Trying to be a new BMW owner, spend $40k for a 2012 328i or $30k for a 2010 335i?

I know it seems like I can spend another $10k and step up to a $2013 335i, but that's not in the cards right now financially.

These are essentially the two cars I'm looking at:

2012 BMW 328i
http://www.sonnenbmw.com/VehicleDeta...-CA/1931606433

Pros: Newer car
More fuel efficient
More spacious

Cons: No Xenon
No park assist
No fold down backseats (really bmw?)

2010 BMW 335i
http://www.peterpanbmw.com/detail-20...d-9840433.html

Pros:
Much faster sport car
Cheaper and CPO
Easier retrofitting options

Cons:
Gas guzzler
No park assist
No fold down backseats (i guess it's okay in 2010)

The $10k or so difference (going to try to talk the 2010 down a bit) seems to balance out with the 2 year difference. There also doesn't seem to be ANY room for negotiation on the 2012 according to the car dealer because they just unpacked the car and is in hot demand (i'm not that sad, i think the price is fairly reasonable)

what do you guys think?_a_

I think CPO vehicles are a good value, and cost to own and operate seems to be a consideration. You mentioned the 335i was a gas guzzler. Did you consider it 425 ft-lb torque cousin -- the 335d? Crazy torque and excellent fuel economy.

You might consider this vehicle -- CPO, Special Financing:

http://www.sonnenbmw.com/VehicleDeta...-CA/1866255163

Review:

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/bmw-335d

It's hard to say as we don't know the options on the 2012 (I didn't look at the 335). IMO $39,700.00 for a 2012 with 6500 miles sounds high unless it's loaded. Can you tell us the options? From the picture it's a Luxury Line.

For the same price and options? 335 CPO all day long.

Keep looking for a F30 328i with Xenons.

No way I'd go back to an E9x car.....

Originally Posted by SamS

Keep looking for a F30 328i with Xenons.

No way I'd go back to an E9x car.....

+1

2012 will be harder to find w/ xenon's within your price range since you needed to get them as a part of a package, therefore, the price of the car will be higher

2013, the xenon's are stand-alone, but might be harder to find or have to wait longer since cars on dealer lots will either be strippers or loaded with options you may not want

personally, if you have the luxury of time on your side, then i would hold out until you can find what you want

you can't go wrong with either, but most people will probably lean you toward the f30, being this is an f30 forum

First, the F30 328 is not a Sport line. It is a Luxury line. That means no sport suspension. Next, I'd choose the 335, no question. The F30 is very nice and a good car, and so is the E90. I own an E90 and even though I like the F30 a lot my car is so good I do not feel compelled to replace it with an F30. I don't envision moving to an F30 for at least three or four more years. I think you'll be very satisfied with the E90.

Have you seen the 335 in person? Just so you know, that interior color, Chestnut, is very red. I really like it, but some people don't. It is not really brown at all. Nothing like Saddle.

Originally Posted by frozendarkness

....2012 BMW 328i
http://www.sonnenbmw.com/VehicleDeta...-CA/1931606433

Pros: Newer car
More fuel efficient
More spacious

Cons: No Xenon
No park assist
No fold down backseats (really bmw?)

2010 BMW 335i
http://www.peterpanbmw.com/detail-20...d-9840433.html

Pros:
Much faster sport car
Cheaper and CPO
Easier retrofitting options

Cons:
Gas guzzler
No park assist
No fold down backseats (i guess it's okay in 2010)

The 2010 was the last year of the N54 engine with the dual turbo and is less efficient than the N55 engine found in the 2011 and newer 335i (the 2010 model was a short year as the 2011 came out early with the new motor), although tuners seem to like the N54 better and the High Performance 335is uses a similar dual turbo set up as the N54. Also it should be noted that the N54 has issues with the HPFP (high pressure fuel pump) and I do not know what the BMW resolution is. The newer 335i N55 motor is about 10% better mileage, but the 2010 is rated at 26 highway. On the other hand, the 2012 328i is 33 highway a full 25% better! If you drive 12,000 miles per year, the better gas milage of the 328i will save you at least $36 / month (based on $4.25/gallon gas). If the extra money for the 328i is an issue, this should be part of the consideration.

The F30 looks like a luxury line which is fine if you're a grandad but personally I'd want something a little sportier.

The E90 is much better looking but the HPFP issue would be a showstopper for me.

I'd continue looking until you find something with less compromises, 40K is still a fair chunk of money to part with and not be entirely happy.

Man so many of these threads, I say the same thing.

DRIVE BOTH

If you feel the E90 drives better, fits your needs better than the F30, then you buy it.

Originally Posted by SamS

Keep looking for a F30 328i with Xenons.

No way I'd go back to an E9x car.....

Kind of agree

I would not get a BMW w/o sport pkg-sport line. If you want the car to handle like you expect a BMW to handle the sport pkg./line is a must.
The xenon lights are vital imho if you do any night driving at all. They make all the difference. The HPFP issue has been resloved. You don't any more issues with it than any other part. Lastly the N54 was seriously under rated in terms of HP/TQ. Exactly how much varies from car to car, but it is stronger than 300/300, in many cases much more.
The 328 may be more refined especially in Luxery line. If that is what you are after you may want to go for that. If it were me I would go with the 335. Of course the only way to know what is best for you is to drive both. N4S

IMO no xenons is a dealbreaker. I can't for the life of me figure out why xenons aren't standard on ALL BMW models. However, at the end of the day, you must drive both cars and then make your choice. In an F30 forum, you will undoubtedly get a bias towards getting the 328.

Pass on the N55. it's just not that impressive.

you can become a BMW owner if you're willing to lease....get an F30 body style.

Originally Posted by justinnum1

Pass on the N55. it's just not that impressive.

Please.

Load up a brand new 320

Originally Posted by kjboyd

Load up a brand new 320

180 HP. I'm sorry but my RAV4 2.5 4 cyl. NA (for bad weather and to trail heads and Lowes) has 179 HP. A car that heavy with 180 HP is just crazy. N4S

Originally Posted by need4speed

180 HP. I'm sorry but my RAV4 (for bad weather and to trail heads and Lowes) has 179 HP. A car that heavy with 180 HP is just crazy. N4S

Wait for the dynos, you will see. It's going to be more like 220-230hp at the crank and 240-250tq. BMW has been underrating the N54/N55 and HO N20 for awhile now. No reason the LO N20 will be an exception.

Originally Posted by Jamesonsviggen

Wait for the dynos, you will see. It's going to be more like 220-230hp at the crank and 240-250tq. BMW has been underrating the N54/N55 and HO N20 for awhile now. No reason the LO N20 will be an exception.

You may be right, I hope so for anyone who ever has to merge on the interstate with one. N4S

Originally Posted by need4speed

180 HP. I'm sorry but my RAV4 2.5 4 cyl. NA (for bad weather and to trail heads and Lowes) has 179 HP. A car that heavy with 180 HP is just crazy. N4S

Yeah, just crazy. That's what the hundreds of thousands on E46 325i buyers thought of the 184 HP/175 lb-ft tq motor in that car.



Just imagine what it would be like if BMW had sold a 320i, a 318i, or a 316i back then. Would anyone have bought one? Oh wait. Yes they would have, and they did.

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

Please.

You obviously have never owned an N54.

+1 for a loaded new 320 with brand new warranty and new car smell, its what I would do if I was in the OP position. You may have more room to negotiate, ability to lease, better MPG. Drive it and see what you think. Millions of Europeans with 4 cylinder and less than 200hp engines in smaller cars can't be wrong. It is not only about HP and 0-60.

If I were you i would just go for the 2012 model

Originally Posted by kpgray

The 2010 was the last year of the N54 engine with the dual turbo and is less efficient than the N55 engine found in the 2011 and newer 335i (the 2010 model was a short year as the 2011 came out early with the new motor), although tuners seem to like the N54 better and the High Performance 335is uses a similar dual turbo set up as the N54. Also it should be noted that the N54 has issues with the HPFP (high pressure fuel pump) and I do not know what the BMW resolution is. The newer 335i N55 motor is about 10% better mileage, but the 2010 is rated at 26 highway. On the other hand, the 2012 328i is 33 highway a full 25% better! If you drive 12,000 miles per year, the better gas milage of the 328i will save you at least $36 / month (based on $4.25/gallon gas). If the extra money for the 328i is an issue, this should be part of the consideration.

Actually it shouldn't be noted because of the fixes that happened long ago, and the warranty its backed by. Also I could beat 26 highway all day long in my n54