[vhl71]

Looking for a used 335 here in Canada. Have two options:

One from dealer - 2011, X drive with 165000kms on it. All stock. Car is in decent shape. All maintenance records available, comes with pre inspecation for about CAD$12K

Private sale - 2008, X drive with 140kms. Lots of modifcations (inter cooler, muffler delete, MHD etc) sounds great, lots of power, lots of maintenance done including HPFP replacement - for about 10K.

Which one should I get? Any input would be appreciated.

[ItsGary]

Are you getting a coupe or a sedan?

Anything after 09 is better if its a sedan cause of LCI.

[vhl71]

Originally Posted by ItsGary

Are you getting a coupe or a sedan?

Anything after 09 is better if its a sedan cause of LCI.

Sedan
But i really like the 08 because of the mods and low mileage

[Alloyed]

Well, given the mileage on both cars (165,000 km vs 140,000 km), a difference of 25,000km (a little over 15K miles) isn't really a significant difference, in my opinion (approx 103K miles vs 87K miles).

Assuming that the models offered in Canada are the same as the ones here in the states, I would go with the 2011 335i xDrive. This is the same car I drive.

Here in the US, the 2011 E90 (sedan) was the last E90 to be offered with the N55 engine (my personal preference), and hydraulic steering instead of the new electric steering. Some folks prefer the hydraulic over the electric due to the "lack of feel" with the eletric steering. Comparing my E90 with hydraulic steering, to the newer electric steering models I have driven as loaner vehicles, I can say that this is true. At any rate, both the 2008 and the 2011 should have hydraulic steering. However, the 2008 uses the N54 engine, where as the 2011 uses the N55 engine. Anyway, the N55 engine with the hydraulic steering was one of the main reasons I looked specifically for a 2011 E90 when I was looking for a BMW*.

*To all N54 owners out there, my intent is not to diminish the N54. It's underrated in terms of power compared to the N55, as well as plenty of other "300hp" engines. I have read (somewhere on this forum, i think) the N54 is actually closer to 320-330hp at the crank rather than it's advertised 300hp. It was simply the HPFP issues I read about on the N54 that made me choose the N55. Since the HPFP was replaced on the vehicle you are considering, I'm guessing BMW solved the issue.

Also, my experience with modified cars is that they have been driven HARD by their previous owners. For me, this meant more time and money spent on maintenance as well as a decrease in reliability (Your experience may vary, of course).

I'm not sure what else to add. The 2008 is likely the faster (and more fun) car and it is cheaper off the bat. However, the 2011 (while being more expensive initially) might have the edge in terms of reliability and maintenance.

Hope that helps.

[ItsGary]

Get the 2011. Its more updated. Plus you don't get the gross old iDrive CCC System.

The best part about getting the 2011 I guess you can do the mods you want. Cars already modified have been driven really hard like Alloyed said.

Trust me on this, get the 2011. I mean you could also get a 328i and get a N/A i6, closest you'll sorta be to the previous E46 M3

[Alloyed]

Originally Posted by ItsGary

Get the 2011. Its more updated. Plus you don't get the gross old iDrive CCC System.

The best part about getting the 2011 I guess you can do the mods you want. Cars already modified have been driven really hard like Alloyed said.

Trust me on this, get the 2011. I mean you could also get a 328i and get a N/A i6, closest you'll sorta be to the previous E46 M3

Excellent point. Keep it and enjoy it stock, or mod with whatever you want for more fun and performance.

[vhl71]

Originally Posted by Alloyed

Well, given the mileage on both cars (165,000 km vs 140,000 km), a difference of 25,000km (a little over 15K miles) isn't really a significant difference, in my opinion (approx 103K miles vs 87K miles).

Assuming that the models offered in Canada are the same as the ones here in the states, I would go with the 2011 335i xDrive. This is the same car I drive.

Here in the US, the 2011 E90 (sedan) was the last E90 to be offered with the N55 engine (my personal preference), and hydraulic steering instead of the new electric steering. Some folks prefer the hydraulic over the electric due to the "lack of feel" with the eletric steering. Comparing my E90 with hydraulic steering, to the newer electric steering models I have driven as loaner vehicles, I can say that this is true. At any rate, both the 2008 and the 2011 should have hydraulic steering. However, the 2008 uses the N54 engine, where as the 2011 uses the N55 engine. Anyway, the N55 engine with the hydraulic steering was one of the main reasons I looked specifically for a 2011 E90 when I was looking for a BMW*.

*To all N54 owners out there, my intent is not to diminish the N54. It's underrated in terms of power compared to the N55, as well as plenty of other "300hp" engines. I have read (somewhere on this forum, i think) the N54 is actually closer to 320-330hp at the crank rather than it's advertised 300hp. It was simply the HPFP issues I read about on the N54 that made me choose the N55. Since the HPFP was replaced on the vehicle you are considering, I'm guessing BMW solved the issue.

Also, my experience with modified cars is that they have been driven HARD by their previous owners. For me, this meant more time and money spent on maintenance as well as a decrease in reliability (Your experience may vary, of course).

I'm not sure what else to add. The 2008 is likely the faster (and more fun) car and it is cheaper off the bat. However, the 2011 (while being more expensive initially) might have the edge in terms of relability and maintenance.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the help
I agree to most of your points.
After driving the 2008 and 2011, with all the mods he has done, its really fast and the sound is quite good. Its close to 400HP. But I totally agree to the fact that he probably has driven hard and had fun with it. Maintenance is my main worry with this. Not sure how many mechanics will do the work on this car if i run into any issues.

Pricewise, its about a CAD2K difference - not sure whether its worth the risk and get the 2008 and spend it on any issues that may come up??

But after reading the posts, I'm also leaning towards the 2011..

[ItsGary]

Originally Posted by vhl71

Thanks for the help
I agree to most of your points.
After driving the 2008 and 2011, with all the mods he has done, its really fast and the sound is quite good. Its close to 400HP. But I totally agree to the fact that he probably has driven hard and had fun with it. Maintenance is my main worry with this. Not sure how many mechanics will do the work on this car if i run into any issues.

Pricewise, its about a CAD2K difference - not sure whether its worth the risk and get the 2008 and spend it on any issues that may come up??

But after reading the posts, I'm also leaning towards the 2011..

No competent Indy mechanic will turn down work. My 335i was heavily modded when I purchased it. It was seized from the previous owner and put up for auction, dude probably dropped a solid $5k in mods. I still got work done for it, only owned it for a month and few days but still.

Anyways, 2011 better choice. You don’t want “outdated” equipment either.

[vhl71]

Originally Posted by ItsGary

No competent Indy mechanic will turn down work. My 335i was heavily modded when I purchased it. It was seized from the previous owner and put up for auction, dude probably dropped a solid $5k in mods. I still got work done for it, only owned it for a month and few days but still.

Anyways, 2011 better choice. You don’t want “outdated” equipment either.

I'm thinking of taking it to a mechanic for an inspection. Any good ones in Calgary? Shein's and motorwerks are good - but they charge almost the same as the dealer rates.. Anyone can recommend a private mechanic who's reasonably good?

[ItsGary]

Originally Posted by vhl71

I'm thinking of taking it to a mechanic for an inspection. Any good ones in Calgary? Shein's and motorwerks are good - but they charge almost the same as the dealer rates.. Anyone can recommend a private mechanic who's reasonably good?

I’m in Vancouver, I’ll text my friend in Calgary, he has an E46 M3!

[vhl71]

Originally Posted by ItsGary

I’m in Vancouver, I’ll text my friend in Calgary, he has an E46 M3!

great...thank you

[Pladi]

2011 for sure...

[Nick.B]

Originally Posted by ItsGary

Cars already modified have been driven really hard like Alloyed said.

I drive my bone stock cars as hard as I've driven my heavily modified cars. They also get good maintenance. Some people track their bone stock cars.

In the process of shopping for the last two E90s, I saw plenty of stock vehicles that were in rough shape and unmaintained.

The maintenance philosophy of the owner has more to do with the maintenance and condition than whether or not it's modified. Whichever one you decide you prefer, get it checked out first.

[Blueeyesredpanda]

165000kms that's pretty high

[ItsGary]

Originally Posted by Nick.B

I drive my bone stock cars as hard as I've driven my heavily modified cars. They also get good maintenance. Some people track their bone stock cars.

In the process of shopping for the last two E90s, I saw plenty of stock vehicles that were in rough shape and unmaintained.

The maintenance philosophy of the owner has more to do with the maintenance and condition than whether or not it's modified. Whichever one you decide you prefer, get it checked out first.

Eh, not really. Engine mods add extra stress onto the engine than a stock car driven hard.

[vhl71]

Got the 2011 335 yesterday - got a good deal. Traded my old 330i

Getting it detailed today - will post some pictures after

[vhl71]

Originally Posted by ItsGary

I’m in Vancouver, I’ll text my friend in Calgary, he has an E46 M3!

Any chance of getting the mechanic number from your friend?

[ItsGary]

Originally Posted by vhl71

Any chance of getting the mechanic number from your friend?

No, sorry. He hasn’t gotten an PPI done in a long time