Looking to replace my time machine

Catanonia · 27 Oct 2012 at 20:14

I currently have this beast.

A 2006 BMW 335i with all options added.

It is also chipped with a Burgur Tuning ECU bypass harness from the states and is currently kicking out 420BHP and is a time machine. 0-6 in 4 seconds and never been brave enough to max it past 160 (delimited)

The problem is that I used to run it on my employers old fuel card for 3 years and I have now left the company and found a contract that will be averaging 450 miles a week that will come out of my pocket

I currently get about 300miles to the tank and mid 20's MPG.

So it looks like she has to go. I will buy another car and then probably force myself to sell this beast. Will hopefully sell it with the ECU harness for about 11k

I have a budge of 9k and want something that is good on MPG, but comfortable, reliable and still fun.

Obviously I am not going to get the same performance, but that is a hit I will have to take.

Also consider diesel, as long as it has some poke.

Any ideas ?

melchy · 27 Oct 2012 at 20:23

E92 335d

Catanonia · 27 Oct 2012 at 20:24

melchy said:
E92 335d

LOL

placeholder · 27 Oct 2012 at 20:33

I have no advice but your car looks awesome.

lewism · 27 Oct 2012 at 21:01

Keep the car and spend the extra on fuel. Is MPG really worth the sacrifice for the enjoyment of driving something like that?

Brookert · 27 Oct 2012 at 21:36

Buy a shed derv for work. Job done.

[TW]Fox · 27 Oct 2012 at 21:57

If your big mileage increase is mostly on Motorways I'd expect that average to creep over 30mpg. You've already lost a fortune on it depreciation wise so why not hang onto it and buy petrol instead of new parts for whatever awful diesel you'd buy instead.

Randomface74 · 27 Oct 2012 at 22:08

keep that sweet car

melchy · 27 Oct 2012 at 23:17

Out of interest what mods are you running to get 420 BHP. Is it a JB3/JB4?

DcD · 28 Oct 2012 at 01:48

I have no advice but that's a damn nice looking car. Out of interest what price will that thing fetch?

mjt · 28 Oct 2012 at 02:24

[TW]Fox;23047641 said:
If your big mileage increase is mostly on Motorways I'd expect that average to creep over 30mpg. You've already lost a fortune on it depreciation wise so why not hang onto it and buy petrol instead of new parts for whatever awful diesel you'd buy instead.

This. I can't believe it's only worth £10k

Anything diesel will ultimately cost you more in repairs than the difference in fuel prices probably.
Stick it on cruise at 70, job done.

Although 450mi a week is quite a lot.

Raymond Lin · 28 Oct 2012 at 03:15

I want that car.

rodenal · 28 Oct 2012 at 07:46

Id keep that till it no longer runs and buy an absolute shed for work, a mk4 golf sdi for example

Blue160 · 28 Oct 2012 at 07:48

I normally dislike modified cars, but that thing is fantastic

Catanonia · 28 Oct 2012 at 10:04

melchy said:
Out of interest what mods are you running to get 420 BHP. Is it a JB3/JB4?

JB3 JuiceBox and twin cone filters running at setting 5 out of 9. It is the setting that doesn't throw any codes at me constantly.

Completely eliminates turbo lag and gives the engine the breathing room it needs. The engine in this car is stonking and massively undertunned so as not to compete with a M3. Can have a M3 off the lights due to the fact it is a straight 6 light engine and the car is very light compared to an M3. But the M3 will easily have it on the corners.

It is a sweet car, but at 80k these 335i fetch only 10 - 12k private, but I may get more for it as it has been tuned correctly if sold to the right person.

I am in two minds, the contract is good money, but the mileage and cost

I could

1. Buy a cheap diesel and keep here. But I may as well spend the money on the additional petrol for the difference it would make.

2. Buy a decent diesel and then sell her, that would save me over £70 a week on petrol alone.

Problem is I have no idea what I would get.

[TW]Fox · 28 Oct 2012 at 10:12

Catanonia said:
Completely eliminates turbo lag

It's not as if the 335i had much noticeable turbo lag in the first place?

2. Buy a decent diesel and then sell her, that would save me over £70 a week on petrol alone.

What figures are you using? Have you taken into account the fact you'd get different fuel economy from your 335i once your usage profile changes?

Catanonia · 28 Oct 2012 at 11:04

[TW]Fox;23049691 said:
It's not as if the 335i had much noticeable turbo lag in the first place?

What figures are you using? Have you taken into account the fact you'd get different fuel economy from your 335i once your usage profile changes?

It has noticeable turbo lag with the 2 turbos' especially in higher gears.

With the ECU harness, I can be travelling in 6th at 80, drop it 2 gears with paddles to 4th and accelerate to 120+ within about 5 seconds. Nice

I am averaging 27mpg motorway cruising 80 - 90 Mph

Catanonia · 28 Oct 2012 at 11:07

Here is a quick video of what my does. Not my video, but same mods

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP8NtWp5gE4

[TW]Fox · 28 Oct 2012 at 11:19

Catanonia said:
It has noticeable turbo lag with the 2 turbos' especially in higher gears.

I really can't say I ever noticed that with mine. Infact I was continually amazed at just quite how un-turbo-like and linear the power delivery was.

I am averaging 27mpg motorway cruising 80 - 90 Mph

Ok well the first idea might be to slow down? You don't need to do 90mph everywhere on the Motorway. Stick to the speed limit and you'll get 34-35 surely (unless its an auto then perhaps a tad less) which at 20k a year might be enough of a saving to tip the balance in favour of keeping the car?

rodenal · 28 Oct 2012 at 11:25

Slowing down slightly should have a noticable impact on the economy, it's not terrible mpg to start with really - depends on what you're able to recover as a contractor I guess.

In the past i've driven something bangertastic 4 days of the week and had myself a car with a bit more power and that I actually liked (though not on the same power and value scales as we're talking here) to drive on a Friday and at weekends. Overall it doesn't save anything unless you happen to need 2 cars anyway but it keeps the miles off the quicker car. Depends what you want really.

I'd 100% be keeping it though