SPIDERWRX

i have been looking at the 335i now for a few months, but i waiting for the prices to go down, so i can get a 07 plate.(will be keeping it over 5 years) by july i should get one for 20k (SE) i have test drove 2 now and its a lovely motor

ticks all the boxs for me

Jay_bee

iTrader: (1)

Well, I've just paid £19,500 for mine... 56 plate, all the goodies, 40k, 6 months tax etc An equivalent 07 plate (with the same spec) is about £2.5/3k more (main dealer), so the extra tax of £180 doesnt quite stack up in my books... I've been looking (seriously) for 1.5 weeks and managed to find one thats right....

Matteeboy

So is it yours yet?!

We found a new house to live in as our weekend mission.

Jay_bee

iTrader: (1)

Well, I've put a grand down on it and the saleswoman drove up from Nottingham yesterday for me to sign the paperwork.

Hopefully, they should be able to have it ready for me by Thursday / Friday.

I registered on e90post.com last night, so have been looking into the cracked wheel situation. I have a plan....

Also, I've already started looking at mods.... oh dear!



Any joy with the house hunting?

We've had a bit of nightmare weekend regarding houses.... got a house with tenants in. They were supposed to move out on Friday, but havent done, apparently because I havent given them a reference (because there is a couple of hundred quid outstanding on rent). I came very VERY close to paying them a visit, but the misses (rightly) wouldnt let me.

Matteeboy

Jay -that's the only thing about that car - the 230 wheels. Be interested to hear you plan though...!

I'm on that too - won't take much to guess who I am...

Jay_bee

iTrader: (1)

From what I've read, with Watchdog getting involved, they (BMW) appear to have relaxed their stance a little and are now looking at every case on an individual basis, the result being that if there is no visible sign of damage to the rim, they are now starting to pay out.

I've just spoken to the service manager at the dealership that have always done my servicing for his opinion. He said some have been paid out, some havent. He said it might be worth my while seeing if I can get Sytner to do some kind of deal before I pick it (different rims/ non-RFTs/letter to say they'll cover any cracked ones assuming there is no vis damage)... so just about the ring Sytner and get their take on it.

Jay_bee

iTrader: (1)

Well, spoke to the Sales Manager at Sytner. Complete opposite of the service manager at my local dealership.... about as much use as a chocolate fire guard!

He reckons that whilst he's been there, he's only seen issues with M Sport (225) wheels. He's going to check to see if I can run non-RFT's on the 230 rims - I cant see any reason why I wouldnt be able to

Also, just ordered the BMW Performance high-gloss black front grille, and will be ordering some carbon fibre BMW roundel badges for the boot and bonnet. Then decent brake fluid, pads and braided hoses, then a Milltek system plus a remap..

Matteeboy

Blimey Jay you don't hang about!! Who will do the remap? It'll be a beast after that!

The 230s are bad for cracking but I'd just keep an eye on them. Ignore any bo77ox about not being able to use non RFTS - they are an ESSENTIAL upgrade, especially on bigger alloys (just changed all mine - the difference is massive). But from a financial point of view, I'd wait untl the RFTs are worn.

Keep a very careful eye on tyre pressures - the negative camber on the rear wheels means that wrong pressure mean nasty inner tyre edge wear.

Jay_bee

iTrader: (1)

Well, it seems like such a good base car for tinkering with, it'd be rude not.

Regarding the remap, I'm not 100% yet as I've only just started looking into it but DMS & Evolve seem to be getting the thumbs up, and they come with a warranty - which is nice. Shame they're both at the other end of the country

Just need to decide on a stage 1 or stage 2 tune (replacing the downpipes and FMIC) but I think more than likely just the stage 1.

I've notice a few of the guys on e90post have also added a LSD to their set up, which sounds like something to consider further down the line.

I think the brake upgrade needs to be the top of the priority list really, as at least I can get on track once I've got that done.

Matteeboy

I rate DMS and Evolve too - they seem to be the ones to choose.

LSD is a good idea if you are going to mod it and many do the brake upgrade (usually ARB I think). Brakes are more than enough on the road but apparently fade badly when on a track.

Jay_bee

iTrader: (1)

The sales manager rang me back, apparently the 230 wheels were specifically designed for RFTs, so a non-RFT wouldnt work due to the seal on the rim...

I find that very difficult to believe

Matteeboy

Jay - again that is total BS and an excuse to wriggle out of any claims.

Check E90Post - loads with 230s run non RFTs.

Jay_bee

iTrader: (1)

Well, I'll take a view when the tyres need replacing or if there's a problem.

To be fair, I might change them anyway depending on how they fair on track - I guess they're pretty rubbish?

Been buying some cosmetic parts already, got the high gloss black grilles, carbon boot and bonnet badges and some German style plates

You are 335diesel on E90post arent you?

Matteeboy

Ermmm - I might be...;-)

A few on there track their 335s regularly on 230s without issues. They are nice looking wheels - probably my favourite E90 rims.

Jay_bee

iTrader: (1)

Definitely nice looking wheels. When I was talking to the SM at Sytner and was discussing options, I mentioned 'upgrading' to Schnitzer wheels, and he said in his opinion the 230 wheels make that car and was that not one of the reasons I'd bought it? To which I replied "yes", as I did specifically want one with the 230s on.

I'll give it a whirl on track and see how it fairs.

As for e90post.... I wouldnt have thought there'd be that many people with 335d's that rave about 17" rims?

Matteeboy

There are quite a few actually ;-)

Jay_bee

iTrader: (1)

A rare breed eh?

Matteeboy

More and more coming out of the woodwork including "Mr 335i" himself, Doughboy

PovK1

what mods does the 335i need to take it to 440hp?

Jay_bee

iTrader: (1)

A replacement exhaust from the downpipe back, which does away with the 2nd cats and remap, will take to 380/390bhp. Do the downpipes (sport cats) and I guess you'd be looking around 420bhp, put a bigger fmic and I'm sure you'd see somewhere near that figure.

I'll be just doing the exhaust and remap (for the time being).

Matteeboy

Jay - Tony's (E92Fan) kicks out 450ish bhp. He's the man to ask.

Evo review a remapped 335i in this month's issue and compare it to the E90 M3 - it's very quick indeed. Only stage 2 as well - you can go much further. 335i has a torque advantage over an M3.

Jay_bee

iTrader: (1)

Cheers Matt.

From what I'd seen, he's got a full decat'd system, uprated FMIC and remap...

If he's got 450bhp just from the above, thats pretty damn good!!!

*Note to self:- Buy this months Evo

Dream Weaver

When do you pick it up Jeff?

PS, nearly bought a girly convertible this morning, this one in fact - Beck Evans : BMW 3 Series 330i SE PRO SAT NAV but something is putting me off, maybe the wheels, or because it's not a BMW dealer.

Superb spec though, and decent money due to the high miles, which doesn't bother me as my low annual mileage would equal that out over 3/4 years.

Not sure what the 330i engine is like though, although wouldn't be too arsed for a cruising machine.

Matteeboy

Dream - the 330i has a very good engine and N/A so preferred by some purists. Good on fuel too.

That is high mileage though - a dealer won't really look at a car over 80k miles so it will limit it when you come to sell.

The wheels are okay but not BMWs best.

And it's a cab - serious weight penalty!

Jay_bee

iTrader: (1)

I'm picking it up on Friday.

Spoke to Sytner earlier today, and they've offered to fit the black grilles I ordered free of charge as part of the delivery prep, which I thought was a nice gesture

Regarding that Cab. I personally think £20k is a lot of wonga on a motor with 64k miles on the clock (regardless of it being a 2008). I honestly felt 1000 times better when I managed to find what I wanted through BMW.

I rang round quite a lot of dealerships and left my details, and eventually I just kept checking the main BMW website as I couldnt bring myself to buy from an independent dealer.

I know its a touch over £20k, but I reckon you could get a good deal. I asked for £1000 off and 6 months tax, I ended up with £750 off and 6 months tax...

330i SE Cab

And there are these too (<£20k, Main Dealer, with Nav),:

335i SE with Nav

335i SE, with Nav

320i M Sport Coupe, with Nav

There are more but I'm sure you can do your own searches on their site

Jay_bee

iTrader: (1)

Edited for accuracy

Matteeboy

I used Autotrader (just before it got cr4p) as a main source -it seemed to have more up to date ads than BMW's Used Approved network - even from the network itself (which is where mine came from). Also Sytners but Leicester.

I also got a blinding deal and loads of extras chucked in. In fact so much I was worried I had bought an ex crashed car - it isn't!

Cool about the grille Jay - will look tasty on that colour car. Some put them on non black cars and it looks pants.

Dream Weaver

I'll get the 320d bought first, then look at stuff for me after that. Missed another 320 at the weekend, so it's back to square one again, grrr.

Jay_bee

iTrader: (1)

Si, would you not look at a 320i or does it have to be a derv?

Matteeboy

20i engine doesn't seem to be very well regarded.
The 20d unit is however - extremely efficient and clean for it's power.