Pre-purchase things to check for 2009 E90 N51 with 110k?

EnlightenedOne · Today, 01:08 AM

Looking at buying a 2009 328i sedan with the N51 and 110k miles. Steering seems very heavy (almost as if there’s no power steering at all when parking) and I’ve noticed there’s some hesitation when accelerating. Wondering what things I should check in general as well as things to check specific to these items. I see the power steering fluid reservoir and cap are pretty caked with fluid and I can see there’s oil around the hole in the plastic undercover.. but maybe that’s just from oil changes.

StradaRedlands · Today, 01:36 AM

X drive cars feel heavy IMO, but RWD shouldn't. Something's off with that. Hesitation sounds like transmission problem.
Oil is likely leaking from somewhere on the car... it is a BMW. Probably the valve cover itself, but maybe valvetronic motor gasket, VANOS solenoids, oil filter housing, or oil pan gasket. OPG is the $$$ one to get replaced, but it's an inevitable problem. Track down the leak so you can determine what it's going to cost to fix. Everything else is just car stuff that goes wrong: starter, battery, suspension, tires, water pump. They have to be replaced at some point on all cars, so better if the seller can document it has been done.
Hope it works out, but if everything doesn't line up, there are plenty of cars out there!

EnlightenedOne · Today, 01:51 AM

Thanks for the info. Is there a document or list somewhere that goes over the things you mentioned? The car is from a family member so it will probably be pretty inexpensive to buy but I’m not sure if it’s worth the the it might take me to fix some of the things… so just trying to gauge what kind of costs/time are required to fix the most common things and maybe the power steering.

StradaRedlands · Today, 02:07 AM

17 pages worth: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1517476

If you can get the car inexpensively, probably fine. Hopefully they kept up on it and it doesn't need much. But if they neglected everything and drove it like a Toyonda, you probably don't need that hassle in your life!

Sport package, heated seats, xenon's, nice paint. Everything else can be fixed!

Today, 01:08 AM	#1
EnlightenedOne Second Lieutenant 50 Rep 281 Posts Drives: 2024 M240i xDrive Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: UT iTrader: (0)	Pre-purchase things to check for 2009 E90 N51 with 110k? Looking at buying a 2009 328i sedan with the N51 and 110k miles. Steering seems very heavy (almost as if there’s no power steering at all when parking) and I’ve noticed there’s some hesitation when accelerating. Wondering what things I should check in general as well as things to check specific to these items. I see the power steering fluid reservoir and cap are pretty caked with fluid and I can see there’s oil around the hole in the plastic undercover.. but maybe that’s just from oil changes.
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Today, 01:36 AM	#2
StradaRedlands Brigadier General 6388 Rep 3,826 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i MT Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: SoCal iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [8.45] 2009 BMW 328i Touri ... [8.00] 2013 BMW X5 35i [7.80] 2011 BMW 528i [8.70] 2006 Mazda3 [5.50]	X drive cars feel heavy IMO, but RWD shouldn't. Something's off with that. Hesitation sounds like transmission problem. Oil is likely leaking from somewhere on the car... it is a BMW. Probably the valve cover itself, but maybe valvetronic motor gasket, VANOS solenoids, oil filter housing, or oil pan gasket. OPG is the $$$ one to get replaced, but it's an inevitable problem. Track down the leak so you can determine what it's going to cost to fix. Everything else is just car stuff that goes wrong: starter, battery, suspension, tires, water pump. They have to be replaced at some point on all cars, so better if the seller can document it has been done. Hope it works out, but if everything doesn't line up, there are plenty of cars out there!
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Today, 01:51 AM	#3
EnlightenedOne Second Lieutenant 50 Rep 281 Posts Drives: 2024 M240i xDrive Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: UT iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the info. Is there a document or list somewhere that goes over the things you mentioned? The car is from a family member so it will probably be pretty inexpensive to buy but I’m not sure if it’s worth the the it might take me to fix some of the things… so just trying to gauge what kind of costs/time are required to fix the most common things and maybe the power steering.
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Today, 02:07 AM	#4
StradaRedlands Brigadier General 6388 Rep 3,826 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i MT Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: SoCal iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [8.45] 2009 BMW 328i Touri ... [8.00] 2013 BMW X5 35i [7.80] 2011 BMW 528i [8.70] 2006 Mazda3 [5.50]	17 pages worth: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1517476 If you can get the car inexpensively, probably fine. Hopefully they kept up on it and it doesn't need much. But if they neglected everything and drove it like a Toyonda, you probably don't need that hassle in your life! Sport package, heated seats, xenon's, nice paint. Everything else can be fixed!
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