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      12-03-2013, 10:39 PM   #1
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Should I buy this 335i ?

Hey all, I've been lurking quite a bit gathering knowledge on the N54 and other details about the 335i. I have owned an Audi A4, and currently own an 07 Passat. Love german engineering and design, but my Passat is starting to look a bit long in the tooth and FWD sucks when Im trying to improve power.

There is a local 335i E92 in arctic white to me. It has all packages and is in excellent condition. Only caveats are that it has the CA buy back title branding for HPFP, and that it has just over 83k miles. Its selling for $13k

In my research, I have found that it has had a few injectors replaced, the HPFP, spark plugs, and other misc fluid changes. I haven't been able to find that the turbos have been replaced, or that the other common N54 problems have been addressed, at least according to the carfax.

I don't mind DIY type jobs, as long as it can be done with hand tools and without a life. I did the timing belt job on my Passat 2.0T, installed downpipe, other misc repairs and replacements.

So, without a warranty, how much of a risk is this? In reviewing other threads on this forum, it seems every 335i owner wants to dissuade a new prospective owner from buying the car for whatever reason> Not a great sign.

My plan is go check out the car and listen for wastegate rattles, drive it hard and check for no CEL and smooth shifts...have a PPI done by the local euro garage to put it on a lift and look for the serpentine belt damage possible, auto trans leaks, water pump leaks, etc.

Am I nuts for this? Is the seemingly low price gonna be not worth it after I get it and need to replace turbos, water pump, various gaskets, auto trans fluid change, injectors, coils, and the other common problems?

Basically, should I pass it up and keep looking for lower mileage ones or is it too great of a deal?
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      12-04-2013, 12:54 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by big_c View Post
Hey all, I've been lurking quite a bit gathering knowledge on the N54 and other details about the 335i. I have owned an Audi A4, and currently own an 07 Passat. Love german engineering and design, but my Passat is starting to look a bit long in the tooth and FWD sucks when Im trying to improve power.

There is a local 335i E92 in arctic white to me. It has all packages and is in excellent condition. Only caveats are that it has the CA buy back title branding for HPFP, and that it has just over 83k miles. Its selling for $13k

In my research, I have found that it has had a few injectors replaced, the HPFP, spark plugs, and other misc fluid changes. I haven't been able to find that the turbos have been replaced, or that the other common N54 problems have been addressed, at least according to the carfax.

I don't mind DIY type jobs, as long as it can be done with hand tools and without a life. I did the timing belt job on my Passat 2.0T, installed downpipe, other misc repairs and replacements.

So, without a warranty, how much of a risk is this? In reviewing other threads on this forum, it seems every 335i owner wants to dissuade a new prospective owner from buying the car for whatever reason> Not a great sign.

My plan is go check out the car and listen for wastegate rattles, drive it hard and check for no CEL and smooth shifts...have a PPI done by the local euro garage to put it on a lift and look for the serpentine belt damage possible, auto trans leaks, water pump leaks, etc.

Am I nuts for this? Is the seemingly low price gonna be not worth it after I get it and need to replace turbos, water pump, various gaskets, auto trans fluid change, injectors, coils, and the other common problems?

Basically, should I pass it up and keep looking for lower mileage ones or is it too great of a deal?
What year?
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      12-04-2013, 12:56 AM   #3
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Well going into a high mileage car with turbos can be a bit scary. I personally would look for something with lower miles. But if you can take it down to a dealership and pay for a full inspection and it passes then I don't see why not.
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      12-04-2013, 12:59 AM   #4
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Those problems sounds normal to me although I don't own a 335. If everything checks out fine and you're a DIY guy then why not right? I don't know why people are so afraid of a high mileage BMW or any luxury cars. Reliability has improved on cars in general over the last decade. My car has 155K+ miles and has been great, but then again N52's are good cars. Just my 2 cents.
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      12-04-2013, 01:20 AM   #5
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I'd go for something with lower mileage.

A handful of things are probably close to the edge of going out. I can only imagine more thinking about repairs than actual "play" time.
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      12-04-2013, 07:29 AM   #6
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That's a cheap entry price into a 335 that will probably require a good deal of maintenance at least initially and given the mileage I would look for a better kept and lower mileage car but obviously that will cost more. My 335s have been quite reliable but I'm anal with maintenance and upkeep. If this is a secondary car then it might appeal more but if it's to be your DD then I would look elsewhere.
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      12-04-2013, 07:37 AM   #7
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A 335i with 83k at $13k? Seems like too good of a deal, my car books around that much with 130k
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      12-04-2013, 07:49 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by big_c View Post
Only caveats are that it has the CA buy back title branding for HPFP, and that it has just over 83k miles. Its selling for $13k
...
I don't mind DIY type jobs, as long as it can be done with hand tools and without a life. I did the timing belt job on my Passat 2.0T, installed downpipe, other misc repairs and replacements.
Go for it. If you can do a timing belt job you should be good to DIY most things.

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Originally Posted by AnthonyT View Post
What year?
07

Quote:
Originally Posted by SgtGoldy View Post
Well going into a high mileage car with turbos can be a bit scary. I personally would look for something with lower miles. But if you can take it down to a dealership and pay for a full inspection and it passes then I don't see why not.
Wrong.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DC_Oldboy View Post
Those problems sounds normal to me although I don't own a 335. If everything checks out fine and you're a DIY guy then why not right? I don't know why people are so afraid of a high mileage BMW or any luxury cars. Reliability has improved on cars in general over the last decade. My car has 155K+ miles and has been great, but then again N52's are good cars. Just my 2 cents.
Right.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Khaotine View Post
I'd go for something with lower mileage.

A handful of things are probably close to the edge of going out. I can only imagine more thinking about repairs than actual "play" time.
Wrong.

Quote:
Originally Posted by derryck View Post
That's a cheap entry price into a 335 that will probably require a good deal of maintenance at least initially and given the mileage I would look for a better kept and lower mileage car but obviously that will cost more. My 335s have been quite reliable but I'm anal with maintenance and upkeep. If this is a secondary car then it might appeal more but if it's to be your DD then I would look elsewhere.
Wrong.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris_506 View Post
A 335i with 83k at $13k? Seems like too good of a deal, my car books around that much with 130k
Right.

Go for it OP. That's the best bang-for-the-buck out there. Most people trying to dissuade others are the same people who pay dealership prices for everything. "I spent $1200 on spark plugs, damn these cars are expensive!" The majority of people looking to lemon their cars have buyer's remorse over the payment, the purchase, or want something else, etc, and are looking to Lemon Law them to get out of them. I have seen it and heard the conversations. It's like insurance fraud only the owner gets more value out of the buyback. I've seen a lemon 335i that went 20k miles without a single issue after being lemoned. Great for used value, but the carfax looks like a bomb went off. Don't let that scare you man. A non-lemon '07 will have the same issues as a lemon '07. Enjoy the pricing and post pics!
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      12-04-2013, 08:17 AM   #9
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Yeah, its a 07.
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      12-04-2013, 08:19 AM   #10
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Since you've changed a timing belt before, I'm sure you could handle the basic maintenance on these cars yourself. 83K miles ain't shit for a German engine if it's been taken care of. So what if eventually you had to replace the turbos... The car is $13K... Tack on the cost of brand new turbos out of pocket and you probably right about where book should be... 90% of the people on this forum seem to hate BMW's and don't know how to put air in their tires, if the car is solid, I say go for it!
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      12-04-2013, 08:44 AM   #11
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07, 87k here, owned since 40k with no issues. I say go for it.
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      12-04-2013, 09:28 AM   #12
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A buy back at 83k?

How does that make any sense?
That would be like some one waiting to complain about a fly in their food after they've ate half the meal.

Last edited by Miller335; 12-04-2013 at 09:38 AM..
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      12-04-2013, 09:29 AM   #13
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The buy back happened at 40k I believe, was from california where they have very relaxed laws on mfg buy back...
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      12-04-2013, 10:08 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris_506 View Post
A 335i with 83k at $13k? Seems like too good of a deal, my car books around that much with 130k
I was thinking the same thing.
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      12-04-2013, 10:09 AM   #15
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It does have the buy back title so that reduces the value some- plus timing is not ideal in my location for a RWD car, we have lots of snow and ice
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      12-04-2013, 10:17 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by big_c View Post
It does have the buy back title so that reduces the value some- plus timing is not ideal in my location for a RWD car, we have lots of snow and ice
i highly doubt HPFP and injectors will make it deem able as a lemon, specially when they are address and recognized by bmw as n54 issues as well as addressed by extended recalls and warranty coverage for such parts. If the car is a buy back chances are there are alot more things wrong with it then just the regular n54 issues.
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      12-04-2013, 10:17 AM   #17
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      12-04-2013, 10:19 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris_506 View Post
i highly doubt HPFP and injectors will make it deem able as a lemon, specially when they are address and recognized by bmw as n54 issues as well as addressed by extended recalls and warranty coverage for such parts.
The extended warranty and recall didnt happen until recently. There was also a parts shortage early on with the 335i, which caused the huge amount of CA buy backs to happen, as they have a very relaxed policy for buy back requirements.
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      12-04-2013, 10:35 AM   #19
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I have an 07 and I enjoy every bit of it. Just normal maintenance that I needed to keep up. Because of its high mileage, you should bring it to a dealer or a shop to have it fully checked out tho, so you at least know what to expects when it comes to repairs.
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      12-04-2013, 11:03 AM   #20
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buy it! its a good deal.
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      12-04-2013, 12:33 PM   #21
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I mean... for $13k thats a pretty good deal. You can drop a few grand for new turbos if need be and still be ahead.
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      12-04-2013, 12:37 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris_506 View Post
i highly doubt HPFP and injectors will make it deem able as a lemon, specially when they are address and recognized by bmw as n54 issues as well as addressed by extended recalls and warranty coverage for such parts. If the car is a buy back chances are there are alot more things wrong with it then just the regular n54 issues.
It's a bad idea to just speculate. FUD.

Quote:
Under California lemon law, there are a few qualifications:

The car must still be under warranty
The owner must have taken the car in for repair of the same problem four or more times through an authorized dealer
The car must have been inoperable for a total of 30 days (not necessarily consecutive)
4x misfire? Lemoned. Doesn't matter if it was Coil#5 1st, HPFP 2nd, Injectors 3rd, then another coil.

In the shop 32 days waiting on an HPFP? Lemoned. My Z4 was in the shop for 2 months.

Like I said, people use this crap as an excuse to get out of their car and get into a new one. Some people really do have legit concerns, but most don't. And honestly, Lemon Laws should be seriously reconsidered if the dealer provides a loaner car for the length of the repair, as they often do with BMW.

I would buy it.
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