[brentseay]

Pre-Conclusion:
I'm not sure I agree/believe all of the information this particular BMW master tech gave me below. But I did learn a few new things that lead me to feel more confident about keeping my 335i past the 100k mile extended warranty period.

What do you guys think?

Car Details:
2007 BMW E90 335i AT sport pkg (sport trans/suspension/seats/tires/wheels/steering wheel)
12/2006 production date
no iDrive
100k mile extended maintenance/warranty
45k total miles

Services Completed:
1. DMTL pump failed and replaced
2. radio firmware that randomly turned off rear speakers reflashed with new
3. loose module under passenger seat causing audible vibration at idle padded with felt and tightened
4. rear brakes causing audible tweeting at low speeds replaced
5. crimped exhaust hose causing audible plastic bottle crunching sound when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear replaced
6. completed all regular maintenance like spark plugs, cabin air filter, etc.

Forgiving this car has had the most annoying pissant problems of any car I've owned in my short life, BMW will not replace my fuel pump even after the recall nor add an oil cooler to my BMWNA confirmed "sport" model. Nor go half/half with me on the costs.

So, I caught up with a so called BMW master tech face to face at the local BMW dealer about the service issues above and the life expectancy of my 335i. This guy is NEVER at my dealer. It took 5 service appointments to finally nab him.

Information I Received from Him:

1. Oil Cooler I do not get an oil cooler for my 335i. No 335i prior to 2008~ came with the oil cooler. My car was not "skipped" on the sport model only oil cooler line. Owners were not used to seeing 275 oil temp readings so BMW changed the temperature gauge as well as adding the oil cooler.

2. Fuel Pump The fuel pump model # I have does not need replacing. The HPFP is an issue because detergents in USA gasoline are causing problems with certain model pumps. Europe does not have HPFP problems because they don't have as many detergents. The pump model # I have is good to go and is warrantied until 120k miles. (I don't have my pump model #. I only know the production date of my car is 12/2006)

3. Repair Issues The issues I have had to have repaired are not uncommon for any 3 series. However, the tweeting brakes seems to be a 335i only symptom due to the new/different brake designs.

4. Oil Catch Can Installing a non-BMW oil catch can will void my warranty. There is no harm in burning the bypass oil. No proof exists showing buildup of sludge on intake valves due to not having an oil catch can. 335i cars with 200k+ miles do not show sludge on the intake valves.

5. Life Expectancy None of the above issues/concerns shorten the life expectancy of my 335i. The 335i is built to withstand 200k+ miles just like any other 3 series when properly maintained and cared for. This particular BMW master tech has inspected/serviced several 335i cars with over 200k miles including at least one cross country traveler with 300k miles. None of these 200k+ mile 335i cars have needed any major repairs.

Brent

[blisstik]

I have an 05/07 build date and its got an oil cooler.

[tscdennab]

Reassuring to know that there are 200k+ miles 335i cars in service

[Bimmer This]

I have a 04/06 and it doesn't.

[Sniz]

335's w 200K+?

[ren]

Unless he is an engineer in Germany who worked on this engine's delevelopment, sounds like what he said is mostly bs.

My MT car was built in Feb 2007 and has an oil cooler. My buddy who has the same car, same build month, but AT does not have an oil cooler. Both cars have the sports package.

[Transport3r]

Originally Posted by brentseay

.

4. Oil Catch Can Installing a non-BMW oil catch can will void my warranty. There is no harm in burning the bypass oil. No proof exists showing buildup of sludge on intake valves due to not having an oil catch can. 335i cars with 200k+ miles do not show sludge on the intake valves.

Did he mention Carbon Buildup?

[brentseay]

Originally Posted by Sniz

335's w 200K+?

That's what the man said. He was wearing a greased up ///M hoodie and cargo shorts at my dealer, Century BMW. I'm assuming since everyone else is buttoned down and scientist looking, he was the real deal master tech.

It took forever just to get a conversation. He apparently travels around the different dealers doing his trade and is never at my dealer when I'm getting serviced.

He could have been bullshitting me just to make me stop asking questions about the 335i. I talked to him for half an hour or so, though.

Brent

[Outlaw 06]

Thanks for all the good info OP.

As far as the oil cooler goes, my 2007 E90 335i (09/2006 build date) came stock with one. I'm pretty sure that it was only included on Model Year 2007 (RWD) 335i's with ZSP AND 6MT. BMW probably assumed that these were the cars most likely to be tracked by their owners...

[e92bmw]

Well I already knew about this stuff, my sa confirmed that the ethanol kills our pump(fkn cheap gas companies putting ethanol in the gas!!!)
Then he started telling me that a bt cable annot clear all codes and that they can see overboost codes even if u delete them... Lol for some reason I beleive him but Im stock so I have nothing to worry about

[MicaCeli]

Originally Posted by beemw

Well I already knew about this stuff, my sa confirmed that the ethanol kills our pump(fkn cheap gas companies putting ethanol in the gas!!!)
Then he started telling me that a bt cable annot clear all codes and that they can see overboost codes even if u delete them... Lol for some reason I beleive him but Im stock so I have nothing to worry about

Everything they said is BS.

[Imperator]

4. Oil Catch Can
Installing a non-BMW oil catch can will void my warranty. There is no harm in burning the bypass oil. No proof exists showing buildup of sludge on intake valves due to not having an oil catch can. 335i cars with 200k+ miles do not show sludge on the intake valves.

Nonsense. Unless an engine failure or blow-by condition can be rooted to the catch can, a non-BMW part like this will not void the entire vehicle (or powertrain) warranty. BMW doesn't produce an external catch-can device anyhow and using a properly-designed catch can is a good measure to extend the life and efficiency of the engine.

There isn't a question of "sludge buildup" on intake valves-- it would be burned off anyhow, but oil ingestion can lead to carbon buildup on the valves and piston crown. Additionally, the recirculated oil vapors coat all parts along the intake tract and can reduce the efficiency of the intercooler over time.

[e92bmw]

Originally Posted by MicaCeli

Everything they said is BS.

Idk man I used to think lile u, but my sa has a track car evo with ecu tune he has no reason to lie to me. Most ppl with voided warranties dont post it in the forums...

[therealm3]

Originally Posted by brentseay

1. Oil Cooler I do not get an oil cooler for my 335i. No 335i prior to 2008~ came with the oil cooler. My car was not "skipped" on the sport model only oil cooler line. Owners were not used to seeing 275 oil temp readings so BMW changed the temperature gauge as well as adding the oil cooler.

FWIW I have a 10/06 build and I have an Oil cooler. (6MT)

[MicaCeli]

Originally Posted by beemw

Idk man I used to think lile u, but my sa has a track car evo with ecu tune he has no reason to lie to me. Most ppl with voided warranties dont post it in the forums...

Oh I'm sure that he believes what he's saying. Heck one of my good friends is a master tech at BMW and he replaced the HPFP on my wifes car under warranty. He had to do gas analysis and fun test to see how much Ethenol is in the fuel and so on. But he just couldn't look me in the face and say that it was the gas causing this issue. It might fly with other people. Our SA (my wife has dealt with him I have not) is a huge BMW fanatic and still totes the line of it's the gas.

How many SA conversations have gone like this?

SA: "What gas are you using?"
You: "*Insert gas Station here"
SA: "Oh I bet that the problem, you should use *Insert some other gas station here* because they use baby seal oil which helps with the longevity of the pump!"

Does Porsche have this issue? None of the the owners that I know of have spoken to have said anything about pump failures.

I know the drill, I used to be a dealer tech.

Oh and 3/07 build date with Oil Cooler.

[fisherbln]

I'm 08/2006 build with an oil cooler.

If your fuel pump has never been replaced, then yours should have been recalled to be replaced with the latest.

[e92bmw]

Originally Posted by MicaCeli

Oh I'm sure that he believes what he's saying. Heck one of my good friends is a master tech at BMW and he replaced the HPFP on my wifes car under warranty. He had to do gas analysis and fun test to see how much Ethenol is in the fuel and so on. But he just couldn't look me in the face and say that it was the gas causing this issue. It might fly with other people. Our SA (my wife has dealt with him I have not) is a huge BMW fanatic and still totes the line of it's the gas.

How many SA conversations have gone like this?

SA: "What gas are you using?"
You: "*Insert gas Station here"
SA: "Oh I bet that the problem, you should use *Insert some other gas station here* because they use baby seal oil which helps with the longevity of the pump!"

Does Porsche have this issue? None of the the owners that I know of have spoken to have said anything about pump failures.

I know the drill, I used to be a dealer tech.

Oh and 3/07 build date with Oil Cooler.

Ya well so far I got lucky and Im 61000km on the original 2007 pump. But my main concern was that they can still see codes that were cleares with the bt. But hey maybe bmw head office makes them say that as a scare tactic but Im still going to listen to it until my warranty is up then I might consider some safe mods.

[vasillalov]

Originally Posted by TrackRat

Some info. for consideration:
The 200K mile life expectancy for a turbo engine is a stretch in most cases because of the increase cylinder pressures. Sure some cars, especially someone doing cross-country trips where all they are doing is cruising with low power levels might see 200K miles but in normal driving 200K is a stretch under the best of conditions.

I am sorry but I have to completely disagree on that one! Go look at the turbo engines from VW and AUDI, both in petrol and diesel format. The famous 1.8T engine is an outstanding example! It was vote for top 10 engines for 4 years in a row. It is very common to see 1.8T stockers running well past the 200K mark without any issues. The accessories around it may be failing, but the block itself is pretty much indestructible even when modded!

[Joshboody]

The techs understand the general operations of the cars, but don't think about all the details like us owners. They have to be very pro BMW.

[raceyBMW]

Old news, early AT's with sport pack didn't get oil cooler, only the manuals with sport pack did...those without sport pack do not get OC. They changed it so that both AT and MT with sport pack get the OC sometime in May-ish of '07.

XI's have to get the sport pack AND the 18" wheel option to get oil cooler.

[san6279]

Originally Posted by Imperator

Nonsense. Unless an engine failure or blow-by condition can be rooted to the catch can, a non-BMW part like this will not void the entire vehicle (or powertrain) warranty. BMW doesn't produce an external catch-can device anyhow and using a properly-designed catch can is a good measure to extend the life and efficiency of the engine.

There isn't a question of "sludge buildup" on intake valves-- it would be burned off anyhow, but oil ingestion can lead to carbon buildup on the valves and piston crown. Additionally, the recirculated oil vapors coat all parts along the intake tract and can reduce the efficiency of the intercooler over time.

I specifically asked my SA if an aftermarket OCC (specifically BSH) would void the warranty. He stated, while he didn't think it was necessary for a street-driven car, it would have no impact on either orig or CPO warranty. I've got that in writing.

[e92bmw]

Mines an 07 with sports pack and I have the oil cooler.
Those built after october 2006 with sports pack get it.(+18 inch rims for sedan and xi)