is running at motorway speeds, this
can all happen very quickly and damage
is easily done. A new electric water pump
will cost £589, and is awkward to fit. Andy
normally recommends that it makes good
sense to replace the thermostat at the
same time.
“We see very few actual engine failures
with the N52,” Andy added encouragingly.
“Vanos issues do occur, caused primarily by
carbon build-up that’s encouraged by stop/
start, short-journey use and poor levels of
routine maintenance.”SHARED COMPONENTRY
The vehicle underpinnings are essentially
the same for both models. Braking systems
are reliable and well up to the job. You
may come across the odd, failed caliper
or badly worn pads and discs (more so
on the 330d, due to the extra weight), but
there are no inherent weaknesses to worry
about. Genuine brake parts from BMW are
quite reasonably priced at the moment,
and availability is good. But there’s a good
choice on the aftermarket, too.
Aftermarket options are good for the
suspension, as well, with plenty of owners
choosing to fit an upgrade kit from the likes
of Sachs or Bilstein, for about £800. This
costs about the same as a standard damper
and spring kit from BMW, and is a popular
option on SE models, to tighten everything
up and give a more ‘M Sport’ feel to the
driving experience.
The E90 was launched with runflat tyres,
and both the 330d and 330i got them as
standard. But many owners switch away
from these in favour of cheaper, more
compliant, conventional rubber. Runflats
on large alloys may look good, but the
car’s ride quality can be compromised, and
there’s an increased risk of cracking wheels
if you hit a pothole. Smaller diameter
wheels certainly produce a smoother, more
comfortable ride, if you can live with the
rather more ‘pedestrian’ looks. Remember,
though, that there’s no spare wheel with
either model so, if you ditch the runflats, a
puncture can be even more of a nuisance.INTERIOR TIPS
Inside, the upholstery and switchgear are
very durable and, unless they’ve been
abused, shouldn’t pose any problems.
However, on higher-mileage examples, the
rubber coating used on the switches and
other surfaces like the door grab handles,Andy has a number of
customers running E90
330ds that have covered
well over 200,000 miles
While the E90 can’t
match the E46 in terms of
overall looks, it’s proved
to be a better and more
reliable car.If the car you’re looking at is fitted with iDrive,
then check its functionality carefully, as repairs are
likely to be expensive. Right: Typically clear and
easy-to-use instrumentation; a 3 Series hallmark,
whichever generation you pick.