Buying a used BMW 3 series saloon - which engine? | Ask Honest John

Buying a used BMW 3 series saloon - which engine?

Which engine would be best for long term reliability - 320i, 328i or 330d?

I prefer the way petrol drives but am worried about coil and injector problems - is the F30 320i or 328i proving to be reliable enough? A manual would be preferable for me. Otherwise, a diesel automatic 330d (E90) is my other choice, however here I'm concerned about DPF trouble.

Which model do you think would ultimately prove more reliable in the long term?

Asked on 1 August 2014 by DStig1

Answered by Honest John

I haven't had a lot of specific reports of problems with the 328i, but I think they are suppressed. it's great to drive, but when I ordered one I had to wait 4 months, then, on the day it was supposed to be delivered, they sent me a 320dED instead. Since that averaged 63mpg over 8,000 miles (the best mpg I've ever seen in anything), I was happy.

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