[y2k_alyx]

hi there! my name is alex, im 15 and im looking for a first car
ive been looking at bmws for a long time but have gotten scared off by all the reliability worries from others, but i have recently tried to shake off the preconceived notions and just look with fresh eyes. with it being my first car, i need something that i can depend on, but id also like something fun! at the moment, im just generally looking at bmws as a whole, but ive been focused in on the e9x for a while. i was just wondering if there is anything to look out for in these, as i really do like them and would love to experience one as a first car at the moment, im looking at the 328i (i think that has the n53? not really sure, im not super knowledgeable on bmws) but that can change. i currently have a beat up subaru legacy just to learn on and teach myself basic car care, but that isnt really viable to use as an actual daily as it has a major rust issue. if anyone can help me figure out how reliable these cars are and/or the problem spots, it would be massively appreciated! thank you!

[BRG_N54]

Originally Posted by y2k_alyx

with it being my first car, i need something that i can depend on

I hate to burst your bubble, but almost 20 year old luxury cars are not going to fill that void. I could only recommend something Asian to a young person like yourself, I got my first BMW in my mid forties.

[lordnikon]

Save your money

[Mike K]

Start by reading the entire How To Buy thread at the top of the forum. Good luck!

[StradaRedlands]

If you want to learn about cars, and have enough money to keep up on it, E90s are a great option! Big community here and on YT, great part availability, really well thought out cars. If you're serious about it, you will learn everything about them. Maintain one, improve everything, drive it! Find one with documented maintenance. Don't worry about the mileage, find a car that has been loved and obsessively maintained. Bonus points if you can find a manual transmission. Avoid X drive (AWD). Just be VERY honest about how much time/money you want to put into it. Because you'll need a lot of both!

[Cpet]

Alex - you’ll definitely get mixed advice here, but like StradaRedlands mentioned, these cars require significant time and money to keep up with everything. I love my e90 and don’t hesitate to drive it anywhere despite its age, but they’re not for everyone.

Here’s a list of what I’ve done in 4 years I’ve owned mine (I bought a clean 1-owner example with low mileage and consistent servicing). I’ve spent close to the purchase price on repair work, and did some items on my own.

Oil filter housing gasket
Valve cover once, gaskets twice
Battery
Plugs/coils
Every fluid/filter at least once (brake, coolant, trans, diffs, transfer case, steering)
Coolant flange
Brakes
Eccentric shaft sensor
Belt, tensioner, idler pulley
Tie rods
Oil pan gasket, motor mounts ($$$$)
Tires

[gbalthrop]

Originally Posted by y2k_alyx

... my name is alex, im 15 and im looking for a first car... at the moment, im looking at the 328i [has N52 normally-aspirated (NO Turbo) straignt-6.] ...

Hi Alex, Welcome to the Forum!
Do you have a Good Friend or family member who has extensive experience with cars? Someone who can drive several of SAME model and KNOW HOW it is supposed to Accelerate, Brake, Handle? If so, you have a good chance of getting a good 328i/xi that will be relatively trouble-free for up to 50,000 miles -- MORE if you're lucky. My 328xi has > 140,000 miles and NO issues. Guy on E90Post has > 400,000 miles on his 2006 325i E90 and still going strong (MT), even after FOUR (4) Deer Strikes. Lives near Blue Ridge and used to commute 170 Miles per day to/from Northern VA.

Currently in Northern VA, you can get an E90 328i for $6,000 - $7,000, and I would recommend driving several, and making sure one you buy is "tight" in Steering & Suspension, and Accelerates/ Brakes well. CHEAP/BAD example will likely be continuing source of aggravation. I only paid $7,600 for mine 7 years ago.

My own experience:
Bought 3/2007 build 328xi E91 (wagon) with N52K engine and AT (GM6) nearly 7 years ago. In first week of ownership, had random misfire codes several times, always at > 5,000 RPM (I enjoy near-RedLine acceleration in 1st & 2nd ;-). Plugs (probably original) had enlarged gaps at .055" to .060" instead of specified .040", which caused misfire at RPM > 5,000. Replaced plugs for $50, and have NOT had a DME (Engine Control Module) Fault Code or "Service Engine Soon" warning light in last 7 years.

Only other expense was ~ $800 for tire replacement two years ago (stayed with Conti Runflat RSC tires). Car is totally stock and I drive it like I stole it. No Fault Codes and NO performance issues. I HAVE replaced fluids & filters, including AT filter/Fluid, Transfer Case Fluid, Coolant, P/S Fluid, etc. as routine Maintenance. NO other repairs. $110 for new Floor Mats, and ~ $100 for new Roundels on Hood, Tailgate & Wheels.

Toyota Camry is known for low maintenance, but I maintained a friend's Camry, for last 9 years, and it cost more than my 328xi.

Until past year, you could Download INPA (BMW Standard Tools & E89 Datens) or ISTA+ (BMW Factory-Level & Dealer-Level Diagnostic Software) FREE from MEGA, and Diagnose ANY of ~ 20 ECU's in your vehicle. Only expense was $50 for BimmerGeeks Pro K+DCAN Cable to connect laptop to OBD II Socket. NOW you would need some nice soul to provide you with copy of Software. With those, some time invested, and Forum Help, YOU can DIY (DIAGNOSE It Yourself ;-).

I'm retired, have maintained my own cars for 60+ years, and drive ~ 3,000 miles per year, so if you intend to put 20,000+ miles per year on vehicle, YMMV. If you can get INPA/ISTA, and you get a well-maintained vehicle and spend time doing required maintenance YOURSELF, the 328i/xi is for you. INPA will even show you the Fault History (History Memory) in DME, EGS & VGSG/VTG (Engine, AT & Transfer Case Modules). Those are the MOST Expensive/ Important Modules and components.

Knowing what proper Diagnostic Software (preferably INPA) can show you, and proper test-drives of several of same model, SHOULD take a LOT of "Luck" & "Guess-work" out of buying used E9x (E90, E91, E92, E93). See the attached pdf: E9x References, for overview of Resources available. Unfortunately, BMW has been on a "Tear" the last year, and has forced closure of MEGA sites for software downloads. Also the Bentley Manual pdf link has been removed.
George

[Bims328i]

The kid is 15, if he wants to buy a bims, so be it. Like Mike K said. Check the stickies.

The fact you're here before you picked one up is a good step. They are reliable cars if you learn about and take care of them. If you're going to buy one. Be sure you know your stuff so you can make an educated decision on your purchase.

Also be prepared to do some work if you want to keep it. E90 is an aging platform but they are still great cars. If you're mechanically inclined, they'll be right up your alley.

I've done a lot of work on mine too but a lot of that has been the inverse of letting things go. Some of it has been fixing negligence of previous owners.

[Efthreeoh]

What you are asking about reliability and how to find a "good" E9X are buried in the threads on E90 Post. By model type, all BMWs fail consistently, which is a good thing because the problems are surfaced and the repairs are well documented.

But, the advice others have provided so far is spot on. What George failed to mention is the guy with the 400,000+ mile E90 has a full automotive shop at his disposal (he spent $40K to build and outfit it) and he's possessed about keeping his BMW operational. And he has enough disposable income to support his obsession. The point is though, with time, effort and money, the E9X is a good BMW platform to work on. The E9X can reach high miles and advanced age if you are willing to take one there.

Now for you, answer some of these questions for yourself. Do you have a good set of mechanics tools or willing to buy them? Do you have a work space you can work in free from the elements, heated in the winter, and can leave your car unattended on jack stands? At 15, what is your parent's attitude about all this? Will you have their support both emotionally and (possibly) financially?

These things are critical to maintaining a car, and especially a BMW. Finding a good car in decent shape is the first step. Strada just found a decent E91 last month and is detailing his journey to bring it back to good working order. Strada's thread a great resource for you at this stage to help you understandwhat you are going to committ to. It's real time reporting and written by a dedicated Bimmerhead and good father.

Don't go in thinking you'll find a gem and not have to work on it. That's not how this works at this stage with the E9X platform, it's just too old now. But you can find a decent example to start the process with.

Good luck with your quest.

[smass]

Both of my kids got E90s for their 16th birthdays. My daughter still has hers at 23. I bought it for $3k and spent another $3k on parts to make it like new. If we had to pay someone else for labor, the E90 would not have made sense.

[oVeRdOsE.]

1- ready to go on forums / youtube for tutorials ?

2- You have time and some basic tools to do some maintenance?

3- you have a reliable independent shop next to you?

If yes, the E90 is not that bad

But keep in mind, parts can be up to 3 times the price, in comparison with a mazda 3, nissan sentra or toyota corolla. Hard to justify an 200$ alternator, when the same 12v for japanese car will be 60$

If you really want a E90, I would go with a base model 323, manual, rwd, low mileage or maintenance all done.


at the end, used market can be a gamble, you might have 0 issue with a E90 for 8 years, and tons of issue with a japanese.

[Boston4]

If you already have the tools/equipment and space to work on the car yourself, and you have a budget for parts, then this is probably doable. You mentioned that you're learning basic car care - for the most part, it's not really hard. If you will be paying a shop for repairs and maintenance, then it will likely not make sense. I drove a Honda Accord through high school and college (maybe 40-50k miles) and the only repair it needed excluding basic maintenance was an ignition coil.

As a data point, I have an E90 328i xDrive that just rolled over 100k miles. I bought it three years ago in *mint* condition with ~80k miles. I live in a city and I only use the car on weekends or for trips. I have done some of the repairs and maintenance myself, but I don't really have the time or a good space to do my own work on the car, so most of it was done by a local shop - this is just worth it for me. Here are my expenses which reflect pretty much giving the car everything it needs:
- Fuel: $4020 (average ~21mpg)
- Tires: $750 (not including purchasing a separate set of snow tires)
- Repairs: $5032
- Maintenance: $1611
- Insurance: $3600
Total: $15,013 (about $5k per year)

Finding one that has been well maintained and doesn't immediately need thousands of dollars of work will be a challenge - trust me. E90s are now 13-18 years old and I'd guess that the majority of them are already ruined.

I don't know what your financial situation looks like, but if money were no object, you'd just buy a new car. It's possible that you could have a good ownership experience that doesn't cost a lot of money, like some of the posters above mentioned, but you shouldn't plan and budget for that scenario. If you're in a position to buy the car outright and then set aside $500 a month for it without sacrificing anything else, then sure - it's worth considering. This is not the position that I was in when I was in high school or college.

I know I sound like a boomer - when I was your age, I absolutely would have thought that spending $500 a month on an old BMW was a great idea. But realistically, there are probably better things to do with this amount of money.

[ppointer]

I really think your best bet for a first car as a teenager is something from Honda or Toyota. Both of those manufacturers built cars that I think are more reliable than BMW, and they are plenty of fun to drive. They are also not difficult to work on for basic maintenance, and the parts are about as inexpensive as they come.

I happen to think BMWs are not difficult to work on either, but the parts can be expensive. Some gaskets need to be replaced as often as every 60k miles. Cooling systems need to be refreshed. Some suspension components need refreshed. They can be reliable, but the costs are way higher than for the Japanese, in my experience.

[NorthernDancer]

Lots of very good info here. Myself, I always buy privately, never a used car lot. Have NEVER had a serious issue. I'm in Canada, 4 cars bought in USA, 1 from Germany, 1 local to me here. Four of the 6 were over 10 years old. Highly recommend joining BMWCCA.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by ppointer

I really think your best bet for a first car as a teenager is something from Honda or Toyota. Both of those manufacturers built cars that I think are more reliable than BMW, and they are plenty of fun to drive. They are also not difficult to work on for basic maintenance, and the parts are about as inexpensive as they come.

I'd add Mazda3 to that list. First and second gen with manual transmission are indestructible. Newer ones are nice, but I don't know if they have a MT. On my '06 (same year as my 330i) I've had to do the VCG, 02 sensors, spark plugs, a half shaft, suspension rebuild, brakes, and the fuel pump (had to drop tank, not fun). That's it over the last 15 years of ownership!

Sounds like an average year of E90 maintenance!

The downside to the above cars is their lack of maintenance needs! If OP wants to learn how to wrench as a hobby/skill, BMW is waiting with open arms! Workspace, tools, money for parts... the rest is just time and motivation!

[Efthreeoh]

OP,

Here's the 400,000 mile journey. Take from it what you will.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1787346

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

I'd add Mazda3 to that list. First and second gen with manual transmission are indestructible. Newer ones are nice, but I don't know if they have a MT. On my '06 (same year as my 330i) I've had to do the VCG, 02 sensors, spark plugs, a half shaft, suspension rebuild, brakes, and the fuel pump (had to drop tank, not fun). That's it over the last 15 years of ownership!
Sounds like a good year for an E90!

The downside to the above cars is their lack of maintenance needs! If OP wants to learn how to wrench as a hobby/skill, BMW is waiting with open arms! Workspace, tools, money for parts... the rest is just time and motivation!

Most of all... money. Zeit ist geld

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Most of all money...

Oh, indeed...

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Switched up on ya... time IS money.

When you're 15, you have more of one than the other!

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

With an old BMW you need both.

If the OP really wants to learn, he came to the right car and right forum.

Agree on all of the above!
I'm hugely biased, so may have some blind spots, but I think the E90 platform is a great one to learn on! E30 would be even better, but those are getting few and far between!
As long as the time/money thing checks out!

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

E30's are so easy to work on. I earned my BMW chops on the E30 I had for 18 years. When you can replace a heater core or fuel pump in 45 minutes in a car, you know it was engineered right!

100% so, I LOVED those cars! EVERYTHING was so easy on them, and I miss the HVAC control system so much.
Sliders and buttons for life!

[StradaRedlands]

For those wondering what all the fuss is all about, this is the perfect cockpit: