Hello Everyone,
This forum came up in many searches while researching older E90 issues, so I figure it's a good idea to join. I'll likely be needing some advice going forward 😊
I've just purchased my second E90 320D and my fourth 3 series. I owned two E36 models, an early 316i and a later 323i, many years ago. In 2014 I bought a 2011 6SPD manual space grey car, with 44000km and a bunch of Motorplan left. I sold it in late 2018. While researching recently, I discovered the buyer was a forum member, as I found pictures of it here-- I miss that car.
This purchase is a completely different scenario. I wanted something "cheap" and when I started looking several months ago, I was a little surprised at what I found.
Seems good E90 320Ds with higher mileage than my previous car, and obviously much older now, were asking considerably more money than what I sold it for in 2018. What the heck happened to BMW values depreciating like boat anchors dropping to the ocean floor?
Anyway, I considered a few options, looking at cars in the 150000-250000KM and ZAR120000-175000 range, but struggled to find anything that really grabbed me. I also struggled with the idea of spending ZAR150k plus on a 15 year old car, in order to get a neat-ish E90. Also, then you're still not sure of exactly what you're getting, unless the previous owners were meticulous in keeping record of what was done.
I ended up finding something that hopefully will not come back to haunt me-- a car popped up on WeBuyCars and it looked decent, so I went and had a look. I know people tend to sell to WBC when they cannot sell it elsewhere, but hopefully I got a unicorn and it's not that bad.
Details are as follows:
Interior (a few niggles):
Body:
Mechanical:
The listing said 'partial' service history, which points to the slightly extended gap between 81000km and 107000km, when motorplan ended. Admittedly not ideal. Kind of odd, seeing as all except the last service at 172000km, was done at BMW Paarlberg. Also, the report from BMW shows the final motorplan work being done at 81000km in 2017, so seems to have had the motorplan extended.
After an initial inspection, I decided to test drive it and it honestly felt utterly solid. Not a single squeak or rattle, no wobbles when hitting badly fitted manhole covers, no discernible play or rattles anywhere. The engine felt really strong and refined, more than I remember, and the gearbox felt very smooth and responsive (more on that later).
Having owned one before and driven 80000km in it, and having driven over a million KMs in my life and being someone who pays very close attention to how a car "feels", I felt that I would be able to accurately judge the condition of the car-- the stories we tell ourselves to justify our actions, eh 🤷♂️
Anyway, time will tell if that story is true.
I’ve now had it for just over two weeks. It’s spent two days at Garage808 for a thorough inspection and service, new swirl flaps, EGR blanking & related software, cleaning of intake manifold, brake system flush, a new battery as it was fitted with the incorrect one, as well as a few other small things i.e. bulbs, wiper blades. They diagnosed leaking front shocks, so that is next on the list.
I’ve also made an appointment at ZF for a diagnostic inspection. Having now driven the car a bit more, the gearbox is the only thing that bothers me slightly. I've heard the E90 auto box is not great, but I still feel it should be better than what it is. It's fine under mild to full power, but at slow speed it sometimes hesitates or has the odd clunky shift in traffic.
Obviously, by consensus, the mileage is too high for a first service. ZF said they will inspect and determine whether it can be serviced. I'm holding thumbs for this, that MAYBE it has been serviced before. There is an item in the motorplan history at 28000km that reads "Leak at oilpan/gasket, automatic transmission", which was a R5000+ repair, which, if that involved replacing transmission fluid, would play slightly in my favour. Who knows 🤞
My other big concern was timing chain. I had no idea this was even an issue while owning my previous car. I've now listened to every "stretched/noisy/failing" timing chain video on the internet, and I'm confident that on cold start, there is not a hint of any rattle.
So, that's my story. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.
Cheers!
Deon
This forum came up in many searches while researching older E90 issues, so I figure it's a good idea to join. I'll likely be needing some advice going forward 😊
I've just purchased my second E90 320D and my fourth 3 series. I owned two E36 models, an early 316i and a later 323i, many years ago. In 2014 I bought a 2011 6SPD manual space grey car, with 44000km and a bunch of Motorplan left. I sold it in late 2018. While researching recently, I discovered the buyer was a forum member, as I found pictures of it here-- I miss that car.
This purchase is a completely different scenario. I wanted something "cheap" and when I started looking several months ago, I was a little surprised at what I found.
Seems good E90 320Ds with higher mileage than my previous car, and obviously much older now, were asking considerably more money than what I sold it for in 2018. What the heck happened to BMW values depreciating like boat anchors dropping to the ocean floor?
Anyway, I considered a few options, looking at cars in the 150000-250000KM and ZAR120000-175000 range, but struggled to find anything that really grabbed me. I also struggled with the idea of spending ZAR150k plus on a 15 year old car, in order to get a neat-ish E90. Also, then you're still not sure of exactly what you're getting, unless the previous owners were meticulous in keeping record of what was done.
I ended up finding something that hopefully will not come back to haunt me-- a car popped up on WeBuyCars and it looked decent, so I went and had a look. I know people tend to sell to WBC when they cannot sell it elsewhere, but hopefully I got a unicorn and it's not that bad.
Details are as follows:
- Late 2010 model
- 185000km
- 135KW N47T engine
- 6SPD Auto
- titanium silver with black interior, nice spec with partial electric seats, sunroof, bluetooth, wireless phone charging & xenon headlights
Interior (a few niggles):
- a small tear in the driver's seat bolster, expected at this mileage
- driver's cup holder not opening
- two of the air vents lever's are broken
- the typical E90 fudge door pulls need replacing
Body:
- rear bumper has been repainted to a high standard, looks like one corner was damaged
- front right fender was repaired and painted to a LOW standard-- seriously?
- I cannot find any sign of repainting on the main body of the car and no sign whatsoever of any other accident damage, doors close with a solid thunk and besides the odd small mark, seems in good condition for its age
Mechanical:
The listing said 'partial' service history, which points to the slightly extended gap between 81000km and 107000km, when motorplan ended. Admittedly not ideal. Kind of odd, seeing as all except the last service at 172000km, was done at BMW Paarlberg. Also, the report from BMW shows the final motorplan work being done at 81000km in 2017, so seems to have had the motorplan extended.
After an initial inspection, I decided to test drive it and it honestly felt utterly solid. Not a single squeak or rattle, no wobbles when hitting badly fitted manhole covers, no discernible play or rattles anywhere. The engine felt really strong and refined, more than I remember, and the gearbox felt very smooth and responsive (more on that later).
Having owned one before and driven 80000km in it, and having driven over a million KMs in my life and being someone who pays very close attention to how a car "feels", I felt that I would be able to accurately judge the condition of the car-- the stories we tell ourselves to justify our actions, eh 🤷♂️
Anyway, time will tell if that story is true.
I’ve now had it for just over two weeks. It’s spent two days at Garage808 for a thorough inspection and service, new swirl flaps, EGR blanking & related software, cleaning of intake manifold, brake system flush, a new battery as it was fitted with the incorrect one, as well as a few other small things i.e. bulbs, wiper blades. They diagnosed leaking front shocks, so that is next on the list.
I’ve also made an appointment at ZF for a diagnostic inspection. Having now driven the car a bit more, the gearbox is the only thing that bothers me slightly. I've heard the E90 auto box is not great, but I still feel it should be better than what it is. It's fine under mild to full power, but at slow speed it sometimes hesitates or has the odd clunky shift in traffic.
Obviously, by consensus, the mileage is too high for a first service. ZF said they will inspect and determine whether it can be serviced. I'm holding thumbs for this, that MAYBE it has been serviced before. There is an item in the motorplan history at 28000km that reads "Leak at oilpan/gasket, automatic transmission", which was a R5000+ repair, which, if that involved replacing transmission fluid, would play slightly in my favour. Who knows 🤞
My other big concern was timing chain. I had no idea this was even an issue while owning my previous car. I've now listened to every "stretched/noisy/failing" timing chain video on the internet, and I'm confident that on cold start, there is not a hint of any rattle.
So, that's my story. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.
Cheers!
Deon
