435i from 530i

Tommy_Here

Tommy_Here

Tommy_Here

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Joined
30 Dec 2013
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Liverpool
Hi All,

Not long purchased a BMW approved used car 530i for 19.3k with good spec though I part do feel a jumped the gun a bit too quick as always wanted the 3.0 (I’ve had a F30 330d previously before a 2.0 Audi TDI) The G30 looks incredible and I can see the luxury side with the 5 series but I just feel the drive boring and although on paper it’s the same BHP as the 330d it just feels nowhere near as smooth.

I’ve found a 63 plate (4 years older but 30k less miles) 435i with pretty much every spec ticked (more spec than my 5 series) - dealer has asked for 1k + my car but I’m torn to push as a straight swap.

Head is telling me 435i, heart is telling me keep the 530i as it’s an approved used car.. I’m torn.
 
Get something with a B58, X40i means it'll be a B58, you can easily get 410-420bhp with stage 1, 430-440bhp with stage 2 and 450+ with Stage 2+. If you get a newer gen B58 like a M340i, if you're lucky you might break the 500bhp barrier with a stage 2 map.
 
I’d love a B58 but a 140i or 240i with full service history + good spec and low miles will be difficult for me to find with my car plus £1k tops :/ - this 435i has 22k on the clock and full BMW service history.
 
If you bought a car in what seems to be an impulsive move and aren't content - buying another car in another impulsive move probably isn't the right idea.

However, if you have bought a car and yet find yourself trawling through Auto Trader looking at different cars everyday: you have absolutely bought the wrong car.
 
Tommy_Here said:
Head is telling me 435i, heart is telling me keep the 530i as it’s an approved used car.. I’m torn.
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F36 440i owner here. the G30 is leaps and bounds better than the F32 in terms of interior quality
i would not get the n55 (35i), and would get the b58 (40i)

aaronyuri said:
If you bought a car in what seems to be an impulsive move and aren't content - buying another car in another impulsive move probably isn't the right idea.
However, if you have bought a car and yet find yourself trawling through Auto Trader looking at different cars everyday: you have absolutely bought the wrong car.
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this 100%

Tommy_Here said:
dealer has asked for 1k + my car but I’m torn to push as a straight swap.
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might as well bend over without lube
that's a really, really raw deal for you, even as a straight swap
 
aaronyuri said:
If you bought a car in what seems to be an impulsive move and aren't content - buying another car in another impulsive move probably isn't the right idea.

However, if you have bought a car and yet find yourself trawling through Auto Trader looking at different cars everyday: you have absolutely bought the wrong car.
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Very fair point, appreciate this thank you - think I’ll hold out for now in till the car I 100% want turns up :)
 
Have you got a G30 5 series?


It does of course depend what you want from a car, but I think a move from a G30 to an F3x would be a tough one for me. I own a manual F30 340i and as good as 6 cylinder is, I actually really miss my G20 320d. The overall package was just so good.

I’d love to have another at some point, though probably as a 330d or 330i.



It’s tricky though as you won’t really know until you own it, whether you’ve made the right decision.



What I will say is that the F3x platform needs a lot of work to it to make it drive nicely. The steering in particular is very vague and it isn’t a rewarding car to drive quickly on a country road. It massively helps having a manual, for me, but it does remind me why I disliked my F31 320d so much.
 
[ At the point where 6cyl bmw fun means automatic+xdrive , I'd looked, and look, at B9 S4 Audi avant's, too;
newer, replacement s5 is unfortunately mega bucks, but step up over bmw interior quality ]
 
me personally I loved the F30 330d I had and didn’t think anything negative towards it, I was never looking at other cars and just enjoyed how it drove. Whilst I agree the quality in the G30 is a step above it’s just the engine for me - it feels like you have to work it harder to get it ‘moving’ if you will vs the 3.0
 
Tommy_Here said:
me personally I loved the F30 330d I had and didn’t think anything negative towards it, I was never looking at other cars and just enjoyed how it drove. Whilst I agree the quality in the G30 is a step above it’s just the engine for me - it feels like you have to work it harder to get it ‘moving’ if you will vs the 3.0
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The 330d has significantly more low end torque being a diesel - creating the sensation it is more immediate. It sounds more like you are comparing the low end torque of a diesel versus petrol, rather than the 530i lacking the same punch.

The 330d puts out 400+ ft-lbs. The 530i 258 ft-lbs. That's a big difference and definitely a downgrade. If the car was remapped in a previous life (and it's easy to miss this if you don't know how to spot it), the 330d's torque goes over 500 ft-lbs.
 
Tommy_Here said:
me personally I loved the F30 330d I had and didn’t think anything negative towards it, I was never looking at other cars and just enjoyed how it drove. Whilst I agree the quality in the G30 is a step above it’s just the engine for me - it feels like you have to work it harder to get it ‘moving’ if you will vs the 3.0
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As @aaronyuri mentions, a diesel is a very different kettle of fish to drive.


The immediate surge of torque down low is immense, and probably why you feel the 530i isn’t working for you.


I’m not sure a 435i would be much different in feel to the 530i as I found it to be an engine which quite likes to rev, albeit you can still feel its turbo charged.


The B58 is a very torquey drive - you can really feel when it comes on boost



My old Boxster was very different to drive being NA.



I had a 320i as a loan car and it wound me up endlessly. It felt like as soon as I touched the accelerator it’d need to change gear to get moving.




Maybe you’re just a diesel man, in which case have you entertained electric? It’s everything good about diesel but loves a short journey.
 
I would absolutely not do this.

The only thing better in the 4 series is the engine. The rest of the car is nothing like as nice as the 5 series, especially one an entire generation newer. I wouldn't have the 4 series over the previous 5 series, never mind yours.

Wait until such time as you can move to a 540i instead. Then you'll have everything you want.
 
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