[i4Dravit]

Hello Everyone,

I have an opportunity to purchase a 2009 E92 335xi Manual with 135k miles for around $5,500. Car is clean. I know the previous owner, daily driven. Never hard.

Car is bone stock. 2 Owner. Previous owner bought CPO at 18k miles.

- Sport Package
- Cold Weather
- Premium Package
- Comfort Access
- Logic 7
- Navigation

Here is a list of known service done to the car. Most service done by BMW Dealer, others done by indie euro shop.


6/10/20 133k Miles
- Serpentine Belt
- Repair High Side A/C Hose and A/C Charge

4/1/20 132k Miles
- Oil Pan Gasket
- Bolt Kit
- O-Ring
- 2 Front Axle Seals
- Oil Change w/ Filter
- Washer for Dust Shields

12/6/19 129k Miles
- Headlight Bulb

10/8/19 128k Miles
- Oil Change w/ filter
- Oil Level Sensor

5/13/19 124k Miles
- Replace Front Struts (Part no 22214287, 22214294)
- Replace Front Upper Strut Mounts
- Replace Rear trailing arm bushings (Part no 33326763092)

1/24/19 121k Miles
- Oil change w/ filter

12/14/18
- Blower Motor wiring recall

7/30/18 116k Miles
- Oil change w/ Filter
- Brake Flush

7/5/18 115k Miles
- Replace right side halo bulb in headlight

6/25/18
- Replace splash guards under car

6/18/18 115k Miles
- Heater motor replaced

10/26/17 104k Miles
- Front brake pads replacement
- Front rotors replacement
- Ground straps replaced
- Front braker sensor

10/07/17 103k miles
- Air Bag recall
- Spark plugs replaced
- Oil change w/ filter

5/17/17 96k Miles
- Valve cover gasket replaced
- Replace oil fill cap
- Replace TPMS transmitter

3/25/17 93k Miles
- Halogen capsule replaced halo light
- Halogen bulb replaced

1/2/17 89k miles
- Oil Filter Housing gasket replaced

12/10/16 88k Miles
- Oil change w/ filter
- Oil filter housing gasket noted as leaking

7/12/16 80k Miles
- Vehicle overheated
- Replace Low pressure fuel sensor
- Replace water pump
- Replace Thermostat

9/19/15 70k miles
- Turbocharges replaced
- Fixed binding steering wheel
- Replaced bank 2 pre-cat O2 Sensors

7/16/15 67k miles
- Fog light bulb replaced

4/8/15 61k miles
- Fixed wiring to fuel tank vent system
- Replace fuel pressure sensor low pressure

3/7/15 63k Miles
- Oil change w/ Filter
- Replaced battery

12/5/14 61k Miles
- Mount Balance tires
- New key

8/16/14 57k Miles
- Oil change w/ filter
- Brake flush
- Replace washer fluid pump
- Rear brake replacement pads and rotors

3/8/14 51k Miles
- Parking light replaced

8/16/13 42k Miles
- Battery Cable Recall
- Vehicle OVERHEATED
- Replaced all (6) injectors (Index 12)
- Replaced DME
- Oil Change w/ Filter

2/3/12 19k Miles
- Windshield replaced

1/11/12 18k miles
- Heated steering wheel issues fixed
- Parking brake adjustment

12/3/11 17k miles
- Seat belt extender replaced
- Dash vent replaced


I'm posting to get other opinions. I have a daily, this will be the fun BMW to mod and wrench on.

I will DIY most maintenance and service. Including the eventual turbo replacement (upgrade).


Some pointed questions I have for you all....

The DME was replaced, I'm wondering if this is a common problem due to a bad part from factory or is the part itself bad and replaced with the same part number. Things like that...

Am I over excited that these things were done, but it's almost time for them to be re-done??

Thank you. Any advice is welcome!

-Kyle

[E92William]

That's a great deal I'd jump on it. Weird the price is so low given the car and it has no issues. The dme usually doesn't go itself but the mosfets in it do, some people just replace the entire thing. Only thing I'd be worried is the overheating history but if it were to blow a Headgasket it would have long by now, most of these cars will overheat a bit every time the water pump fails if the owner isn't paying attention and you'd never know since you don't have history on them.

It'll probably sell quickly if you don't go have a look. I remember when I bought my auto 07 335i I paid 9k for a 115k mile one year and a half ago so not doing bad at all here.

[Vivek.]

That is a screaming deal in today's market and you should definitely buy it. Maintenance looks fine; can't predict what'll break next really. Water pump seems to have gone at 42k and 80k (unless it wasn't done at 42? Odd it overheated but no cooling system parts were addressed at this time) which is early. Water pump could be nearing it's lifespan. Turbos go when they go, could be nearing EOL or could go for another 70k if it's been treated great since they were done.

I wouldn't worry about the replaced DME at all.

[i4Dravit]

Originally Posted by E92William

That's a great deal I'd jump on it. Weird the price is so low given the car and it has no issues. The dme usually doesn't go itself but the mosfets in it do, some people just replace the entire thing. Only thing I'd be worried is the overheating history but if it were to blow a Headgasket it would have long by now, most of these cars will overheat a bit every time the water pump fails if the owner isn't paying attention and you'd never know since you don't have history on them.

It'll probably sell quickly if you don't go have a look. I remember when I bought my auto 07 335i I paid 9k for a 115k mile one year and a half ago so not doing bad at all here.

Thanks for the replies, I'm going to put it on a lift and have a look underneath before finalizing the purchase.

I see what you're saying about the DME, makes sense.

[i4Dravit]

Originally Posted by Vivek.

That is a screaming deal in today's market and you should definitely buy it. Maintenance looks fine; can't predict what'll break next really. Water pump seems to have gone at 42k and 80k (unless it wasn't done at 42? Odd it overheated but no cooling system parts were addressed at this time) which is early. Water pump could be nearing it's lifespan. Turbos go when they go, could be nearing EOL or could go for another 70k if it's been treated great since they were done.

I wouldn't worry about the replaced DME at all.

Thanks for the reply. I agree about the overheating just seems odd it overheated on the way to the dealership to get the injectors done.

[Efthreeoh]

I personally wouldn't own an N54, but as far as in information you've provided us, i.e. know the PO and have a complete service history, and the price, I think it's a good opportunity. The key to owning older BMWs is to be able to wrench on them. It sounds like you have all the bases covered.

I did a similar purchase of a 99,000-mile E46 Cabrio last year at this time. The E46 was a great price and I know the PO.

Good luck with the purchase.

[Emilime75]

I'd agree with all of the above. It looks like it was well maintained, although some of the usual suspects were done a good number of miles back, so it may be time soon again to have them done - things like the WP and thermostat, VCG, turbos are hit or miss it seems like as far as how long they and the wastegates last...

Overall, if an N54 car is something you want, this seems like a great deal on the surface.

[Biginboca]

Agreed with above. It’s a good deal if you know what you are getting into. What I mean is, good price for a car that can easily run up $5k in repair costs in the next 6-12 months (Turbos, Water Pump, AC evaporator failure, etc). This is not a knock on that car or anything to do with the maintenance records so much as just a fact of BMW/N54 life.

So if you want an N54 and are going into it knowing all that comes with it, it’s a good buy for sure.

[freakystyly]

For a non-daily driver and having a known history, that deal is tempting. If you're comfortable wrenching on these then go for it. What other cars can compare these days for even double that price?

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

Agreed with above. It’s a good deal if you know what you are getting into. What I mean is, good price for a car that can easily run up $5k in repair costs in the next 6-12 months (Turbos, Water Pump, AC evaporator failure, etc). This is not a knock on that car or anything to do with the maintenance records so much as just a fact of BMW/N54 life.

So if you want an N54 and are going into it knowing all that comes with it, it’s a good buy for sure.

OP could easily spend 5k more on an identical car that would have the same likelihood of needing that 5k in parts in the next 12 months, though.

[Emilime75]

No one is disputing that. The point we are trying to convey is that one needs to know what they're buying when looking at an N54 anything. Look at how many new members there are on this forum lately who are young and broke and bought a 335i and now can't afford it because it broke. They're great power plants, but they're costly to keep going and issues sometimes arise often. We don't know who the OP is, or what their familiarity with these cars is...that's all.