Bmw E90 320i vs Audi A4 B8/B8.5 1.8/2.0 tfsi

[Desum]

Hello!

I hope I've posted in the right place but I'm looking for a bit of help deciding between the bmw E90 and B8/8.5 Audi A4.

I've always loved these two cars from afar but never got the chance to drive one.

I am in the market for another car but I want to make sure that I make an informed decision.

I recently gave my mother my 1.6 2010 Hyundai i20 which I've driven for a year and I am now driving her not unproblematic bmw e36. I recently had a chat with a bmw specialist and he told me to avoid petrol variants of the bmw e90 and if not bmw e90s in general as they can be problematic. Is there anyone who may have a different opinion or has experience with a bmw E90 that they bought with around or more than 120000km on the clock? Please help.

I would not like to pay to fix the car too often and in looking for alternatives I found myself looking at the Audi B8 A4. I've always loved this car and was glad to find this in the same price range. I've spoken to two people who have these. The one had the engine replaced during a recall and has had costly problems caused by the turbo but nothing since. The other A4 owner told me to stay far from them. Has anyone got experience with these?

I have looked at more options like the f20 bmw, A3 Audi 8p, A3 Audi 8v, mk6 Jetta (not really impressed), Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Volvo v40.

I'm hoping that I can get answers that relate to the overall experience and costs associated with owning these cars, maybe some recommendations.

I look forward to hearing what you guys have to say!

 

[maxxis]

Look up BMW N20 engine failures. Thank me later.

The 320D is not bad.

 

[Captain Beer]

Stay far away from both. They're both going to consume a ton of oil. On the Audi you're also looking at replacing the water pump every two years and sooner than later the timing chain.
When I sold mine it was using a pint of oil every 250KM.

 

[6spdmanual]

What’s your budget?

 

[Desum]

About R140k is what I'm willing to finance.

 

[Desum]

Like I said, I'm open to options but I'm really hoping to get into something bigger and better feeling than the I20

 

[PhireSide]

BMW 320d and take a wide berth around the rest.

Going from a i20 to an expensive European sedan is going to give you bill shock sooner or later.

If you are keen on anexecutive sedan that shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg to maintain, rather look at an older Lexus or a Sonata or something.

 

[TheChamp]

Stay far away from both. They're both going to consume a ton of oil. On the Audi you're also looking at replacing the water pump every two years and sooner than later the timing chain.
When I sold mine it was using a pint of oil every 250KM.

Which engine, I think that's important because it surely can't be all of them in the B8 range.

 

[Captain Beer]

Which engine, I think that's important because it surely can't be all of them in the B8 range.

The EA888 gen 2 specifically. But the stories I hear about these cars from a bud who's a second hand salesman, the Germans can keep their Autos.

 

[TheChamp]

BMW 320d and take a wide berth around the rest.

Going from a i20 to an expensive European sedan is going to give you bill shock sooner or later.

If you are keen on anexecutive sedan that shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg to maintain, rather look at an older Lexus or a Sonata or something.

Problem with Lexus is the price, it never seems to go down unless it's really beaten up while you can pick up a mint condition B8 for R89k.

I would also suggest a Volvo, the S60 range is not badly priced.

 

[TheChamp]

The EA888 gen 2 specifically. But the stories I hear about these cars from a bud who's a second hand salesman, the Germans can keep their Autos.

The 1.8l? I suspected as much, it looks like they never got that right, no one ever has anything good to say about that engine, even the earlier versions, I had a neighbour who had a mint condition Passat, it was forever being fixed.

 

[Tman*]

N20 engine entered the chat.

If youare set on E90, get a well looked after 320d

 

[PhireSide]

Problem with Lexus is the price, it never seems to go down unless it's really beaten up while you can pick up a mint condition B8 for R89k.

I would also suggest a Volvo, the S60 range is not badly priced.

Even the older Lexii are good buys, provided it hasn't been taken care of by an ******. But they didn't age well, and they look a bit dated.

I briefly looked at Volvo a bit more than a year ago (found an XC70 for R15k nearby, with a busted gearbox) but their finicky diagnostic systems (DICE and VIDA) and pricey parts put me off that idea. I'd love a nice V50 or XC70 with some spare cash in the bank for rainy days.

If you don't mind paying (a lot) for fuel, I'd go for a Ford Territory. An SUV that drives like a car. That Barra I6 motor is quite bulletproof, and parts are quite cheap for the most part. Only suspension parts are an issue, and most of them have to be imported from Australia. But that is true for most cars. The Santa Fe transfer box is a known issue, and is a R30k part, for example.

But I digress. OP seems to want a German sedan, which are plentiful on the car websites, provided you have a nice rainy day fund for the inevitable issues that comes with Teutonic executive sedans.

 

[Captain Beer]

The 1.8l? I suspected as much, it looks like they never got that right, no one ever has anything good to say about that engine, even the earlier versions, I had a neighbour who had a mint condition Passat, it was forever being fixed.

Yep. I beleive the 2.0 was also a bastard.

 

[TheChamp]

Even the older Lexii are good buys, provided it hasn't been taken care of by an ******. But they didn't age well, and they look a bit dated.

I briefly looked at Volvo a bit more than a year ago (found an XC70 for R15k nearby, with a busted gearbox) but their finicky diagnostic systems (DICE and VIDA) and pricey parts put me off that idea. I'd love a nice V50 or XC70 with some spare cash in the bank for rainy days.

If you don't mind paying (a lot) for fuel, I'd go for a Ford Territory. An SUV that drives like a car. That Barra I6 motor is quite bulletproof, and parts are quite cheap for the most part. Only suspension parts are an issue, and most of them have to be imported from Australia. But that is true for most cars. The Santa Fe transfer box is a known issue, and is a R30k part, for example.

But I digress. OP seems to want a German sedan, which are plentiful on the car websites, provided you have a nice rainy day fund for the inevitable issues that comes with Teutonic executive sedans.

I still love the GS though, it's the IS that looks dodgy.

Lexus GS 300 SE Auto for sale in Germiston - ID: 26226711

Used 2007 Lexus GS 300 SE Auto For Sale - R 87 900 - ID: 26226711

www.autotrader.co.za

 

[TheChamp]

Yep. I beleive the 2.0 was also a bastard.

Yeah looks like there's no Vorsprung to be had from the Audi.

 

[PhireSide]

I still love the GS though, it's the IS that looks dodgy.

Lexus GS 300 SE Auto for sale in Germiston - ID: 26226711

Used 2007 Lexus GS 300 SE Auto For Sale - R 87 900 - ID: 26226711

www.autotrader.co.za

Ah yes, the IS300 with those awful round lights on the boot lid?

That GS would make a good sleeper car. But GS always makes me think of Gelände/Straße of the BMW range of bikes. Doubt the Lexus GS would be as good off the beaten track.

 

[Desum]

I'm really not fixed on the two cars but the interior quality and comfort is what I'm really keen on. I quite like the Volvo S60 but would this not be a more costly ownership than the two above?

I'm not fixed on sedans nor German cars, my reason for picking these two as the main discussion is the availability in the second hand market place as well as my general liking of the two.

 

[TheChamp]

I'm really not fixed on the two cars but the interior quality and comfort is what I'm really keen on. I quite like the Volvo S60 but would this not be a more costly ownership than the two above?

I'm not fixed on sedans nor German cars, my reason for picking these two as the main discussion is the availability in the second hand market place as well as my general liking of the two.

There does not seem to be too many complaints about the Volvo, and there's quite a lot of them around.

 

[Rickster]

N20 engine entered the chat.

If youare set on E90, get a well looked after 320d

None of the E90's had that engine.

OP, stay away from the N47 engine found in 01.03.2007 to 05.01.2009 model, they have timing chain issues.