ED30 - should i?

[bantam1]

Hi All,

Looking for some honest input about my current dilemna.  Currently in a BMW 130i m sport with all the toys and wondering whether to keep and mod or change. 

130i pros - monstrous engine, sounds great, handles great, quick, nice place to be
130i cons - not good for pootling when you want to - gearbox likes it when you're giving it beans, but not when just relaxing or round town.  not the most comfortable ride with the m sport suspension.  also nearly killed myself and the mrs the other week giving it some out of a corner when the rear end decided it would like to have a rapid look at the front (but that was most definately mine, not the cars fault!!).

Wondering if there are other options out there which will satisfy my need to have reasonable performance, practicality, and fun in a reliable motor.

Have been looking at ED30s as a potential replacement if i decide to chop the beamer in.  But wondering about FWD and day to day ownership proposition.  Will the engine and handling satisfy me?  Will i regret going back to FWD?  What's the standard spec car like out of the box?

Thoughts, input very welcome especially if there's anyone on here who has experience of both cars.

Thanks in advance.

B.

[Saint Steve]

Go drive an Edition 30 

I'd be shocked if you didn't. Can't remember ANYONE saying it was pants after driving one.

Your biggest dilemma will be Faster DSG or the slower manual , whatever takes your fancy.

[swf7y]

As Steve says, go for a test drive, you won't be disappointed. DSG for me all day long. Plus ED30s have so much modding potential. Even at stage 1 I don't think it will 'feel' slower than the Beemer due to weight difference.

[garrardrj]

I have had 5 BMW's over the last 12-15 years , i now have a ED30 and my opinion is that firstly you will miss the sound of the straight six and the rear wheel drive and the information it gives you before it bites you..........although you appear to have missed the info recently
The Golf is perhaps the M3 of the Golf Range...it looks like all the others but to the knowledgeable they are quite different. It is more practical though and i think you will love it

[bantam1]

I have had 5 BMW's over the last 12-15 years , i now have a ED30 and my opinion is that firstly you will miss the sound of the straight six and the rear wheel drive and the information it gives you before it bites you..........although you appear to have missed the info recently
The Golf is perhaps the M3 of the Golf Range...it looks like all the others but to the knowledgeable they are quite different. It is more practical though and i think you will love it

yep the engine and exhaust note is addictive in the 130i.  swear i hit a patch of something and the story is now my heroic driving in recovering the situation (my mrs had her eyes closed apparently) rather than my stupidity in misjudging conditions and right foot application!  Oh i did have stability control on DTC (allows a little slippage and not as intrusive) at the time as well.

what's the standard ED30 like?  I see people are upgrading brakes etc.  I know the mod urge is always there but will it do the trick out of the box.  Also wondering about ride and suspension?

I will test drive but know that a test drive only ever gives you about 20% of the info you need about the car.

[flyboy1976]

You want to get as high spec one as possible, i.e xenons, rns510, highline and mfsw....you can add OEM bluetooth and MDI and cruise control at a later date. Standard performance is a little dull IMO but im running Revo 2+ now with high boost and timing settings and its an animal, brakes are ok on a standard car but a worthwhile upgrade, ive modded mine myself with very little help whatsoever so it can be done if you have the time knowledge and enthusiasm, im not a lover of BMW's....a mate of mine has just got a 1 series Msport, its ok but the premium you pay for the badge snobbery just doesnt justify very little if any quality difference from a VW, all i can say is i am an avid VW/SEAT/Audi Fan....you pay more for an Audi and prob get a little more but its marginal, if you can push your budget higher to get a higher spec car then DO IT! Candy white cars seem to fetch more money iirc but try to get one that is a low miler and preferable with one owner and that hasnt been modded, so in a nutshell take your time to shop around. try a manual and a DSG before you decide, ive driven both and both have good and bad points, i would however have either happily.
Hope this helps?

[garrardrj]

What difference does the amount of owners make? I've never known , you'll find plenty of Ferraris with 15 plus owners

[JackG]

I'll give some input,
I was going to buy a BMW e46 M3, saw how much the price has dropped on them   and thought what a car for the money! 13k would get me a decent 53 plate, I then got a job at VW (although I've always owned VW's.only 21 tho) then the first Time I moved the mk5 R32!! Wow what a noise!! The looks are good too! My workshop controller said have you driven one? I Said no but I bet they shift! No the GTI is faster, I thought bollox a 3.2 against a 2L turbo! Then at the end of the day I drove the R32 (I drive a 171hp polo G40 at the mo) sounded great handled great nice torque but I must admit you can feel were the weight has killed it with the 4wd and big engine, it did shift tho and my thoughts didn't change much I still liked the car but was dissapointed by the acceleration to a degree,
About 10 mins later I got in a mk5 gti (not ed30) started it and thought ????? Sounds like a corsa   drove it and it was a complete different car! Had it on 3 wheels and the sound was good when driving because it wasn't shouting all the time, it was an awesome car and had me in love with it, the looks, interior, build quality.
I left it at that and still wanted my BMW of wich I have drove and thought for the 13k of the VW I could get the M3 then a few months later we had the ed30 in.....needles to say I drove it and fell In love, I couldn't tell what was different but it looked special, then on the interior it had edition 30 on the sills, the drive was special, felt blooming quick, drove well, comfy, looked the nuts!!
Then I did some thinking, yes I could buy a M3 and have change for 15k but I could get an edition30 tax and insure it and maintain and run it for that, the M3 I couldn't, the golf felt more of a "annimal" as opposed to a motorway/fast car of the M3,
I'll stop going on now, just think about running costs too, and the ed30 doesnt get the full treatment in the engine bay as they can't outdo Audi with there cheaper brand if you catch me.
Jack

[chowgar]

About 10 mins later I got in a mk5 gti (not ed30) started it and thought ????? Sounds like a corsa   drove it and it was a complete different car! Had it on 3 wheels and the sound was good when driving because it wasn't shouting all the time, it was an awesome car and had me in love with it, the looks, interior, build quality.

remind me never to take mt car to your garage then

[JackG]

About 10 mins later I got in a mk5 gti (not ed30) started it and thought ????? Sounds like a corsa   drove it and it was a complete different car! Had it on 3 wheels and the sound was good when driving because it wasn't shouting all the time, it was an awesome car and had me in love with it, the looks, interior, build quality.

remind me never to take mt car to your garage then

Wasn't a customers car

[bantam1]

cheers guys - might have to get myself a test drive.

[jmspear]

I had an e46 M3 albeit a convertible and swapped in it after 18 months for a GTI (not ed 30) which I still have 5 yrs on and the mrs has an ed 30. I prefer the handling and poise of the golf in either ed30 or std form, the ed 30 has more grunt and is a nicer place std than the normal gti, more toys as std (IIRC) whilst the ed 30 is v quecim esp in stage 1 trim, (single remap up to 300HP) it deosn't have the character of the M3, however, the quality of the trim is higher in the golf, i.e. it lasts longer. My golf with 100k + miles has worn less than my M3 with 38k miles!!  HTH 

[Sunglasses Ron]

I had an e46 M3 albeit a convertible and swapped in it after 18 months for a GTI (not ed 30) which I still have 5 yrs on and the mrs has an ed 30. I prefer the handling and poise of the golf in either ed30 or std form, the ed 30 has more grunt and is a nicer place std than the normal gti, more toys as std (IIRC) whilst the ed 30 is v quecim esp in stage 1 trim, (single remap up to 300HP) it deosn't have the character of the M3, however, the quality of the trim is higher in the golf, i.e. it lasts longer. My golf with 100k + miles has worn less than my M3 with 38k miles!!  HTH 

You let your Mrs have an Ed30 whilst you have a standard GTI??? Are you mad?!?! 

[edd666999]

Hi All,

Looking for some honest input about my current dilemna.  Currently in a BMW 130i m sport with all the toys and wondering whether to keep and mod or change. 

130i pros - monstrous engine, sounds great, handles great, quick, nice place to be
130i cons - not good for pootling when you want to - gearbox likes it when you're giving it beans, but not when just relaxing or round town.  not the most comfortable ride with the m sport suspension.  also nearly killed myself and the mrs the other week giving it some out of a corner when the rear end decided it would like to have a rapid look at the front (but that was most definately mine, not the cars fault!!).

Wondering if there are other options out there which will satisfy my need to have reasonable performance, practicality, and fun in a reliable motor.

Have been looking at ED30s as a potential replacement if i decide to chop the beamer in.  But wondering about FWD and day to day ownership proposition.  Will the engine and handling satisfy me?  Will i regret going back to FWD?  What's the standard spec car like out of the box?

Thoughts, input very welcome especially if there's anyone on here who has experience of both cars.

Thanks in advance.

B.

From what I know its the 330i engine isn't it? apart from the manifold and exhaust? My mate has one too, quite expensive to modify parts are not as easy to acquire as the golf.

If your not going to supercharge it, get an ED30 

[scooba]

Right my eldest lad has a BMW E90 325I with the 3ltr n57 engine it develops 218bhp 6cyl it sound very sweet covered 20k miles and is 3 yrs old ,it has had its problems from new injectors,software,coilpacks ..

my middle son has a ED30DSG 14,000 miles 230bhp 4cyl K04 turbo, he has had Mechatronics failure it is June 08 .lovely car

I have driven both and the ED30 is quicker much more nimble

I am now on my 7th BMW and bought a gti in 08 Sold it to a mate my son was gutted as he used to borrow it so we found him a ED30 and i love it you wont go wrong with one