[Guitarkid]

Hey guys, I'm looking at getting into an e92 with a manual transmission. It's my favorite generation and would be my first bmw. Probably one of my dream cars honestly. I have a 2015 wrx that I'll probably be selling soon. I just got it in October and honestly I'm not really in love with it. I'll be 25 in April and I find it a bit childish. Back when I was in high school I'm sure I would've loved it, but I've matured since then and I'm not into the whole boy racer look. I also have a 2007 Saab 9-3 (2.8 v6 turbo) that I much prefer and will be keeping. I find that much classier and more suitable for my wants. Both cars have 6 speed manuals. Maintenance costs honestly don't scare me that much after owning these two. If you wanna talk about expensive cars to own, ask me about that Saab....

Anyway I just wanted to ask, and I know this has been beaten to death, is a 2007 6 speed 335i (with rwd by the way) really that unreliable? It has 94k miles on it and the dealer it's at wants $16k for it. Is that a lot? It looks absolutely stunning in pictures. I should mention that it's a Florida car and I live in New England. I'm planning on flying there to check it out and driving it home if possible, maybe just getting it shipped back up here. I'm not sure yet. I've always wanted to buy a car far away from home and drive it back as a sort of road trip. It's been on my bucket list for ages now and this could be my chance

I hear so many stories of the failing turbos, fuel pump, etc., that I can't help hesitating. I've also heard the n54 335i is a rocket when it runs like it's supposed to though. Both my current cars have actually been really solid, it's just been unavoidable stupid wear and tear stuff that I've had to do, particularly to the Saab, plus mods on that. Costs don't bother me too much as I said, but I definitely don't want the car in the shop every week either. This bmw would be my first rwd car ever as well, I should add. That's another thing I want to ask actually, is rear wheel drive really that terrible in snow and other bad weather?

Thanks for any input, much appreciated

[nsjames]

all the stories about turbos and waterpumps and HPFPs and injectors are true.

I would not buy an early N54 car unless somebody had a stack of verifiable receipts for all those things being replaced, or you're about to have a bad time financially at those miles.

either shop later years when HPFP/injector things were much less prevalent, buy one that's already had all the revised parts put on it, or commit to spending a few grand on parts and doing the work yourself. I think a set of injectors is about $800 now.

I think it's way overpriced as well.

Here's a $16K 335is.
it's the best of the breed, with all the revised injection parts that don't suck and less miles than the one you're talking about.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...3972/overview/

also, you want to at least get into an LCI car if it has Idrive.
The CIC system is actually still useful. The CCC system is really really dated at this point.
the newest maps are 5 years old.

personally I probably wouldn't own an N54 car unless you were capable of fixing it yourself. They're hi strung and tempermental.
but yes, when in proper working order it is a truly amazing powerplant.

[tcphoto]

The seller is delusional if he thinks he'll get anywhere near $16K for a '07 E92, I paid far less when I bought '09 nearly three years ago.

[Leucosticte]

You are getting scammed by this guy asking 16k, should look for another car.

[jmnew911]

Price is way too high. I have heard about the mentioned reliability issues with the 335i. I would recommend the 328i though. I have two of them. 2007 and 2008 both with 135k miles and they have been pretty reliable so far. They are also fun cars to drive. My 2007 has the sport package and it handles like it is on rails.

[Wingnutts]

I bought my 2011 335is with 60,000 miles for about that cost. That is WAY to high.

[b92]

That's a very steep price for that car. I bought a well optioned '09 with 45k miles for $17k and that was three years ago, in NH too.

[pelon222]

I have to agree, way over priced for an 07, you should be able to find a newer model for less than that.

[oVeRdOsE.]

I was looking prices for pre-lci 335 to make a donor car for my E91. I saw 2-3 only over 10k$. A lot around 5-6k$, apparently running and good condition.

- Are you ready to read diy? do you maintenance? and by maintenance, expect sometime to loose the car for few days. replacing turbo , or adjusting the waste gate (rattle), is not a 8h job...

- If not, aim for a 330, with some bolt-ons. It will be way more reliable, and fast for what it is.

Also if you're worried about snow, get a XI, and disable the transfer case with a cable, so you'll be 100% rwd when needed. (yes you can drift it)

[CTinline-six]

The N54 is a very capable platform, but is a very expensive car to run, even DIYing, if stuff goes south. It isn't a car I would buy sight unseen and without a pre-purchase inspection. $16k is also way too high for a 2007, even if everything has been replaced.

The problem with the N54 is that the parts that break are expensive.

Here is a list of common failure points:
-water pump
-valve cover gasket
-oil filter housing gasket
-oil pan gasket
-turbos
-HPFP
-injectors

to name a few... Obviously not all cars suffer these failures, there are a few exceptions, but most of them will have these issues at some point, especially earlier models. If you are ready to DIY all the work (which is absolutely doable as long as you have the funds for parts) then try to find a car with a few of the items replaced and for a lower price.

AWD will be more complicated so there are more points of failure. I made it through a snowstorm in the mountains of upper state NY with my RWD 328i and snow tires without issue.

[Volasko]

I can't speak about the 335i but I can say with confidence a RWD BMW with proper tires is an absolute peach in the snow. Remember unless you physically turn off the traction control your car won't suddenly slide out into snap oversteer the second you apply power. Hearing people scare themselves into buying x-drives because "oh no RWD in snow, soo scary!" always makes me chuckle.

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by Volasko

I can't speak about the 335i but I can say with confidence a RWD BMW with proper tires is an absolute peach in the snow. Remember unless you physically turn off the traction control your car won't suddenly slide out into snap oversteer the second you apply power. Hearing people scare themselves into buying x-drives because "oh no RWD in snow, soo scary!" always makes me chuckle.

My RWD BMW with snows is way better than my Jeep with 4x4 and all-terrain tires. The only limiting factor of the Bimmer would be ground clearance, but I've had it in snow up to the bumper without issue yet. I have a set of cable chains in the trunk incase I ever get stuck but I haven't even opened the package yet and I've tested my luck.

I think the 50/50 weight balance and handling makes them much better in the snow than a typical RWD car like a Mustang or RWD truck.

[oVeRdOsE.]

Originally Posted by Volasko

I can't speak about the 335i but I can say with confidence a RWD BMW with proper tires is an absolute peach in the snow. Remember unless you physically turn off the traction control your car won't suddenly slide out into snap oversteer the second you apply power. Hearing people scare themselves into buying x-drives because "oh no RWD in snow, soo scary!" always makes me chuckle.

depends where you live !

I agree 'being scared'' is a bit overreacting, my first car was fwd, and with some toyo go2 observe, I could get out of 5-8in of snow .

I'm living in a city where 2cm of snow and they remove it. So always on the asphalt. rwd, awd , who cares indeed.

But getting north every weekend, and starting at the green light faster than everybody make me smile and I like it.

xdelete while is snowing; the difference is huge. awd necessary ? probably not for the 2 of the 6-10 snowstorm/year when you're faster than the snow plow.

I personnaly see fwd and rwd getting stuck in mtl street, while I go byebye right away. This pic is actually where I lived a while ago.

[Gamb1t]

Originally Posted by nsjames

I would not buy an early N54 car [/url]

Fixed.

Unless you mod the shit out of the 335i, i see zero value in maintaining a trouble prone N54 when you have the nearly as fast but leagues better in reliability with an N52 330i.

AWD is useful if you want to get up and go in heavy snowy conditions. Assuming it has winter tires.

[fastboatster]

I don’t think that 335i is only marginally faster than 330i, it has a lot more power and it’s delivered nearly from idle rpms. If op can drop 16g for it, then he probably can buy one for what they actually go for and then use the rest on everything that fails. I say buy a 335i, yolo.
P.s. I sometimes see manual f30 335is for less than 16g, makes me sad I have 3 cars and one of them is a 335i’s overpriced rival

[nsjames]

Originally Posted by Gamb1t

Fixed.

Unless you mod the shit out of the 335i, i see zero value in maintaining a trouble prone N54 when you have the nearly as fast but leagues better in reliability with an N52 330i.

AWD is useful if you want to get up and go in heavy snowy conditions. Assuming it has winter tires.

you literally get 350 whp with a tablet and a credit card.

and that 8hp transmission is glorious after you apply the same treatment to it.
90% of the DCT box with none of the issues.

if you're willing to maintain it, a N54 is a glorious thing, and by 2010 most of the major issues were sorted.

if I could have found my wagon in RWD trim, I would have preferred it.
unless you live in an area that sees snow on the ground for months at a time, it's probably not worth the effort.
that said, with blizzaks in a 4000lb e91 XI, it is unstoppable. I'm just not sure how much worse it would be in a RWD car with the same blizzaks.

edit:
also, XI will not allow for fun time donuts in the snow, and that disappoints.
even my wife's Volvo, the safe car, enjoys 40 mph awd skids in the snow without freaking out.

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by tcphoto

The seller is delusional if he thinks he'll get anywhere near $16K for a '07 E92, I paid far less when I bought '09 nearly three years ago.

Yep....that 07' 335i iets probably worth more like $8-9,000.

And as far as reliability goes....if you are not the type of person who enjoys turning wrenches on your own cars (or has enough money to constantly pay a shop to do the work)....stay away from the 335i. You really have to love working on these things. Way too complicated than they need to be......and at close to 100k miles, it's going to have some issues that need addressed.

[Gamb1t]

Originally Posted by nsjames

you literally get 350 whp with a tablet and a credit card.
ut.

In the days when that school teacher in an EV blasts away with nary a hiccup while you hope and pray that your 335i doesnt blow a hose or puke its internals. No thanks. If I want an unreliable twin turbo car I'd buy an FD RX7. At least i is a gorgeous machine when parked waiting for repairs....like an n54.

[fastboatster]

Lol, you won't buy an EV your teacher has or a good rx-7 for 5 or even 4k like a 335i. The reality is I see a lot of very high mile 335is on cl all day long, so it's not like they instantly break if you look at them funny. I'd just get one with blown turbos and had them replaced. Will provide thousands and thousands miles of twin turbo fun.

[matamua]

No, no, no.

I bought a 2007 e93 with 62k that already had the hpfp, injectors and turbos done. New tires to boot. All sorts of records. Paid $8500. $16k is ludicrous.

I've also spent several grand doing paddleshifters, ABS pump, VCG, OFHG, pulleys/belts, an upgraded intercooler, charge pipe, coils, plugs, and MHD. It's totally awesome, more fun than a WRX in my book and much more refined.

I love my car, and got a smoking deal. All in, now I'm closer to the lower end of the retail market. No way I'd buy a car at the upper echelon of the retail market without all the records and maintenance having been done. For that kind of money it better have all the options and color combo I'm after.