It's finally done it - E90 under Â£3000

Tue Dec 30, 2014 6:51 pm

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

Who the fuck wants an E46 now?

Tue Dec 30, 2014 7:02 pm

Not an N46 one thanks!

Still they are all heading in one direction only. Was thinking the other day that i'll prob end up replacing the mrs E46 330i wagon with an E91 of some description.

N52 330i most likely.

Tue Dec 30, 2014 7:22 pm

What's the score with these Barry, easy to work on or not ?

Tue Dec 30, 2014 7:34 pm

They have issues (what doesn't?). The N46 has chain/tensioner problems but it;s not a massive job to replace the lot but it isn't DIY. The Fagtronic bits seem to last longer than the N42 so far. ABS blocks are common but they're cheap from BMW now. Diffs wear out plus odd electrical issues. The more basic the car the less aggro. 6 cal ABS units are a staggering 2 grand and used ones are like gold dust. But the suspension is robust and they don't rust. Trim is long lasting and the E90 is one of those cars that looks better as a base model as the wood trim is ghastly, especially combined with the vile cream leather. More and more are being broken now so used parts are coming down in price. A fairly common issue is the steel ABS rings rusting and breaking on thew rear outer CV's. The BMW answer is new shafts but Quarry Motors amongst others do stainless steel rings for about 30 quid a pair and I've fitted a pair - dead easy. You can buy new headlights for around 100 quid each now - non Xenons though!
I've not worked on many but they're not too bad. Underbody rust doesn't seem to afflict these unlike the E46 that is often Titanic spec, even late ones. One day all the E36's will be gone so I'll have to buy an E90.
They are a nice car to drive and even a base 318i is a decent tram. The ride is much better than the E46.

Tue Dec 30, 2014 7:35 pm

Easy enough Jim but BMW software is a must.

Tue Dec 30, 2014 7:38 pm

Thanks.....I start shaking when the software word is mentioned !!

Tue Dec 30, 2014 7:45 pm

N46's love an oil leak as well.

Tue Dec 30, 2014 8:14 pm

Crouch blagged a 56 plate 1 owner 330d with Ca 250k for £1200. She is tested and tidy with meaty matching Michelins . Its not a MSPORTBRUVPAKKETINNIT but that is a bonus . If it was a shooting break I might get a little moist.

The £730 03 530d shooting break is hopefully being collected this weekend. By the time I have that up to scratch I will be very over late plate prestige

Wed Dec 31, 2014 10:07 am

E39 wrongness. Great when new, but..........

Wed Dec 31, 2014 10:14 am

theres not alot to dislike about e90? the facelift cars look alot better but they'll be a while yet before they get cheap.

Wed Dec 31, 2014 10:25 am

I bought one about 3 years ago it was a 318d se nice car only had it 6 months and moved it on but would like another
whats the best engine to have either petrol or diesel I'm not fussed.
I did try a 318d m sport estate on an 11 plate but was way out of my price range but seemed quicker than my 318d

Wed Dec 31, 2014 10:29 am

I've never thought E90's were pretty, E92's were a little more so. Would love an F30 when they get more affordable.

Do the F30's have any serious issues yet?

Wed Dec 31, 2014 10:39 am

I think it had a facelift around 2008 which made a difference the m-sport bumpers to improve the looks but come at a premium over the standard cars

Wed Dec 31, 2014 11:11 am

Simon13 wrote:theres not alot to dislike about e90? the facelift cars look alot better but they'll be a while yet before they get cheap.

I had one back in 2007 as a loaner when my 730 got smacked, a 320dSE in the same gruesome blue as the one in the ad. To be fair, it was a lovely car. Fast, quiet, good on fuel. There was nothing to dislike about it at all and it was one of those cars that you thought 'this is good enough' and you never felt like it needed more of anything.
They still look modern too and they're not much different to the F30. If you bought a 318i though you'd need to sink £500 into it ASAP to replace the chain and guides, new crank sensor and the various gaskets. After that it would be a good car and should be reliable.
I wouldn't have a 320d as they have a few very expensive issues such as ECU failure. they can't be repaired, no used one about and over a grand from the dealer.

Wed Dec 31, 2014 12:03 pm

I think e90's generally are fairly expensive compared to the e46 at the same age. I put it down to scrappage scheme and low car sales for a few years after 2008 which have kept used car prices high.

Wed Dec 31, 2014 12:06 pm

Just looked on Copart or similar and some clowns are fighting over an 06 plate non running 320d currently at £3500. What could possibly go wrong?

Wed Dec 31, 2014 12:15 pm

They are out there if you look hard enough.

I paid £3200 for the following 320d, yep its bruvved, but made a good return :-

Wed Dec 31, 2014 12:27 pm

That's neat enough. Was it an SE that you bruvved or a genuine M Sport Innit?

Wed Dec 31, 2014 12:32 pm

Lol Andy, it was an SE, with the later addition of the msport bumpers and 335d rear diffuser and exhaust, I purchased it this way.

Wed Dec 31, 2014 1:26 pm

That looks a tidy car for the money and those bumpers make a difference

Wed Dec 31, 2014 1:26 pm

Absolutely beautiful, its a 10 from me

Wed Dec 31, 2014 2:45 pm

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

Shooting brake under £3k just !

Been to the moon but to be fair it's scrubbed up very well.

The only one of these I've driven was a new 320i as a courtesy car in around 2006 when I was having my E36 serviced - was very underwhelmed to be honest. For a new car it was ok but it felt cheap inside, the engine was gutless and no coolant gauge just screams poverty spec.

These do nothing for me currently. Too common and too much money for what will be quite a basic car. Almost as overpriced as an Audi A4 or Passat.

Wed Dec 31, 2014 2:48 pm

That's a lot of E91 for the coins. I've never been overwhelmed by them either, but the Passat/Mondeo/Vectra don't drive anything like as well. E90's are the sort of cars where the more you drive them the more you think the extra money was worth it.

I'm sticking with my £400 E36 touring for now. But now they're down to this level and still falling, an E90 could be on the radar. I fucking hate rust and the E90 nicely sidesteps the E46.

Wed Dec 31, 2014 2:58 pm

I'm sticking with the Jag for the foreseeable future. It snapped a front spring on Saturday thanks to a combination of freezing weather and crap roads but apart from that it's been totally reliable and I love driving it. No rust on it either. The only other car I actually want at present is an XF and they're probably about 3 years out of reach, If the X type has any issues Before I can afford an XF i might try a Volvo V50 rather than the more obvious choices

Wed Dec 31, 2014 3:07 pm

I currently have an E30 325i Sport myself, my brother has a 1999 328i Sport, my sister has a 2004 330ci Sport and my other sister has a 2007 320d msport and my dad has a 2009 A4 TDi Sline, now I have driven all of them over a prolonged period. The E36 is a step above from the E30 in terms of drive and comfort, same could be said about the E46, the E90 I find to be very dull and I hate the drive on it, the gears seem really notcy and whole package being an msport seems very stiff, the Audi on the other hand is a completely different car and far superior to the e90 (although more money).

I must say for the drive, its the e46 everytime, drives like a dream, has punch and is effortless to drive, they do get a lot of slack, but for a daily its an awesome car, pick of the bunch for me, although the E36 in Sport form with the LSD is close (and the one to watch in my opinion - they are steadily going up in price - my recent £400 investment is safe).

Wed Dec 31, 2014 3:58 pm

e46s only get hated on here by andyboy constantly running them down.

Why would you want an e46? because they're a lovely looking car in any colour, and in most specs. They also drive like a big e30, what is there not to like? beats me

Wed Dec 31, 2014 6:36 pm

Simon13 wrote:e46s only get hated on here by andyboy constantly running them down.

Why would you want an e46? because they're a lovely looking car in any colour, and in most specs. They also drive like a big e30, what is there not to like? beats me

The E46 wasn't really an advance over the E36. Styling is subjective but they're heavier, don't steer as nicely, ride like a bastard and they're an absolute c.unt to work on. Ever tried removing an E46 wiper motor? F ucking nightmare. The lower headlight bolts that rust to buggery meaning you can't remove them. They fall between the lighter, simpler E36 and the much better and rust resistant E90. What's to like?

Each to their own. I hate the things.

Have you found out what ABS unit you have yet Bert?

Wed Dec 31, 2014 7:07 pm

Come on now Andy, they are not a c unt to work on. Far from it. In the dealer they are considered cream!

And imo they steer better than an E36 with its crap ball joints, narrower track and slower racks.

Wed Dec 31, 2014 7:12 pm

But just about every job on an E46 is more involved than on an E36. Changing a rad is one example, a fight to the death with all those fucking plastics, snap fit hoses and other shit.

The exception is the M43 rear hose stub on the back of the head - easy on the E46, an utter tw@t on an E36!

Wed Dec 31, 2014 7:23 pm

Agreed, there are some jobs that can be a fiddle but overall they are not that bad.

Wed Dec 31, 2014 7:27 pm

I've never found the E46 a twat to work on. In fact haven't done many bad jobs on BMWs. It's the French scrap that's always horrid to work on.

Wed Dec 31, 2014 7:30 pm

maxfield wrote:I've never found the E46 a **** to work on. In fact haven't done many bad jobs on BMWs. It's the French scrap that's always horrid to work on.

A high pressure pas pipe on a phase 2 clio 172 still haunts me to this day!

Wed Dec 31, 2014 7:51 pm

bss325i wrote:
maxfield wrote:I've never found the E46 a **** to work on. In fact haven't done many bad jobs on BMWs. It's the French scrap that's always horrid to work on.
A high pressure pas pipe on a phase 2 clio 172 still haunts me to this day!

They're absolutley horrid to work on. I did the head on one a couple of years ago, certainly not an enjoyable job.

Our manager has just bought one as a track day car, he wants the timing belt doing. All 4 technicians are avoiding it like the plague!

Wed Dec 31, 2014 8:35 pm

I'm in the market for another Daily, feeding my daily E28 525e on an 850 mile a week commute has got boring quick..even with this cheap petrol !

Although I despise anything newer than 1990 I have chucked 4 grand in a bag and have been scouring the usual haunts for an economical turd that's well built hopefully won't drop a bollock in the next 6 months or so..
been looking at Vag Skoda, Ford? and Swedish stuff, swerving anything French...

Sadly it seems a good 4k tram doesn't exist and I probably need 8k !

anyway as always I'm back to Bmw's and I have been looking a petrol version of the E90, are these things any good as long distance trams ? I would rather swerve the Derv !! the petrol will probably return 40mpg on the M'way I think ?

The E46 for me was done years ago, been there done that !

Wed Dec 31, 2014 8:50 pm

I would not be getting involved with an 4 pot E9x of any kind TBH unless it was to turn a profit.