Estate Car Help - Mistubishi / Skoda / BMW etc

[Fred Smith]

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[Pondrew]

I bought my first ever BMW estate recently. A 2016 F31 320i petrol MANUAL (B48 engine). I wanted a manual as the wife won't drive an automatic. Rare as hen's teeth, they are. It's not an M-sport so doesn't look much but it is a great car. I really like it. Quick enough but not silly, OK on fuel (40mpg), comfy and has more space than I thought. It is my daily car, fishing gear carrier and workhorse.

I did pay quite a bit for it as it has only done 27k miles, been serviced eight times and one owner.

I would highly recommend one.

The F series are leagues better than the E series and you will struggle to find an E91 now which isn't knackered. Same goes for the old 5 series unless you pay big money IMO.

[bigwinn]

I was lucky to find a 330d e46 late car on 100k

I’ve done 40k miles in it now and it’s been brilliant. I change the oil every 3k, it’s been mapped to 270bhp and it’s got all the extras to match a modern car

Plus they are starting to look very cool now- personal view

Cost buttons to buy and owes me nowt

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[Mr Tidy]

Back in 2018 I decided I wanted a manual E91 330i with the N52 engine as a daily, but they were nearly twice the price of a 325i so I bought a 325i with 132K miles but full BMWSH for just under £3K. I had the inevitable electric water pump failure at 135K but no other issues in the 7,000 miles I did with it. But it just felt a bit sluggish, so getting back up to speed on a Motorway on any sort of incline meant changing down to 4th. I think the problem was pairing an engine that revved to 7,000rom with excessively high gearing, so 70mph was only 2,500rpm in 6th.

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Anyway after a year I tried again and had the same problem with 330i prices being so high. So I talked myself into a manual E90 330i instead as I found one with the split/fold rear seat option, also N52 engine, and it works much better and it's very refined for long Motorway trips which is largely why 5 years and 17K miles later I still have it. Although it became a Cat N last year.

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Although I do now wonder if maybe a 130i might have been a better idea! Although I found with my 123d years ago the rear is a bit tight on legroom.

I wanted to stick to N52 engines after having had two in my first E86s as they seem to have fewer problems than the later DI N53 engine, and AFAIK all early E9* 3 Series had the N52.

I've no idea about rear space in an E92, but before my Touring I had an E46 325ti Compact that had enough space in the back, it was just awkward getting in and out as my mates were getting older like me!

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I can't help with the Skoda although I think you need a better diagnosis of the engine problem.

[Fred Smith]

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[Fred Smith]

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