[ArianMS]

Hey guys, I'm looking at purchasing a e92 335i. I want it to be 6mt, include navigation, and I really would like it to be black (exterior) on black (interior). I found two cars on Craigslist and need help deciding. I'm planning on doing a Cobb tune, dci, and a fmic for primary mods.

The first car is a 2008 e92 335i in black, it has navigation, 6mt, a Cobb tune, and an injen intake. The owner just did new spark plugs, coil packs, valve cover gasket, and crankshaft position sensor. The only negative with the car is that it has 125k miles. The car is completely blacked out and looks great.

The second option is a 2007 e92 335i in silver. It has navigation and manual transmission, and no performance upgrades. It looks very clean, only has 95k miles, and one owner. This is obviously the more reliable option due to mileage and only having one owner.

The thing that keeps bringing me back to the first option is the color and the mods that have already been done to it. The first car is sold by a private seller and the second is from a dealer (if that makes any difference. Both cars are going for 10grand. Any help would be great. Thanks!

[335udm]

Originally Posted by ArianMS

Hey guys, I'm looking at purchasing a e92 335i. I want it to be 6mt, include navigation, and I really would like it to be black (exterior) on black (interior). I found two cars on Craigslist and need help deciding. I'm planning on doing a Cobb tune, dci, and a fmic for primary mods.

The first car is a 2008 e92 335i in black, it has navigation, 6mt, a Cobb tune, and an injen intake. The owner just did new spark plugs, coil packs, valve cover gasket, and crankshaft position sensor. The only negative with the car is that it has 125k miles. The car is completely blacked out and looks great.

The second option is a 2007 e92 335i in silver. It has navigation and manual transmission, and no performance upgrades. It looks very clean, only has 95k miles, and one owner. This is obviously the more reliable option due to mileage and only having one owner.

The thing that keeps bringing me back to the first option is the color and the mods that have already been done to it. The first car is sold by a private seller and the second is from a dealer (if that makes any difference. Both cars are going for 10grand. Any help would be great. Thanks!

Review FULL SERVICE HISTORY, and the best financial deal on either car.

[AlpineBoost]

I personally only considered '09 or '10 and wouldn't purchase an N54 approaching or exceeding 100,000 miles (bought mine around 50k and have been relatively lucky with repairs). Either of these could still get very expensive quickly after purchase.

If I absolutely had to choose one I'd go with the '07.

Good luck

[ArianMS]

Originally Posted by 335udm

Review FULL SERVICE HISTORY, and the best financial deal on either car.

Which route would you go if both were up to date on services?

[Delta0311]

Low mileage unless it has mechanical issues. To me upgraded means " I beat on that bitch like she owed me money".

Oh 95k to me is not low mileage. Low mileage is 5k-24k, ideally though under 12k.

If those two options all I have to say is have cash aside for repairs.

[ArianMS]

Originally Posted by the storm breaks

I personally only considered '09 or '10 and wouldn't purchase an N54 approaching or exceeding 100,000 miles (bought mine around 50k and have been relatively lucky with repairs). Either of these could still get very expensive quickly after purchase.

If I absolutely had to choose one I'd go with the '07.

Good luck

Thanks for the response. Unfortunely I'm only 18 and still in school, so I don't have the finances to buy something better. I could take out a loan but I don't have any credit history and I really would not like to go that route. I already have money set aside for maintainence. This will be my 3rd e9x bmw so I know what to expect. Thanks again for the help!

[ArianMS]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

Low mileage unless it has mechanical issues. To me upgraded means " I beat on that bitch like she owed me money".

Haha yea that does make sense, I haven't had the chance to have the inspect the lower miles car. I had the upgraded one inspected by my own mechanic that I've done work with before, no issues. However, when I picked up the car the guy told me to "drive it like it's stolen." So that probably translates over to how he drives it. Thanks for the help.

[335udm]

Originally Posted by ArianMS

Which route would you go if both were up to date on services?

Other posters reliably answer your question. Good luck, and let us know what happens.,

[ArianMS]

Update, the 95k 335 was sold. I guess I'll keep looking due to the unanimous agreement that it was a better option than the upgraded one.

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by ArianMS

Thanks for the response. Unfortunely I'm only 18 and still in school, so I don't have the finances to buy something better. I could take out a loan but I don't have any credit history and I really would not like to go that route. I already have money set aside for maintainence. This will be my 3rd e9x bmw so I know what to expect. Thanks again for the help!

Hope you have at least $5k if you don't know a mechanic personally or have any mechanical skills. These cars are also nutorious for the rule of 3, meaning when you have one problem 2 more will quickly follow.

At your age and with a limited income you'd be better off getting a low mileage Corolla and not worrying about financially headaches down the road.

[ArianMS]

Originally Posted by the storm breaks

Did the private owner say anything about the turbos ever being replaced? I would think Cobb tuned @ 125k would probably mean they don't have much life left if they are still original. Also, waterpump last replaced, OFHG, etc. Obviously it's a used car, so it's not going to be perfect, but knowing what I know now these are questions that I would ask

Just wondering, is the '07 at a BMW dealership, other major car brand dealer or an indy used car lot?

The 07 was at a used car lot. I did some research, called a few bmw dealers asking for service history, finally one was willing to tell me if the turbos have been replaced, the haven't been. However, from my understanding the problem with the turbos was mainly 07 models. I don't know about the other services, I'll look into it when I get the chance.

[ArianMS]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

Hope you have at least $5k if you don't know a mechanic personally or have any mechanical skills. These cars are also nutorious for the rule of 3, meaning when you have one problem 2 more will quickly follow.

At your age and with a limited income you'd be better off getting a low mileage Corolla and not worrying about financially headaches down the road.

I sold my last BMW (e90 330i) almost a year ago. Picked up a ninja 250 and a 1998 Acura integra. The integra has been my daily driver, it works and I'm learning to do my own repairs in it.

[N54Luvr]

18 and little money ! This will not end well.

How about you wait until you have a little more $ and get the safer bet 09-10 N54.

[ArianMS]

Originally Posted by N54Luvr

18 and little money ! This will not end well.

How about you wait until you have a little more $ and get the safer bet 09-10 N54.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=935010
This thread gives me hope

[NightStalker]

your first mistake is Cobb tune. go with MHD more power and lower cost

[ArianMS]

Originally Posted by Red Car

your first mistake is Cobb tune. go with MHD more power and lower cost

What about using Cobb as a tune and mhd as a back end flash?

[NightStalker]

Originally Posted by ArianMS

What about using Cobb as a tune and mhd as a back end flash?

Even then. MHD alone is far better option. If you head over to the turbo section and read the threads you'll see why

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by ArianMS

What about using Cobb as a tune and mhd as a back end flash?

On a higher mileage BMW the first thing you would want to do is get a full mechanical inspection and make sure all maintenance items have been taken care off before you start tuning. Otherwise it's like stepping into the ring, without having spent a minute in the gym, and hoping to win on a wing and a prayer.

[ArianMS]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

On a higher mileage BMW the first thing you would want to do is get a full mechanical inspection and make sure all maintenance items have been taken care off before you start tuning. Otherwise it's like stepping into the ring, without having spent a minute in the gym, and hoping to win on a wing and a prayer.

Definitely a good word of advice, plannimg on getting an inspection before I purchase a vehicle. That goes for any vehicle in that matter.

[ArianMS]

Originally Posted by Red Car

Even then. MHD alone is far better option. If you head over to the turbo section and read the threads you'll see why

Will do, if I end up buying the upgraded car would you recommend selling the Cobb and doing a MHD flash?

[NightStalker]

Originally Posted by ArianMS

Will do, if I end up buying the upgraded car would you recommend selling the Cobb and doing a MHD flash?

yes and you can even use a windows pc or Mac to flash it. I made a thread in the DIY section on how to

[ArianMS]

Originally Posted by Red Car

yes and you can even use a windows pc or Mac to flash it. I made a thread in the DIY section on how to

Awesome, will definitely bookmark it for when the time comes. Thanks.