[drewjohn2005]

Hi all I am currently looking to purchase a 06 330xi with about 80k miles on it. Right now I have a 01 325i with nearly 200k on it - so I am used to the cost of repairs and what not for BMW's.

My question is what are some of the common issues that I should be aware of before I look at getting a 330? How do they compare in terms of maintenance and common issues of my current car?

Any help would be great.

[username604]

same in maintenance.
i'll let someone who actually has a 330i tell you about repairs

[AddictedToBavarian]

Not much of a difference, really. Except there is a couple more electronics that can fail. Pretty reliable cars though.

[J3NGOe90]

I dont know about maintance, but parts will cost much more compare to e46

[techwhiz]

The BMW six (normally aspirated) is one of the most bulletproof motors on the planet.
Unless you abuse them they go forever. Watch the water pump, thermostat housing and radiator. (e46)

The water pump is easy to replace.

[Outlaw 06]

Who really knows what the future will bring with any particular new or used car?

BMWs are generally well-built cars, but they're relatively maintenance-intensive and their reliability depends on how they're optioned, how well they’re maintained and a little bit of luck too. That said, I try to reduce any potential reliability issues when optioning-out my BMWs.

I've owned three different BMWs over the past 12 years; a 2000 E46 323i ZSP Sedan (sold), a 2004 E46 M3 Coupe (that I still own) and my 2007 E90 335i ZSP Sedan. All with RWD and manual transmissions.

Electrical systems have always been BMW's big weakness and it's these items that will most likely have reliability issues. That’s why I’d avoid BMWs with Active Cruise Control, Comfort Access, iDrive/Navigation, Park Distance Control, or other fickle electronic options that add nothing to the car’s performance. Although I do have Comfort Access in my 335i, I'd be just as happy without it, especially when it eventually craps out post-warranty...

IMO, for long-term drivetrain durability, manual gearboxes are much less complex, much easier to maintain and are much less prone to costly repairs than automatic transmissions over the long run.

The same holds true for the durability of BMW’s traditional rear wheel drive configuration. xDrive is much more complex than rear wheel drive with many more (costly) components to potentially fail.

My 323i Sedan really didn't start having maintenance problems until around 80,000 miles (control/trailing arm bushings, window regulators, water pump, climate control, blower fan, etc.), nothing big or expensive, just a bunch of little stuff. The car's water pump and head gasket failed at around 110,000 miles though.

I’ve had no problems with my M3 (I track the car once or twice a year at Lime Rock too). No extended warranty, no extended maintenance plan, no CPO, just annual fluid changes and other preventive maintenance... I’ve been very meticulous about the car’s routine maintenance though.

The biggest problem I’ve had with my 335i is the N54 engine’s HPFP, which is under extended warranty for 10 years/120,000 miles anyway.

Regarding turbocharged engines, the best cars I’ve owned have all had naturally aspirated engines while the least reliable most maintenance-intensive cars I’ve owned all had forced induction engines. BMW's naturally aspirated I6 engines are masterpieces of German engineering with a long history of reliability. However, most late-model BMWs have aluminum blocks and heads with cooling systems that are known weaknesses. IMO, it's wise to do some preventive maintenance on the cooling system by replacing the water pump, radiator, thermostat, hoses, etc., BEFORE the car overheats and needs costly head gasket repairs or worse.

The 330i has a naturally aspirated N52 engine which is a big reliability plus IMO.

Good luck with your decision.

[ctuna]

The battery has to be registered which means
when you put a new one in the cars charging software
has to be reset to charge the battery correctly .
The water pump is electric.
For the N52 the engine block is partialy made of magnesium.
there is a sticky for valve ticking and the other problem is the head
bolts are aluminum and can break.
The Turbo has the HPFP problem which is supposedly fixed .
The Turbos and turbo hardware seem to be mentioned a lot of the time its from people with Tunes.