[noro]

Let me guess OP, you're in California?

[Tuned335i]

Originally Posted by noro

Let me guess OP, you're in California?

Wouldn't surprise me, with the high ethanol content gas...

As far as the reliability in general goes, all car makes have issues of one sort or another, and if you visit their enthusiast forums, most of the people who have issues complain loudly and that's what you see. The grass is always greener...

[2e9x's]

Originally Posted by noro

Let me guess OP, you're in California?

Indeed. And to be fair VW was having similar issues with the HPFP in the GTI until mid-2008. At that point they switched to a different motor and the HPFP issues went away. If VW can get their pumps right, you'd think BMW could too.

I think there may be a domino effect here. Which came first I don't know but... I am told that the N54 is also having issues with fuel injectors. In the case of 2 of my 335i's, that is correct.

I asked the tech to check my spark plugs yesterday. He told me that 2 (cylinders 2 and 5) were fouled. My other car with bad injectors also had fouled plugs.

All this makes me wonder...do you think maybe as the HPFP is failing it causes the injectors to fail also, which then fouls the plugs? Then as the ECU tries to clean the fouled plugs it places an additional load on the pump and injectors thereby causing the problem to escalate?

[Jeff335i]

I do agree that the HPFP is an issue and BMW could do a better job with how they are handling it.

I know 3 people (including myself) that have 335's and all are over 2 years old and zero have had the HPFP replaced or had any other issues.

[scheherazade]

Originally Posted by 2e9x's

Honestly I don't believe for a fraction of a second that Japanese cars are really better. In my experience that mystique is really based on historical reputation as opposed to any current reality.

This situation is unacceptable and I sincerely hope BMW gets its act together soon. However running to brand x is not necessarily the answer.

I have that feeling lately about honda.
I have nothing but glowing praise for 90's and earlier hondas.
But I've seen people have major of issues with newer ones.


However, with a subaru or evo I would never for a second worry about the durability of my drive train.
I would expect that maybe some cabin plastics would get loose, or windows might shut funny...

(notice I didn't mention older eclipses, since a while back they did have some issues when tuned real hard)

With the 335 I'm worried about my wastegates leaving my engine limp, or my hpfp leaving me stranded.

BMW's don't have a history of "commonly putting down ridiculous power" like subarus or DSMs.

Could my evo 9 transmission handle 500 whp day in and day out for years? Sure it can... because a crap load of people put down that much, and they have been for years...

Can the 335's transmission do it? I don't know...

Originally Posted by mylydiamy

It is unfortunete that BMW is a poor quality/reliable car comapared to Japanese cars. I guess this is the price to pay for more power and better handling. Having said that I am pist of as much as anyone having to deal with similar issues after spending 60K.

As far as handling goes...
My 9MR handled night and day better than my 335 (NIGHT AND DAY, seriously). After coilovers the 335 is closer, but still not as nimble as the stock 9mr was.
Having another 500 lbs to throw around, and no front+rear LSDs with user configurable center diff, will do that...

-scheherazade

[2e9x's]

So I picked the car up this morning. At the moment it seems to be running ok. There was another 335i on the rack with the same issues as I was chatting with the tech.

He showed me the spark plugs from the car he was working on. That car had some knock codes and the prongs of the plugs were seriously bent out of shape. For all of you running tunes, check your plugs regularly! I could imagine some serious running problems with plugs bent that far out of whack.

[rkick08]

Originally Posted by jcarlucci1

I love my car, but what a piece of junk..constant wastegate rattle, power steering pump went bad, airbag sensor, oil level sensor, seatbelt sensor, abs system all went bad. Door lock actuators went bad and locked me out of the car..the list goes on forever..I have never replaced a hpfp but in the two years I have owned the car it has been to the dealership 17 times to be fixed

dam, no wonder BMW offers the waranty that it does, you will go broke trying to service it, eventually paying more on service and pieces than the actual car!

[chili cheese]

All 6 injectors replaced on mine so far and only 30k miles.

[2e9x's]

Got the car back yesterday with 6 new injectors and 6 new spark plugs. Each injector cost BMW about $450 and each new spark plug was ~ $14.50. If I would have had to pay for this out of pocket it would have cost me nearly $4,000.

As for BMW NA "Customer Service" that is a different situation. I called BMW NA on Wednesday morning. The rep with whom I had been speaking/e-mailing was out of the office. The person who answered the phone call was unwilling to do anything other than take information from me. He told me he would make a note for the other rep and make it a priority. I was told that the lady with whom I had been working would be back yesterday. Still no contact from BMW NA.

Sorry but I expect more from a premium brand.

[Zeph]

I owned ONLY Japanese cars from the time I was 16 until I was 32 (last year) when I finally bought this BMW 335i. They are no better. My last car was a brand new 2003 350z: I had the transmission replaced 3x under warranty due to synchro's going out, the hatchback springs broke and had to be replaced, there was a recall on the fuel filler hose cracking and causing possible fires/etc. and they replaced that, about 1/2 the time you would try to fill it up with gas and it would keep clicking off (like it's full) with only 1/2 a tank., cup holder got stuck in the dash and had to be replaced, and the stereo system had to be replaced because CD's would constantly skip. I had the car for 5 years and basically sold it once the warranty ran out (not gonna pay for this POS to get repaired constantly). Most of these problems happened within the first 2-3 years... and all of these problems were common problems (not just me). When I sold it, they were on Rev. 12 of the transmission (synchros) so apparently band-aid fixes are the normal thing for car manufacturers to do these days.

I had a brand new 2000 Toyota Tundra before that, for 3 years... and it had a few warranty repairs done too (like warped brake rotors, new driver window motor, etc.). Point it, every car/company/country has problems these days. Probably more-so than ever.

[TurboSid]

sucks to hear, i'm getting close to 15k so i hope i don't get plagued by these problems.

Has anyone found out if most of these issues have anything to do with 91 vs. 93 octane?

[2e9x's]

Still no meaningful response from BMW NA. Why am I not surprised?

[Dubbedoutbimmer]

Originally Posted by Jeff335i

Oh really? The majority? More than 50% of owners? Where did you get this knowledge?

umm me and 4 others friends all replaced AT LEAST 2 pumps I will be due for my 4th im sure by next oil change lol what a joke I love that car to death but please some drag the mofo that made these pumps into the street for a proper ass whooping that being said no other problems. the cars fit finish and quality seem very good just straighten out that damn engine.

[darkphantom]

11k+ miles, aug/07 build E93 335i - No HPFP issues (knock on wood)

Drive the car hard just about everytime I get in it just one issue with a loose intake tract, but that was it

[2e9x's]

Originally Posted by darkphantom

11k+ miles, aug/07 build E93 335i - No HPFP issues (knock on wood)

I am honestly happy for those of you who have not had any issues. But I would appreciate keeping the thread on topic about getting BMW to deal with this situation properly. Thanks.