Decision between 2015 versus 2016 328i Xdrive

billben · 05-08-2019, 07:38 PM

Hi,
Currently own a 2006 325i and looking to upgrade. I have been looking at 2015 and 2016 certified pre-owned 328i Xdrives, mostly 2015s.

I've seen a few 2016s with about 30,000 miles roughly priced the same as 2015s with under 20,000 miles. The 2016s, however, that I have seen in that price range (under $25K) generally don't have many extras and are close to base models.

Question: Would you go with the newer model, even if the mileage is a bit higher and the vehicle has fewer extras? Or is a 2015 just as good? Anyone have experience driving both?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Elvisfan · 05-09-2019, 11:59 PM

Keep in mind there may be less warranty on the 2015. I like having the options. Make sure the features you want work the way you want. Under your scenario,I’d go with the 15.

rambleon84 · 05-10-2019, 07:21 AM

The 2016 would come with the n26 vs the n20 in the 2015, not sure if that matters to you at all. I know the n20's had an issue with the time chain, not sure if that was all n20s or just earlier ones. Other than warranty, there shouldnt be too much difference between them. The 2015 will most likely have its warranty expiring this year. I was in the same boat and just bought a '15 328 (gt though) and liked the options better on the car i chose vs ones i was comparing in the 2016 for a similar price.

Mr Podman · 05-10-2019, 07:26 AM

I'd buy the silver one with the black interior.

podman

tex2670 · 05-10-2019, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billben

Hi,
Currently own a 2006 325i and looking to upgrade. I have been looking at 2015 and 2016 certified pre-owned 328i Xdrives, mostly 2015s.

I've seen a few 2016s with about 30,000 miles roughly priced the same as 2015s with under 20,000 miles. The 2016s, however, that I have seen in that price range (under $25K) generally don't have many extras and are close to base models.

Question: Would you go with the newer model, even if the mileage is a bit higher and the vehicle has fewer extras? Or is a 2015 just as good? Anyone have experience driving both?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

What's YOUR priority? Mileage? Features? Price? THAT's how you should decide. I, personally, would not want a car with lower miles that lacked features like HID/LED headlights or high-res wide iDrive screen.

billben · 05-10-2019, 12:13 PM

Thanks guys for your thoughts!

As I mentioned, the 2016 is fairly limited as far as features are concerned and has higher mileage of around 28,000, as I recall. However, its original warranty has another 15 months. The 2015 has more features, lower mileage with about 12 months left on the original warranty. The difference in price is about $1000 more for the 2016.

Tuds · 05-10-2019, 01:23 PM

Literally me in March of this year. I decided to go with the 2015, the features + low mileage sold me easily. Also, I went on the last day of the month a couple hours before they closed and they chopped off 2k before I even made my initial offer, I believe they're more willing to negotiate on older models to get rid of them faster.

F30lolz · 05-10-2019, 01:23 PM

What is the build date on the 2015? Make sure it’s at least 01/15 and later as BMW changed the timing chain.

natesi · 05-10-2019, 01:36 PM

2016 will have the timing chain revision, for sure. The 2015 might have the timing chain revision, depending on when the engine was built, but it's only speculation when BMW started using the new part in production (the new part number came out in Jan of 2015, I believe). I wouldn't even consider risking it, with a 2015 though -- no way in hell.

Plus, 2016 is the first year of the LCI -- so it has the handful of other tweaks and revisions.

2017 330i would be the way to go, if you can wait and save up a bit -- as it has the improved crash structure, as well -- so that your legs don't get pulverized in a font small-offset crash.

billben · 05-10-2019, 03:03 PM

Thanks for the timing chain information.

Here's the two cars I'm considering. The price difference is actually around $2400, although I'm now realizing that the 2016 is not CPO.

2016:
https://www.bmwoffreehold.com/used/B...fd7c1d6fc1.htm

2015:
https://www.flemingtonbmw.com/used-F...3B5C52FF960970

There are a few other 2015s in this range/mileage available at other local dealerships.

Billfitz · 05-10-2019, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambleon84

The 2016 would come with the n26 vs the n20 in the 2015,

N20 and N26 are the same engine save for their emissions controls. The timing chain is the same in both.
OP, I'd take advantage of the year model depreciation savings with the 2015, getting a better equipped car for less money.

natesi · 05-10-2019, 04:32 PM

The 2015, sadly, does not have the sport seats -- so I would not recommend it. The sport seats are one of the best things the 3 series has going for it. Most 2016+ model years have the sport seats, by the way -- unless they were specifically "deleted" due to the inclusion of the luxury package.

05-08-2019, 07:38 PM	#1
billben New Member 3 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 325i Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Pennsylvania iTrader: (0)	Decision between 2015 versus 2016 328i Xdrive Hi, Currently own a 2006 325i and looking to upgrade. I have been looking at 2015 and 2016 certified pre-owned 328i Xdrives, mostly 2015s. I've seen a few 2016s with about 30,000 miles roughly priced the same as 2015s with under 20,000 miles. The 2016s, however, that I have seen in that price range (under $25K) generally don't have many extras and are close to base models. Question: Would you go with the newer model, even if the mileage is a bit higher and the vehicle has fewer extras? Or is a 2015 just as good? Anyone have experience driving both? Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
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05-09-2019, 11:59 PM	#2
Elvisfan Major 516 Rep 1,452 Posts Drives: 2018 430ix convertible MGM Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	Keep in mind there may be less warranty on the 2015. I like having the options. Make sure the features you want work the way you want. Under your scenario,I’d go with the 15.
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05-10-2019, 07:21 AM	#3
rambleon84 Private First Class 63 Rep 109 Posts Drives: 2015 f34 GT 2013 Focus ST Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	The 2016 would come with the n26 vs the n20 in the 2015, not sure if that matters to you at all. I know the n20's had an issue with the time chain, not sure if that was all n20s or just earlier ones. Other than warranty, there shouldnt be too much difference between them. The 2015 will most likely have its warranty expiring this year. I was in the same boat and just bought a '15 328 (gt though) and liked the options better on the car i chose vs ones i was comparing in the 2016 for a similar price.
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05-10-2019, 07:26 AM	#4
Mr Podman Banned 221 Rep 529 Posts Drives: 3 Series GT Stage 0.5 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: North America iTrader: (0)	I'd buy the silver one with the black interior. podman
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05-10-2019, 12:13 PM	#6
billben New Member 3 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 325i Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Pennsylvania iTrader: (0)	Thanks guys for your thoughts! As I mentioned, the 2016 is fairly limited as far as features are concerned and has higher mileage of around 28,000, as I recall. However, its original warranty has another 15 months. The 2015 has more features, lower mileage with about 12 months left on the original warranty. The difference in price is about $1000 more for the 2016.
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05-10-2019, 01:23 PM	#7
Tuds New Member 0 Rep 16 Posts Drives: F30 328xi Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: NoVA iTrader: (0)	Literally me in March of this year. I decided to go with the 2015, the features + low mileage sold me easily. Also, I went on the last day of the month a couple hours before they closed and they chopped off 2k before I even made my initial offer, I believe they're more willing to negotiate on older models to get rid of them faster.
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05-10-2019, 01:36 PM	#9
natesi Lieutenant 204 Rep 499 Posts Drives: F30 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: PNW iTrader: (0)	2016 will have the timing chain revision, for sure. The 2015 might have the timing chain revision, depending on when the engine was built, but it's only speculation when BMW started using the new part in production (the new part number came out in Jan of 2015, I believe). I wouldn't even consider risking it, with a 2015 though -- no way in hell. Plus, 2016 is the first year of the LCI -- so it has the handful of other tweaks and revisions. 2017 330i would be the way to go, if you can wait and save up a bit -- as it has the improved crash structure, as well -- so that your legs don't get pulverized in a font small-offset crash.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-10-2019, 03:03 PM	#10
billben New Member 3 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 325i Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Pennsylvania iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the timing chain information. Here's the two cars I'm considering. The price difference is actually around $2400, although I'm now realizing that the 2016 is not CPO. 2016: https://www.bmwoffreehold.com/used/B...fd7c1d6fc1.htm 2015: https://www.flemingtonbmw.com/used-F...3B5C52FF960970 There are a few other 2015s in this range/mileage available at other local dealerships.
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05-10-2019, 04:32 PM	#12
natesi Lieutenant 204 Rep 499 Posts Drives: F30 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: PNW iTrader: (0)	The 2015, sadly, does not have the sport seats -- so I would not recommend it. The sport seats are one of the best things the 3 series has going for it. Most 2016+ model years have the sport seats, by the way -- unless they were specifically "deleted" due to the inclusion of the luxury package. Last edited by natesi; 05-10-2019 at 06:58 PM..
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