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Originally Posted by JCL
Well, this is just more speculation, but here is my take:
The 335 will run for a year in the coupe before it gets to the sedan. That is a way of limiting BMW's exposure to any new model bugs. Also, the E60 needs the 335 engine more than the E90 does, so look for it there.
The 323 that we got in Canada this year will make it to the US this coming year. No way that this is too many models, check out how many variants are available in the rest of the world.
The 325/330 will combine into the 328 this coming year. Pure guesswork here. It could take a year for this to happen to the sedan, until the 335 engine is in full production.
No one should own the first year of the 335. Those who haven't learned from history are doomed to repeat it.
Skip the CPO E46 M3. Yes, a great car, but it is now dated. It is going to get more dated.
Finally, even if the 330 disappears, it doesn't matter if you have one of the last of the 330s if you are leasing it. Great car, great engine. Someone else's depreciation problem. Available now. Buy it now.
Jeff
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Good advice indeed! I'm not so worried about the 330 going away since I will be leasing. It's my first lease so I am concerned that somewhere in the 36 months the residual will change due to the car no longer being manufactured in that configeration.
I actually doubt that the US will see the 323. We have seen examples where the less powerful variants did not make it here despite being available in Canada. For example, there was never an E36 320i here. Most of the speculation is for the US market to get a 328 and 335. If they keep a 330 in the offerings then the guess is that the 335 would have to be priced far enough above the 330 to make a distinction. That is believed to put the price of the 335 too high, thus to create comfortable price points, the 330 would be discontinued. The 328 would replace the 325 and the 330 in one fell swoop and would be priced and powered sufficiently below the 335. This is all educated guessing.
I guess the E60 would be an even worse move since it's more expensive, less attractive, and more in need of the 335 engine. You are totally correct that the 335 engine should be avoided like the plague until it's second year. An E46 M3 would be very nice but in addition to it being long in the tooth, there would be no maintenance with the CPO lease. Also, to get one in the same price range as a 330 would mean an '02 or '03 coupé.