Post virus convertible treat: BMW E93 vs CLK W209
Discussion
Hello All,
Like many others I have started considering a post virus treat once we all hopefully get through this thing.
My two treat front runners are an e93 in 330d form (we already have the M57 in our e91) or a CLK in 280/350 petrol.
I like the year round tin-top aspect of the Beemer, driving enjoyment assuming same as e91 and the engine lovely and also is a known quantity. Downsides are worse boot and interior space than CLK, hard-ride and still diesel. Maybe also desire for change having done the e91 thing for 3.5yrs.
Facelift CLK I think looks elegant even today and softer ride than Beemer appeals, as does returning to V6 petrol. High road tax on 280&350 models is a downer and I am aware there are issues with balancer shafts(?) on early models. Canvas roof perhaps less all round toughness than tin top? Should I obsess about a 350 over a 280.
Which of the two presents the better long term ownership prospect?
Budget up to £7k.
Muse on please!
Like many others I have started considering a post virus treat once we all hopefully get through this thing.
My two treat front runners are an e93 in 330d form (we already have the M57 in our e91) or a CLK in 280/350 petrol.
I like the year round tin-top aspect of the Beemer, driving enjoyment assuming same as e91 and the engine lovely and also is a known quantity. Downsides are worse boot and interior space than CLK, hard-ride and still diesel. Maybe also desire for change having done the e91 thing for 3.5yrs.
Facelift CLK I think looks elegant even today and softer ride than Beemer appeals, as does returning to V6 petrol. High road tax on 280&350 models is a downer and I am aware there are issues with balancer shafts(?) on early models. Canvas roof perhaps less all round toughness than tin top? Should I obsess about a 350 over a 280.
Which of the two presents the better long term ownership prospect?
Budget up to £7k.
Muse on please!
A few days have passed and I find myself preferring the E93. There is a nice 330d near us in titan silver with black pleather (Dakota), which ironically is the exact same colour scheme and engine as our e91.
There are also a couple of nice 335i's less locally. I assume these would be twin turbo N54 cars as they are 2008 models.
I do fancy the idea of a 335i but I do find internet chatter about the N54 to be slightly alarming whereas the M57 has been very reliable in our 3.5 years and is now up to 140k miles.
Anyone running an N54 into middle age and 100k+?
There are also a couple of nice 335i's less locally. I assume these would be twin turbo N54 cars as they are 2008 models.
I do fancy the idea of a 335i but I do find internet chatter about the N54 to be slightly alarming whereas the M57 has been very reliable in our 3.5 years and is now up to 140k miles.
Anyone running an N54 into middle age and 100k+?
350d Convertible
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
What about an E Coupe with the pan roof which with the windows dropped & roof open is pretty close to convertible territory.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
With your budget it's hard to look past the 330d when it comes to looking for a diesel convertible in your price bracket.
What about the A5?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
What about an E Coupe with the pan roof which with the windows dropped & roof open is pretty close to convertible territory.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
With your budget it's hard to look past the 330d when it comes to looking for a diesel convertible in your price bracket.
What about the A5?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
SlowV6 said:
Hello All,
Like many others I have started considering a post virus treat once we all hopefully get through this thing.
My two treat front runners are an e93 in 330d form (we already have the M57 in our e91) or a CLK in 280/350 petrol.
I like the year round tin-top aspect of the Beemer, driving enjoyment assuming same as e91 and the engine lovely and also is a known quantity. Downsides are worse boot and interior space than CLK, hard-ride and still diesel. Maybe also desire for change having done the e91 thing for 3.5yrs.
Facelift CLK I think looks elegant even today and softer ride than Beemer appeals, as does returning to V6 petrol. High road tax on 280&350 models is a downer and I am aware there are issues with balancer shafts(?) on early models. Canvas roof perhaps less all round toughness than tin top? Should I obsess about a 350 over a 280.
Which of the two presents the better long term ownership prospect?
Budget up to £7k.
Muse on please!
Why are you comparing a diesel E93 with a petrol CLK though? My daily is an E90 330i and I love it! Get a manual petrol if it is intended as a fun car!Like many others I have started considering a post virus treat once we all hopefully get through this thing.
My two treat front runners are an e93 in 330d form (we already have the M57 in our e91) or a CLK in 280/350 petrol.
I like the year round tin-top aspect of the Beemer, driving enjoyment assuming same as e91 and the engine lovely and also is a known quantity. Downsides are worse boot and interior space than CLK, hard-ride and still diesel. Maybe also desire for change having done the e91 thing for 3.5yrs.
Facelift CLK I think looks elegant even today and softer ride than Beemer appeals, as does returning to V6 petrol. High road tax on 280&350 models is a downer and I am aware there are issues with balancer shafts(?) on early models. Canvas roof perhaps less all round toughness than tin top? Should I obsess about a 350 over a 280.
Which of the two presents the better long term ownership prospect?
Budget up to £7k.
Muse on please!
I think the CLK 280 got "invented" to get it into Band K for road tax when the 350 couldn't qualify for that.
Fair point - I did not set out to. Initially I was considering e93 against a W209 and selecting my favoured 6 cylinder engine in each hence the diesel vs petrol comparison. I had not appreciated the e class convertible was in budget (maybe).
There is no N52 powered e93. The 3.0 NAs are tne N53 engine which has neither the reliability of the N52 nor the power of tne N54 and doesn't feel like a sweetspot to me. CLK 280s and 350s are both high tax btw.
I am probably compariing 330d with e350d now. The M57 is a fine engine and has been good to us in our E91, I have a decent BMW indy, the tin-top styling appeals and hence the beemer is ahead. When we are allowed out I will go and drive both.
There is no N52 powered e93. The 3.0 NAs are tne N53 engine which has neither the reliability of the N52 nor the power of tne N54 and doesn't feel like a sweetspot to me. CLK 280s and 350s are both high tax btw.
I am probably compariing 330d with e350d now. The M57 is a fine engine and has been good to us in our E91, I have a decent BMW indy, the tin-top styling appeals and hence the beemer is ahead. When we are allowed out I will go and drive both.
Edited by SlowV6 on Sunday 19th April 09:53
Bought a 2008 BMW E93 325i auto, with all toys, FBMWSH, 1 owner, 46,000 miles, 3 days before Lockdown, for £6995.
Considered the CLK, but the tech. looked like it was from a previous generation and just didn’t drive as well.
Brilliant car. Never missed a beat.
All I have done is changed the runflats for standard tires.
Her indoors loves it.
Highly recommended.
Considered the CLK, but the tech. looked like it was from a previous generation and just didn’t drive as well.
Brilliant car. Never missed a beat.
All I have done is changed the runflats for standard tires.
Her indoors loves it.
Highly recommended.
Bought a 2008 BMW E93 325i auto, with all toys, FBMWSH, 1 owner, 46,000 miles, 3 days before Lockdown, for £6995.
Considered the CLK, but the tech. looked like it was from a previous generation and just didn’t drive as well.
Brilliant car. Never missed a beat.
All I have done is changed the runflats for standard tires.
Her indoors loves it.
Highly recommended.
Considered the CLK, but the tech. looked like it was from a previous generation and just didn’t drive as well.
Brilliant car. Never missed a beat.
All I have done is changed the runflats for standard tires.
Her indoors loves it.
Highly recommended.
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