[jamesinaz]

Howdy board. Here is the situation. Last year I bought an 2021 X5 loaded. My wife bought a 2021 Q3 loaded. She has a really bad back and hates driving her car. Loves driving mine. Big shock that. So she might be pushing in to my car and I don't want the Q3. It is a really fine smaller SUV and has all the right options. But is is sssllllllooooooowwwwwww. Lucky for me I can get most of the price out of it. Got an offer $5000 less than I paid for it from a dealer straight cash not trade.

I really don't want to go all in on a new car since i will still usually use the X5 also. But on days when I get the second car I want something other than the Q3.

I used to have a 540i and liked driving that. But it was loaded and hard to find one in the price range I want to stick with which is pretty much a straight across deal with the Q3 - $40K. I suspect I won't be as enamored by the 4 banger 530i.

Looking at the 3 series I see a lot of 2018 330is around and am assuming these are lease return. I'd love opinions on these and especially what options I should look for. I see it has a 4 cylinder 248hp engine and the numbers seem OK for performance. I don't race just don't like sllllloooooowwwww.

Thanks for any advice on what to watch out for or look for.

[Alfisti]

Miata.

[DanG]

I don’t think you will like the 330. I would go for the the M340i instead. Lot more bang for the buck.

[Germanauto]

If you have to get a dreaded F30, at least get the 340 version. Anything less was a German Camry.

You could look at brands other than BMW too you know...

[esoj37]

I loved my F30 340i.

[vt100]

E46 330Ci !

[BMWCCA1]

Originally Posted by jamesinaz

I suspect I won't be as enamored by the 4 banger 530i.

Looking at the 3 series I see a lot of 2018 330is around and am assuming these are lease return. I'd love opinions on these and especially what options I should look for. I see it has a 4 cylinder 248hp engine and the numbers seem OK for performance. I don't race just don't like sllllloooooowwwww.

At only a 200-pound weight difference, how can your expectations for the 330 be that much different than those for the 530? Have you driven either of them yet?

[jamesinaz]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

At only a 200-pound weight difference, how can your expectations for the 330 be that much different than those for the 530? Have you driven either of them yet?

First thanks to all who responded. Those of you using the codes like F30 etc have forced me to research and learn what that all means. Yup I is ignorant. Found a very informative article on it.

OK I have never driven a 4 cylinder BMW. I used to own (leased) a 2017 540i with M Sport wheels and gadgets (not a true M series). That level of performance was excellent for me. I did not realize the weight delta between a 3 series and 5 series was so small.

Having read that article and all of these replies I am thinking if I can find that same car for my price point I should stick with it. But a 340i would also be nice. I have to confess I haven't tried sitting in a 3 series yet.

I read a lot about how the 4 cylinders can be "tuned" for more power and wonder if anyone here has done it and what are the downsides. There are few 340i used cars for sale and I may not be able to find one of them or the 540i and if tuning the 4 banger gives me the same level of passing power I widen my potential market dramatically.

I should have also asked if anyone who is 6'0" and 210 lbs finds the 3 series seats acceptable. My 5 series was fine but it also had the seating upgrade. The standard seats in the 5 series that year were a bit stiff. Perhaps that's OK long term. My X5 has the Tartufo leather upgrade which is WHY my wife with her bad back loves it.

Thanks again for opinions and info.

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by jamesinaz

First thanks to all who responded. Those of you using the codes like F30 etc have forced me to research and learn what that all means. Yup I is ignorant. Found a very informative article on it.

OK I have never driven a 4 cylinder BMW. I used to own (leased) a 2017 540i with M Sport wheels and gadgets (not a true M series). That level of performance was excellent for me. I did not realize the weight delta between a 3 series and 5 series was so small.

Having read that article and all of these replies I am thinking if I can find that same car for my price point I should stick with it. But a 340i would also be nice. I have to confess I haven't tried sitting in a 3 series yet.

I read a lot about how the 4 cylinders can be "tuned" for more power and wonder if anyone here has done it and what are the downsides. There are few 340i used cars for sale and I may not be able to find one of them or the 540i and if tuning the 4 banger gives me the same level of passing power I widen my potential market dramatically.

I should have also asked if anyone who is 6'0" and 210 lbs finds the 3 series seats acceptable. My 5 series was fine but it also had the seating upgrade. The standard seats in the 5 series that year were a bit stiff. Perhaps that's OK long term. My X5 has the Tartufo leather upgrade which is WHY my wife with her bad back loves it.

Thanks again for opinions and info.

check out f30 340i 2016-2018 they got b58 I6 engine. I am about your size and fit no problem.

3 is not that small nowadays.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by jamesinaz

Looking at the 3 series I see a lot of 2018 330is around and am assuming these are lease return. I'd love opinions on these and especially what options I should look for. I see it has a 4 cylinder 248hp engine and the numbers seem OK for performance. I don't race just don't like sllllloooooowwwww.

Thanks for any advice on what to watch out for or look for.

I just sold my 2016 328i M Sport and it was quite easily the most disappointing BMW I've ever owned in my life. If BMW ever built an appliance car, the four cylinder F30 is it. Power is meh, drives like a wet noodle. You may as well buy a Camry. Hard pass on any four cylinder F30, my $.02.

[jamesinaz]

Thanks. I am beginning to think 4 cylinder is a no go. And searching around I am finding enough 340i and 540i under $40K to stick with the i6.

I loved the engine in my 2017 540i and will likely limit my search to 2017 and newer. Price will probably limit me to 2017-2019.

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by jamesinaz

Thanks. I am beginning to think 4 cylinder is a no go. And searching around I am finding enough 340i and 540i under $40K to stick with the i6.

I loved the engine in my 2017 540i and will likely limit my search to 2017 and newer. Price will probably limit me to 2017-2019.

Earlier comments about BMW 4-cylinder engines were quite accurate. N20 had several engineering compromises, timing chain design being the most questionable one. Which leaves B48 for consideration.
While B48 is literally B58 without 2 cylinders, B58 remains the better choice by a wide mile.

You will not regret searching for a B58-equipped vehicle. Good luck!

[jamesinaz]

Was at the dealership getting the X5 serviced yesterday. Sat in a 340i. Nope. Yeah, it is big enough but it doesn't have the "luxury" to which I am accustomed. God I am spoiled.

Right now I am leaning towards keeping the Q3 and chipping it to get enough gogo to make it worth driving.

That are a used 540i. Or open to alternatives. What Audi or other cars might match the 5 series?

[TraitorJacKnife]

Originally Posted by jamesinaz

Was at the dealership getting the X5 serviced yesterday. Sat in a 340i. Nope. Yeah, it is big enough but it doesn't have the "luxury" to which I am accustomed. God I am spoiled.

Right now I am leaning towards keeping the Q3 and chipping it to get enough gogo to make it worth driving.

That are a used 540i. Or open to alternatives. What Audi or other cars might match the 5 series?

The 7 series of course!

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by jamesinaz

Howdy board. Here is the situation. Last year I bought an 2021 X5 loaded. My wife bought a 2021 Q3 loaded. She has a really bad back and hates driving her car. Loves driving mine. Big shock that. So she might be pushing in to my car and I don't want the Q3. It is a really fine smaller SUV and has all the right options. But is is sssllllllooooooowwwwwww. Lucky for me I can get most of the price out of it. Got an offer $5000 less than I paid for it from a dealer straight cash not trade.

I really don't want to go all in on a new car since i will still usually use the X5 also. But on days when I get the second car I want something other than the Q3.

I used to have a 540i and liked driving that. But it was loaded and hard to find one in the price range I want to stick with which is pretty much a straight across deal with the Q3 - $40K. I suspect I won't be as enamored by the 4 banger 530i.

Looking at the 3 series I see a lot of 2018 330is around and am assuming these are lease return. I'd love opinions on these and especially what options I should look for. I see it has a 4 cylinder 248hp engine and the numbers seem OK for performance. I don't race just don't like sllllloooooowwwww.

Thanks for any advice on what to watch out for or look for.

I have stenosis in my back and getting in and out of my 530e requires me to sit down sideways and then swivel myself into the seat (the car does raise the steering wheel when I turn it off). That works for me.

If your wife has a bad back she needs to check two issues: (1) getting in and out; and (2) driving (my wife hated the MSport suspension on my prior 3 series so I went with the adaptive suspension on my current 5er).

These are probably more important than the reaction to a 4 pot vs. a 6 pot, etc. Generally speaking, crossovers are easier to get in and out of than sedans and a longer wheelbase will give a slightly smoother ride. You might also want to look for adjustable dampers.

[jamesinaz]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

I have stenosis in my back and getting in and out of my 530e requires me to sit down sideways and then swivel myself into the seat (the car does raise the steering wheel when I turn it off). That works for me.

If your wife has a bad back she needs to check two issues: (1) getting in and out; and (2) driving (my wife hated the MSport suspension on my prior 3 series so I went with the adaptive suspension on my current 5er).

These are probably more important than the reaction to a 4 pot vs. a 6 pot, etc. Generally speaking, crossovers are easier to get in and out of than sedans and a longer wheelbase will give a slightly smoother ride. You might also want to look for adjustable dampers.

I think the real solution for HER is she gets my X5. it has the optional tartufo leather seats which she says are great. She likes it. So whatever car I get if I trade the Q3 would be my car to use when she has the X5. We could almost live with one car except you know we can't. LOL Which is why I hate to spend large on it. But since it will get very low usage I can take a risk on an older car.

[jamesinaz]

Originally Posted by TraitorJacKnife

The 7 series of course!

Yeah but too big. 540i would be ideal. Wish I could find the 2017 model I leased and returned. Someone got a good car there.