[Deros]

Hi All,

Help me make up my mind. Used 530e or New 330e. I do plan on negotiating the OTD price but let's assume they will not budge.

I'm in the market for a BMW, specifically a PHEV. I have never owned a BMW but have driven a base 3 series in the far past, circa 2000.

After looking around my area, there were 2 BMW that caught my eye. I haven't gone to the car dealers to see them firsthand yet.

1. Used 2019 BMW 550e, 26k miles, M Sport Package, Driving Assistance Plus Package, Dynamic Handling Package. 6 mths left on Warranty. OTD $34K.

2. 2023 BMW 330e, less than 50miles, M Sport Package, Park Distance Control, Adaptive M Suspension, and Dynamic Handling Package. OTD, $50K.

I am leaning towards the 5 series but concerned about the age / wear and tear however, it seems like a very good price for the age, mileage, and options. The 3 series sounds good but not looking forward to monthly payments.

Thanks.

[emthreepa]

Do you drive a lot? Does new tech matter to you? Do you like a bigger or smaller vehicle? Those are things I would be asking myself to decide...

[hoyasaxa]

I wouldn’t buy any used car with a battery. Car batteries degrade just like cell phone batteries and we all know that after a few years of ordinary usage you’re lucky to get 80% of new capacity. For that reason, any hybrid/electric car should be a lease.

[Boulder]

Originally Posted by hoyasaxa

I wouldn’t buy any used car with a battery. Car batteries degrade just like cell phone batteries and we all know that after a few years of ordinary usage you’re lucky to get 80% of new capacity. For that reason, any hybrid/electric car should be a lease.

I think you're really overstating how much the batteries in these cars degrade.

First of all, at least on the X5 PHEV, 30% of the battery is locked away by software as a buffer for degradation. It has a 24 kwh battery but only 17 is usable in the US. So it's going to be a *really* long time before the battery degrades to the point where it actually impacts your capacity. 530e must have a similar system, but I don't know its exact capacities.

Secondly, (again), they just don't degrade that much. There's plenty of data from teslas and other EVs. 80% after a few years? No way.

Also there's a long warranty on the battery capacity. Iirc it's minimum 70% capacity remaining after 8 years, or 10 if you're in California. Obviously they're not making different batteries for the state of CA, all of their batteries will last for the min. 70% @ 10 year target. (70% of the usable charge - that means on an X5 PHEV you're guaranteed to have 12 kwh left after 10 years)

[hoyasaxa]

30% degradation is a huge, even after 10 years. Anyone denying that is basically shilling for “green” tech. You would never accept 30% reduction in range or performance in a petrol car.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by hoyasaxa

I wouldn’t buy any used car with a battery. Car batteries degrade just like cell phone batteries and we all know that after a few years of ordinary usage you’re lucky to get 80% of new capacity. For that reason, any hybrid/electric car should be a lease.

if i were to buy a battery car I'd prefer to buy used.

that way you know if the battery is a top percentile and likely to last forever or if the battery is a lemon.

[shawnhayes]

Used 530e xdrive. The three series is rear wheel drive only, and while that only comes in as a serious problem occassionally, it's worth its weight in gold when it does.

Plus the 530e's trunk and interior room makes the three series feel like a sardine can.

Shawn

[hoyasaxa]

Originally Posted by g21

if i were to buy a battery car I'd prefer to buy used.

that way you know if the battery is a top percentile and likely to last forever or if the battery is a lemon.

Car battery packs are made up of thousands of much smaller lithium batteries / cells. Each one of those is individually manufactured. The law of averages strongly suggests you’re unlikely to end up with a pack that performs much better than any other, never mind exceptionally better.

However you are certain to encounter substantial degradation in a used pack, and that degradation is far more likely to significantly exceed any marginal performance gains you might see from variations in manufacturing.

Just a math problem. 🤷‍♂️.

But I guess this is the internet and everyone trying to justify their sunk cost / budget.

[G30M]

some get lucky i guess, still got 100% of original. lots of hyundai Ioniqs also getting 100%.
I'm assuming there is some sneaky software buffer manupilation - eg in the X5 40e the ECU only allows you to use 70% of the battery from new so that you won't notice anything until the battery degrades past 30%.

but yeah I have EVs and they're great for certain things. i don't buy them to save the planet, i buy them because they beat all my petrols in my DD situation. just because I have no use for trucks doesn't mean trucks are terrible.

[zppp]

I wonder what decision you have made. I was flip-flopping between an used 530e and a new 330e at the same time (2/16) too, similar numbers as your options. Eventually I went with placing an order for new 330e xdrive on 2/18. The reasons are:

1. The legroom numbers are almost the same in both cars. I thought 5 has much more legroom than 3, which was also the main reason I wanted a 5.
2. The new 330xe is just $16k more, and I get newly LCI model (2024 5 will be redesigned too), parking assistance package (not available on the 5's I saw), first owner with car spec'ed as I wanted.
3. I sold my 2018 Q5 for $26k, and when I saw it's listed $32k and sold quickly, I decided to spend money on a new car instead of giving it to the dealer
4. 2023 330e qualifies for $7500 federal tax incentive!

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by CCMA

I wonder what decision you have made. I was flip-flopping between an used 530e and a new 330e at the same time (2/16) too, similar numbers as your options. Eventually I went with placing an order for new 330e xdrive on 2/18. The reasons are:

1. The legroom numbers are almost the same in both cars. I thought 5 has much more legroom than 3, which was also the main reason I wanted a 5.
2. The new 330xe is just $16k more, and I get newly LCI model (2024 5 will be redesigned too), parking assistance package (not available on old 5's), first owner with car spec'ed as I wanted.
3. I sold my 2018 Q5 for $26k, and when I saw it's listed $32k and sold quickly, I decided to spend money on a new car instead of giving it to the dealer
4. 2023 330e qualifies for $7500 federal tax incentive!

I have it on my 2019 540i...

[zppp]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

I have it on my 2019 540i...

Ok. It was not available on the used 530e's I saw. Also, the package is not in the options when I build 530e online too. So I thought it's not on old 5s. But thanks for letting me know, I'll correct my reply.