[e90'D10]

2009 335 e92 is what I currently have without the AWD option, personally I love the car even though I miss the AWD. But AWD isn't really worth it in my eyes even if you're in an area where it snows and the road conditions aren't as nice as it is here in Florida for example. 6 MT is offered in the 2009

[N8N]

Originally Posted by tony20009

Choose the car that's a better car, regardless of what options it has or what colors it comes in. If two used cars truly are equal in quality (service, repair and accident history, mileage, structural condition, mechanical condition, physical condition, interior condition, CPO vs. non CPO, etc.) then pick the one having options and colors you desire most.

You'll have to do your own prioritization regarding options and colors, but I can offer what I would find most important to me and why. Others will feel differently, agreeing for different reasons and disagreeing for different reasons.

• Nav -- I like having nav on my F10. I wish I had it on my E92. The pre-LCI nav isn't as easy to operate as the next generation nav that was offered on the E9x cars, but if you get nav, you also get iDrive and that means you get a much easier to operate tool for setting the car's settings and for operating the radio. Also, iDrive cars seem able to access HD2 and HD3 stations. In contrast, I have yet to find a way to do access those stations without iDrive.
• Interior color -- I went with red. Primarily because I wanted red and that wasn't negotiable for me. Secondarily, because it was sold only on the 3er coupe at the time. Outside that, get a color that you at least don't mind, but otherwise don't sweat it too much. Personally, I don't care for the lighter colors for the obvious reason -- ease of keeping them clean -- but also because when one gets grey or beige, the whole interior is that color rather than, say, if one gets brown or red whereby the interior is two colors brown/black or red black. Black, for me is the color I don't want, per se, but that I could live with. And, truth be told, if I were seeking a used car and the best one available to me at the time had a beige or grey interior, I'd still buy that car before I bought a lesser quality car.
• Transmission -- I'm not going down this road again. More than enough has been said about the pros and cons of manuals vs. automatics on this forum. Search. If you have no preference, buy the better car regardless of the transmission. The only thing worth noting was that on most E9x cars, the automatic was an extra cost option, so among equivalent cars that differ only by the transmission, the manual should cost about $500 less.
• Other options: I don't know if such a car exists, but you'll definitely want to have Bluetooth if you should go with a pre-LCI car. And if you have an iPod/iPhone, you'll want the car to have the iPod connection.

One thing I forgot to mention earlier:

Radio: The pre-LCI 335i came standard with the Logic7 radio and the 328i did not. (That doesn't mean you have to buy a 335i.) IMO the Logic7 radio is worth having because that thing seriously thumps. IMO, the Logic7 radio is quite acceptable to most non-audiophile/-audio nerds and I have my doubts about how well integrated an aftermarket stereo will looking in the E9x center control panel. The standard stereo system in the 328i is probably fine too for quite a lot of folks. If volume is your thing, it's worth noting that you get more volume with the thing connected to your iPod than you do over the radio. I don't know why that is, but it's an observation I've made several times in my daughter's E91 (LCI). If you are picky about car stereo systems, it won't matter which stereo the car comes with for you'll likely replace a variety of the components, and if you do want to do that, start with the tweeters, they are the weakest element in the Logic7 system. Your ears will tell you what do.


All the best

Pre-LCI and LCI nav are misleading. the change from CCC to CIC occurred for 2009 model year. So I have a pre-LCI car with the later navigation system. (I believe that was the break for LCI on E90 and E91 though which is why people think of it that way.)

Also, Logic 7 was NOT standard on 335i, mine has "Hi-Fi" (one level down.)

There are also differences between Euro options and US options, esp WRT suspension, some well meaning Europeans may respond with info that is not pertinent to you.

Definitely get a VIN of any car you're considering and decode the options list. There's a lot of stuff that was optional on these cars that you'll probably want, but a not well equipped car may not have.

[N8N]

Forgot to add, LCI rearview mirrors are ugly

[The Cleaner]

N54 in LCI is the way to go..... 335is. DCT if you want it too.

[e9duece]

So is the N54 better for upgrades than the N55? The N55 "sounds" better, but I bet that can be evened out with muffler and headers or intake...

[e9duece]

So in a 2009 e92 are N54 and N55 motors available? Are parts interchangeable between the N54 and N55s?

[drunkenup]

N54 is more tunable than N55, pretty equal stock for stock however. Both tune only N54 is maybe 10whp more powerful, N54 with all bolt ons and meth can hit 450, same config I think N55s make a little over 400. Turbo upgrades are around for the N54, and N55 turbo kits are in development.

No parts are interchangeable between the two. Better MPGs too with the N55

[StevenY.]

Originally Posted by e9duece

So in a 2009 e92 are N54 and N55 motors available? Are parts interchangeable between the N54 and N55s?

Model year 2007-2010 = N54
Model year 2011 onward = N55

Engine wise, most parts are not interchangeable since the engine designs are completely different.

N54 engine bay


N55 engine bay

[e9duece]

What's the difference between the 335i and the 335is?

[Benstuck]

Originally Posted by e9duece

What's the difference between the 335i and the 335is?

The 335is has the N54, DCT, different rims, bumpers. The 335i has the n55, unless you have the older 335i's which have the n54. You can make your 335i look like the 335is, but you would still be missing the DCT

[e92_enthusiast_1]

Same for me. Pre-LCI w/CIC Nav Upgrade w/ Logic 7.

MY 2010 build date late '09

Originally Posted by N8N

Pre-LCI and LCI nav are misleading. the change from CCC to CIC occurred for 2009 model year. So I have a pre-LCI car with the later navigation system. ...

[e9duece]

So this is what i'm looking at..
2009 335is (which would be a N54) correct?
or is the 2009 335i an N54?
DCT on a manual too?

[e92_enthusiast_1]

Both of your 335's are n54's. I think the main difference is that the "is" version of the n54's have a few upgraded components and a little more HP (dont have a source).

DCT is separate from a manual or automatic and only offered with an IS. It's like an automatic-manual if that makes sense.

Originally Posted by e9duece

So this is what i'm looking at..
2009 335is (which would be a N54) correct?
or is the 2009 335i an N54?
DCT on a manual too?

[Myrder]

Originally Posted by e9duece

So this is what i'm looking at..
2009 335is (which would be a N54) correct?
or is the 2009 335i an N54?
DCT on a manual too?

Lots of mis-information. The DCT can only be had with the N54 in the 335is and 1M.

2011 was first year for 335is. The 335is had different front and rear, similar to Msport, but was available with DCT or 6MT. It came stock with a "flash" upgraded ecu that allowed for a little more boost. Also had a type of Performance exhaust on it stock. Note the clutch in the 6MT is also beefier and shared with the clutch in the 550i/650i.

Also:335is BMW upgrades the cooling system substantially (an auxiliary radiator and an oil cooler flank the main radiator and the cooling fan's performance is increased). More rigid engine mounts

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...#ixzz2vn3c1KGt

335i
N54 - 2007-10
N55 - 2011-on

[e9duece]

Originally Posted by e92_enthusiast_1

Both of your 335's are n54's. I think the main difference is that the "is" version of the n54's have a few upgraded components and a little more HP (dont have a source).

DCT is separate from a manual or automatic. It's like an automatic-manual if that makes sense.

Thanks!

[Manxman]

Originally Posted by N8N

Forgot to add, LCI rearview mirrors are ugly

+1......and NOISY!

[e9duece]

Also what are the differences in a base model, M Sport, and M3? How can i tell the different between M Sport and base?

[UKBasketball]

Originally Posted by e9duece

Also what are the differences in a base model, M Sport, and M3? How can i tell the different between M Sport and base?

Look at the pic on page 1. You can tell easily by the front bumper.

[Myn54isSLOW]

Originally Posted by djjasper

A handy guide:

QUESTION!!!?

Kinda late to the party buuuut... Are the PRE-LCI M Sport Bumber and LCI M Sport Bumper shaped the same? :]

[freakystyly]

Read the thread, post 13

They might or might not fit the same but they aren't identical from that picture, there's a lot of part truths in this thread.