Bmw 335i 330d audi s3 8p

[Danyceest]

Hi guys I'm looking for some advice on what to get after being written of by someone I had a fiesta st and would like to move to either of the 3 in the title I have zero experience in bmw especially rwd I have a budget of around 5 to 6k their seems to be more 330ds around then 335is what would the performance difference be like or better yet what would either car be like moving from a mk7 fiesta st. Thanks.

[e-honda]

mx5

[Danyceest]

Tbf I do like them but after having the fiesta st I wanted a bit more refinement with good power

[Cheese on Toast with Worcestershire Sauce]

I've owned both 8p S3 & mk7 fiesta st, and now own an e92 330i (N52). The bmw is my favourite of the lot, it seems to do everything very well. I occasionally miss the st on certain roads, but for the overall driving experience, the bmw wins.

[Danyceest]

Yeah the st definitely owned the corners on b roads probably helps to mention I live southwest cornwall so I've got loads of twistes most of my driving would be on curvy b roads how would the bmw rwd saloon be different to the st on these types of roads

[InitialDave]

I would go with the 335i myself, but be aware that the N54 engined cars can throw up a chunky bill if there are issues with, for example, the injectors. There is no guarantee you'll have issues, and this isn't intended to scare you off, but it is something to keep in mind.

Court_S had a long running thread with the ownership experience of his 335i:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I'll also say that while these cars, even if you turn the wick up on them, are fairly docile and not actively hard to drive or anything, if you've never driven RWD before, starting off in something with 3-400bhp is going to go very badly if you start getting cocky and drive like you're in a 170-200bhp Fiesta, particularly in the winter.

[danb79]

Danyceest said:

Hi guys I'm looking for some advice on what to get after being written of by someone I had a fiesta st and would like to move to either of the 3 in the title I have zero experience in bmw especially rwd I have a budget of around 5 to 6k their seems to be more 330ds around then 335is what would the performance difference be like or better yet what would either car be like moving from a mk7 fiesta st. Thanks.

Personally I wouldn't touch an N54 currently; too many issues that crop up more so, as already said, round injectors.

I've just bought an E81 130i and it's a belting little car; very easy to work on and the N52 3.0 straight 6 is a fabulous engine!

Would highly recommend one (or an E87 4 door); if you can find one

Any 30i N52 engined BMW would be a good buy IMO

[Danyceest]

Thanks for the advice that's why I came looking around to see other people's opinions would you say the 330d would be the better option I have had a 420 coupe for a few days on a hire car but that was only 180bhp or 200 can't remember and I definitely liked it didn't get to explore it as much as I wanted to though and yeah I like the 1 series but really fancy saloon/coup thanks for the heads up 👍

[danb79]

Danyceest said:

Thanks for the advice that's why I came looking around to see other people's opinions would you say the 330d would be the better option I have had a 420 coupe for a few days on a hire car but that was only 180bhp or 200 can't remember and I definitely liked it didn't get to explore it as much as I wanted to though and yeah I like the 1 series but really fancy saloon/coup thanks for the heads up ??

What's your budget?

A 330D would be a good car to go for, the N57 is a decent engine with great power and very tuneable...

[Lo-Fi]

danb79 said:

Danyceest said:

Thanks for the advice that's why I came looking around to see other people's opinions would you say the 330d would be the better option I have had a 420 coupe for a few days on a hire car but that was only 180bhp or 200 can't remember and I definitely liked it didn't get to explore it as much as I wanted to though and yeah I like the 1 series but really fancy saloon/coup thanks for the heads up ??

What's your budget?

A 330D would be a good car to go for, the N57 is a decent engine with great power and very tuneable...

5-6k. It says in the first post..

[ScoobyChris]

My 2p is that the ST is very much a car you can chuck at a B road whereas the BMW rewards a smoother slower in, fast out approach to bends and as you build experience you’ll be surprised how much you can lean on the car and the available grip. Can’t comment on the engines - have enjoyed the 20d, 30d, 30i and 35i but none of them I’ve owned so as to have to worry about reliability and longevity!

Chris

[oceanview]

Danyceest said:

Yeah the st definitely owned the corners on b roads probably helps to mention I live southwest cornwall so I've got loads of twistes most of my driving would be on curvy b roads how would the bmw rwd saloon be different to the st on these types of roads

If, as you mention, most of your driving is on curvy B roads, then the type of car you already own will be much more sorted to that sort of driving, compared to any the BMW's you and others mention.

I had for 5 years, a Z4 Coupe, that i lightly modified the chassis, and had a proper , motorsport place wheel alignment done on it, and although much better than standard, it could still be really hard work on windy Exmoor roads.
I currently own a 2017 M240i, and i love the engine and box but, standard, its worse than the Z4 on windy roads.

That's ok for me now, as i do more driving on bigger, more open roads but, for example, i had a 2014 Suzuki Swift Sport last year, and that thing was a riot to drive across Exmoor. Much more fun on those type of roads, even if it didn't really have enough power.

[Sofa]

Danyceest said:

Thanks for the advice that's why I came looking around to see other people's opinions would you say the 330d would be the better option I have had a 420 coupe for a few days on a hire car but that was only 180bhp or 200 can't remember and I definitely liked it didn't get to explore it as much as I wanted to though and yeah I like the 1 series but really fancy saloon/coup thanks for the heads up ??

Obligatory plug for the 125i Coupe- should be able to get a good one for £6k. It has the 3.0 N52 detuned to about 215hp but the full 265hp (or more, mine allegedly did 281hp on Celtic Tuning's dyno under a previous owner) is just a remap away. They do seem to be getting quite rare though- there's only 1 manual on AutoTrader and it's not a great spec, and I personally wouldn't consider an auto as so much of what I enjoy about the car is the interaction with that lovely straight-6- plus it does need some revs to be quick, there's decent torque but it only really comes alive above 4000rpm. If you're comparing with a 420i you should love it too, I did 500 miles in a brand new 320i a few weeks ago and it's frankly pretty slow and dull compared to the 125i.

I adore mine, and will only sell it when I'm in the financial position to replace it with an M car.

Edited by Sofa on Sunday 10th November 22:06

[bodhi]

Sofa said:

Obligatory plug for the 125i Coupe- should be able to get a good one for £6k. It has the 3.0 N52 detuned to about 215hp but the full 265hp (or more, mine allegedly did 281hp on Celtic Tuning's dyno under a previous owner) is just a remap away. They do seem to be getting quite rare though- there's only 1 manual on AutoTrader and it's not a great spec, and I personally wouldn't consider an auto as so much of what I enjoy about the car is the interaction with that lovely straight-6- plus it does need some revs to be quick, there's decent torque but it only really comes alive above 4000rpm. If you're comparing with a 420i you should love it too, I did 500 miles in a brand new 320i a few weeks ago and it's frankly pretty slow and dull compared to the 125i.

I adore mine, and will only sell it when I'm in the financial position to replace it with an M car.

Edited by Sofa on Sunday 10th November 22:06

Obligatory backup plug for the 125i Mine ticked over 178k on the way down to London at the weekend and if you didn't see the odometer you'd struggle to tell - got us down there quickly and in comfort whilst doing nearly 40 to the gallon on the motorway, then did 35 on the way back up in the outside lane of the M40.

They sound epic away from the M6 Toll barrier as well

[jonwm]

I've got a lovely 330d E93 m sport I'm selling in your budget.
Great car, amazing history, only selling as wife has gone electric.
Lovely engine on the 330d, mines not tuned but I don't think it needs to be, for a diesel it's sounds great too.

[ZX10R NIN]

Danyceest said:

Yeah the st definitely owned the corners on b roads probably helps to mention I live southwest cornwall so I've got loads of twistes most of my driving would be on curvy b roads how would the bmw rwd saloon be different to the st on these types of roads

First things first neither of these will handle like your ST, they will feel composed & more relaxed, which is how you'll drive these in a more relaxed manor.

Also look at the C350:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410265...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409154...

E350 Coupe:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402277...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411116...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409033...

330i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405240...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411055...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411055...

[Mr Tidy]

I'd steer clear of the 335i with the N54 engine at that age too. As well as injectors they can suffer from fuel pump issues.

330d would be OK if you don't mind a diesel and do enough longer drives.

As others have said the N52 engine is a real gem. I'm on my 4th, this one in a manual 330i and love it.

Although it isn't going to attack twisty roads like your Fiesta.