[poptart56]

So like the title says I just picked up an 09 Black 335i sedan with sport pkg from CarMax. Got it for a good deal with only 40k mi on it. Now I didn’t get the extended warranty which after doing some reading I think I actually need it. Anyways what are some things I should look out for or preventative maintenance I should do now? This is my only ride and can’t afford for it to go down mid week during work. It runs perfectly smooth no hiccups through revs or anything odd while driving. Already put about 2k on it(work called me to out of area)

[Efthreeoh]

I bought my Z4 from CarMax. They are full of BS about anything they say regarding their 120 point inspection by the vehicle experts. The cars they sell are the ones with low mileage and they can shine up real nice. They are no different than any other used car dealership other than they don't negotiate the price.

They missed the following on my car: Low coolant level (coolant warning went on the day after I took delivery), mouse nest in airbox, wrong sized battery with no vent connected, noisy throwout bearing, and a clogged cabin airfilter. All of these should have been found during their 120 point inspection. Added to that, they changed to oil and used an aftermarket filter that did not fit correctly. And God only knows what oil they used.

My suggestion is while you may still be under the 30-day warranty, have the car evaluated by a trained BMW mechanic. And change the engine oil and use a MANN OE oil filter.

If you feel you need an aftermarket warranty package, then there are several to choose from and discussed ad nauseum on E90 Post. For CarMax it is just more profit for them if you buy theirs. Get a warranty package that includes alternate transportation (i.e. a loaner car).

[jt335i]

Congrats on your new ride.

Yep! I'm with Efthreeoh.
A 120 point inspection is all BS and just a marketing gimmick and applies with those that are “Certified used”. There is no set standard or federal guideline that used car dealers must follow when they do those so called inspections. They can make it up themselves. So unless they provide you an itemized list of what they actually check for, they could be checking anything so basic (lights, horn, radio, gauges, etc, etc.) because their inspectors don’t have time go through every little tiny detail of the vehicle to be sure it’s in tip top shape. They want the car in and out quickly to maximize profit.

As far as warranty. The only one I have heard of that has good recommendations and reasonably priced is Route 66. But, extended warranties are pretty much a waste of $$$$.
When it comes to repairs, if you have had little or no repair related issues during the XX,XXX amount of miles the extended warranty covers you’ve pretty much wasted your money. Therefore, it is better to pay for repairs a la cart when required.

I bought my 2010 E92 335 brand new and after the factory warranty expired I did not get an extended warranty. In the 8+ years and 95,400+miles of ownership, I have not had any major electrical or mechanical problems with it requiring thousands of dollars in repairs. I have a trusted Indy mechanic who I bring my ride to for all my preventive maintenance and services and yes, he has repaired things due to typical wear and tear, but I don’t consider any of those warranty repair related. My trusted mechanic is amazed at the minimal issues I've had with my 335 and the one thing he mentioned about other 335s he has had to repair is that those owners have had them serviced by non-BMW service centers and mechanics, prior to bringing it to him, who really don't know much about how to work on a 335. My mechanic said you cannot take these cars to generic service places because they require specialized BMW technicians who really know a BMW, especially a 335. Trusted Indy mechanic, fortunately, used to work at the local BMW where I bought my 335 and now has his own indy shop. I may leave my car with him for a day or two, but I don’t mind because I know he takes the time to do it right versus the dealer, or other service centers, where they are more focused on volume and moving cars in and out quickly which could lead to things being done in haste or a problem being misdiagnosed leading to unnecessary or incorrect repairs. If you know a indy shop that specializes in BMWs, or know someone that does, take it there and develop a good trust for future repairs and maintenance.

The only time I bought actually bought an extended warranty was back in early 2000. I bought a brand new 1998 Nissan Maxima SE (September 1998) and because I had a long work commute of more than 60+ miles a day, as well as, doing a lot of work related travelling, the car was racking miles of a rate of around 21,000+ miles year. At that rate, the 3/36,000 factory warranty would have expired in less than 2 years so I bought an extended warranty through my credit union from where I got my car loan. Fortunately, I had no major issues with it requiring warranty repairs, but I forked out around $1000+ for the extended warranty.

I know others will beg to differ on warranties, but that’s just my 2 cents from experience. But, if you have the money to spend and would like to have an extended warranty for peace of mind then get it from whichever provider you choose. It’s your car. Do what makes you feel happy and enjoy that ride.

[GoRomeo]

Originally Posted by poptart56

So like the title says I just picked up an 09 Black 335i sedan with sport pkg from CarMax. Got it for a good deal with only 40k mi on it. Now I didn’t get the extended warranty which after doing some reading I think I actually need it. Anyways what are some things I should look out for or preventative maintenance I should do now? This is my only ride and can’t afford for it to go down mid week during work. It runs perfectly smooth no hiccups through revs or anything odd while driving. Already put about 2k on it(work called me to out of area)

[BimmerNugget]

Originally Posted by GoRomeo

LOL listen to him...post some pics!!!

[GoRomeo]

Originally Posted by BimmerNugget

LOL listen to him...post some pics!!!

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by jt335i

Congrats on your new ride.

Yep! I'm with Efthreeoh.
A 120 point inspection is all BS and just a marketing gimmick and applies with those that are “Certified used”. There is no set standard or federal guideline that used car dealers must follow when they do those so called inspections. They can make it up themselves. So unless they provide you an itemized list of what they actually check for, they could be checking anything so basic (lights, horn, radio, gauges, etc, etc.) because their inspectors don’t have time go through every little tiny detail of the vehicle to be sure it’s in tip top shape. They want the car in and out quickly to maximize profit.

As far as warranty. The only one I have heard of that has good recommendations and reasonably priced is Route 66. But, extended warranties are pretty much a waste of $$$$.
When it comes to repairs, if you have had little or no repair related issues during the XX,XXX amount of miles the extended warranty covers you’ve pretty much wasted your money. Therefore, it is better to pay for repairs a la cart when required.

I bought my 2010 E92 335 brand new and after the factory warranty expired I did not get an extended warranty. In the 8+ years and 95,400+miles of ownership, I have not had any major electrical or mechanical problems with it requiring thousands of dollars in repairs. I have a trusted Indy mechanic who I bring my ride to for all my preventive maintenance and services and yes, he has repaired things due to typical wear and tear, but I don’t consider any of those warranty repair related. My trusted mechanic is amazed at the minimal issues I've had with my 335 and the one thing he mentioned about other 335s he has had to repair is that those owners have had them serviced by non-BMW service centers and mechanics, prior to bringing it to him, who really don't know much about how to work on a 335. My mechanic said you cannot take these cars to generic service places because they require specialized BMW technicians who really know a BMW, especially a 335. Trusted Indy mechanic, fortunately, used to work at the local BMW where I bought my 335 and now has his own indy shop. I may leave my car with him for a day or two, but I don’t mind because I know he takes the time to do it right versus the dealer, or other service centers, where they are more focused on volume and moving cars in and out quickly which could lead to things being done in haste or a problem being misdiagnosed leading to unnecessary or incorrect repairs. If you know a indy shop that specializes in BMWs, or know someone that does, take it there and develop a good trust for future repairs and maintenance.

The only time I bought actually bought an extended warranty was back in early 2000. I bought a brand new 1998 Nissan Maxima SE (September 1998) and because I had a long work commute of more than 60+ miles a day, as well as, doing a lot of work related travelling, the car was racking miles of a rate of around 21,000+ miles year. At that rate, the 3/36,000 factory warranty would have expired in less than 2 years so I bought an extended warranty through my credit union from where I got my car loan. Fortunately, I had no major issues with it requiring warranty repairs, but I forked out around $1000+ for the extended warranty.

I know others will beg to differ on warranties, but that’s just my 2 cents from experience. But, if you have the money to spend and would like to have an extended warranty for peace of mind then get it from whichever provider you choose. It’s your car. Do what makes you feel happy and enjoy that ride.

100% agree with this.

OP, the best way to keep a BMW in good condition is drive it and not gingerly. At 40,000 you should consider changing the engine airfilter. And like I previously said get the engine oil changed with a BMW filter and BMW spec (LL01) 5W-30 or 5W-40 oil.

[TemjinX2]

theres a maintenance list in the n54 sub forum...

basically do new plugs and coils first.

then save for index 12 injectors

then save for water pump and thermastat for when you hit 65k

[95 adjutant]

Originally Posted by BimmerNugget

LOL listen to him...post some pics!!!

That’s the only reason I clicked on this post! I need some sort of BMW porn. Post pics

[J Dibbz]

The first things that went out on me within the first year of when I bought my e90 was the battery and the a/c blower motor. I would keep an eye out on those especially if you notice a squealing sound coming from the glove box or your car clock keeps resetting or falling behind on time.

[Diox]

If you're gonna mod get the warranty and find a good Indy guy imo I wish I did

[BabyrayS2k]

So you bought a twin turbo German car and declined the offered extended service plan? Shirley you can't be serious.

[MyLilTurbo6]

If it's within 30 days of purchase, you might want to see if someone can offer you a warranty. I have Safeguard for another few months, and plan to return to BMW for a full inspection.

I bought an aftermarket warranty on my 10' 335xi with 65k mi, and it's been well spent IMO (over $10k in repairs covered).

I can post a list later (i have all my documentation)

Things my aftermarket warranty screwed me on:
- When my thrust arm bushing failed, they wouldn't replace it because they cover the arm, not the bushing... (even though they sell together...)
- They covered repairing the coolant system, but not the thermostat, nor the coolant flush?
- Adaptive Headlight mechanical arm failure, requires replacing entire headlight.

Couple of Manufacture Recall Items to see if you qualify for:
- Turbo replacement (got both of mine replaced, they kept the car for like a whole week and supplied a loaner)
- High Pressure fuel pump
- Fuel injectors

[Krynos]

I like CarMax, bought a few BMW's from them. Always with the warrantee lol. Which is saving me money on the E93, but our F10 is being stubbornly reliable.

I always take any car from Carmax directly to the dealer and pay them to go over it. I then take that list back to Carmax and insist they fix everything on the list. Sometimes they can resist - but in the end I've always won. They have also paid for work that they can't do to be done directly at the dealer.

Like other people have said the Carmax inspection checklist is worthless - they just pick the good looking low milage ones.

The sales and service parts of the business so are so different. The sales side is great - I like being able to walk in, test drive anything I like with no pressure, then if I like the car and the price is decent I can be on my way in under an hour. The last time I bought from a dealership was an Infiniti - got there just after 3pm, and it was close to midnight before I left with a decent deal - infuriating! So I don't mind paying a little above normal to be in and out with limited fuss and low blood pressure lol.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Krynos

I like CarMax, bought a few BMW's from them. Always with the warrantee lol. Which is saving me money on the E93, but our F10 is being stubbornly reliable.

I always take any car from Carmax directly to the dealer and pay them to go over it. I then take that list back to Carmax and insist they fix everything on the list. Sometimes they can resist - but in the end I've always won. They have also paid for work that they can't do to be done directly at the dealer.

Like other people have said the Carmax inspection checklist is worthless - they just pick the good looking low milage ones.

The sales and service parts of the business so are so different. The sales side is great - I like being able to walk in, test drive anything I like with no pressure, then if I like the car and the price is decent I can be on my way in under an hour. The last time I bought from a dealership was an Infiniti - got there just after 3pm, and it was close to midnight before I left with a decent deal - infuriating! So I don't mind paying a little above normal to be in and out with limited fuss and low blood pressure lol.

When I bought my Z4 I did not buy the warranty because I fix my own cars, and since CarMax overcharges for the cars they sell and do not negotiate on price because their experts have gone over a 120-point inspection, which probably includes making sure the car has paint on it and has glass in the holes where windows are supposed to be, why would it need an extended warranty if the car is so great from the get go. I took my Z4 to a BMW dealership to have the alignment checked and have the throwout bearing noise verified, so I could have CarMax fix the bearing under the 30-day warranty. The SA at the dealership specifically asked me if I had purchased the CarMax extended warranty. I clearly stated to him I did not. There is a huge CarMax dealer right across the street in Sterling, Virginia, so I'm sure they get CarMax BMW purchasers having their newly purchased BMW inspected at the dealership on a frequent basis; either the SA must have not understood me, or simply forgot that I did not have the CarMax extended warranty.

A few hours later the SA called with the bad news. He said the Z4's rear end could not get in alignment and it needed $2,400 of new suspension components in order to repair whatever is bent that won't let the car get in alignment. The Z4 had only 23,000 miles on it. I have a lift at home and fully inspected the car when I brought it home the day I bought it and specifically looked at the rear suspension because I knew that some tow truck drivers will tie down the rear by hooking onto the steel rear tierods and bend them. There was no evidence the suspension components had even been touched ever. Now, this SA I had worked with just the month before on my then 260,000-mile E90 for a 4-wheel alignment. My E90 had at the time all of the original suspension components except for the struts and shocks and the front thrust arms, and even at 260,000 miles the new parts had 80,000 miles by then. They aligned the E90 with no issues and he stated that at the next alignment it may need some new suspension components.

Back to the Z4 inspection results, BMW of Sterling diagnosed the throwout bearing noise as a possible bad transmission input shaft bearing and the only way to confirm was to pull the trans and inspect it. So I told the SA to take a hike on the alignment and picked the car up. I took the Z4 back to my CarMax store in Charlottesville (100 miles south of Sterling VA) with the BMW of Sterling diagnosis. Charlottesville CarMax then took the Z4 over to BMW of Charlottesville (again across the street...) for their diagnosis. BMW of Charlottesville got the rear end in alignment with no issues, and said there was no transmission noise and the only unusual noise they heard was the serpentine belt tensioner. (So I hope by now you are catching all the BS I was getting between CarMax and the BMW dealerships).

Now moving to today, 3 years and 52,000 miles later on the Z4, the throwout bearing is still making the same noise (I just got the parts to replace it), and the supposed bad input shaft bearing hasn't yet disintegrated (BTW I changed the trans oil at 40,000 miles and ran a magnet through the old oil and no magnetic bits showed up and the oil was still very clean). The belt tensioner hasn't given up the ghost and is as quiet as it originally was at 23,000 when I bought the car in December 2014.

So the point is, when you buy the CarMax warranty and get a laundry list from the BMW dealer, CarMax will fix the issues (probably most are BS and they don't fix them anyway) and the issues are resolved. Or if CarMax can't fix the issues themselves, will take the car to BMW for their expertize and BMW gets your money (see how that works). You've paid the extra $3,600 for the CarMax warranty (on a car their experts have thoroughly inspected so why would you get it in the first place if the car is so perfect), so it's really no cost to CarMax since they are using your $3,600 you paid up front. I guarantee if I had been a fool and bought the CarMax extended warranty, my Z4 would have been put in alignment with no new parts (but factiously charged for them under the warranty) and the throwout bearing replaced once the trans was pulled and it was magically discovered the input shaft bearing was in perfect shape.

I was a fool for actually believing all the CarMax BS. All CarMax is is a clean, well-lit used car dealership that is set up to give the customer a new-car like buying experience. It makes people feel good, and that's about it, while CarMax executives go laughing to the bank.

My 2 cents based on experience.

[jeantarrou]

I have no dog in this fight, and I'm not speaking from any experience with CarMax, but... It occured to me that the CarMax supplemental warranty makes perfect sense for high maintenance/performance cars, ie. BMW, Land Rover, Merc, Porsche, etc... Pay a little extra and drive away without a care in the world.

FWIW, I do all my own wrenching too, and enjoy it, but I imagine it'd feel pretty good to drive the living piss out of a fun vehicle knowing that for $100 they'll fix anything I do to it?

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by jeantarrou

I have no dog in this fight, and I'm not speaking from any experience with CarMax, but... It occured to me that the CarMax supplemental warranty makes perfect sense for high maintenance/performance cars, ie. BMW, Land Rover, Merc, Porsche, etc... Pay a little extra and drive away without a care in the world.

FWIW, I do all my own wrenching too, and enjoy it, but I imagine it'd feel pretty good to drive the living piss out of a fun vehicle knowing that for $100 they'll fix anything I do to it?

I know I'm going overboard on this CarMax thing, but...

I'd not let CarMax technicians touch a BMW. They have Jiffy Lube level of expertise.

Just saying.

[jeantarrou]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I know I'm going overboard on this CarMax thing, but...

I'd not let CarMax technicians touch a BMW. They have Jiffy Lube level of expertise.

Just saying.

Yea, probably a fair criticism...

[poptart56]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

100% agree with this.

OP, the best way to keep a BMW in good condition is drive it and not gingerly. At 40,000 you should consider changing the engine airfilter. And like I previously said get the engine oil changed with a BMW filter and BMW spec (LL01) 5W-30 or 5W-40 oil.

Haha yes I've heard the same, and believe me I drive this car and push it all the time. I drove a Chevy sonic turbo before this so I'm loving the power now!! I poped the air filter and it's new.

Right now I'm looking at walnut blasting, oil change and filter, plugs, coils, injectors, coolant flush(low coolant warning after I bought it).
Later WP and t-stat.

Not sure what else it needs. If anything lemme know.



Thanks for all the responses, good to hear from y'all. I'm still debating on a warranty I do all my own wrenching, every single time I've taken any car to a shop, Indy or dealer it's always come back with more problems. Whenever I do my own I find things that need to be replaced and do it then and there and plus the enjoyment of saving money and learning my car makes it much more enjoyable to drive and I can spot issues before they become major problems.

I come from the 4x4 world so wrenching while 100's of miles into the woods is fairly common. Portable welders and changing ring gears covered in mud, using engine oil for brake fluid. Gotta love good old Toyota trucks.

Originally Posted by GoRomeo

I just looked back at this thread and it blew up lol, I'll snap some pics tomorrow, 70hr work weeks tend to keep me busy.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by poptart56

Haha yes I've heard the same, and believe me I drive this car and push it all the time. I drove a Chevy sonic turbo before this so I'm loving the power now!! I poped the air filter and it's new.

Right now I'm looking at walnut blasting, oil change and filter, plugs, coils, injectors, coolant flush(low coolant warning after I bought it).
Later WP and t-stat.

Not sure what else it needs. If anything lemme know.

Thanks for all the responses, good to hear from y'all. I'm still debating on a warranty I do all my own wrenching, every single time I've taken any car to a shop, Indy or dealer it's always come back with more problems. Whenever I do my own I find things that need to be replaced and do it then and there and plus the enjoyment of saving money and learning my car makes it much more enjoyable to drive and I can spot issues before they become major problems.

I come from the 4x4 world so wrenching while 100's of miles into the woods is fairly common. Portable welders and changing ring gears covered in mud, using engine oil for brake fluid. Gotta love good old Toyota trucks.

I just looked back at this thread and it blew up lol, I'll snap some pics tomorrow, 70hr work weeks tend to keep me busy.

If you have that level of wrenching experience then buying the CarMax or any extended warranty would be a waste of money for you IMO. Nothing breaks in these cars that is catastrophic. The turbo engine has it's issues, as does the N52, but all are well documented in DIY form here on E90 Post.

When I got my Z4 that was my thought process and why I stopped arguing about the throwout bearing. I was spending more time and effort arguing about it with them than it would take to just pull the trans and replace it. I was just pissed I didn't catch it when I reviewed the car. I had to pay $350 non-refundable to get the car shipped to my local CarMax, so I was already kinda committed to it. Plus when I drove it, it was at first sight.

Good luck with the car.

[Thorin]

The CarMax warranty has a nice perk for the rental car while your car is in the shop; albeit the rental coverage is paltry (unless you really enjoy driving a Yaris). As long as your car is driveable, you have the time, and you have good wrenching ability, you are OK. Even if it is not driveable, renting a car for those days is a viable option too.

I did the CarMax warranty. For me six months into ownership and my VCG and OFHG both went out. CarMax warranty covered that, plus the new valve cover. The shop also found the serpentine pulley tensioner was failing; that was covered. What was not covered was the new serpentine belt (belts and hoses are excluded per their contract language), as well as the coolant hose that was getting dripped on with oil (per above, plus the shop highly recommended replacing it on the premise the oil could eat the end seals). The shop also found a sensor wire poorly routed, and CarMax would not cover that either. I didn't get away from that for just the deductible, so there was money over the top to get it all fixed on that repair job. All-in-all, I've burned through a good chunk of the warranty, and got peace of mind out of it. I could have done the OFHG and VCG myself for a fraction of the cost, but would likely miss the other two things (and the tensioner thing can be catastrophic).

I also have the CarMax warranty mostly because I have other responsibilities (wife, kids, house, and a job to pay them all) and can't disappear into the garage for a solid day or two to suss out these things. I've done that enough times with my other European car, and if I was to do it x2 the impending divorce would cost me a lot more than the warranty cost.

[poptart56]

Yeah it even after looking at all the things that normally go wrong. Nothing seems too far out of a day possibly two which I can borrow my pops car for that time. Just the thing that bothers me is that some of these parts are quite pricy. Injectors hint hint.

I’m glad my wife lets me work on my rides. It was an understanding that was established long ago. I’m a happier guy when I can wrench. No kiddos yet tho. So that might be changing haha.